Anybody out there with an automatic? Tranny woes...
Guest
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Anybody out there with an automatic?
Is there anyone out there who drives an Impreza '01 to '04 that is Stock with an automatic transmission? A non-WRX would also help...
I need to know if anyone is noticing any symptoms at all with their transmissions?
I'm specifically intrested in slow starts, bad gear shifts (feels like you are driving a manual transmission) and any other weird things.
Please SOA & the auto mechanics are totally stonewalling me by telling me the above symptoms are normal!!
Sparkygrl
I need to know if anyone is noticing any symptoms at all with their transmissions?
I'm specifically intrested in slow starts, bad gear shifts (feels like you are driving a manual transmission) and any other weird things.
Please SOA & the auto mechanics are totally stonewalling me by telling me the above symptoms are normal!!
Sparkygrl
Guest
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Transmission...
The basic problem is two-fold one is the cars inability to automatically shift between lower and higher gears. It has to hunt between say 3rd & 4th and this feels like I am using a manual transmission it has the same feeling like a poor shift in a manual like a catching. The other problem is the slides out of gear. You can feel the transmission releasing from the gear at around 42 & 32 MPH it feels like a definite slip. I have some more technical jargon from the tech tips but I'll be late for work.
I'm in Massachusetts.
I'm in Massachusetts.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 189
From: Los Angeles
Sounds like it's slipping, but can't say for sure. Did the weather change where it got really cold? Does it only happen when it's cold? Does it need a warmup? Have you checked for ATF levels? I'm not very keen on trannies...sorry I wasn't much help.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 720
From: The Hunted Forest
Car Info: Mazda Protege '02 (Wishing protege has AWD and a H6 twin turbo)
start it and check the fluids
Sounds like it could be low or the cable attached to the tranny is either detatched or no tight.
The cable should be next to the accellerator.
Sounds like it could be low or the cable attached to the tranny is either detatched or no tight.
The cable should be next to the accellerator.
Guest
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Nope guess again...
It was a thought but believe it or not all of the things I mentioned are in a Tech tips memo about the 4EAT & are considered to be normal. I have been fighting since 7500 miles to get someone to fix my transmission. This last time the area rep and the SOA rep concluded that there was nothing wrong with my transmission!! What I'm really trying to find is someone with the same problems?
Lots of good recommendations but no one who has had the problem & still has it or does not have the problem has contacted me.
Oh & by the way I am not shifting the car to cause the manual transmission feeling the car is searching out the gear (I guess the computer is acutally) and jerking my car!!!
LOL Anybody out there with a TS.... Anyone at all.... :0(
Lots of good recommendations but no one who has had the problem & still has it or does not have the problem has contacted me.
Oh & by the way I am not shifting the car to cause the manual transmission feeling the car is searching out the gear (I guess the computer is acutally) and jerking my car!!!
LOL Anybody out there with a TS.... Anyone at all.... :0(
Guest
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Not gonna happen...
No one is going to check my transmission. Here's how the story really goes...
7500 I go in for my oil change & tell the tech my car is hitching... Can't duplicate customer complaint. Car still hitches I'm not happy!!!
11500 I go in for another oil change & complain again. Can't duplicate customer complaint but boy is my air filter dirty. Air filter replaced and not closed properly. Car roars like a sick lion for 1000 miles. Oh & by the way my car doesn't turn off the instant I shut the key off anymore. Can't duplicate that either.
12500 SOA arranges for a rental car to fix my roar & find out about my transmission hitch. New air filter is put in the car and closed properly, no more roar. Road test with service manager & I am told to drive in 3rd if the "Hard Shift Point" bothers me. SOA confirms that I should drive in 3rd which is now officially per SOA drive & drive is overdrive. Still can't duplicate the not shutting off with the key!!! I give up...
for the next 15,000 miles I drive with the complaints above, it's my only car what am I to do... Well I cuss a lot and the car is now officially the Suba-Stinky-Ru!!!
At about 26K I notice that now along with everything else my AC is making noise when I am in drive/reverse when stopped. I take a chance and tell the dealer and show the mechanic the car doesn't shut off with the key thing again. Hey guess what can't duplicate customer complaint. Nothing fixed!!!
