1st gear grind...

[kpluiten]

Originally Posted by DroppedClutch

My fav trans fluid by far is Silkolene's Silktran Syn 5. I started running it early 2007. It's getting harder to find in the states than it used to be, and it is kind of expensive (~$29/liter), but it's real nice stuff. Here's what Dave@Rallispec told MrMcCrackin when he was researching early last year...

I was just reading about this stuff! I bought Motul 300, but maybe I'll hold off on using it until I research this stuff more.


Also, to the OP. It's been a while since I've had the WRX 5MT, but I realized today that on my 5MT Impreza, I pull into second and then go to first as it seems to then enter easier. I did this on my WRX too. Seems to me that I remember that if I went from 4th or 3rd and slowed down and then tryed to enter 1st it was pretty difficult, but getting into second and then first helps a bit.

[THE ONE]

Originally Posted by bobturismo

Either you have to change your driving habits or you have to get better at rev-matching.

I'm always aware that I have to almost stop to get first. Once in a HUGE while (not that I drive my car much) I need to get into first on a roll and I know I'm abusing my car when I do it.


I never have anyone rev on me, but I get these kids in their scion coupes, that must have blowers or something stupid that just won't leave me alone. Sometimes I need to make my point to these kids so I can give them the "thumbs up, slowly rotated to thumbs down, gladiator style", that REALLY pisses people off.

Im sorry guys, but I really don't need to change my driving habits. Like stated before I don't abuse it, but say im coming off the freeway and I'm just about stopped but not completely, I have clear room to go before traffic comes, I should NOT have to start from second gear at 5-7mph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been driving manual cars since I was 19, so that makes it 9 years now. I owned a 2003 WRX before, a 2002 WRX before, a 2007 STi, and now a 2002 WRX wagon as far as Subarus go. I just find this explanation RIDICULOUS.

[bobturismo]

Originally Posted by THE ONE

Im sorry guys, but I really don't need to change my driving habits. Like stated before I don't abuse it, but say im coming off the freeway and I'm just about stopped but not completely, I have clear room to go before traffic comes, I should NOT have to start from second gear at 5-7mph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been driving manual cars since I was 19, so that makes it 9 years now. I owned a 2003 WRX before, a 2002 WRX before, a 2007 STi, and now a 2002 WRX wagon as far as Subarus go. I just find this explanation RIDICULOUS.

Are you downsifhting?

If you come off the freeway at 65-80 and you clutch in, then expect to get into first : not gonna happen.

You probably changed something about the way you drive and don't even know it.

Are you trying to get out in front of traffic thats coming fast?

Are you putting the car in nuetral and lettin the clutch out?

Are you downsifhting? Or did you used to downsifht and now you don't?

How evenly worn are your tires?

What exactly are you doing, are doing like 20mph and holding the shifter foward until the car slows down to 4mph and then it pops in and grinds?

If at any point, you are pushing the shifter into gear and it's not going, your damaging the synchro .




It's more than possible that changing the fluid could stop it from grinding, but that doesn't mean the syncrho isn't damaged.

Either way, my suggestion is to follow subaru's instructions and change your driving habits. It's your car obviously, the decision is yours, it's my experience that 2nd gear from is enough to accelerate from 15mph+ for normal traffic use, specially if you are getting off the freeway and you have a green light that you roll through.

[WgnWheel]

Originally Posted by THE ONE

Im sorry guys, but I really don't need to change my driving habits. Like stated before I don't abuse it, but say im coming off the freeway and I'm just about stopped but not completely, I have clear room to go before traffic comes, I should NOT have to start from second gear at 5-7mph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been driving manual cars since I was 19, so that makes it 9 years now. I owned a 2003 WRX before, a 2002 WRX before, a 2007 STi, and now a 2002 WRX wagon as far as Subarus go. I just find this explanation RIDICULOUS.

Try giving this explanation to subaru, and get back to us, k?

If you're in that situation and it's clear to go, then you have enough time to slow below the 5-7 mph you mentioned, put it in first and go. Seems to me, if you see that it's clear enough to go, you can keep momentum and drive thru in 2nd. Again, i've never seen anyone or had to jam a wrx into 1st.

