Just drove out to move my car and place it in my apartment's parking lot. I turn three corners and the car drives fine. As I make a stop and head on to the lot, the car starts making a grinding noise from the engine and doesn't want to move. I finally give it a little more gas and the car grinds and seems like its not engaging. I finally limp it over to the lot and park it into a space. Reverse gear does the same. The car moves, but the grinding noise is loud and seems like the gears are not engaging at all.

Is my clutch gone? Got 45k on the odometer.

grinding? doesnt sound like clutch to me.

sounds like gears... transmission issue.

Jamie http://www.subiegal.com/subiegal-smilie.png (http://www.subiegal.com/)

Update:

The car shudders and grinds each time I shift. It even does it in Reverse. The car is drivable as it runs after shifting each time. The noise and shudder is not a good thing though. I figured it was the clutch as the noise and shudder is only present during each shift. It seems as though the car is having trouble getting into each gear. Once in gear, the vehicle drives fine.

Still think its a transmission issue?

Sounds like mucho dinero....

I'll be in my room praying to my God.

when a clutch goes, it does not grind/shudder.

a clutch will "slip" and the revs will go wayyy up
car will be "low on power" aka - it will not pull as the clutch is slipping

this is not what you're describing.

sounds like a cluch fork has shifted/broken
(or something similer)
and the car is having trouble getting into gear

there should be no grinding into gear

when did this start?

have you done anything suspect to the car?

(hard launch, drift, rev dump, mis shift, jump, etc)

hope for the best for you....
but I would recommend you drive it as little as possible
and get it looked at asap.

Jamie http://www.subiegal.com/subiegal-smilie.png (http://www.subiegal.com/)

when a clutch goes, it does not grind/shudder.

a clutch will "slip" and the revs will go wayyy up
car will be "low on power" aka - it will not pull as the clutch is slipping

this is not what you're describing.

sounds like a cluch fork has shifted/broken
(or something similer)
and the car is having trouble getting into gear

there should be no grinding into gear

when did this start?

have you done anything suspect to the car?

(hard launch, drift, rev dump, mis shift, jump, etc)

hope for the best for you....
but I would recommend you drive it as little as possible
and get it looked at asap.

Jamie http://www.subiegal.com/subiegal-smilie.png (http://www.subiegal.com/)


It started last night.

I recently had the rear differential replaced. The vehicle was towed on its front wheels. Would a clutch fork need to be replaced due to a improper tow? This problem was not present when the rear differential was making coffee can noises and, as a result, replaced.

Is a clutch fork expensive? This car is being traded in very soon. I'm having way too much bad luck with this car. I need to get the demons exorcised from this vehicle.

It started last night.

I recently had the rear differential replaced. The vehicle was towed on its front wheels. Would a clutch fork need to be replaced due to a improper tow? This problem was not present when the rear differential was making coffee can noises and, as a result, replaced.

Is a clutch fork expensive? This car is being traded in very soon. I'm having way too much bad luck with this car. I need to get the demons exorcised from this vehicle.

WTH???

your car was towed on 2 wheels? :eek:

um..... your center diff is fried. toast.

you're lucky the car even moves.

1) get the car inspected

2) after the diagnosis contact the towing co


Jamie http://www.subiegal.com/subiegal-smilie.png (http://www.subiegal.com/)

WTH???

your car was towed on 2 wheels? :eek:

um..... your center diff is fried. toast.

you're lucky the car even moves.

1) get the car inspected

2) after the diagnosis contact the towing co


Jamie http://www.subiegal.com/subiegal-smilie.png (http://www.subiegal.com/)


When the car was towed I heard a noise coming from the vehicle upon decelleration. The car was inspected and the rear differential was toasted - not the center differential. The car ran well for the past two weeks post the replacement of the rear differential. The rear output shaft was also replaced during that time.

If the car was operating fine subsequent to the replacement of the rear differential and rear output shaft, how can the center differential, two weeks later, cause another problem. The decelleration noise is gone and the car ran perfectly fine.

