Rebuilt Trans a Must?

[svxthc]

I've been looking at a couple svx's with a a little over 100,000 miles. Is it a bad sign that the transmission hasn't been rebuilt? I thought the tranny was a big problem with all SVXs, granted this is a 96, it may be immune to the problem. How much does it cost to rebuild the transmission? Do you guys think it's better to buy an SVX with it's transmission rebuilt to hopefully save me the money and hassle of rebuilding it later? MY friend's SVX had to have it's tranny redone at 40k miles, it was a 94. How many of you have had transmission problems, and do you think it's a good idea to buy an SVX with over 100kmiles with the original trany?

[Chiketkd]

I bought my 96 L with 96.5K miles on the odo and it was on it's original trans which was still going very strong. Sold it and upgraded to the 4.11 Impreza gears for improved acceleration.

As long as the ATF in the '96 was changed at least 3-4 times in the 100K miles, you should have nothing to worry about.

-Chike

[svxthc]

Thanks, but if you sold your 96 svx then what did you put your 4.11 Impreza gears?

I hope I dont' jinx myself but I have a '92 svx with 116,000 miles and the original transmission. So far I haven't had any problems, shifts fine between gears and doesn't slip. There's that usual issue with the early transmissions shifting slow between forward and reverse but other than that no problems.

Anyone else on their original transmission??

[Chiketkd]

Originally posted by svxthc
Thanks, but if you sold your 96 svx then what did you put your 4.11 Impreza gears?

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. I sold my working stock 4EAT transmission and installed a 4.11 trans from an Impreza Outback Sport along with a matching rear diff.

I still very much own my '96 SVX L!

-Chike

[n00b on demand]

My SVX has 98k on it now and has the original tranny. I too have the issue of it going slow into reverse but no biggie. I also have an aftermarker cooler in the car. The cooler is the key to solving the tranny problems. Heat reduces the life of a tranny alot and the SVX's stock cooling system sucks. So if it is running fine then just get a cooler (55 bucks) and install it yourself ( veryyyy easy to do). It sure has taken a load off my mind.

I bought my '92 with 118k on it. 8 days later the front diff blew in half. I ended up buying a used trans with 33k. Crossing my fingers that it will hold up until I can afford a 5 speed.

[n00b on demand]

yea i definitley gotta get the diff fluid changed this week. Ive been putting it off for so long now.

[Alycone]

My car's original tranny lasted to 150k without a cooler or filter. The 2nd tranny lasted 9k (I bought it soon after it was replaced, tranny #3 was put in under warrantee). I thought getting a newish rebuild under warrantee was a good deal, but the rebuild was from Aamco so it wasn't so great and I still had to pay 1k to get the seals done.