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Transmission Issues

16K views 39 replies 7 participants last post by  Seymour 51 
#1 ·
About to take my 07 Tribeca into a Transmission Shop at the advice of a mechanic, and I wanted to get an idea of what type of job I might be looking at so I have some context when speaking with the new shop.

A week ago, driving our Tribeca, CEL illuminated (along with sport light, traction control etc... - systems which all get shut down when the CEL comes on). Car seemed to be stuck in a higher gear, and acceleration was sluggish.

Anyways, got it to the shop and after a few days they cleared the trouble codes, charged the battery (which they said was low, and a possible culprit). They said to drive it for a few days and bring it back in a week and let them hook the computer back up to see if anything comes back.

Here are the codes that they cleared: P0700 (TCM), P0741 (Torque Converter Clutch), and P0768 (Shift solenoid D).

Over the weekend - three days to be exact - the car had no issues. Shifted fine, accelerated fine. Got in to run an errand, and the CEL came back on. I took it back to the shop, and it's the same codes coming back with the suggestion to take it to a Transmission specialist.

Anyone have any insight into what I'm about to walk into? On the surface, since the car ran fine for several days - I don't think there is any major mechanical issues present. Could replacing the Shift Solenoid and TCC be actual issues? If so, from a parts perspective I would think that the price for the job would be much more reasonable compared to full-on transmission rebuild. Anyone have any idea on what typical pricing might be?

Thanks in advance! All comments welcome!
 
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#2 ·
The most consistent issue I have heard of is the valve body having issues which would include all the solenoids, including the ones to lockup the TC. I would price the repair and a used transmission and do whichever was cheaper.

How many miles? Have you changed the fluid?
 
#7 ·
Agreed on Subaru ATF-HP... if not an FSM recommended alternative.

Also, transmission fluid is a great solvent... to the extent that any of your problems are being caused by carbon or lacquer buildup, a few drain/fills may actually do you some good. The 4EAT on my Forester was experiencing some pretty bad torque binding-like symptoms that vanished after a can of Seafoam-Trans and three drain/fills over 1,000 miles. I don't know enough about the mechanicals of the valve body to know whether it can be fouled by buildup in the same way, but heck, at $4-5/qt and 4-5 qts per drain/fill, it may be worth a try.
 
#9 ·
Moving off topic - 'compatible' is tough to define. Only subaru knows all the materials in the transmission. Wasn't there an issue with syncros in the 5 speed getting eaten by suppose ably compatible aftermarket synthetic gear oil that was eating the copper (or something similar?)
 
#10 · (Edited)
Kind of a vague comparison there...amsoil is a well known and respected oil in the Subie community. Again nothing is wrong with the subaru hp, it is a great fluid. But it isn't the only fluid that works well in the 5eat, and the amsoil has proven itself.

Royal purple, causes issues in the 5eat that I have read for sure.

If you want to use that line of logic for using subaru HP, then you should also be using Subaru 5w 30 synthetic and no other for the engine...only subaru knows for sure the exact metal content of their bearings and bearing surfaces better safe than sorry ;)
 
#13 ·
Motor oil is a bit of a different animal because of the API/ILSAC/JASO standards involved... the FSM and user's manual clearly state that you can use any oil that meets the OEM standard. Brake fluid is the same way... anything that meets the DOT standard is fine, regardless of mfg.

ATF and coolant are different, however. There is no standard for ATF because it acts as both a lubricant and a hydraulic fluid... so while an aftermarket fluid might meet OEM specs for lubricating/viscosity, it may not meet specs for the hydraulics (or vice versa). Further, due to the chemical complexity of ATF (relative to standard motor oil), ATF's also contain a blend of anti-corrosion agents and friction modifiers that are specifically designed for the transmission's design, components & materials. All of this is not to say you can't find an A/M alternative, but meeting four sets of specifications (lubrication, hydraulics, anti-corrosion and friction modifiers) is a lot more difficult than meeting one or two specifications.

