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Old 03-13-2013, 03:29 AM   #1
afbd5
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Default 4EAT shifting issues. Please Help

For the transmission Guru's. I have a 2001 JDM legacy B4 with the 4EAT transmission. Lately the transmission has been acting a little strange. When accelerating lightly (less than 10% throttle, just a guesstimate) it will "flutter when it tries to go into third the first time since starting to move (everytime I start from a stop when the trans is in normal mode). Fluid level is fine and fluid does not appear to be or smell burned. Trans will shift fine when put into sport shift mode and I hit the buttons for each gear. It just wont lock the converter. When in normal mode and I'm cruising at around at 25-35kph or 70-90kph the trans will continuously seem to up and downshift without gas pedal input. It almost seems like it's the convertor locking and unlocking. There is no known event that caused it to start behaving like this. Does anyone have any ideas on what could be going on? Thanks
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Old 03-15-2013, 08:15 AM   #2
afbd5
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Anyone. Prease.............
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Old 03-15-2013, 02:04 PM   #3
Strider327
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You should record a video. That might help illustrate the problem better. Sounds like slippage but I could be wrong.
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Old 03-15-2013, 05:22 PM   #4
Tomato_88
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Also how many miles with what kind of service history?
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Old 03-16-2013, 06:16 AM   #5
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Vehicle was purchased used about 6 months ago with 110,000km on the clock. Last documented trans fluid change was at 70,000km. Car now has 115,000km. I was able to take the pan off today to check for any obvious mechanical issues or clogged filter screens. The fluid was clean, the filter was not clogged, and the particle magnet had very little metal fuzz on it.

Problems started to show itself about 1.5 months ago when it would only shift back and forth at 50kph. Now it's doing the low speed and high speed stuff. Also, today I had to give it moderate throttle from a stop making an immediate 90* right hand turn. When the car shifted into second gear it felt like a had "dropped the clutch" from 4,000 rpm from shifting so hard. then it would not shift out of second gear. I was able to come to a stop and check to make sure nothing had exited the case to find nothing and no odd noises. When I drove off, it shifted normally like before. I've started searching for another transmission, but I want to attempt to diagnose this first before I take the plunge with another trans as I feel it may possibly be an electronics issue. Something like a speed sensor no communicating properly. However, there aren't any hard codes being highlighted by a check engine light. I called a few dealers in the states yesterday to try and get some advice, but they said that they would not even attempt to diagnose problems with automatics. They just replace them at the first sign of issues. Seems like a crappy practice to me, or they just didn't want to help. Anyone know any good subaru trans guys I could call to get an idea of where to start.

I'll see what I can do about a video. Wouldn't slippage be consistent throughout the entire rpm range of the gear? This only occurs at very low and/or neutral load while moving. It's almost like the kickdown speed is set wrong. IDK, I'm not very well versed in automatics, especially electronic ones. I'd take a good old TH400 with a manual transfer case and adjustable kickdown cable any day. The heck with all this electronic nonsense.

Also of note. I am in Japan and this is the JDM transmission with Tiptronic controls.
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Old 03-16-2013, 06:19 AM   #6
Strider327
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Sounds like a valve body issue.
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Old 03-16-2013, 07:08 AM   #7
afbd5
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Car is scheduled fro a trans flush on Tuesday, so I'll see where that get me. It will either get better or worse. Did some digging in another direction and found alot on the transfer duty solenoid. Do you know if the rear wheels should be locked when the trans is in park? I had the car running on a lift a few weeks ago and notice that even with the car in park the back wheels were spinning while in the air. They could be stopped by hand, but would resume rotation once released. If duty solenoid is failing that would cause fluid to be bled to the rear clutch pack and cause rotation when there is no resistance and if they are not affected by the parking pawl mechanism. Perhaps they are not joined to allow towing with the front wheels in the air. IDK. Any thoughts?
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Old 03-16-2013, 01:17 PM   #8
Strider327
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Well if the Duty C solenoid is failing you would have to open up the transfer case to replace the solenoid and drop the trans pan. Are you getting torque bind? (Tire skipping/hopping on tight turns at low speeds)
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Old 03-16-2013, 08:55 PM   #9
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Yes, am getting torque bind. Initially thought it was a tight rear LSD, but after thinking about it. I'm more convinced it is the solenoid. Just have to confirm the part number and order one.
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Old 03-17-2013, 12:14 AM   #10
Strider327
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How bad is the torque binding?

