98 Outback Issue

[andrew.w]

Hi guys, I joined this forum in anticipation of buying a '98 Outback, which I did 24 hours ago =D

It's a 1998 Limited, Here in Australia I guess it's a 2Gen.

Anyway, the reason I'm posting is, on my way home from the dealership, in fact, when I pulled into the driveway, the car started over-revving. It rolled backwards onto the street, and I couldn't for the life of me get it to go forwards. It was almost like putting a manual into neutral and hitting the accelerator. Being an auto though, I found it rather strange.

In the end I switched off the car and started it a few times over and eventually got it into the driveway. No problems, didn't think anything of it, maybe just a "teething issue" from sitting around at the dealership without being driven for a long period of time. I know my old '94 Saab had that issue, when not driven for a while.

I took it around the local area for a "play" and a test to see if it did it again, which it didn't, until I left my home for Ashfield (A fair hike from out here in the eastern suburbs) to see a play. On the way the car did the same thing, it almost felt like it "slipped" out of gear just a bit. It would rev very high, about 3000RPM, and only manage 40km/h without changing gears. I pulled over, repeated the process of stopping and starting the car and eventually got it going again. It did it a few more times, both on the way there and on the way home.

It was mechanically inspected before purchase and checked out, and is also under warranty (and being picked up tomorrow for repairs) but I'm interested to know what the problem could be. The transmission had a service just before the car was sold, and the gearbox is a refurbished replacement that was put in the car while it was at the dealership. The diff's seem to have been replaced, according to the inspector, and that was backed up by the dealer who said it was just something he did to ensure the cars long lasting mechanical stability.

So, I ask of you outbackers, have any of you encountered this problem before? And, if so, what was it for you?

[porcupine73]

Hi andrew.w and welcome to the board!

It sounds like the auto trans is slipping. That is not good, it will chew up the clutches and friction materials quickly doing that. Sometimes is wrong with the 'replacement trans' or maybe just the fluid level is low. Whatever the case is, if you can get any remedy through the dealer selling it I would get right on it.

[andrew.w]

Well they're picking it up tomorrow morning and it's being towed back there, I mean we bought extended warranty too so I guess I'm covered in that respect. Thanks for the hasty reply =]

I'll keep you posted on what the dealer says, in any case.

[xnavnuc]

I automatically discount any dealership that states that they swapped out the rear diff to guarantee long life UNLESS someone SMOKED it (lack of oil) in which case the tranny itself is suspect for any longevity. NO-ONE replaces a rear diff in a Subie unless they GOTTA. The front diff is part of the tranny. I suspect a botched tranny refill and wouldn't trust it or the dealership from this point on.