AT Oil Temp Light Indicator Now Only Flashing Brake Light

[2015 Outback]

Ok, here is a bit of problem I am facing. I have a 2015 Subaru Outback Limited (4 cylinder) with 215000 miles. A few week back the AT Oil Temp Light and Brake light started flashing....dash reads "transmission" issue. When I pulled the code using AutoZone scanner it showed a P0971 code. I researched this and it all pointed to a probable valve body issue common for these cars. Well, the car ran fine and the lights would pop on sporadically (for example, at first it would light up after about 4 miles of driving....then after a few day it would light up around 10 to 20 miles of driving....now it doesn't come on at all - driven the car a couple hundred miles on highway, in rain, how outside temps, locally....nothing).

Ok, great, so some flaky electrical issue with the solenoid.....but then yesterday when driving the brake light ONLY starts flashing and the car shows "parking brake" warning. Hmm....so I drive it home and start it the next day - no light - drive it around - nothing.

So has anyone had this happen. Could be two issues all happening at once but seems odd. Has anyone had a AT Oil Temp issue with the P0971 code auto correct itself over time? I do know my parking brake connector broke the connector tab a couple years back and was strapped back on using a zip tie (ok, back yard quick fix that worked so left it as is since then), but how could that explain a transient flashing AT Oil Temp light and code that now went away????

At 215000 miles I am hesitant to spend 2K on a valve body fix if there is possibly some other explanation for all this....any help greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[Dick Foster]

For wonky brake warnings, the first thing to do is check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder. As brakes wear the fluid level drops tripping the warning light. Can't hurt.