OK, last time I'll post about this tranny thing

[badfish628]

I made a video, it's hard to see the delay but it's there:

YouTube - 98 Outback shift hesitation/delay

YouTube - 98 Outback shift hesitation/delay

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUnd0Hr7LMY"

I found it gets better as it warms up, but can still persist. It's a good second delay at times before it really locks in. I noticed it happening after putting in about a quarter bottle of Lucas slip-stop. My fluid level doesn't look low (or too high) Still have the 1-2 firm shift, but that gets better as I drive. Comes back when it wants to. The delay seems better if I ease up on the throttle when it's getting ready to shift (around 3k rpm). If it shifts at 2500 it's alot better.

Any ideas what might be going on? Tranny serviced @ 229,100, now at about 229,840.

Also, I had the hood open today and noticed when I turn the engine on (start the car) the engine lifts up on the left side. Is that normal???

[plain OM]

The engine is held down by rubber mounts and the sudden build-up of rotational force when it starts will cause it to lift a bit, but not a lot. If it lifts up significantly on one side there could be a broken or loose engine mount. A faulty engine mount could lead to a sensation of "hard" shifting because the engine will also lift at that time, especially under acceleration. Best to demonstrate it to one of the mechanics you refer to in your other posts, and/or compare your car to another of the same generation.

[badfish628]

Thanks for that, I will have it checked out soon. Any ideas about this delayed shift?? It's a bit bizarre, but like I was telling nipper if I go uphill for a period, the 1-2 shift seems to clear up (better) and the shift delay is still there. Again, I drive mainly >10 miles at a time, so it may not be enough time to really get it warmed up. It seems to get better overall as I drive. Hopefully it's not a sign of transmission failure looming!

[plain OM]

I looked at the video, but didn't really notice anything that struck me as unusual. It seems to show a shift at around 2800 rpm and another at around 2200 rpm, which is in the range of rpm my car shifts at.

I'm not sure what you mean by "delayed shift". Do you mean the shift takes place at too high an rpm/speed, or do you mean that when the transmission shifts, it releases the gear it was in, but then takes time to engage the gear it is shifting into?

Delayed shifts of the second type can be caused by low line (hydraulic pressure), or seals on the clutch pistons, that are weak. The transmission also uses "accumulators" that fill (and drain) when shifting gears -- their purpose is to smooth the shift sequence to avoid shift shock -- and if they are not working properly, this can have a delaying effect when shifting. Delayed shifts of this type are not uncommon on transmissions of your car's generation.

[badfish628]

Ok, thanks for the response. It's a delayed shift as in when it goes to shift from 2nd gear to 3rd gear it drops out of 2nd, then takes a second before it feels like 3rd engages. It's like it's in neutral for a second, but its not revving up or anything. In fact, if I step on the accelerator during this "lag period" it accelerates fine. So I don't know. I noticed this morning that the 1-2 felt better for a while, and the 2-3 felt weird. The 1-2 gets better going uphill (???)
So, would driving with these bad accumulators lead me to disaster??? I'm a college student I don't have a ton of cash. It's been doing this the past maybe 8 or 9 k miles. Can I get away with it for another 20-30K?

[plain OM]

Without knowing the source of a problem, or having past experience with the same symptoms, it's difficult, if not unreasonable, to make a prediction. (Perhaps others here will recognize the symptoms from experience and can provide a more specific response.) In any event, I understand that the ATF has been changed and that this hasn't changed anything, and this suggests that whatever is causing the symptoms, it will probably require taking down the transmission for internal examination and repair.

But that also presumes there is a problem. In your earlier thread you refer to two mechanics not finding anything unusual after test driving the car.

[badfish628]

Totally reasonable answer. I'm just hopeful it's not disastrous.
I just noticed this delay when I put in the lucas, like i said. My cousin's husband is a mechanic so I may see if he can take a look.
I haven't taken it to the mechanic since the 2-3 delay started, just for the 1-2 hard shift. He said that was normal, not to worry about. I also may take it over to the guy who did the repairs, he said he'd test drive it for me.

[5gear]

I can tell you that I have had 3 transmissions in my 2000 Outback and they ALL have had the pause on the 2nd to 3rd gear upshift when driving briskly. At this point I am thinking the programming must have something to do with it, I can't imagine 3 transmissions would have the exact same problem.

[joewildlife]

Ooh! Ooh! I know this one!

Mine started doing the same thing, especially the first time it shifted 2nd to 3rd, when cold. After the first shift it was fine...but still a little "soft".

It started after I drained the fluid with the drain plug and filled it with cheap Dextron 3. It continued when I did the same thing awhile later. It STOPPED when I drained it again and used Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc fluid. I did a lot of reading on here and others have had the same symptom, and it has always been cured by better fluid (MaxLife at least, Mobil 1 better).

So 4 qts of MaxLife cured mine...and I'm draining and filling again in 10K, and 20K, and 30K to fully flush the cheap stuff out.

Joe

[badfish628]

ahhh good stuff. I looked at the breakdown for the tranny service (flush), and the mechanic used basic DEX 3. I'm thinking I may pull the drain plug, let as much drain as can with the front end jacked up, then refill with some better fluid like you said. is there any danger in mixing fluids (as long as it's all dex 3 should be ok, right?) It all gets much better as the tranny warms up (after 10 miles or so) and I'm curious if better fluid will help.