99 Impreza heard a snapping spring noise going into first

[paulalan1971]

I was at a light and I shifted into first and heard a snapping spring like noise when I shifted into 1st. The shifter is loose I can almost touch my ashtray with it and it like that in all directions very hard to find gears . Any tips will be appreciated ty

 

[DragonWagon]

Pretty sure theres a spring in the shifter linkage assembly that keeps the shifter in the center when in neutral and whatnot. Id say you lost it. Or your linkage bushings are completely toast and fell out lol