2000 subaru outback automatic shifts in reverse but wont go into drive set for 3 days mechanic said it started to work? 2nd time it did this this week. he thinks its electrical but gives no codes

trans may just hav faild--but chec fluid level and condition-w age of car bring it to a good mech and letum test drive-automatics are complex n not easy to diagnose-hill tell u if it needs rebuild or xternal parts replacd----if vehicle is in good cond-jaspar inc has trannys w 100 000 mi warrantys @napa

try servicing transmission.

Is your 2003 Subaru Outback automatic or manual transmission?
If it is automatic, then your transmission sounds like it's malfunctioning into the reverse gear as it is not aligning properly.
If it is manual, then your transmission sounds like it may have a bad clutch or bad reverse gear.
Either solution is not cheap. Good luck.

1996 subaru is it pre 06-96 or aft 07-96

If you have a problem with the key as well it may be the transmission linkage.

Sounds like the transmission has reached the end of service life. I have a 93 that did the same thing. It would drive until the transmission heated up then nothing, except for reverse. I had a TRW rebuild transmission installed and now my 93 Legacy has 500,000 miles. $2,200 to repair vs $25,000 to replace. The only thing you would miss is the new car smell for a few weeks. But you can keep $20,000 plus.

does it click while reversing straight or while turning? Sounds like a stick shift. Lunging probably due to e-brake needing adjustment(if stick shift). If your car only clicks while turning in reverse you need new front axles and can probably drive that way for a while

I have had the same problem before. Everything you have said matches the exact problems I had. I was also driving down the road when my problems started. My speedometer stop working and my car wouldn't shift out of 2nd. I had a family friend who is a mechanic check it out. He hooked it up to the computer and it ended up being the Turbine Sensor. However you would want to hook it up and find out exactly which sensor it might be because there is another sensor that can cause that problem as well. I think this happend to me about a year ago but the part costed maybe around $30 or $40.

After a good deal of research and several shops suggesting a rebuild of the transmission, I decided to have the trans fluid and filters changed before doing anything. It was a tough call because it could have been a waste of $125. As soon as the spin off filter was removed you could see it was blocked. So the hydraulic pressure in the system was way down, still enough to engage reverse and enough to work all the shifts, but not enough to engage forward without a slight tap on the accelerator.

My Subaru has 240 000 km on it and I suppose the clutch pack rebuild wouldn't hurt, but as it is now it engages quickly and shifts up are noticeably smoother.

May not be the solution for every case, but it solved my situation.

it is eletical eather a fuse is blown or the speed sensor didnt get hooked up dose spedo work