Maybe just slow down, take your time and stop for traffic, then proceed the normal way. nobody's winning any trophies for beating traffic.

[bobturismo]

how many miles on the car? clutch?

has any drivetrain work been done?

I had a tranny that was built by dyncomp that would grind into fourth, turned out the center pat of the clutch disc was "stuck" inside the flywheel.

how does the pedal feel? have someone watch the clutch fork to see if it moves all the way when you depress the clutch pedal, its possible that it could use a bleedin'

[DroppedClutch]

Expanding on BT's comments about the fork... My bugeye went through 3 clutches in less and than 20,000 miles including an Exedy Hyper Single in 1000 miles. Turned out the soft line going to the bell housing was clogged from day one -- the clutch was never fully engaging of disengaging. Replaced the line the first week I had the STi, JIC. Like BT said, make sure it's moving all the way, and replacing the soft line is cheap insurance.

[02REX4LIFE]

when i had my 02 i would just rev match to get it into first when i was rolling. i got it into 1st at like 15 mph a few times. Mainly cuz i made a right turn and had to climb a hill right away. (i-17 and cactus next to FAT) the damn lag in second was pissin me off. I might have been able to do this cuz my synchros were crap. lol. but maybe it will work or maybe it will make it worse.

[subynewb]

Originally Posted by 02REX4LIFE

when i had my 02 i would just rev match to get it into first when i was rolling. i got it into 1st at like 15 mph a few times. Mainly cuz i made a right turn and had to climb a hill right away. (i-17 and cactus next to FAT) the damn lag in second was pissin me off. I might have been able to do this cuz my synchros were crap. lol. but maybe it will work or maybe it will make it worse.

this is I think similar to what the OP is trying to get at. I've had similar issues, I was going to a red light already in second gear as thats what the street speeds called for, the light is red as I depressing the brakes and as I go towards the light approx 5 mph the light turns green. You can't slam on the gas because you go no where in 2nd, (stock car) so you put it into 1st to assure you are not holding traffic up behind you. maybe its just me since the car doesn't have much torque when not in boost to just slowly let it get going, but I hate having those types of people infront of me so I try not to do the same to others

[THE ONE]

Well again I'm not doing anything that I shouldn't be. My car was bone stock when I got it, never had so much as an air filter put in. Car has 68k miles on it and the problem was documented on the inspection sheet from BMW North Scottsdale when the tech that did the inspection noted the issue. This car can't roll from a low speed in 2nd gear and get anywhere...Maybe that would change with a boost controller so that the turbo spools up easier, I dunno. I'm driving my friends STi this week, and I can do the smart 2nd gear thing in his car with NO issues and NO bogging like in my car.

[THE ONE]

Originally Posted by subynewb

this is I think similar to what the OP is trying to get at. I've had similar issues, I was going to a red light already in second gear as thats what the street speeds called for, the light is red as I depressing the brakes and as I go towards the light approx 5 mph the light turns green. You can't slam on the gas because you go no where in 2nd, (stock car) so you put it into 1st to assure you are not holding traffic up behind you. maybe its just me since the car doesn't have much torque when not in boost to just slowly let it get going, but I hate having those types of people infront of me so I try not to do the same to others

THANK YOU!!!! This is what I encounter on a daily basis. Even in stop and go traffic on the freeway.

And ironically I exit the freeway ALL THE TIME on Cactus and the 17 since I live right near there so I also see that hill quite often.

[02REX4LIFE]

well an STi is going to be waaay different. the gears and 2.5 engine make a huge difference. lol. lag in 2nd on the 2.0L just sucks! lol. Unless you go compound charge kit!
but yeah i used to hate when that happened in my bugeye.

[bobturismo]

Originally Posted by THE ONE

Well again I'm not doing anything that I shouldn't be. My car was bone stock when I got it, never had so much as an air filter put in. Car has 68k miles on it and the problem was documented on the inspection sheet from BMW North Scottsdale when the tech that did the inspection noted the issue. This car can't roll from a low speed in 2nd gear and get anywhere...Maybe that would change with a boost controller so that the turbo spools up easier, I dunno. I'm driving my friends STi this week, and I can do the smart 2nd gear thing in his car with NO issues and NO bogging like in my car.

