Subaru dropping out of gear

Our '98 Legacy Outback Wagon (110,000 miles) has started to
occasionally drop
out of gear and into neutral. I'll just be driving along and Whoops! -
it's in neutral. I usually have to shift it back to neutral and into
gear again a couple of time to get it to engage. Has anyone
else had this experience? Any advice?

Hurricane wrote:
> Our '98 Legacy Outback Wagon (110,000 miles) has started to
> occasionally drop
> out of gear and into neutral. I'll just be driving along and Whoops! -
> it's in neutral. I usually have to shift it back to neutral and into
> gear again a couple of time to get it to engage. Has anyone
> else had this experience? Any advice?

Standard or Automagic?

Sorry phaeton - automatic.


phaeton wrote:
> Hurricane wrote:
> > Our '98 Legacy Outback Wagon (110,000 miles) has started to
> > occasionally drop
> > out of gear and into neutral. I'll just be driving along and Whoops! -
> > it's in neutral. I usually have to shift it back to neutral and into
> > gear again a couple of time to get it to engage. Has anyone
> > else had this experience? Any advice?
>
> Standard or Automagic?

Do you have a radio transmitter like a CB on board? I know the antenna
output and power lines from these can make the shift computers go insane
on some vehicles if they are too close to it.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Hurricane wrote:
>
> Sorry phaeton - automatic.
>
> phaeton wrote:
> > Hurricane wrote:
> > > Our '98 Legacy Outback Wagon (110,000 miles) has started to
> > > occasionally drop
> > > out of gear and into neutral. I'll just be driving along and Whoops! -
> > > it's in neutral. I usually have to shift it back to neutral and into
> > > gear again a couple of time to get it to engage. Has anyone
> > > else had this experience? Any advice?
> >
> > Standard or Automagic?

Hurricane wrote:
> Sorry phaeton - automatic.
>

Assuming the fluid level is fine- what does it look like? Any foam,
weird coloration, water, dead animals?

When it 'pops out of gear' is there anything consistent about the
throttle position? I.e., during acceleration only, cruise only, or
engine braking?

When it 'pops out of gear', does it ever go back in if you come to a
complete stop and just sit there with the engine idling? How about if
you rev the engine a tad?

When it goes back in, does it shudder or is it an otherwise 'normal'
engagement?

:-)

-phaeton

Thanks Mike. No CB - just the stock CD player.

Mike Romain wrote:
> Do you have a radio transmitter like a CB on board? I know the antenna
> output and power lines from these can make the shift computers go insane
> on some vehicles if they are too close to it.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> Hurricane wrote:
> >
> > Sorry phaeton - automatic.
> >
> > phaeton wrote:
> > > Hurricane wrote:
> > > > Our '98 Legacy Outback Wagon (110,000 miles) has started to
> > > > occasionally drop
> > > > out of gear and into neutral. I'll just be driving along and Whoops! -
> > > > it's in neutral. I usually have to shift it back to neutral and into
> > > > gear again a couple of time to get it to engage. Has anyone
> > > > else had this experience? Any advice?
> > >
> > > Standard or Automagic?

I haven't checked the fluid, but I will as soon as I get home. We
recently had the "differential seal" replaced ($500) and I believe it
involved pulling the transmission. Normally I would have assumed it was
related, but this problem occurred a few times about a year ago as
well.

It only drops out of gear when going through first or second, usually
after a stop or when entering a highway (yeek!). And it only goes back
in gear after moving the shifter to neutral and back to "Drive" a few
times. When it does get back in gear, seems to engage normally (no
ginding). I don't believe it has ever gone back into gear when just
idling.




phaeton wrote:
> Hurricane wrote:
> > Sorry phaeton - automatic.
> >
>
> Assuming the fluid level is fine- what does it look like? Any foam,
> weird coloration, water, dead animals?
>
> When it 'pops out of gear' is there anything consistent about the
> throttle position? I.e., during acceleration only, cruise only, or
> engine braking?
>
> When it 'pops out of gear', does it ever go back in if you come to a
> complete stop and just sit there with the engine idling? How about if
> you rev the engine a tad?
>
> When it goes back in, does it shudder or is it an otherwise 'normal'
> engagement?
>
> :-)
>
> -phaeton