Stick Grind Gears 2006 Forester HELP

[Michael Roback]

I just got a Forester. Never had a Subaru and I love it so far! One
small concern. My wife was driving it back from the dealer with less
than 25 miles on it yesterday and it was at night. She had gotten
confused about the shift pattern and instead of going into 5th gear she
moved the gearshift lever down almost as if she was going to go into
reverse when she heard metal on metal and immediately corrected what she
was doing and put the lever up into fifth. I am freaking out thinking
that she ground gears or something. The car runs fine, no problems but
I am wondering what the metal on metal sound was. Should I assume that
I have metal fragments inside of my transmission now or was that just
the pressure plate or what? If anyone can help I would certainly
appreciate it. This is a brand new car!! I know in the past when I
have had sticks I at times rarely when I didn't have the clutch down far
enough did something like this but she was on the freeway, not that it
should matter but I don't know.

 

[Jim Stewart]

I just got a Forester. Never had a Subaru and I love it so far! One
small concern. My wife was driving it back from the dealer with less
than 25 miles on it yesterday and it was at night. She had gotten
confused about the shift pattern and instead of going into 5th gear she
moved the gearshift lever down almost as if she was going to go into
reverse when she heard metal on metal and immediately corrected what she
was doing and put the lever up into fifth. I am freaking out thinking
that she ground gears or something. The car runs fine, no problems but
I am wondering what the metal on metal sound was. Should I assume that
I have metal fragments inside of my transmission now or was that just
the pressure plate or what? If anyone can help I would certainly
appreciate it. This is a brand new car!! I know in the past when I
have had sticks I at times rarely when I didn't have the clutch down far
enough did something like this but she was on the freeway, not that it
should matter but I don't know.

I'd say don't worry about it. I've done
it more than once with my '99 Outback.
It sound horrible, but I doubt any damage
was done. There's been no metal in my
transmission grease and I changed it a
couple months ago.

 

[P. Grendel Oneness]

I just got a Forester. Never had a Subaru and I love it so far! One
small concern. My wife was driving it back from the dealer with less
than 25 miles on it yesterday and it was at night. She had gotten
confused about the shift pattern and instead of going into 5th gear she
moved the gearshift lever down almost as if she was going to go into
reverse when she heard metal on metal and immediately corrected what
she was doing and put the lever up into fifth. I am freaking out
thinking that she ground gears or something. The car runs fine, no
problems but I am wondering what the metal on metal sound was. Should
I assume that I have metal fragments inside of my transmission now or
was that just the pressure plate or what? If anyone can help I would
certainly appreciate it. This is a brand new car!! I know in the past
when I have had sticks I at times rarely when I didn't have the clutch
down far enough did something like this but she was on the freeway, not
that it should matter but I don't know.

maybe this is why reverse is synchronized on the STi ;-)
I'm surprised there is no lockout on the Forester.
that's life, your wife's not the first. probably no harm done.
best not to make it a habit of course.

 

[Michael Pardee]

I just got a Forester. Never had a Subaru and I love it so far! One
small concern. My wife was driving it back from the dealer with less
than 25 miles on it yesterday and it was at night. She had gotten
confused about the shift pattern and instead of going into 5th gear she
moved the gearshift lever down almost as if she was going to go into
reverse when she heard metal on metal and immediately corrected what she
was doing and put the lever up into fifth. I am freaking out thinking
that she ground gears or something. The car runs fine, no problems but
I am wondering what the metal on metal sound was. Should I assume that
I have metal fragments inside of my transmission now or was that just
the pressure plate or what? If anyone can help I would certainly
appreciate it. This is a brand new car!! I know in the past when I
have had sticks I at times rarely when I didn't have the clutch down far
enough did something like this but she was on the freeway, not that it
should matter but I don't know.

No big deal. Lord knows I've made the same mistake from time to time,
especially in the Chevy work truck I had a while back. When trying to
downshift from 5th to 4th on hills I'd grind on the reverse slot every time
if I didn't concentrate carefully. After dozens of such events there were
still no obvious problems. Sure sounds nasty, though!

Mike