4EAT problems

[oskar_subaru]

i´m having problems with the 4EAT in my car
car is 1994 BC7 2,2
when cold it acts all funny, but just sometimes.
when coming to a halt the converter wont disengage and the engine will die (just like a manual car if you forget to press the clutch)
somtimes it gets stuck in 3.gear and it does not mater where you put the shift selector
driven 275.000km (172.000 miles)
new fluids and filters, dip stick reads full and transmission fluid smells like it should.
also i´m experiencing a little torque bind but i don´t think those are linked

somebody have any ideas of how to safe the trans or am i better of starting to gather parts for a manual conversion ?

[Navi271]

mine does some funny things too when cold, shifts hard into 2nd gear until it warms up and when its really cold mine will go through the first 3 gears and refuse to go into 4th. then it warms up and is able to shift. I haven't heard of the converter not disengaging. sounds like an internal problem? does it just do that when shifting from 2nd to 1st? could be an ECU malfunction since that's where the AT gets it's commands from. I'm don't know too much about transmissions but if mine was doing that and fixing it would cost lots of $$$, then i'd just do the MT conversion. I'm sick of having ONLY 4 gears, but i'd get someone else's opinion too.

[02legacygt]

.. yeah sometime mine does the same type of things, like its will hangout in a gear way longer than it should it seems more 2 and 3, and it will have some hard shifts sometime...

im pretty sure its the nature of the beast, im sure someone else will chime in on this but i know alot of becuase use lucas trans stablizer or something like that to help.

PM huffer!

[Huffer]

You called?

If you're experiencing torque bind it could be causing or be related. Easy way to tell - insert the FWD fuse into the engine bay - up by the passenger side bulkhead.

If torque bind goes away, then Solenoid C isn't an issue.
In which case you want to drain the ATF and refill with Subaru fluid and a bottle of LubeGard ATF protectant (red bottle). I've saved 3 4EATs this way. Drive like this for 100miles, then drain and refill the same way.

The other problems you've got could be electrical in that the TCU isn't sending the right signals. Make sure the TCU harness is properly grounded.

[nipper]

When was the last time you flushed the fluid in this transmission?

Do you have a flashing ATF Temp light on startup?


nipper

[gothos]

I have a 99 Legacy SUS with a 2.5L DOHC and my transmission is acting up. It's a 4EAT and it hesitates when going from park or reverse into 1st gear. Normally I have to rev the engine up to force it to shift. Do you think this is something that can be fixed or should I just replace the transmission? I took it to a dealer to see it it might have been a simple problem but they said that the 1st gear was shot.

[Huffer]

I have a 99 Legacy SUS with a 2.5L DOHC and my transmission is acting up. It's a 4EAT and it hesitates when going from park or reverse into 1st gear. Normally I have to rev the engine up to force it to shift. Do you think this is something that can be fixed or should I just replace the transmission? I took it to a dealer to see it it might have been a simple problem but they said that the 1st gear was shot.

I would drain the fluid and see what that looks like - replace it with some fresh factory-spec ATF and see if that helps alleviate the problem. It will take a few miles for the fluid to properly cycle through. You could also try a bottle of LubeGard ATF protectant. It's amazing stuff.

[nipper]

I have a 99 Legacy SUS with a 2.5L DOHC and my transmission is acting up. It's a 4EAT and it hesitates when going from park or reverse into 1st gear. Normally I have to rev the engine up to force it to shift. Do you think this is something that can be fixed or should I just replace the transmission? I took it to a dealer to see it it might have been a simple problem but they said that the 1st gear was shot.


http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/sho ... anny+delay (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=87708&highlight=tranny+delay)

This is an internal issue. Read that thread.

[geckoboy86]

Ive been having issues with my AT during the cold. 1st gear into second can be alittle rough when cold. Sometimes the car will hold onto 3rd gear for way too long.

I dont know when the ATF was last changed. Ive owned the vehicle now for just about a year now.

Would a fluid change help this stuff go away or do I need to look into an issue with the TCU?

[nipper]

Ive been having issues with my AT during the cold. 1st gear into second can be alittle rough when cold. Sometimes the car will hold onto 3rd gear for way too long.

I dont know when the ATF was last changed. Ive owned the vehicle now for just about a year now.

Would a fluid change help this stuff go away or do I need to look into an issue with the TCU?


Thats normal as the 4eat and most automatics delay upshifts when cold. This helps everything warm up faster.

However a change of the tranny fluid is always a good thing in soobys. Almost makes it feel like a new tranny. Should be done every 3/36K

[Huffer]

Ive been having issues with my AT during the cold. 1st gear into second can be alittle rough when cold. Sometimes the car will hold onto 3rd gear for way too long.

I dont know when the ATF was last changed. Ive owned the vehicle now for just about a year now.

Would a fluid change help this stuff go away or do I need to look into an issue with the TCU?

You should have changed the fluids the week the car was bought... but change the fluids now. The TCU limits the car to 3 gears to help it warm up, and the 1st to 2nd shift gets worse the more short trip miles you put on the car. There is an internal band adjustment that can be done to help, but fresh fluid is a GREAT idea.

[geckoboy86]

Ok...Thanks Huffer!

[gothos]

I have a 99 Legacy SUS with a 2.5L DOHC and my transmission is acting up. It's a 4EAT and it hesitates when going from park or reverse into 1st gear. Normally I have to rev the engine up to force it to shift. Do you think this is something that can be fixed or should I just replace the transmission? I took it to a dealer to see it it might have been a simple problem but they said that the 1st gear was shot.


http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/sho ... anny+delay (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=87708&highlight=tranny+delay)

This is an internal issue. Read that thread.



Thanks a lot!!!! The Amsoil ATF and the Trans-X have worked wonders on my 4EAT. Haven't had the slightest problem with it since I had the fluid flushed and replaced. The car was working so fine in fact that I didn't even mind when I got pulled over for speeding. Thanks again Nipper!!!!

[geckoboy86]

Still have yet to do a Flush...weather hasnt been agreeing with me to do any car work.

Quick Question.

How much ATF do I need to pick up to do a flush?
I plan on using some form of a treatment/protecting fluid in it with the flush.

[nipper]

i buy a case of fluid, that covers it. Do not use any additves, flushes, chemicals etc, then that is just asking for trouble.

nipper