4EAT doesn't always automatically downshift

[65Pontiac]

hey, im having pretty much the same issue. it doesnt down shift from 4th or D to 3rd. like on the highway going to pass someone, ill step on the gas but it takes a few seconds then it kicks down to 3rd. once in awhile from a dead stop it stays in 4th then after i start moving it drops to first. i havnt not done anything to try and fix the problem yet, just researching it. but keeping it in 3rd for around town driving only and it gets rid of the problem completely making me think the tcu wasnt controlling OD correctly or controlling the shifts correctly.

i plan on changing the tranny fluid soon 2x

did your problem get fixed??

[sspeed]

I didn't, yours sounds slightly different and could just be a band brake adjustment?

I finally gave up and brought it to a Subaru repair place, they've had the car for a few days now and suspect the valve body, we'll see...

[65Pontiac]

hmm possibly, i was excited because your problem was close with it not wanting to shift or shifting properly. the CEL is on so im going to get it scanned this weekend.

atleast the gears are not shot so a valve body isnt to bad i guess. keep us updated!!

[sspeed]

Well, an update....

Brought it to a Subaru specialist... he had it for 3 weeks and finally called and said he was stumped... he pinned out the connections in the wiring harness looking for continuity and found it all good, but of course this is intermittent.... he then thought it was the valve body and replaced that with a used one, which didn't do a thing...

So, on the way home from there I popped a Throttle Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction check engine light... Dropped it off at the dealer, they had it for a day and called to say they are 90% sure there is something wrong in the wiring harness. They want to pull and replace the entire harness for $650...

[sspeed]

Just another update...

After a week at the dealer, it's not the wiring harness... they also threw a TCU and TPS at it to no avail... frustrating to hear that as I'd already tried that...

The transmission light flashes on start about once every two weeks... the day I brought it to the dealer it flashed on that power cycle... I begged them to just pull the code quick before shutting it off... they were a little arrogant and said just to shut if off because "their guys are good and will have it figured out in no time"...

It sounds like they have no idea where to go from here, they were going to call the Subaru assistance line to try and get help... this is a big dealer in Denver that repairs a lot of Subarus and should be pretty good...

The only thing left is the ECU, the battery, or the transmission itself...

[nipper]

Times like this takes some drastic action which may be troublesome for you.

Leave them the car.
Tell them to use it for part runs, lunches and to go home with.
Let them feel how the car drives and see it for themselves.