So now I go in for my 30,000 mile $600.00 tune up. I'm ballistic about the AC noise now and tell them again about it and the key and the transmission. Want to guess, whole day at the shop not one problem fixed. So I tell the new service manager that I want to show him the key thing and try for the AC noise. He finally see's the car rocking when the key shut's off & say's hey gee we should fix that when can you bring the car back to fix it... I tell him that I cannot get a car for another day & I cannot take time off from work. He calls the SOA area rep who arranges a car for a day.
I don't get to meet with the Rep but my car does... Can't hear the AC noise, key thing is normal and just by the way here's a copy of the Tech tips from 2002 that says all your transmission complaints are normal. I call SOA and speak with a Supervisor and he tells me essentially my car is fine get over it...
So not that you asked but that's my story.... I just need to find one person who is still driving any TS with some mileage on it who is having none of the problems above....
I am on my way on Monday to one more Subaru dealer, this will be the third different one, with my car for a full test drive and one last try, but as the saying goes I will be crying when this is over. In order to get rid of a car that I don't feel is driveable, I loose about $5000.00 because I owe more than it's worth.
I will finally do the real girl thing on Monday. There is no more room for cursing the Subaru there is only room for tears. My first new car in 7 years and it's been the worst mistake ever!!!!
Sorry I know this is very long... But I'm very sad...
7500 I go in for my oil change & tell the tech my car is hitching... Can't duplicate customer complaint. Car still hitches I'm not happy!!!
11500 I go in for another oil change & complain again. Can't duplicate customer complaint but boy is my air filter dirty. Air filter replaced and not closed properly. Car roars like a sick lion for 1000 miles. Oh & by the way my car doesn't turn off the instant I shut the key off anymore. Can't duplicate that either.
12500 SOA arranges for a rental car to fix my roar & find out about my transmission hitch. New air filter is put in the car and closed properly, no more roar. Road test with service manager & I am told to drive in 3rd if the "Hard Shift Point" bothers me. SOA confirms that I should drive in 3rd which is now officially per SOA drive & drive is overdrive. Still can't duplicate the not shutting off with the key!!! I give up...
for the next 15,000 miles I drive with the complaints above, it's my only car what am I to do... Well I cuss a lot and the car is now officially the Suba-Stinky-Ru!!!
At about 26K I notice that now along with everything else my AC is making noise when I am in drive/reverse when stopped. I take a chance and tell the dealer and show the mechanic the car doesn't shut off with the key thing again. Hey guess what can't duplicate customer complaint. Nothing fixed!!!
So now I go in for my 30,000 mile $600.00 tune up. I'm ballistic about the AC noise now and tell them again about it and the key and the transmission. Want to guess, whole day at the shop not one problem fixed. So I tell the new service manager that I want to show him the key thing and try for the AC noise. He finally see's the car rocking when the key shut's off & say's hey gee we should fix that when can you bring the car back to fix it... I tell him that I cannot get a car for another day & I cannot take time off from work. He calls the SOA area rep who arranges a car for a day.
I don't get to meet with the Rep but my car does... Can't hear the AC noise, key thing is normal and just by the way here's a copy of the Tech tips from 2002 that says all your transmission complaints are normal. I call SOA and speak with a Supervisor and he tells me essentially my car is fine get over it...
So not that you asked but that's my story.... I just need to find one person who is still driving any TS with some mileage on it who is having none of the problems above....
I am on my way on Monday to one more Subaru dealer, this will be the third different one, with my car for a full test drive and one last try, but as the saying goes I will be crying when this is over. In order to get rid of a car that I don't feel is driveable, I loose about $5000.00 because I owe more than it's worth.
I will finally do the real girl thing on Monday. There is no more room for cursing the Subaru there is only room for tears. My first new car in 7 years and it's been the worst mistake ever!!!!
Sorry I know this is very long... But I'm very sad...
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 720
From: The Hunted Forest
Car Info: Mazda Protege '02 (Wishing protege has AWD and a H6 twin turbo)
do you have any tech friends that can take a look at it?
If you lived in the sacramento area i'd take a look at it and try and give you a diagnosis
If you lived in the sacramento area i'd take a look at it and try and give you a diagnosis
Guest
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Yup it's a lemon!!!
I would drive out there for the evaluation but I could see the car dying on the way!!! LOL
I will know more on Monday, most likely I will get another BS story and then I will trade it in for a real car & don't feel too sorry for me I have lot's of names and dates and info to prove I had a terrible time. Because if it's a normal thing then they should have been able to tell me each and everytime what it was not this "Can't duplicate customer complaint" line all over my service papers!!!!