Coolant, while it performs a single function like motor oil and brake fluid, is formulated with anti-corrosion agents designed to be compatible (or not incompatible) with the radiator/engine materials (as most of us know, water and different metals don't play well together). So finding an truly compatible aftermarket alternative is a bit easier because you simply have to ensure that the A/M version has the same anti-corrosion properties as the OEM; otherwise, it's just a question of adjusting the blend to protect over the proper range of temperatures.
 
#14 ·
So what you are saying is that as long as an ATF specifically meets the requirements for Subaru HP, like amsoil does, it is just as good or better than oem. And on the same note, if you ask Subaru which oils meet their specs they only recommend their brand, since it is the only oil they test in their engines. :naughty:
 
#15 ·
Actually, that's not true. I've attached the FSM recommended fluids.

Engine oil says anything with the star they show, no mention of Subaru specific.

Transmission fluid has Subaru listed as recommended and these as alternatives:
IDEMITSU: APOLLOIL ATF HP
CASTROL: TRANSMAX J
Pennzoil QuakerState: Pennzoil
ATF-J

Coolant ONLY lists Subaru.
 

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#16 ·
Update - Transmission specialist in town here (30 years exp and a bunch of local awards over the years), was able to replace just the Solenoid. He did tell me that a bunch of mechanics were replacing the entire valve bodies, but he didn't understand why. He was able to get the solenoid for $150. Subaru's are a rarity in our parts - everyone one I talk to comments that they "don't see a lot of subarus around here."

It's my first time dealing with this shop, but he seems pretty legit. Labor, plus transmission flush, part, and taxes came out to $750. We just got the car back today, so I'll update everyone in a couple weeks!

I appreciate everyone's input ;)
 
#17 ·
In a couple months, I'm going to get the same shop to get me a quote on some tires.

When I do that, I'm planning on asking him where he got the solenoid from exactly in case it can help other Subaru owners in the future. If he can give me any info, I'll post it here as well.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Transmission. It's a tint between green and yellow, not red for sure.
The mechanic who fill in the fluid 3 years ago claims to be 100% sure about the specification fitting, and another mechanic (well known in Italy as extremely expert about Subaru), confirmed that he uses a green fluid for the E5AT (no idea abut the brand).
The official Subaru dealer where the issue on rear differential sensor was fixed, three weeks ago, claimed that fluid to be wrong, and strongly suggested to replace it as soon as possible!

I am a bit confused :confused:
 
#30 ·
We are just as confused, lol! Check out this thread may be of relevance here.

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/18688-transmission-fluid.html

When I changed my fluid our tribeca was almost to 100k miles and the fluid was orangish which I took to mean it was wearing down from the bright red most ATF is. And after 2 drain and fills it is still bright red over 50k miles later but with amsoil synthetic not Subaru HP. I would be concerned if the dealer told me it was wrong though.
 
#35 ·
:lol:
I 100% sure I checked the right dipstick! Thank you all anyway for explanations though.
Yes, driver side is left in Italy, like in the US! Left side driving, as far as I know, is in the UK, Oceania, and Japan.

I'm planning a service for the next month: engine oil & filter, AT fluid and filter, LPG filter, new battery, and maybe coolant drain and fill. My beloved car need some care...

I am not sure yet, whether to going to a dealer or doing it by myself.
(whether to go to a dealer or to do it by myself - which sentence is more correct?)
 
#36 ·
AT filter is not recommended unless you have a transmission failure/replacement, and it is absurdly difficult to get to. Since you are doing the coolant it would be a good time to do the thermostat and gasket as well. When I had to replace my radiator I replaced all the hoses as well. But I can't say it was necessary I had just happened to have ordered them because of the age of our Tribeca.
 
#37 ·
Which gasket do you mean? (Sorry I am asking something that could be obvious for you...)
Radiator has been replaced 2 years ago, maybe the thermostat has been replaced too? Where is it located?
 
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