Well... my trusty 'airport car' is having a problem... First the history:
The car is a 1995 Legacy wagon, 2.2 engine. Bought it with 212K miles, got a deal.

The transmission seems to be rebelling: It has been slow to shift into reverse, and slow to shift from 2-3 and 3-4 when cold... all is fine when warmed up.

Today, it decided it was NOT gonna go into reverse at all. Managed to limp home... After it cooled off, it goes into reverse, albeit it is a sloppy engagement.
The tranny fluid is CLEAN... which surprised me... however there were bubbles in it.

I am thinking to start with a fluid/filter change... anyone have any other ideas?

THX in advance, hate to get ripped by the transmission shops. They seem to think all repairs are worth hundreds of $$$'s... would rather avoid financing their hobbies if I could.

It's almost 20 years old!!!!!

Your experience might be different than mine, but, I honestly would not trust any of the chain transmission shops (some are good, many are not).
If you have a good mechanic that you know and trust get him to check it even if transmission is not his "specialty" (last time I had shifting problems it was the ignition switch).
If you don't have a mechanic you can trust then a dealership is your best bet to do only the work that is necessary.

Vehicle was one of those 'deals'... got it for $1K. Owned it for 3 years now, put around 20K on it. It is the one I drive to the hanger... leave a bunch of junk in it.

The tranny has never been rebuilt... I hope it does not 'bite' me. If the tranny is bad... I will find a rebuilt one and install it myself, done that more than once in the past. I was a fleet mechanic back when I was young (in the dark ages LOL).

I think the pump may be cavitating... due to the air bubbles in the fluid. Hope the lowered pressure has not allowed it to slip and burn the clutch plates up... would rather not do a tranny job until next fall if I can avoid it. I really would rather spend the time on the gyro...

MIght have a look here http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/76 ... oblems/p21

I never was much of a car mechanic or cared to be.

Bubbles? Are you checking the fluid level with engine and trans warmed up, idling and in park or neutral?

Bubbles are a sign of over filling.

Vehicle within 5* of dead level, running, in park, after shifting through all gears to 'prime' passages.
Done both hot and cold, each time at the proper place on the dipstick.

I hope I do not have to get a tranny and put it in... If I do... well there is a weekend I could be at the hanger... gone.
OTOH: this is a nice 'utility' car... If I have to put a tranny in it... it will be kept around for a LONG time.

One day... this 2.2 may find its way into a gyro (after a thorough rebuild)...

Most of my experience with modern transmissions has been that the torque converter lock up clutch goes out. When thet happens the clutch material pieces, residue/swarf whatever, clogs up the passages in the tranny, also clogs up the cooler. Not that familier with subaru. But guaranteed on a GM or Dodge at about 90k miles, most japanese stuff is more reliable.
I would look for a low mileage used tranny, flush the trans cooler and lines.
Rebuilding the tranny is not as complicated as it seems, however it is time consuming, and without the special tools, and ability to clean everything inside and out. (large pressurised parts washer) it really can be a pain in the butt.
I have rebuilt several, automatics, manuals, motorcycle trans, etc. it is not for the faint of heart, and cost an arm and a leg.

Find another "deal" of the same vehicle and use one for parts.

Back in my day... (dark ages) used to be an accomplished mechanic... actually did it professionally for a while.
Things automotive have changed a lot since the 1970's.

I have found the easy way (for me anyways) is to find a shop that does lots of rebuilds... and buy one already done. One can set up and do the swap in a day... and the issue is resolved. The shops, of course, want the old one back or charge a core price.

My goal was to figure out if this was a minor issue... or a major one. Given the tranny has 228K miles on it... and according to the previous owner was never rebuilt or replaced... it has quite possibly served its life... OH well.

Gonna try a filter/fluid change first... If that does not work... well... anyone know of a place to find a rebuilt Subbie tranny?
Probably get on that Subaru forum I went to last year for another issue... they were quite helpful.
Subbie folks are like gyro folks... they love their machines!

THX to all for your input, it is much appreciated!

When you change the fluid, don't forget to flush the cooler and lines!
Good luck man! Look on craigslist... call some local shops. If you pull it you will save a bunch.
I had to take the Benz in last year and get the transmission wire harness and speed sensors replaced, that sucked! $$$ But there was no way I could do it without the diagnostic/reprograming computer stuff.

Yeah... I have heard stories (nightmares) about European cars and their programing... UGH.
I prefer older cars... and simple ones... they cost less to buy, less to insure, less to tag, and less complicated to repair. One thing though: I would not buy an older car with the OBD series 1 engine computer system... which means do not buy earlier than 1996. OBD 2 came out in 1996 (my Subbie is 1995, yet has OBD 2, it was a late 1995), it is a lot easier to work with.

One of the jobs I had back when... was mechanic at a school dist bus shop. The automatic trannies (Allison, part of GM) were just coming out. I went to school on them... rebuilt them for a while. Then the shop got this idea that buying them was better than rebuilding them in the shop. I saw the handwriting on the wall for that show, that is when I went to A&P school. After getting the license... worked for PiedMont Airlines for a short time. Not what I wanted to do... however the experience was fun! Problem was... I got bit by the flying bug back then... and the poison is still in my blood...
Running my own co was what worked out best for me... kinda the opposite of a graveyard union shop. Nothing wrong with either of those (graveyard or union)... just not for me.

The main thing when I do an 'exploratory' fluid change'... is to look in the pan for:
1) How much clutch material is there (the black stuff in the pan, the less the better)
2) How much metal shavings are there (the less the better)
3) If there are any 'curious' parts there (should not be any).
I remember a while back, I think it was the early 1990's, I was asked to diagnose an auto trans in a Ford... it was acting really strange. I explained there was not much one could do on the outside... however a fluid/filter change was a good diagnostic tool... When I pulled the pan... there were a couple of half circle parts... about 1/16 thick, radius of around 1", and about 1/4 cross sectional size, and the more or less fit together as a complete circle. Obviously they did not belong in there, they belonged in the 'stack' of planetary gears and clutches. Long story short... sent the person to a local shop for a tranny rebuild. The guy at the shop said it was a thrust washer... and it was a common failure on that tranny.
Back then.... there were local mom/pop shops that did good work... not so anymore in my area.

Subbie parts are not as easy to find as Ford or Chevy... and folks like their Subbies, so they cost a bit more. Lets hope a filter/fluid will do the trick...
Weather is about to go bad... so it may be the weekend or next week before it gets done.
Will post back when I know.

THX again for the input!

GA

may want to check out this Forum. Cindi and I both Drive Subaru Foresters now, and are members of Subaruforester.org. I know about the engines but not much about the trans. other then only use a factory Subaru replacement transmission filter. the ones on the Foresters,they say never need to be replaced. but if you do some of the aftermarket ones are made more like an oil filter with a by pass valve in them and it can mess up the transmission.
I would start looking for info on the link below. hope this helps. I am now on my 5th Subaru.


http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/