So I've said it before & I'll say it again. Good-bye SOA hello nice Mr. President in Japan!!!
But seriously thanks for the offer of the look see...
Beth
I will know more on Monday, most likely I will get another BS story and then I will trade it in for a real car & don't feel too sorry for me I have lot's of names and dates and info to prove I had a terrible time. Because if it's a normal thing then they should have been able to tell me each and everytime what it was not this "Can't duplicate customer complaint" line all over my service papers!!!!
So I've said it before & I'll say it again. Good-bye SOA hello nice Mr. President in Japan!!!
But seriously thanks for the offer of the look see...
Beth
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 28
From: ct
hey i have an automatic as well but on a wrx -- for the turbo the tranny was far from perfect from the factory but i had the torque converter and valvebody modified by level 10 and it has been great ever since - i also put a tranny temp gauge in to monitor it a bit when im pushing it - i do notice recently it takes pretty long to warm up in the chilly new england mornings - slow enough for me to worry after driving 30 mins still!
i would try another subaru dealer, tell them the issues you have with the other one and maybe they will look at it hoping to get your business away from the other dealer - i am in CT but thats probably a bit of a ride. I know there are some good, reputable subaru dealers around - give it a try maybe?
i would try another subaru dealer, tell them the issues you have with the other one and maybe they will look at it hoping to get your business away from the other dealer - i am in CT but thats probably a bit of a ride. I know there are some good, reputable subaru dealers around - give it a try maybe?
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,029
From: Sacramento CA
Car Info: 02 Impreza WRX sedan
Moved thread to Maintenance and Warranty forum. These issues are larger than just simple transmission problems, i.e. obtaining dealer service.
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VIP Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 9,351
From: pompous douchebag
Car Info: $200,000 sports car
i have an automatic wrx. i also get a lot of hunting between 3rd and 4th gear, but only while driving up decent inclines and trying to maintain around 65mph. i usually drive it in 3 in those cases and let the engine rev. the 4eat is good for 100+mph in 3, so i'm not worried about it.
as for slow starts, i don't know how slow is slow for you. try and download a factory service manual for your car and check it yourself since the dealership seems unwilling to check it out. i had my tranny fluid flushed and replaced with redline hi-temp at around 38k and noticed a huge difference.
i feel your pain though, you shouldn't have to mod a car (tranny upgrades, etc...) in order to get it to drive "normally". i had an acura that had tons of problems. i ended up trading that sucker in.
as for slow starts, i don't know how slow is slow for you. try and download a factory service manual for your car and check it yourself since the dealership seems unwilling to check it out. i had my tranny fluid flushed and replaced with redline hi-temp at around 38k and noticed a huge difference.
i feel your pain though, you shouldn't have to mod a car (tranny upgrades, etc...) in order to get it to drive "normally". i had an acura that had tons of problems. i ended up trading that sucker in.
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I gave up.... after the 3rd dealer!!!
Well I want to say thanks for all the good advice and the listening to me (place cuss word here). I went to another dealer this past Monday, they took the car for a test drive without me again, and before you could say hey what the Eff, there was another copy of the tech tips about how normal my transmission was and I just walked away. Apparently, I am the only one that thinks it's odd that my automatic performs like a manual transmission and it slides out of the gears as it decelerates or when I am braking. My solution as you can probably guess is to trade in the car and never, ever, buy a Subaru again!!!
It's a shame that I have been stonewalled on an adequate answer as to why anyone would put up with this vehicle or how they have gotten away with it for this long!!! But oh well!!! What am I going to do I can't stand the hitching and the sliding especially since the RPM's are going up when the gears slip. If this is normal then I want whatever it is the Subaru is smoking because it's got to be awfully good!!! :0)~
Once again I really do appreciate all of your help and suggestions wish I could have had it fixed to my satisfaction but it's not going to happen!!!
P.S. I think that I will leave out the part about what are they smoking when I write to Japan!!!!
It's a shame that I have been stonewalled on an adequate answer as to why anyone would put up with this vehicle or how they have gotten away with it for this long!!! But oh well!!! What am I going to do I can't stand the hitching and the sliding especially since the RPM's are going up when the gears slip. If this is normal then I want whatever it is the Subaru is smoking because it's got to be awfully good!!! :0)~
Once again I really do appreciate all of your help and suggestions wish I could have had it fixed to my satisfaction but it's not going to happen!!!
P.S. I think that I will leave out the part about what are they smoking when I write to Japan!!!!