1st gear synchros, short shifter, and warranty

[davesill]

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine started having trouble downshifting into first gear. He didn't know it was a no-no. (He still doesn't think it should cause problems, and I agree.)

A week ago he installed a short shifter.

Now he can't downshift into first while the car is moving, even after double clutching. He's got less than 3000 miles on the car, and he's never dropped the clutch.

He's thinking it's time to report the problem to the dealer but he doesn't want them to discover the short shifter and claim that voids his tranny warranty.

He could put the stock shifter back, but he had to hack off a piece of the surrounding plate. Should he just not worry about them noticing the modified piece or should he replace it first?

If he should replace it, where can he get one? Anyone have the part number?

-Dave

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[skidplatez]

I have one!

I took mine off comepletely instead of cutting it. I could "rent" it to him for the price of shipping it back and forth.

[GOT_WRX]

I don't think shortshifters has anything to do with first gear synchros. It doesn't matter if you took that plate off or modified it because it's YOUR car. The dealer cannot deny the warranty service (notice, it's not voiding) on the first gear synchro just because they saw chopped off plate near the shifter.

You can do whatever to your car as you please, but IF the aftermarket parts you installed or any modification caused the system to fail, you have to be responsible for the consequence.

I don't think short shifter alone will cause any problem in the car.

P.S. BTW, if your friend forcefully shifted into first a lot, the synchro prolly got beaten to death. He wouldn't be able to push into first above 5mph(some say 10mph) without double clutching. That's normal.

[Patrick L]

what shifter does he have?

[davesill]

Originally posted by GOT_WRX
You can do whatever to your car as you please, but IF the aftermarket parts you installed or any modification caused the system to fail, you have to be responsible for the consequence.

That's all very reasonable, but it seems prudent to avoid a disagreement over the cause of the problem. We know the short shifter wasn't the cause because the problem started before he installed it.

P.S. BTW, if your friend forcefully shifted into first a lot, the synchro prolly got beaten to death. He wouldn't be able to push into first above 5mph(some say 10mph) without double clutching. That's normal.

What's normal? First gear not synching properly?

-Dave

[davesill]

Originally posted by KC_TopDog
what shifter does he have?

ILP.

-Dave

[Patrick L]

If it's a STI shifter, they will not and better not give him any crap about it at the dealer. They are cool about the shifter but if it's not a STI. Just put the stock shifter arm back in and they will not know the difference.
It's like if I put a STI exhaust on and my cat goes bad. They can't blame the exhaust cause it's a Subaru part.

[Shinji N]

I'm curious. At what speed should I be able to downshift into first? I mean, if the syncros were working perfectly, technically I should be able to shift into first at 100mph, right? Right?

[Stanley]

Shinji,
Don't you think 100 mph is a little fast?
I personally love the cool noises my car makes when I jam it in first at about 25 and just floor it!

[Blindeye_03]

Originally posted by Stanley
Shinji,
Don't you think 100 mph is a little fast?
I personally love the cool noises my car makes when I jam it in first at about 25 and just floor it!

Geeze...if I am over 5mph and I am rolling I do not need 1st gear, my RS has enough pickup to get going in second gear from a stop.

-justin

[GOT_WRX]

Originally posted by davesill


That's all very reasonable, but it seems prudent to avoid a disagreement over the cause of the problem. We know the short shifter wasn't the cause because the problem started before he installed it.



What's normal? First gear not synching properly?

-Dave

Well what I said was what SOA said. The dealer has nothing to do with denying the warranty service. SOA does this.

The last sentense was what I was talking about being normal. You wouldn't be able to push into first if you are above 5-10 mph.(depends) If you blew your synchro, that's a different story now.


As for someone who said he should be able to shift into first at 100Mph, technically, as long as he doesn't engage the clutch.
Can someone in God's name tell me WHYYYYYYYYY someone would do something like that? Does it matter if you could shift into first at 100mph? no because you will NEVER need to do it(not that you can't do it, it's out of the question)

It's a safety system that prevents dumb drivers blowing their engines. They feel cool when they could shift into first at high speed without engaging the clutch, but then the idiots make mistake and let the clutch go, see smoke coming from the engine and blame subaru for not making the engine go above 15000RPM.

[Austin]

Originally posted by Shinji N
I'm curious. At what speed should I be able to downshift into first? I mean, if the syncros were working perfectly, technically I should be able to shift into first at 100mph, right? Right?

With a fully synchromeshed transmission, the car should be able to downshift into first w/o double clutching up to it's redline (which with re92's on the wrx is 36mph). Don't do this! It's not healthy for your sychros. No, you can't shift into first at 100mph... you'll overspin the driven gears even w/o releasing the clutch.