Manual Transmission problems

[jenn.sugaree]

I just recently bought a 2004 Subaru Outback and have had some
problems shifting the car into first and reverse. This only occurs
from a stand-still, and it happens about 10% of the time.

I took the car in and they told me that I wasn't pressing down hard
enough on the clutch. I explained that when I can't get the car into
first or reverse, I actually have to let up off the clutch slightly
before I can get the car into gear. After keeping the car all day,
they found that the first gear synchro was worn and the shift shaft
seal was leaking (which they replaced).

I am still having some problems getting into first sometimes,
although
not as often as before. But reverse continues to be a headache.

The service crew is now telling me that this is because my car is an
All Wheel Drive vehicle and the gear teeth are bigger so sometimes
they don't come together easily. They told me that I have to double
clutch or shift into third before I shift the car into first or
reverse to align the gears.

Well, when trying to back out of my parking spot this morning, I
tried
everything that they said. I double clutched, and I also shifted the
car into third 2 times before reverse finally engaged.

I have owned 4 other standards and have never had a single occurance
in which I couldn't get the car into first or reverse on the first
try...

I'm just wondering if this is common, or if I'm just being fed excuse
after excuse because I'm a girl...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I just recently bought a 2004 Subaru Outback and have had some
problems shifting the car into first and reverse. This only occurs
from a stand-still, and it happens about 10% of the time.

I took the car in and they told me that I wasn't pressing down hard
enough on the clutch. I explained that when I can't get the car into
first or reverse, I actually have to let up off the clutch slightly
before I can get the car into gear. After keeping the car all day,
they found that the first gear synchro was worn and the shift shaft
seal was leaking (which they replaced).

I am still having some problems getting into first sometimes,
although
not as often as before. But reverse continues to be a headache.

The service crew is now telling me that this is because my car is an
All Wheel Drive vehicle and the gear teeth are bigger so sometimes
they don't come together easily. They told me that I have to double
clutch or shift into third before I shift the car into first or
reverse to align the gears.

Well, when trying to back out of my parking spot this morning, I
tried
everything that they said. I double clutched, and I also shifted the
car into third 2 times before reverse finally engaged.

I have owned 4 other standards and have never had a single occurance
in which I couldn't get the car into first or reverse on the first
try...

I'm just wondering if this is common, or if I'm just being fed excuse
after excuse because I'm a girl...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Can't say if what you experience is worse than other complaints - but
yeah, many people have issues - usually with first gear being the most
common complaint. Some folks say higher quality/synthetic/special oils
reduce the problem when substituted for the standard gear oil in the tranny.
You might 'pretend' to shop for another car and try out transmissions in
other soobs to help decide if 'they all do that' or if yours is very
severe and needs further repair work.

Carl

 

[jenn.sugaree]

Can't say if what you experience is worse than other complaints - but
yeah, many people have issues - usually with first gear being the most
common complaint. Some folks say higher quality/synthetic/special oils
reduce the problem when substituted for the standard gear oil in the tranny.
You might 'pretend' to shop for another car and try out transmissions in
other soobs to help decide if 'they all do that' or if yours is very
severe and needs further repair work.

Carl

Okay - I guess I'm glad to hear that it's not just me, but I'm a bit
sad to discover that I'm going to have to cycle through gears or
double clutch this often Not that I want to go back to an
automatic any time soon, but I was secretly hoping that this was an
isolated problem so that I could fight for a repair to the
transmission...

 

[David]

Okay - I guess I'm glad to hear that it's not just me, but I'm a bit
sad to discover that I'm going to have to cycle through gears or
double clutch this often Not that I want to go back to an
automatic any time soon, but I was secretly hoping that this was an
isolated problem so that I could fight for a repair to the
transmission...

Park it in gear (1 or R) so at least it's already in gear when cold.

 

[David]

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I noticed today that I had to spin my transmission input to get it
into first. Pop clutch in neutral with motor running, then
immediately shift into first. Drops right in.

 

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

My 1999 Outback has had a similar problem getting into reverse since I've
bought it new. I eventually learned to live with it. Usually just
letting the clutch out with the transmission in neutral then engaging
reverse works for me.

The classic double clutch,

Do it, and move on...

 

[Mike Rezsutek]

I just recently bought a 2004 Subaru Outback and have had some
problems shifting the car into first and reverse. This only occurs
from a stand-still, and it happens about 10% of the time.

I took the car in and they told me that I wasn't pressing down hard
enough on the clutch. I explained that when I can't get the car into
first or reverse, I actually have to let up off the clutch slightly
before I can get the car into gear. After keeping the car all day,
they found that the first gear synchro was worn and the shift shaft
seal was leaking (which they replaced).

I am still having some problems getting into first sometimes,
although
not as often as before. But reverse continues to be a headache.

The service crew is now telling me that this is because my car is an
All Wheel Drive vehicle and the gear teeth are bigger so sometimes
they don't come together easily. They told me that I have to double
clutch or shift into third before I shift the car into first or
reverse to align the gears.

Well, when trying to back out of my parking spot this morning, I
tried
everything that they said. I double clutched, and I also shifted the
car into third 2 times before reverse finally engaged.

I have owned 4 other standards and have never had a single occurance
in which I couldn't get the car into first or reverse on the first
try...

I'm just wondering if this is common, or if I'm just being fed excuse
after excuse because I'm a girl...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

My 1999 Outback has had a similar problem getting into reverse since I've
bought it new. I eventually learned to live with it. Usually just
letting the clutch out with the transmission in neutral then engaging
reverse works for me.

 

[Nick Danger]

My experience with four Subarus - all with manual shift - is that the clutch
wears out fairly early but it shifts just like any other stickshift. It's
not the smoothest shifter I've ever driven but it definitely doesn't require
any special handling. I think your mechanic has no clue and is just assuming
that girls don't know how to drive a stickshift. Did you go to a Subaru
dealer? Someone who doesn't know Subarus is probably more likely to
attribute the problem to some mysterious properties of AWD rather than admit
that they don't know how to fix it. If you have to let up on the clutch to
get it into gear, then something is obviously out of adjustment.

 

[David]

The classic double clutch,

Do it, and move on...

My '96 Tacoma (2.4) 5 speed does the same thing. I think it's normal.