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It's a 2005 subaru outback. It was under snow and freezing for about six days. When I tried to drive it, it started up fine but drove kind of noisy and woudln't go above 20-25 for about ten minutes. Then I stopped at a red light. When the light changed, it would barely move at all. I managed to pull over to the side. I saw there was a lot of (oil? grease? trans fluid?) on the ground underneath

The car would rev up, the engine goes on, the heat/AC works, but it wouldn't actually move. When I change from park to drive or reverse, usually I feel a little lurch. But now I don't feel anthing. When I press on the gas, it revs up, but either doesn't move at all, or moves like an inch or two and then stops.

I had it towed to aamco (it was the closest place) and the guy says the trans needs to be rebuilt and it will cost 2400+, but I don't know enough to tell if I'm being screwed over here...

Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
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iammax
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1 Answers1

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Don't let a shop near it just yet!

That spot on the ground is not enough trans fluid to stop a Subaru - but it may have been losing fluid over a period of time. I would check the level of transmission fluid - you'll probably find it's empty.

Before you fill it up, see if you can find the leak. Subaru's leak transmission fluid from the pan gasket, the transmission wiring harness o-ring, or from the transmission cooler on the drivers side of the radiator. If it's in the middle of the car, it's one of the first two, and if it's under the drivers-side front wheel, it's the rubber hose from the radiator to the transmission hard line.

In any of these cases, the repair is pretty simple; the transmission pan gasket would be the hardest, at about two hours time for a mechanic. The others are 15 minute jobs.

One thing to consider; it's not unknown for Cheap Oil Change Shops (mentioning no names!) to drain the transmission fluid on Subaru's by accident, because they unscrew the wrong bolt (they're pretty close), and then overfill the oil (because none was taken out). There'll be enough left for a short while, but then any minor leak will cause it to lose all drive.

PeteCon
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