Subaru Repair: 99 Forester tranny slips into neutral, Subaru Transmission problem

Question
Hi, thanks so much for volunteering your time here, I really appreciate it!  I've got a 99 forester, and often when I slow down and stop quickly (like when a light turns yellow and you need to stop fast), upon stopping the car acts as if it's in neutral (gear shift hasn't moved) and you can sit there happily revving the engine.  Eventually, after revving the engine up and down it will "catch" as if you suddenly shifted into gear and off you go.  If you stop gradually it generally does not do this.  Flushing and replacing the tranny fluid (dealer's idea) solved the problem, for about a month, then it came back.  I've heard of other people with the same problem but no solutions except one guy said they replaced a rear(I think) tranny seal (that maybe was allowing fluid to move from one part of the tranny to another?) and that seemed to fix it for him.  Any thoughts?

Answer
Hey Frank,

The front pinion seals can leak allowing Automatic transmission fluid to be pushed into the front differential.  This creates a low fluid level in the transmission. Which can cause symptoms.

If you check the fluid level and it is low,correct the level and see what happens.

If the fluid level is ok, if the ATF temperature light is NOT flashing than you are on your way to needing a transmission I am sorry to say.  

If the ATF light IS flashing that is where you would want to start, with a proper diagnoses.

Justin

http://allwheeldriveauto.com/