(repost) 2000 Outback shifting problems

[fufuliu]

(Sorry if you're seeing this twice -- I canceled the earlier post
because
of newsreader issues, and am reposting from a different account)
Hi,
I recently bought a used 2000 Outback, and have noticed what seems
to
be a fairly serious problem when shifting into drive. It isn't just a
delay, but will (sporadically, not every time, which is why I didn't
catch it before buying) simply not shift into drive until I apply some
gas, and then it jolts into drive.
This is most noticeable when shifting from reverse to drive, where
if
I let up on the brake, it will continue to roll backward, unless I
hit
the gas, at which point it jolts forward (although sometimes with an
additional brief delay -- I can see and hear the RPMs go up before it
starts going forward, but that never translates into backwards
acceleration, luckily).
As you can imagine, this isn't a lot of fun when trying to get in
and
out of tight parking spaces.
Any idea what might be causing it?
Thanks for your help,

Brian

 

[Edward Hayes]

Check AT fluid level and condition.

 

[fufuliu]

Check AT fluid level and condition.

Sorry, should have said that both fluids have high levels and
are very clean.

Brian

 

[.._..]

Sorry, should have said that both fluids have high levels and
are very clean.

Brian

Are you SURE?

In my experience those things are very tricky to get right. I even had the
dealer miss it by about half a bottle when they did it. I checked it, it
was right after I got home. But the next day it was off the bottom of the
stick low.

There are lots and lots of nooks and crannies in those things that means
that if you drive on a hill after "fillling" you could end up low again
becase a bit more ended up in some out of the way place in there.

Checking ATF is something you gotta do while its cold, then while it's warm,
and then after following the instructions in the manual to the letter. Then
do it again the next day and it will read differently. Just use a
statistical method, fill it a bit if it looks low. I took me two weeks of
checking it twice a day (before leaving for work and after getting home) for
it to stop acting wierd. I put a bit in each time it came out low and
eventually it worked the way I expected and has not been a problem since.

Check your schedule for change, it might be close enough that it's time to
do it anyway... as you could have some sort of sticking or other problem
going on.

 

[Trlather]

(Sorry if you're seeing this twice -- I canceled the earlier post
because
of newsreader issues, and am reposting from a different account)
Hi,
I recently bought a used 2000 Outback, and have noticed what seems
to
be a fairly serious problem when shifting into drive. It isn't just a
delay, but will (sporadically, not every time, which is why I didn't
catch it before buying) simply not shift into drive until I apply some
gas, and then it jolts into drive.
This is most noticeable when shifting from reverse to drive, where
if
I let up on the brake, it will continue to roll backward, unless I
hit
the gas, at which point it jolts forward (although sometimes with an
additional brief delay -- I can see and hear the RPMs go up before it
starts going forward, but that never translates into backwards
acceleration, luckily).
As you can imagine, this isn't a lot of fun when trying to get in
and
out of tight parking spaces.
Any idea what might be causing it?
Thanks for your help,

Brian

You need the low clutch replaced

 

[fufuliu]

You need the low clutch replaced

What's the low clutch? Is it part of an AT? Related to the low
reverse drum?
I also forgot to say in my original post that it's an AT.
Thanks,

Brian