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2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem


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ross59
Novice

Oct 16, 2016, 1:43 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1725 views)
2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Greetings,

Last week while camping, backed over a rock and pancaked the automatic transmission pan. Originally thought the oil pan may have been involved but the plastic skid cover was removed and there was no impact, just the tranny pan.

Shut the car down immediately and had it flat bedded off the rock, with no other impacts occurring.

The pan, upon removal was pushed in from the impact but not not more than about 1/4" on an area a little smaller that a softball diameter. The original pan had 4 dimples from the inside to that caused the original to leak.

The internal screen filter/pickup assembly also was distorted/bent at the pickup by about 1/4

".

Inspected transmission and solenoid. All looked fine, nothing bent, nothing appeared to have been impacted, even the bolt that dimpled the pan were fine. No cracking or any appearance of impact other than the filter pickup.

Both internal screen/pickup along with the transmission pan and magnet were sourced and purchased new and installed.

The transmission was filled until level on the stick was reading correct for a cold engine. Battery was disconnected to reset any possible codes as I wasn't sure if the AT Temp code needed to be reset.

Started vehicle and the AT Temp light along with the check engine light came on. Have rechecked and added fluid after driving several hundred feet.

Does not appear to be leaking anywhere. Car seems to shift fine but the lights have not gone off as yet. Have lifted the positive cable on the battery several times just in case, but light remains

Anybody have any ideas?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 16, 2016, 2:33 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1721 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Bummer. IDK - impact such that the thing needed to be lifted off and damage you mentioned may be fixed but would if you are comfortable that it's safe drive it or get codes read where it is and suspect wiring got smooshed or pulled - two rubbing together or some whacked something?


Code for general check engine items may help find which circuit so you can chase down wiring if not obvious on another look.


Damage issues. I just can't think of one approach that fits all for that type issue so looking for more physical issues would be my first step now concetraing on wiring to assorted sensors and things?


T



ross59
Novice

Oct 16, 2016, 2:59 PM

Post #3 of 11 (1718 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Greetings Tom,

Thanks for the response.

I caught the smooth rock on one side diagononally and ended up with it just ahead of the shifter between the tranny pan and the shifter. The actual impact was minimal and occurred slowly.

The owner's manual mentioned the battery disconnection has to be done when the transmission fluid is changed.

Going to check a couple of a sources tomorrow.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 16, 2016, 3:16 PM

Post #4 of 11 (1717 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Been through a few of these each different issues than another. Despite it not feeling like it was a hard hit it must have been just wrong. Parts bent/broken and things probably flexed beyond norms for wiring or more?


IDK - ever see slow motion impacts and how metals are pushed in and come most of the way back sometimes? They can. You can't or should never put a floor jack where that was located either to lift up the car/suv.


It just seems wires are now pulled, chaffed or something you don't see yet. Could it possibly be showing overheat trans in a couple minutes for real - I doubt it totally so it's wrong info sent on to warning lights but matters as all kinds of things are auto adjusted by detecting a long list of conditions to make it run and drive properly as possible.
Don't but if just purposely unplugged something it triggers a warning. Wiring to the sensor is my concern or connections.


IDK - if find wiring that even might be involved feel it to detect if wire inside has broken but insulation looks good. They get stretchy right there when that happens for assorted reasons anywhere. Let the hunt begin,


T



ross59
Novice

Oct 16, 2016, 4:05 PM

Post #5 of 11 (1713 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Greetings Tom,

Internally/inside the pan everything looked fine, but I've always thought the wire insulation was a little brittle, so I rarely move anything for a variety of reasons.

Are they using stranded or solid wire for those sensors?

Is there a harness that runs alongside the tranny as I didn't see one? Possibly comes in from the side or top?

The only thing that looked odd to me was a 3/16" wide piece of metal, think it was copper, that was on the passenger side, extending what looks like into the pan.

Was wondering if it was attached to a bi-metallic sensor/switch or for that matter what its purpose?

I'll see what the garage says this week or possibly the transmission shop.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 16, 2016, 4:40 PM

Post #6 of 11 (1708 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Can't be sure of exact metal type or wire used. Fine stranded copper was and is the best but every cost counts so more and more use of aluminum and a zinc looking stuff I see.


There shouldn't be any solid core wiring in a car that I can think of?
Wiring is purposely well hidden and protected for usual exposure which this situation is not. LOL actually bet "bi-metal" temp sensor of any kind is not used in a car anymore for anything. You actually surprised me as most wouldn't know what that is! Last noted that on exhaust heat risers and automatic chokes, not sensors,


Tom



ross59
Novice

Oct 17, 2016, 2:07 AM

Post #7 of 11 (1698 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Greetings,

Guessing is could be a simple resistive type switch that just knows that you have fluid, or that the fluid is too low? Not really sure, but there was nothing else in the pan.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 17, 2016, 3:15 AM

Post #8 of 11 (1696 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

The trauma is what makes me think they way I'm suggesting not where or exactly if a wire or other reason. Car/vehicle sustained damage beyond what vehicle's normally are designed to tolerate - so there plain can't be one possible reason for this that happens all the time IMO.


Get codes and find where temp sensor is and work backwards to find what or where damage only may be the problem. Since it happened all at once with this it's the obvious place to start - that's really it. No clue what the end fix would take yet?


T



ross59
Novice

Oct 18, 2016, 1:50 PM

Post #9 of 11 (1682 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Greetings All,

Well, grabbed a code reader, plugged in and came up with a PO748.

That turns out to be "Pressure Control Solenoid A Electrical".

Not sure exactly which one it is at this time. None seemed to be damaged upon inspection when the pan was down.

No wires pinched during reassembly, actually everything was tucked up and routed away from anything that could pinch when the pan when up.

Might have reached the end here, transmission shop to get final verdict most likely.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 18, 2016, 9:02 PM

Post #10 of 11 (1678 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Agree - now knowing the circuit a shop with the info you know about and what happened could be an easier "verdict" as you put it to nail down the item or info not getting sent properly for still assorted unknown reasons.


Good luck,


T



gsferraro
Veteran

Oct 19, 2016, 4:25 PM

Post #11 of 11 (1671 views)
Re: 2001 Subaru Forester Auto Transmission Temp light on/problem Sign In

Hello,
This trans the solenoids are sold as a set, you could try to ohm them.






 
 
 






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