Hi - let me begin by saying that I am not very knowledgeable about car transmissions. I can handle the electronics just find - but when it comes to transmissions and engines and such - I am rather clueless. With that said, I have a problem that I would really like to get fixed. I have a 1998 Legacy L wagon with an automatic transmission. During every gear change the car kind of jerks a bit - it slows down just enough to throw everyone in the car forward a bit. It is insanely annoying - and people end up thinking that I am some kind of horrible driver or something. Does anyone know of a way to fix this? Thanks so much!

Michael

 

So the old A/T is starting to slip? The only A/T's that I have had wear out on me have been because they started to slip and slowly get worse as the miles and time went on. Well that and one that came apart because of too much hp in a Olds 442 but thats not exactly what your dealing with.


Have you checked the fluid level or checked to see if its just old and maybe been heated up too much?

 

No - I haven't checked the fluid level. In fact, I don't even know how. That reminds me - I was told I needed to change the transmission fluid. Could that possibly fix this?

 

OK - I'll try to do that. Should I just check the level of the fluid, or should I put in new fluid altogether? BTW - I have about 70,000 miles on it right now - and the fluid has yet to be changed. Lastly, how do I check the fluid level, and how do I put in new fluid? Oh, really and truly lastly, do the transmission and front differential share fluid? Thanks!

 

With the age of the A/T and the miles on it you might want to avoid having the thing flushed by a shop because with a flush you run the chance of having a totally bad transmission when they get done. Whatever is left of the small clutch packs might get flushed out or damaged in the process. So if you can just change the metal screen/filter inside the pan on the transmission and put in new fluid when your done. After all if your going to drain the fluid you might as well change the screen in it. The first thing to do would be to check the fluid level first off. If its too low the car will have problems shifting like your describing. Either way let us know how it turns out.

 

I forgot to mention that on the A/T cars there are actually three dip sticks on the car. One for the oil, one for the front diff and one for the A/T. If your unsure of which you need then stop by a Subaru dealer and ask them to check it for you and if they can show you where its at while they are at it. That way you don't end up putting ATF in your diff.