Hey guys. i know this isnt the tech forum, but i find that i get a lot more help from my bay area brothers.

anyway, my problem. Whenthe car is stopped, in neutral, with the clutch pressed in all the way, shifting into first, sometimes grinds. im just about at 37k, so im over the 36k warranty. i first noticed this right after i got my 30k service done. i even went back got the tranny re-flushed with some valvoline 80w90 and i thought it had gone away for a while, but now its back. i highly doubt that it could be something wrong with the service because the shop i went to does good work.

has anyone had this problem before? is it a problem that can potentially get worse and be dangerous? i dont race, i dont launch, i have no mods, except for upipe and SPT catback, so im not making huge power. and if you knew me, you'd know im not one to abuse my car. is this somthing that i can go to the dealer and have it fixed and covered under the power train warranty? im sorry for sounding like such a noob, but i am one sorta.

is here anyone around the danville/fremont area that might be able to come sit in my car and feel the grind and maybe help me diagnose the prob? im just freaking out. thanks for your guyses help!

 

davon of DPT lives in danville

his board name is dan avoN7

 

Redo the rans fluid with 75w90 and 1 qt of Pennzoil Syncromesh. The syncromesh should help with the grind. I use it in my transmission which has 107k miles.

 

same problem here

 

there's a thread about the tranny "cocktail". Like Flanders pointed out a syncromesh cocktail may help. I've got the grinding sometimes and want to try out that cocktail as well.

 

I use "Sta-Lube" non-synthetic 75w-90 GL5 gear oil. Thick like molasses. If that doesnt cure it, your 1st gear syncro is most likely dead.

 

I had the EXACT same problem. Mine was caused by an 'under warranty' clutch replacement that Green Valley Subaru botched up. (Search Green Valley and I'm sure it will come up). Anywho, your 1st gear synchro is on its way out, or your clutch is out of adjustment. If you haven't had any clutch work then it is surely the 1st gear synchro. There is nothing you can do to cure it and it will only get worse.

However, in the short run do one of two things: Either depress the clutch, count to 5 then instert the shifter into first gear, or put in the clutch, then move the shifter into 2nd and then into 1st. This will use the 2nd gear synchro to slow the free spinning shaft instead of the worn 1st gear synchro.

As a longer term solution add a touch of GM (or penzoil) SynchroMesh tranny oil when you do your next fluid flush. This helpes the shoddy suby 1st gear synchro to grip a little better. Run a search on SynchroMesh and some threads discussing the proper ratio will pop up. Good luck, and if it makes yu feel any better SubaruOA likely wouldn't have covered it under warranty anyway.

-Chris

 

I'm in Danville/Alamo also. Although Dan will probably be more knowledgable on the subject.

Smitty

 

This also happened to me on my bugeye, and I figured out that the solution mentioned worked best. Interestingly, the problem began also after my non-dealer 30k service, so I suspect it has something to do with the non-Subaru transmission fluid that they used. I was to lazy to get it done myself (since the solution above solved the problem), but I think since you aren't putting out gobs of power, your best bet would be to go to a dealer, and have them replace all of the transmission related fluids, and I'm almost certain your problems will disappear. Good luck.

 

could be your first gear syncro

-Ave

 

thanks for all the replies so far. a couple things im worried about. if i put in synthetic in my gear box. wouldnt that void the warranty? and make the dealer not want to fix anything, because it states in the manual not to use synthetic in the gear box?

also, has anyone that used the synchro mix have this problem solved for them? because i've read about the mix, and it fixes ppls grinding into other gears like 3rd and 4th.

finally, would this synchro problem be easily fixed by a dealer? even if im over 36k? and would it be a long drawn out process where i would eventually crap my pants worrying about the bill they might stick to me? or would they know of the problem and replace whats needed quick and easy?

anyone around my area wnat to come by and help diagnose my problem? im the kinda guy who needs a solid 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions. thanks for the help thus far guys.

 

oh dang, i just saw the part where you say SOA wouldnt have covered it anyway. =( that kinda makes me sad. thanks for the info though. how much would a new synchro cost me? is it a pretty expensive part? i am just tired of the grinding noise and sounds, and it makes me think im slowly stripping the 1st gear of all its teeth.

 

Depends on the dealer. I would guess 95% would not cover it and claim 'abuse', then stick you with the bill to cover labor for opening up the transmission.

As for synthetic tranny fluid, I dont use it. Seems to bring out the grind with subies from all the posts I read. Put in some non-synthetic, or the cocktail, Im tempted to try that myself, seems to get lots of recomendations. Hopefully that will remedy the problem.

Also, dont ever jam it into gear, I think thats the reason for a lot of 1st gear problems

 

Don't let me mislead you. THEORETICALLY, the first gear synchro is part of the 'drive train' and is therefore covered under the 50k or 60k or whatever it is, powertrain warranty. Again, that is theoretically. I will bet my hard earned money, however, that SOA will claim abuse and not cover the repairs. Mine, as I said, was made faulty by a botched clutchjob done under warranty by a dealer (Green Valley). This was confirmed by two dealers thereafter (Carlson and Santa Cruz). When I went in to Carlsen for the actual repairs I recieved a call later that after noon from the head mechanic at the time (Kevin, a very popular and respected tech around here) saying that, although he confiremed with SOA that the synchro was ruined by a subaru dealer and was not my fault, that SOA would need to send out a regional technical/warranty manager to view it personally. In the meantime I would have to put up $1,100 to have the case opened that would be refunded once the regional guy deemed it SOA's fault. It's like the f***ing fox guardind the hen house. Kevin, a Subaru emplyee at the time, made it quite clear (without actually saying so) that the regional guy would surely claim abuse on my part and that the damage had nothing to do with the clutch job (despite two SOA mechanics saying otherwise) just to save SOA some money. Please don't let them take your $1,100. If they'll open up your case without that $1,100 deposit, then have at it.

About fluids. DON'T use synthetic. In most reviews owners are actually reporting that the 'slicker' synthetic is exaserbating the grinding issue. Use te stock type dino oil plus the SynchroMesh. I did, and though it never cured the grind, it sure as hell made it more tolerable. I ended up selling my suby over this issue because the only way to truely fix it is to open the case up and have parts replaced. That can cost bank, that though I would afford, I refused to pay since it was caused by a bad design coupled with bad SOA service.

-Chris

 

+1. I don't do fully synthetic any more. I do believe that's what aided in my first tranny blowing. It seemed to be better at first, but after awhile, my 1st and 4th gear grinds got worse and worse. I use dino oil (as recommended Gruppe-s) and although it is "stickier" when cold, I believe it's better once it's warmed up and in the long run. I have never tried any blends, but have heard fairly good things about them.