4EAT slipping or just slow shift?

[mcopeland]

'90 wagon, only 117k miles. It sat mostly idle for 5 or 6 years before my dad gave it to me. It runs great and has made me a believer. The only real issue is when the tranny shifts from 2nd to 3rd it seems to either slip or just take a while. It does not seem like a classic slip cuz the rpm does not go up at all just takes about two seconds to get shifted. On a related note, it seems to shift into 4th and kick back up into 3rd. My mechanic said that he thought it was just coming out of lockup, but it sure feels like a gear shift to me. I had it flushed and refiled with BG fluid upon recommendation from my usually reliable mechanic. The prob seemed to get a little better but is still there. The speedo seems to be working normally but my eyes are usually on the tach and I might not be looking for any subtle clues.
I got somewhat confused reading about the solenoids but was wondering if a sticky solenoid could cause this? If anyone knows of a good no BS Subaru shop in the Raleigh, NC area please lemme know.

Thanx,
Mke

[tris91ricer]

Try changing the filter, too. It'd be a GREAT foray into learning how to work on your subaru, and it's not an expensive part, or one that's really difficult to replace. Just take your time.

You'll need the subaru AT tranny filter (ask at stealership)
and the tranny pan gasket.

And don't forget to grab your tools!

[Legacy777]

The add-on filter for the first gen legacies doesn't need to be changed.

What you're experiencing is probably due to the brake band needing to be adjusted, or just that the transmission is worn.

You can try having the brake band adjusted via these instructions and see how it works.
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... andadj.jpg

diagram
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com/s ... keband.jpg