From what I understand, towing the vehicle improperly can either effect the center or rear differential. In my case, it seemed to be the rear differential as the symptoms were absent post replacement.

um..... yeah okay. :)

you can believe what you want.
but a Subaru should NEVER be towed on 2 wheels....
(unless the center driveshaft / propshaft was completely disconnected)

just giving you some advice here.
get the car looked at....

something inside of your tranny
(be it the gears or the front/center diff)
is completely hosed.

Jamie http://www.subiegal.com/subiegal-smilie.png (http://www.subiegal.com/)

Doesn't it even state in the owner's manual that Subarus have to be towed on a flat bed. I doubt they would put that type of info in there for no specific reason. Car may be driving fine now, but pretty sure you'll be sorry in the future, Pray.

Doesn't it even state in the owner's manual that Subarus have to be towed on a flat bed. I doubt they would put that type of info in there for no specific reason. Car may be driving fine now, but pretty sure you'll be sorry in the future, Pray.

I know that an AWD vehicle should never be towed on two wheels. I'm not a moron nor a n00b on this board. The vehicle was towed in NYC against my will. I told the tow truck driver that an AWD vehicle should be towed on a flat bed. He insisted that a fuse would make the vehicle FWD and thusly, be towed on two wheels. I insisted he was wrong. He had his way.

um..... yeah okay. :)

you can believe what you want.
but a Subaru should NEVER be towed on 2 wheels....
(unless the center driveshaft / propshaft was completely disconnected)

just giving you some advice here.
get the car looked at....

something inside of your tranny
(be it the gears or the front/center diff)
is completely hosed.

Jamie http://www.subiegal.com/subiegal-smilie.png (http://www.subiegal.com/)

I never contested the fact that an AWD vehicle should or should not be towed on two wheels. What I'm trying to tell you is that subsequent to the tow, the vehicle suffered from a rear differential problem. What I was asking you is if the center differential would blow out weeks after not showing any signs any problems; weeks after the rear differential was replaced and showing signs of problems.

Why would the center differential blow out in such a delayed manner? I'm not questioning your expertise, but rather asking questions because I don't understand.

The center diff is a viscous-fluid type unit and not a mechanical clutch-type. It is very possible that it was overheated and damaged by the tow but did not fail completely right away, but rather after the car was driven some more.

The center diff is a viscous-fluid type unit and not a mechanical clutch-type. It is very possible that it was overheated and damaged by the tow but did not fail completely right away, but rather after the car was driven some more.

Forgive my ignorance. How many differentials are there in a WRX and where are they located? I need this information to tip off the mechanic in order to properly diagnose this particular problem and get this fixed ASAP.

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

Forgive my ignorance. How many differentials are there in a WRX and where are they located? I need this information to tip off the mechanic in order to properly diagnose this particular problem and get this fixed ASAP.

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

WRX = center & rear diffs

STi = front, center & rear diffs

good luck!

WRX = center & rear diffs

STi = front, center & rear diffs

good luck!

Where is the center differential located on the WRX?

It is located inside the transmission case.

It is located inside the transmission case.

That explains it. Thanks.

I drove it to the mechanic last night. The grinding and shudder was there when the car was cold. About a quarter of a mile down the road, the car acted like nothing was wrong with it. No longer grinding or shuddering through the gears. I was a bit perplexed.

Any ideas?

I'll keep this thread posted with the results of the inspection.

**Keeping my fingers crossed**

You defintinely have something wrong with your transmission. I hope you won't have to pay out of the butt for repairs. Keep us posted!

If the transmission is screwed, try to get the STi 6-spd tranny or replace all the gears with a PPG gear set.

You defintinely have something wrong with your transmission. I hope you won't have to pay out of the butt for repairs. Keep us posted!

If the transmission is screwed, try to get the STi 6-spd tranny or replace all the gears with a PPG gear set.

Based on the facts above, what specifically could be wrong with the transmission and how could it have been affected by an improper tow?

