Hi. I've owned my H6 Outback for the past couple of months now. It's a bit of a sorry tale so far!
In week 2 a series of fault lights showed up one day - Flashing sport light, and ABS / Stability Control lights on permanently.
When the lights came on this was accompanied gear change 1 to 2 being very long and slow, 2 to 3 coming in with a bang.
Stopped the car. Turned off the engine, restarted and the fault cleared and the gearbox shifted normally again, no fault lights either.
A couple of days later the same thing happened again. Only this time, everytime I cleared the lights and the fault by turning the engine off and back on again it would reappear a few metres down the road again.
On the third attempt the fault cleared and didn't return for until a half an hour later.
Diagnostics have shown a couple of problems pointing to the rear speed sensor and the TCU....Both relatively expensive just to try and see if it stops the problem, especially if it turns out to be something else!
Had the fluid changed last week. Two things I've noticed:
1. The fault doesn't occur quite as regularly as it used to (however once it happens the first time, it can either be cleared and not come back for miles, or it can keep reoccurring 3 or 4 times, cleared each time by restarting the engine, before it then disappears and doesn't appear again for miles)..
2. The gearchange when the fault HAS NOT occurred is much smoother than before.
When the fluid was changed there were some metal particles in the gearbox sump.
My questions are:
1. Does anyone know of any economical fix for this or a way of diagnosing the problem beyond doubt?
2. The garage in their haste weren't able to find the AT filter location so it wasn't changed (Before you say it.....I know!!!).
I was just thinking; If I have the fluid changed again, have the power-flushed to get rid of as much of the metal particles as possible, have the filter changed, refill with Lucas No-Slip and top of with proper Subaru ATF, do you think that will make things better?
Having the box refurbished is almost as much as the car is worth!
The plan is then to partially retire this Outback and use it for hunting and rural-work and get another one to replace it....This time with a proper warranty!!!
Thanks in advance for any suggestion.