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2013 CVT Transmission Replacement

5.4K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  seagrass  
#1 · (Edited)
Our 2013 Outback Premium just recently lost drive recently. Wife was driving when she got multiple lights on the dash and wasn't getting anything from the gas. Engine was still running and brakes worked, so she got to the side of the road for AAA. Local repair person said we had about 9 codes, most of which where pointing to the Transmission needing to be replaced.

Does anyone have recommendation on where to go for this. Local guy quoted $8500 (he said new transmission, although questioning that) but it also seems a little out of his scope to handle. I've been trying to look around myself but haven't seem to found much in the way of re-manufactured.

2nd question is if there is anything else we should be looking at on the car to make sure it's worth repairing. Car is at about 150K, has given us very little problems. We did have the Engine Short Block replaced ad 60K for oil consumption issue. Another question is if there is other maintenance we should consider with the transmission out (and assuming they drop the engine also)

Appreciate any help or insight.
Edit to add that I am southwestern CT, north of Bridgeport
 
#2 ·
Welcome to the forum. I changed the title of your post to better reflect the problem.

If you can post the nine codes we may be able to offer some advice based on them.

A common problem is that one or more of the valve body solenoids (part of the transmission) fail which prevents drive or other transmission problems. A valve body costs around US$700 and with installation is usually quoted at around $1,500.

If you need a replacement transmission these are now available as rebuilt units from various US transmission rebuilders or you may even consider a second hand low mileage transmission from a wrecked vehicle.

Seagrass
 
#4 ·
So I got a call from the mechanic (secretary) that they were "done" with my car. Turns out that somehow because of the issues, the car now won't come out of Park and is recommending getting it towed to the dealer. They are hoping the dealership has a better way of handling the car. The transmission they think I need is limited to this model year, so they hope the dealer has some better ways of getting a hold of parts needed. And on top of that, a new transmission would need it's module programed by the dealer anyways, so they would have to send the car that way.

I did get the list of codes though, you might be getting my hopes up with a potentially cheaper fix:
P0171 - System to Lean B1
P07400 (typo?) - Transmission Control System Fault
P0841 - Secondary Transmission oil temp sensor performance
P0965 - Pressure Control solenoid "B" forward and reveres fault
C0045 - TCM Malfunction
C0231 - ECM Failure
C0323 - A/T fluid pressure/temp abnormal
C0242 - Power Supply voltage.

So would a valve solenoid failure result in Transmission oil not flowing in the system, which is why the system overheated and shut down? Would the ECM & power supply codes make sense as secondaries, or does that point to a different issue?

And am I reading that C0045 is the TPM monitor issue? that puts it at unrelated, but I did have the tires replaced ~1 month ago, so maybe they screwed it up?

So at this point, I think I am calling AAA in the morning to get them to tow if from the Mechanic to the Dealer (Dan Perkins Subaru) and seeing what they have to say.
 
#6 ·
I believe the code that matters is the P0965.

The C codes are communication codes that are often caused by poor electrical connections (underperforming battery, corroded battery terminals/cables, bad earth/ground connections).

I suspect the other transmission codes are a result of the P0965.

I do not recall where the pressure control solenoid B is located but if it is in the valve body AND as long as the failure of that solenoid has not caused other damage then a valve body replacement may fix your problem.

It sounds like your mechanic was out of his depth with this problem so diagnosis by the dealer might be a good (but expensive) option.

Seagrass