AT OIL TEMP flashing

[bigalpha]

So, the other day I turn on the car and the 'AT OIL TEMP' light flashed after my car started up. This was teh first time it ever happened, and has not happened since.

So, I turned to the good 'ol owner's manual. It basically said that I need to take it to the dealership.

What are the common causes for that light to flash? Mechanical failure? Dirty AT fluid? Time for an STi swap? hehe.

The car has 182,XXX miles.

[Blacky]

I would say it's a wait and see kind of thing. If it's been a while since you changed your transmission fluid, it wouldn't be a bad idea. Otherwise see if it does it again. If it's overheating the light should come on after driving for several miles not on start-up.

[bheinz57]

Odd how it flashed right when you turned the car on. Was the car/engine cold? Or have you been traveling, and started the car up after a short stop?

Brina

[nipper]

It's not odd

AT light 101

The light will flash if during the last operation cycl, there was an electrical fault in the tranny. This flashing is meant to catch your attention, and tell you you need to pull the codes. You can either search here for the method to pull the codes (it's NOT the OBDII plug) or get it to a dealer.

DO NOT GO TO A TRANNY SHOP!

Go to a delaership, as they hate selling transmisions, but they will fix what causing the fault.

If you wait, it may be the differnce between a coupld of hundred or 900.00 to repair depending upon the cause.

This is not a wait and see kind of thing.

There are 8 solenoids in the transmission and a temp sensor. It can be any one of those. If you need to ask if its a dirty fluid thing, then you need to change your fluid.

nipper

[bigalpha]

Well nipper, you sure do paint a pretty grim picture. The light does not flash now and it has not flashed since. Will there sill be an error code even if the light is not currently on?

I drove 3 miles and parked it. Got back in it about 2 hours later and it flashed then stopped.

[nipper]

Its only grim if you want ti to be grim, its just truthful. Grimm is ignoring then coming back and wondering why you just had to spend a few 100 in repairs with the light flashing for months.

The sooner you catch it the better. never ignore a flashing light.

Personally i would search here and pull the codes (it's really easy) to see if it was a code that was stored. If the fluid hasnt been changed in 3 years change it.

Common causes you wont notice right away
Duty C solenoid starting to fail (differnce between a 250.00 repair and a 900.00 repair)
Pressure regulating duty solenoid (May never notice it)
Bad ATF fluid temp sensor
Bad dropping resistor (may actually prefer it not working)

Any of the other solenoids you will notice, as they are shift solenoids, but they generally work.

nipper

[wasaabie]

last year my 98 2.5 outback limited started to flash Oil Temp everytime i started the car. it turned out the RHS cv boot was torn (inner boot). i took it the Tire Plus to replace the shaft and the Oil Temp light also disappeared.

i didn't understand the correlation between the Oil Temp flashing and a torn CV boot, but i tried to fix the obvious one first. and it did resolve the problem.

my car was around 130k miles at the time.

[nipper]

Originally posted by wasaabie
last year my 98 2.5 outback limited started to flash Oil Temp everytime i started the car. it turned out the RHS cv boot was torn (inner boot). i took it the Tire Plus to replace the shaft and the Oil Temp light also disappeared.

i didn't understand the correlation between the Oil Temp flashing and a torn CV boot, but i tried to fix the obvious one first. and it did resolve the problem.

my car was around 130k miles at the time.

Ok thats one i never heard of before, and i agree, the correlation is tough, UNLESS the grease on the cat was heating up the ATF temp sensor.

nipper

[biking4life]

Mine always has flashed. I start the car, then all of the lights go through a check and then go off.

[bigalpha]

Originally posted by biking4life
Mine always has flashed. I start the car, then all of the lights go through a check and then go off.

Yeah, all the lights come on and stay on for a second, then go off. This light actually flashed for a few seconds.