Wolvreen

1998 S Reg 90k miles, Impreza 2.0 Sport (not WRX) automatic
Only when its very cold my gf finds the following problem:

Shes doing about 70 - 4th gear, tries to kick down to overtake and the revs shoot thru to the red line. The car seems to have selected no gear - there is no drive. Takes her foot back off the accelerator a little and 4th gear is selected again.

Shes tried using the gear selector and the same thing happens, - no gear until she selects drive again.

When the car has warmed up a little more the problem goes and the car is fine.

The autobox was checked and a fluid change in December. Since this has started the level has been checked and its ok.

This only seems to be a problem on very cold mornings (UK).

Thanks for your help.

scooby546

iTrader: (1)

I would have suggested fluid levels, but if they're okay then it might be worth taking it in to get checked. However, as you say the problem goes away as the temp. rises, it might also be a partially blocked valve or oilway inside the gearbox... as the fluid thins out with temperature it might start to pass through, hence the problem goes away.

Hope that helps some...

stockcar

it is apparently normal for the subaru box not to "lock down" until certain temps have been reached...............if its fine when warm then i would suggest its not a "fault" as such

Wolvreen

Stockcar, what do you mean?

It cannot be normal to select no-gear at high speed causing the engine to rev into the red line?

megabusa

Have a smell of the transmission fluid, if it smells burnt then a clutch has been slipping It certainly sounds like a fluid pressure loss problem.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

shouldnt be doing 70 until the engine has warmed up anyway

Wolvreen

Its an auto.

I suspect the torque converter, but cannot really prove it.

megabusa

Autos have clutches too (hydraulic)!!

Wolvreen

No they dont.

Sounds like you are talking SMG/DSG - these are semi-automatic sequential gearboxes. A whole different ball park.

The torque convertor acts as a clutch.

megabusa

OK, sorry for trying to help, 8 years working on autos cant have taught me much....

beemerboy.

its a new government device fitted beside the roads to stop speeders.

along with their intented 70mph marshalls !!!!!

get it checked over, before it locks up completely or bits start wearing!!

BB

beemerboy.

try here:-

http://www.2carpros.com/makes/subaru1.htm

BB

Wolvreen

Megabusa: Sorry to be abrupt. Maybe we are just using different terminology.
Need to find the cause of this problem, its a bit worrying.