1st, check the clutch line, like Dropped Clutch is talking about, make sure the fork is going all the way, bleed the clutch line for the hell of it.

I would try changing the fluid 2nd, have it changed with subaru, or scottys cocktail or redline. It's possible that someone somewhere put the wrong, or a poor choice of fluid in.


If both of those don't fix it, then the trans or engine needs to be removed.

- check your throwout bearing, sometimes one of the little arms breaks or it stays unsnapped. It's best to replace this if you can. You can check with a flashlight and the fork boot removed, if you are gonna bleed the line anyway, remove the slave cylinder and move the clutch fork by hand. Also does the first inch of clutch pedal travel move easy?

- check the bearing in the flywheel, replace this anyways, even if it seems good (they are cheap)

- If there are 6 screws on the flywheel and they are loose, put locktite on them and retighten them or they will come loose and damage your flywheel/crank.

- check the pressure plate, sometimes the metal "tangs" or "fingers" get bent or fail.

- check the clutch disc, make sure it's not bent, look at it from the side. Like I said, I had a clutch disc where the whole center piece had started riding on the inside of the flywheel. The car would grind into 4th when I was accelerating fast and it may have had a problem going into first like you.


Do you have problems getting into ANY other gear at any other anytime?

When you shift, do you have to push the clutch ALL the way?

[THE ONE]

First gear is the only problem. I put it into every other gear just fine, and the clutch is fine as well.

[racingfish]

All my years working at subaru I dont remember seeing 1st gear syncros going out. So it definitely is not a common prob.

I agree with what wgnwheel said... I've been driving manual for a long time too and lived in California forever... but there was never a situation where I "HAD" to downshift into first gear.... I know old habits are hard to break and all but sometimes if everyone agrees on the same thing maybe just maybe they might be right.

You may not think your abusing your car but by downshifting into first gear is exactly what subaru does NOT recommend. so i guess that would be considered abuse.

[subynewb]

ok, here is an instance I have for you that maybe you can see where he and I might be coming from. In order for me to get to my apt. complex I have to make a left across a 3 lane road from the Suicide lane. the drive way is an uphill relatively steep angle. Now, during some nights when there is still some traffic, if you don't want to wait for 20 minutes you have to pick a spot where there won;t be a lot of cars coming but you would still need to accelerate to get across with out causing others to slow down. once across, you then need to slow down for the driveway angle at which point you are at approx. 5 miles an hour. if in 2nd gear the car wants to bog down and almost stalls so first would be ideal, but you have to double clutch it or have the possibility of grinding.

Just something I have noticed since the purchase of the subaru a few months ago in comparison to my old svt

[racingfish]

how bout back out of 2nd gear and use ur brakes to control your speed and go over the speed bumps... then if u need to engauge 1st gear while your practically not moving..

I forgot to mention in my post above that I havent seen a lot of 1st gear syncros go out but I have seen a lot of blown gears.

and to whomever said they have to go into 1st a little bit to go into reverse: I use to do that too until my old master tech @ Avondale Subaru (rip A.S.) told me to just engauge the clutch a 2nd time and it will go right into reverse. Which in the last 2 years has always worked for me. he told me what it had to do with but I forgot wtf he was talking about.

[THE ONE]

Originally Posted by racingfish

All my years working at subaru I dont remember seeing 1st gear syncros going out. So it definitely is not a common prob.

I agree with what wgnwheel said... I've been driving manual for a long time too and lived in California forever... but there was never a situation where I "HAD" to downshift into first gear.... I know old habits are hard to break and all but sometimes if everyone agrees on the same thing maybe just maybe they might be right.

You may not think your abusing your car but by downshifting into first gear is exactly what subaru does NOT recommend. so i guess that would be considered abuse.

Blah! I'm done arguing. The WRX tranny is a piece of **** and I will just have to live with it apparently.

[racingfish]

maybe it was the "previous owner??"

[ammcleary]

i would recommend just filling the trans with redline shockproof lightweight gear oil that should get rid of it

[stibynite]

i got the same grind going into 4th from 5th on my sti... i'll try changing fluids. i hate that grind!!