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Different parts between 2013 and 2014 CVT transmissions (long)

13K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  zdubas 
#1 ·
I am having trouble finding it reasonably priced transmission for my 2013 outback, so I have started looking at some of the other years. It seems like 2014 is the closest to my transmission. Yes, I know that they are all the same model transmission, but it looks like there were little differences from year-to-year. The dealer and some indy Subaru specialists even warned me about using the CVT transmission out of a different model year Ouback.

Curiosity got the better of me, and today was a slow workday. So I printed out all of the sheets of part numbers for the 2014 and 2013 transmissions. Tonight after dinner, I spent an hour going through each one line by line to find where the differences exist. Dear Lord, this transmission is really making me insane!

There are few differences worth noting, but most were rather minor.

Anyway, I wrote all this stuff down so that I would remember it, but I thought I would paste it up here in case it helps someone having the same problem. Here is what I found.

Chain/Pulley Set
RETAINER

Part Number: 31552AA140
This part is listed on all of the chain/pulley sets in transmissions after 2014. No Subaru CVT in 2013 has it.
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2014_Outback-25L-CVT-Base/RETAINER/49241453/31552AA140.html

GEAR-REDUCTION DRIVE
Part Number: 31446AA650 (For MY 2013)
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...GEAR-REDUCTION-DRIVE/49241028/31446AA650.html

Part Number: 31446AA680 (For MY 2014)
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...GEAR-REDUCTION-DRIVE/49241030/31446AA680.html

PLATE-DISH
Part Number: 31668AA230
This part is listed on all of the chain/pulley sets in transmissions after 2014. No Subaru CVT in 2013 has it.
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2014_Outback-25L-CVT-Base/PLATE-DISH/49241845/31668AA230.html



Transmission Case
COVER-TRANS CASE

Part Number: 32198AA040
The 2013 transmission lists two different insulation covers for the transmissions. This one is not listed on 2014. Apparently it got superseded by 32198AA081
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...ase/COVER-TRANS-CASE/49243153/32198AA081.html



Transmission Case Fittings
BOLT ASSEMBLY-SEAL

Part Number: 31325AA220
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...e/BOLT-ASSEMBLY-SEAL/49240651/31325AA220.html
This part was not on the 2013 transmissions. It’s a drain plug (fill plug?) on the top of the transmission case. In the previous year, they used 31325KA080.



AT Control Valve
STAY-TRANSMISSION HARNESS

Part Number: 24046AA260 (2012-2013)
24046AA290 ( 2013-2014)
This part looks like it is a mount for one of the transmission harness plugs. They changed the part between 2012-2014, and 2013 was the switchover year.
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...TRANSMISSION-HARNESS/49234129/24046AA260.html
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...TRANSMISSION-HARNESS/49234131/24046AA290.html


OIL STRAINER ASSEMBLY-TRANSMISSION
Part Number: 31728AA121 (2010-2013) or 31728AA141 (2013-2014)
These transmissions have two filters. This is the big flat one that sits inside the CVT oil pan. It looks like they used changed the filter during the 2013 model year.
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...SSEMBLY-TRANSMISSION/49242226/31728AA121.html
https://parts.subaru.com/p/Subaru_2...SSEMBLY-TRANSMISSION/49242228/31728AA141.html



Transmission Control Unit
UNIT-AT CONTROL

Part Number: 30919AC620 (2013)
30919AD440 (2014)

This is the computer for the transmission. In 2014, they changed it to part number 30919AD440. I am not sure if these are coded to the ECU, so I’m not sure this would be moved during a swap.
 
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#2 ·
Followup: I tried doing the same thing, comparing a 2013 Outback CVT to one of the 2015-17 CVTs. i went through about 5 groups of parts, and gave up. there were a lot of chancges to the TR580 between Gen4 and Gen5 Outbacks:

2015's computer is in a completely different location
2015 has a very different set of relays under the dash
2015 has an external AFT cooling system (jealous!)
2015 has a different set of part numbers for the chain pulleys
2015 has a different number for the transmission case
2015 has a different final drive ratio

This stuff raised enough red flags for me that i don't want to try swapping on into my 2013. Granted, if someone else here can tell us that they made it work in their car, I will gladly change my tune.
 