Based on the facts above, what specifically could be wrong with the transmission and how could it have been affected by an improper tow?

are you serious?
you claim you're not a noob?
but you sure talk like one.... :lol:

here:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

the diff will continue to try to spin all 4 wheels
if 2 of them are locked up.... ouch. something's gonna fry.

http://www.subaru.com/owners/carcaretips/index.jsp?pageid=towing&navid=TOWING_A_SUBARU


example:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456407&highlight=towed+wheels+broke

good luck :D

sounds like yer gonna need it.
Jamie

are you serious?
you claim you're not a noob?
but you sure talk like one.... :lol:

here:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

the diff will continue to try to spin all 4 wheels
if 2 of them are locked up.... ouch. something's gonna fry.

http://www.subaru.com/owners/carcaretips/index.jsp?pageid=towing&navid=TOWING_A_SUBARU


example:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456407&highlight=towed+wheels+broke

good luck :D

sounds like yer gonna need it.
Jamie

I appreciate the help, but not the condenscending attitude - especially from a moderator on this board. I may not be mechanically inclined as others on this board, but I do know what should and shouldn't be done to a vehicle. Not knowing the exact intricacies of a transmission and the various differentials does not make me a n00b - it makes me technically challenged.

You mistook a simple question I made to your post as an attack on your expertise. I made it abunduntly clear that I like to ask questions and seek information, input, and always trying to learn. Being technically challenged means I have a lot to learn.

In response to Garwin's post, all I asked for was more input. I completely understand how differentials can be toasted as a result of an improper tow, but I don't understand how the transmission can be affected. Simple question. I did not question his expertise nor his conclusion, but merely asked for more information so that I can learn. Having my vehicle towed improperly does not make a villian or a bad guy. Things happen and I did everything in my power to prevent the driver from towing it improperly.

Posters such as Mulder and Garwin did not have a problem shelling out advice w/out inserting comments such as yours.

ummm whatever... :lol: I have no idea what you're on about :D

I wasnt flaming you dude. I was trying to help.

If you want to know what's wrong with your Car
TAKE IT TO SOMEONE QUALIFIED AND HAVE THE TRANNY CASE OPENED

We can only theorize what may or may not have occured

I know that an AWD vehicle should never be towed on two wheels. I'm not a moron nor a n00b on this board.

yet.... then you say things like....

Where is the center differential located on the WRX?


Forgive my ignorance. How many differentials are there in a WRX and where are they located?


dude ...
it's obvious you dont know much about the transmission
nor the diffs on the car

but hey, there is nothing wrong with that okay?

Ask your questions but make them good ones at least.
show a little effort, do a little searching on your own

it's not that hard to learn how many diffs are in the car :lol:


good luck to ya... :D

ummm whatever... :lol: I have no idea what you're on about :D

I wasnt flaming you dude. I was trying to help.

If you want to know what's wrong with your Car
TAKE IT TO SOMEONE QUALIFIED AND HAVE THE TRANNY CASE OPENED

We can only theorize what may or may not have occured



yet.... then you say things like....







dude ...
it's obvious you dont know much about the transmission
nor the diffs on the car

but hey, there is nothing wrong with that okay?

Ask your questions but make them good ones at least.
show a little effort, do a little searching on your own

it's not that hard to learn how many diffs are in the car :lol:


good luck to ya... :D

I never claimed to know ANYTHING about a transmission or differentials on a vehicle. I'm not sure where I even alluded to the range of knowledge I possess on said topic. I specifically stated that I was not a n00b in relation to knowing that an AWD vehicle should never be towed by any other method than flatbed.

I know there's nothing wrong with it, but you seem to have a problem with the simple question being asked. And if a poster has no problem giving me an answer w/out inserting a comment or two, I'm not sure why you need to be the one to do that. I'm very grateful for your input and suggestions, as well as the other posters that were nice enough to click on my topic. But handing out advice in conjunction with jabs, as benign or innocent as they are, is not the ideal way of sharing knowledge, especially on this board.

I know exactly what I need to do in order to properly diagnose the problem with my vehicle.

Is there any harm in asking a question or two so that I can have somewhat of an idea?
Maybe so that I can be prepared to expect the worst and hope for the best?

As for the questions, I asked them in my own topic. I didn't start a new thread nor did I begin x-posting all over the board. I saw that he had posted a few minutes before I had checked on my topic and figured that he would be able to respond a lot quicker than it would be for me to place a search and thumb though a myriad of posts.

If you are the determinant of a good question....then so be it. Be prepared for "bad questions."