31523AA420 PLATE SET- TRF CLUTCH 173.28
31942AA090 VALVE AY TRANSFER CLUTCH 112.94 (DUTY C SOLENOID)
806735210 OIL SEAL 19.20 (I THINK THIS IS FOR THE VALVE ASSEMBLY - DUTY C)
31337AA129 GASKET TRANS CASE REAR 8.78 (MY TRANS SHOP USED SILICONE or similar)

I believe these are the part numbers.

Last edited by Strider327; 03-17-2013 at 12:22 AM.
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Old 03-17-2013, 02:02 AM   #11
Bikelok
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I just did my wife's Leggy Outback 4EAT Duty-C solenoid and cluthchpack.
It can be done with the trans in the car. It's not the most fun thing I have ever done.

Drop the exhaust, lower the trans, loosen the driveshaft center carrier, remove the rear driveshaft cover plate.
Then pull the driveshaft out of the transmission. You don't have to remove the shaft from the diff.
Then wrestle off the transfer case. Replace all the parts. The hub that the clutchpack goes into comes out of the transfer case, so you can install it on the transmission (almost impossible to do if you don't remove the hub).
Make sure the parking pawl spring is set, and don't pinch the wires as you install the transfer case.
That's just the basic gist of it.
Like I said, fun stuff.

I don't think they can help you in Japan, but Subarupartsforyou has a convenient kit with all the parts and gaskets.

The shifting issues do not sound like the solenoid, but the torque binding does.
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Old 03-17-2013, 02:46 AM   #12
Strider327
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bikelok View Post
I just did my wife's Leggy Outback 4EAT Duty-C solenoid and cluthchpack.
It can be done with the trans in the car. It's not the most fun thing I have ever done.

Drop the exhaust, lower the trans, loosen the driveshaft center carrier, remove the rear driveshaft cover plate.
Then pull the driveshaft out of the transmission. You don't have to remove the shaft from the diff.
Then wrestle off the transfer case. Replace all the parts. The hub that the clutchpack goes into comes out of the transfer case, so you can install it on the transmission (almost impossible to do if you don't remove the hub).
Make sure the parking pawl spring is set, and don't pinch the wires as you install the transfer case.
That's just the basic gist of it.
Like I said, fun stuff.

I don't think they can help you in Japan, but Subarupartsforyou has a convenient kit with all the parts and gaskets.

The shifting issues do not sound like the solenoid, but the torque binding does.
How long did it take you?
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Old 03-17-2013, 03:16 AM   #13
Bikelok
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About 6 hours.
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Old 03-17-2013, 05:31 AM   #14
afbd5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Strider327 View Post
How bad is the torque binding?

31523AA420 PLATE SET- TRF CLUTCH 173.28
31942AA090 VALVE AY TRANSFER CLUTCH 112.94 (DUTY C SOLENOID)
806735210 OIL SEAL 19.20 (I THINK THIS IS FOR THE VALVE ASSEMBLY - DUTY C)
31337AA129 GASKET TRANS CASE REAR 8.78 (MY TRANS SHOP USED SILICONE or similar)

I believe these are the part numbers.
Yeah, those are the US part numbers. Just need to track down a parts breakdown for the JDM version to make sure there aren't subtle differences.
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Old 03-17-2013, 03:37 PM   #15
04stigeorge
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sorry in case I missed it. you should be getting a code??
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Old 04-26-2013, 02:26 PM   #16
CNY_Dave
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I have found anything to do with the AWD, the only codes that will be set are for a speed-sensor or for the transfer solenoid going open or shorted 9the TCU has a line where it monitors the output to the solenoid).
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