Rough AT shifting from 1st to 2nd

[kansaisubaru]

I have rough auto transmission shifting from 1st gear to 2nd only when the engine is cold. The problem disappears after some driving and the engine warms up. I changed the ATF recently. I have the fluid at the correct level (hard to tell though b/c the fluid is so thin and clear-looking on the dipstick) FYI my car is a 1995 Subaru Impreza 2.2l with a 4 speed automatic transmission. Any suggestions? Any additives I should try?

 

[sj72]

Kansai,

I own a 2002 Legacy GT, 40000 miles, ATF changed at 30,000. What type of "rough" shift do you experience? Do the RPM's move to around 3,000 between shifting from 1st to 2nd and you feel like the AT is "lagging" a bit? When it is really cold outside I also experience a slight shift lag, rpm's move to about 2500 to 3000 in 1st before shift into 2nd occurs. Once the fluid is warmed up a bit, the car shifts from 1st to 2nd normally. I have checked my fluid levels religiously, thinking that my ATF was low.

Keep in mind that Subaru's have a shift lockout function. This keep the 4EAT transmission only shifting from 1st through 3rd until the ATF warms up. Once fluid is warm, the car will then shift 1-4.

Link to NAISOC, a Subaru owners board, thought you might find helpful info there as well

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/index.php?s=

Shane

 

[Eddie]

SOA has a TSB on the delayed or flared shift and it states that it is caused by leakdown of the acumulator for the 1-2-3 shift. They state that is is most common when the vehicle has not been operated for some time,especially overnight. They say no damage or long term effects. My 2000 Forester exibits a shift overrun of ~2-300 rpm while the trans is cold. Ed