You know when you push the gear shift left and right it pops back to the center between 3'rd and 4'th gear? well it will pop back if I push it right. but if I push it left it stays left between first and second, which makes it really hard to shift. This recently happened and im not sure whats going on! Anyone have any ideas?

I have the subaru shop manual and It looks like the trans might need to come out and the "reverse check sleeve" needs to be rebuilt.
Can anyone confirm? I know on some transmissions the springs are external.

2002 Subaru WRX Sedan
57k Miles
Bone stock except:
HKS BoV
K&N filter
(I know you want to know)

 

This is only speaking from my experiences with my own transmission on my 98 STi. I imagine the shifting linkage has remained somewhat similar over the years, if not exactly the same...

There is a spring in the linkage that brings the stick back to center. When I removed my tranny for a clutch swap, I had to disconnect it and forgot to replace it during the install of the tranny. The stick just flopped to the left, as the spring pulls the bottom of the stick to the left. If this spring were to break or fall off, it would most likely cause exactly what you are describing. I would throw the car up on a lift and check it before suspecting something else.

 

There are no external springs...