The 2000 has 68,000 miles on it. When shifting into "D" there is a temporay delay, 45-90 seconds before the transmition engages. This is an intermitent problem. Hot or cold does not seem to affect it. Fluid levels are ok.

I'm looking for some ideas or better yet experience with such a problem.

My sister has the same problem with her 2000 outback. She took it to the dealer and they told her there was a low pressure problem and that she needed a new trans. I don't know if rebuilding it will help and I'd be nervous about getting a junkyard transmission because it might just happen to that one 6 months after you put it in. $3000 is what the dealer quoted her for the repair. SHITTY! Oh and by the way, the symptoms are probably going to get worse and more frequent than they already are. Sorry I don't have great news.

It's fixed. Theres a plastic seal or gasket behind the primary preasure plate that was leaking fluid. Thus it took time for the preasure plate to build preasue, once it built up it kicked in immediately. Only $1,500 or half the price of a new transmition.