#7 ·
SUCCESS! The 2014 trans bolted in and the electrically harnesses all plugged in perfectly. The original 2013 TCM and ECU didn't care what transmission was installed. There were no CEL's or mechanical hiccups and the car has been driving fine. I've only got about an hour of driving in at city and highway speeds. I'm sure it'll get better as the trans "relearns" through driving.

Maybe a swap to the new 2014 TCM might give better shifts and overall longevity but it's not necessary. I'm going to run it as is.
 
#12 ·
The car is still driving good. The shudder is still there but it only occurs at a specific speed (20-25 mph). It also happens on the exact road at the end of my commute every morning. 30 min on the highway is perfectly fine but the second I turn onto the last residential road it starts to shudder for the last ¼ mile until I pull into work. However the same road doesn’t do it when I return from a quick lunch break or when I leave work. It seems the shudder only occurs once the car is up to temp and not when it’s cold.

Per this thread it is “normal” as it goes away immediately with more throttle input or a manual up/downshift on the paddles.

https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/shudder-with-cvt-during-mild-acceleration-shifting.219770/

The trans was pretty well drained when I received it and I topped it off with about 8-9 qts of fresh fluid. I did the relearn procedure (manual power cycle without dealership tool) during first startup. It might help to rerun the relearn procedure as the new trans is now “broken” in and the fluids have been properly burped through the system but I just haven’t bothered. I also pondered installing the 2014 TCM computer as it is easy to get to and supposedly has reconfigured shift points but it isn’t a high priority to me.
 
#18 ·
The car is still driving good. The shudder is still there but it only occurs at a specific speed (20-25 mph). It also happens on the exact road at the end of my commute every morning. 30 min on the highway is perfectly fine but the second I turn onto the last residential road it starts to shudder for the last ¼ mile until I pull into work. However the same road doesn’t do it when I return from a quick lunch break or when I leave work. It seems the shudder only occurs once the car is up to temp and not when it’s cold.

Per this thread it is “normal” as it goes away immediately with more throttle input or a manual up/downshift on the paddles.

https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/shudder-with-cvt-during-mild-acceleration-shifting.219770/

The trans was pretty well drained when I received it and I topped it off with about 8-9 qts of fresh fluid. I did the relearn procedure (manual power cycle without dealership tool) during first startup. It might help to rerun the relearn procedure as the new trans is now “broken” in and the fluids have been properly burped through the system but I just haven’t bothered. I also pondered installing the 2014 TCM computer as it is easy to get to and supposedly has reconfigured shift points but it isn’t a high priority to me.
Hey teebeekay, thanks for sharing all of your experience. Any update on your 2014 transmission in your 2013 outback? How's it working? I know this post is a few years old but I am in the same boat with a total failure on my 2013 and am looking into used transmissions. I'm curious your experience over the last few years. It sounds like you swapped the 2014 TCM with the TCM from your 2013 transmission, is that correct? So you wouldn't have needed to take it into the dealer to be reprogrammed.
 
#14 ·
There's now evidence that a CVT from the '15/'16 Legacy Sedan will work fine on a 2014 Outback. Is it logical that it would therefore also work on a 2013?

See this thread -> Differences / Interchangeability of TR580 CVT "Lineartronic" Especially TR580KHEAA vs. TR580KHEBA
Awesome, thanks for the good information!

Also to add to the discussion, I did install a 2014 transmission from an Outback into a 2013 Outback a few weeks ago. No issues at all. Added Lubeguard CVT treatment as well. Driving great.
 
#16 ·
Any updates on this? I have a 2013 at 107,000 miles. I'm shooting for 250,000 miles. The transmission does the rev drop when stopping, and am thinking of purchasing a nice used trans now, and being prepared to swap.

Seeing as the 2014 is cheaper and newer, that's my target one. Is that still the best approach? Or is the 2015-2017 an even better option?

Thanks,
 
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