PhilipJB Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Recently got a 2006 Legacy 3.0 Auto as the family wagon. 94000 miles, appears in good condition considering. Decent service history although it's not seen a main dealer for 3 years & 25000 miles, wondering whether to take it in for an OEM health check - planning to keep it a while, want to look after it. Put 4 new Avons on it a week after purchase, they feel great vs the odd front-rear pairs that were on it before. Engine sounds & feels OK. Gearbox smooth, although it readily drops a gear to accelerate gently on motorway when I'd be happy for it to stay in 5th - is this normal? Drivers electric window switch feels worn out. Nothing else to report yet. All advice appreciated, especially pitfalls to look out for & recommended maintenance. It's my 4th Subaru, but first time for a 10 year old example. All 3 others have been brilliant with no problems at all, not even a light bulb. Previous: 2004 Impreza WRX 2009 Legacy 2.0D 2009 Tribeca 3.6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandals Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Welcome to the club! You say it's not seen a main dealer in 25k, i assume someone else has serviced it since then? I'm sure someone else will answer your other questions... I have no clue about auto boxes :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipJB Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 8 minutes ago, Sandals said: Welcome to the club! You say it's not seen a main dealer in 25k, i assume someone else has serviced it since then? I'm sure someone else will answer your other questions... I have no clue about auto boxes :D Yes, serviced at independents in the meantime. But Subarus are made a bit different from your average, so maybe I should take a bigger bill in this getting-to-know-you stage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandals Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 11 minutes ago, PhilipJB said: Yes, serviced at independents in the meantime. But Subarus are made a bit different from your average, so maybe I should take a bigger bill in this getting-to-know-you stage? Where are you located? Someone on here probably knows a garage local to you that knows a thing or two about scoobys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stants Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Bigger bill for a major aervice is going to be circa 800-1000 from a main dealer. Good independant should do it for half that Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark D Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Mine never drops down from 5th! But then again my 2001 only has 4 gears :( always good to check for codes when you get a new car, I have found codes on older subarus and someone's Ford Focus which kept cutting out (3 codes even when the dash said no codes stored and MiL is off). I forgot what year it is for but did see a transmission checking thing where you play around with the key position and change position of the shifter that would test the transmission but never tried it so don't know if it works Sent from my iphone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark D Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/113278-how-to-read-transmission-codes/ Sent from my iphone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark D Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 https://vimeo.com/180903234 Just tried it on mine after driving to work and parking up in the car park Sent from my iphone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffLeggy Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Welcome! I assume you have a sport mode? If your in that it will be more keen to drop down. Depending on speed incline etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipJB Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 1 hour ago, GeoffLeggy said: Welcome! I assume you have a sport mode? If your in that it will be more keen to drop down. Depending on speed incline etc etc There is a sport mode, but this is happening in normal auto. I could force it to hold a gear manually with the tiptronic. Just wonder if the box is being a bit trigger happy in fly-casual mode, or if there might be a small gremlin. Incline is interesting - thanks for thinking to mention. The box also often seems unsure which gear to settle for on motorway/dual carriageway climbs, and swaps gears to & fro in quick succession. A bit annoying when just wanting to take it easy. Does anyone else find the same, or could there be something up, or is it just user error? ;-) That's a mean-looking dirt-shredder you've got there :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipJB Posted August 31, 2016 Author Share Posted August 31, 2016 1 hour ago, Mark D said: https://vimeo.com/180903234 Just tried it on mine after driving to work and parking up in the car park Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Hi & thanks so much for the research & link. Wish I could understand what it all means but fraid it's Chinese to me... I daren't get that involved at this stage in case I bugger it up & create more trouble than there is - given that there's not much wrong, and maybe nothing at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffLeggy Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 25 minutes ago, PhilipJB said: There is a sport mode, but this is happening in normal auto. I could force it to hold a gear manually with the tiptronic. Just wonder if the box is being a bit trigger happy in fly-casual mode, or if there might be a small gremlin. Incline is interesting - thanks for thinking to mention. The box also often seems unsure which gear to settle for on motorway/dual carriageway climbs, and swaps gears to & fro in quick succession. A bit annoying when just wanting to take it easy. Does anyone else find the same, or could there be something up, or is it just user error? ;-) That's a mean-looking dirt-shredder you've got there :-) Out of interest have you tried it in sport to see if it differs at all? I cant think it would be a gremlin just doing that but Im no auto wizard! Ha thanks, not for much longer! Baby on way so getting it back to stock lol. People know I dont need much excuse to spend money though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david1972 Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 My 3.0 auto outback didn't suffer from this, which suggests something may be up somewhere Sent from my iphone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenmamba Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 11 hours ago, PhilipJB said: odd front-rear pairs The transmission probably didn't enjoy having different tyres fitted on it - awd vehicles prefer similar rolling diameters all round. How's the auto fluid look/level etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark D Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 There might be a video on YouTube to make it easier to follow, but just like how you have engine codes, this will display transmission codes. It might only work pre 2004, had to go to work so didn't really look into it that much, but worth a try :) Sent from my iphone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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