Hi, just found out about the mnsubaru forum and I thought I see if anyone can help with some questions. Had some growing issues with my forester. Started out popping out of 4th, although it would stay if you held it. Later it wouldn't even stay if you held it in and started popping out of 5th. The shop I bring it to said it needed a new tranny (way back when it first started to pop out of 4th), but with 220k miles I was looking for a low mileage car. I did pick up a 2003 pontiac vibe last april, but now I would like to see if I can get it running again (now that I have some extra time). Since right now I have more time then money and have been doing more car work more myself, I wanted to see how hard it would be to do a pull the tranny. I got the service manual and from what I read it isn't too big of job. I heard there was a nut that backs off and can cause some of these issues. Or else I'd look for a donor transmission. It looks like I have a FD of 4.111 from a transmission chart and forester transmissions from 97-04 look compatible among some others. Anyone have any thoughts or words of wisdom...? Bryce
I just swapped in a forester transmission into my GT. One guy can do it but just make sure that you have all the tools. I replaced all the seals on the 'new' tranny, (junk yard transmission) And replaced all the shift bushings. The only thing that I didn't have was time. (I'm a stay at home dad w/two kids and i work nights)
Been working at it the past 3 days for a few hours each day. Got all the rusty bolts out of the way... just have to unbolt the crossbrace under the tranny and should be able to pull it out. I was going to try and use my regular jack to bring it down. Maybe build a wood frame on top? Any thoughts?
I used a engine hoist on the top of the the transmission, (a chain to the pitch stop bolt) And a jack under it. The only reason it did this is because I was working alone.
Got the tranny out. The fluid was like mercury. I opened it up to see what broke. The bearing between 4th and 5th is shot. Time for a new transmission. Anyone have a used one? I think forester or outback 99-05 would work. Is my old transmission any use to anyone? It could probably be fixed by someone with the right know-how.
