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Old 09-27-2004, 12:41 AM   #1
elhalisf
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Default 04 WRX Transmission problems, getting into 2nd sometimes impossible, 10psi max in 1st

Hey guys,

I have an 04 wrx with 12k miles on it now. It is a Cobb Stage 2 for about 2k miles. Very rarely when I am driving it is almost impossible to get it into 2nd. It is usually an upshift. To get into second I usually have to shift into third then back into 2nd again. Any idea why?

I have a kartboy short shifter with kartboy bushings. I did tighten that nut behind the washer holding the bushings a lot, but I dont think that is the problem. I get no grinding in the gears or anything. I would have to say that I do drive my car hard but I would say I drive my engine hard and not my transmission. Even at WOT I always shift easy. I dont just slam it into gears.

Another problem I am having is that most times I only get 10psi in first gear. My other gears all hit target boost but 1st rarely hits past 10psi. Sometimes it hits the 14psi target but there doesnt seem to be a pattern. I have reflashed my ecu, reset my ecu, disconnected and reconnected some vacuum hoses, but still dont know what is happening.
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Old 09-27-2004, 01:19 AM   #2
InfamousDX
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Cobb stage 2 is supposed to hit 14psi in 1st?
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Old 09-27-2004, 04:20 AM   #3
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You try the Stage 2 1.20 revision maps? The AP ships with 1.18 or 1.19 I think depending on when you ordered it. Anyhow, go to their maps page and get the latest revision.

I've got 15k miles on mine and Im COBB Stage 2 as well. Everything seems to be in working order.
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Old 09-27-2004, 06:26 AM   #4
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You won't get full boost in first gear and might not in 2nd either. In fact, the gear that Cobb tells you will get full boost in is 4th.

And it sounds like you have a synchro problem in 2nd gear to me.
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Old 09-27-2004, 09:48 AM   #5
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you could change the tranny lube, and cut the new fluid with a syncro-friendly fluid, like gm/pennzoil synchromesh.
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Old 09-28-2004, 12:33 AM   #6
elhalisf
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I know that you arent supposed to get full boost in 1st or 2nd. But for about a month since I installed the stage 2 I was always hitting at 12-13 psi in 1st. Now I cannot pass 10psi. On the odd occassion I will hit 12-13 psi, but very rarely. I am getting some intercooler hoses, so maybe that will solve the problem.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Unabomber
And it sounds like you have a synchro problem in 2nd gear to me.
If it was a synchro problem wouldnt that cause some grinding first? Would the synchros go bad THAT fast? Dont people have Stage 4 and their transmission last longer? I know it depends on how I drive it, but I think my driving ability is pretty good. I drove an NA 90 Talon before this that was manual, and I learned most of my mistakes after I destroyed that transmission. That took me from 120k - 166k miles to do that.

I was reading some other posts, think an STI pitching stopper and transmission mount will help or will that actual put more strain?
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Old 09-28-2004, 02:10 AM   #7
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I would try the sycromesh, because at this point it is your only real option. Subaru isn't really all that helpful to modded cars with transmission problems.
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Old 09-28-2004, 07:33 AM   #8
ride5000
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another possibility for synchro problems... bleed your clutch.
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Old 09-28-2004, 09:01 AM   #9
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I tried Redline Superlight Shockproof and it fixed all my transmission problems. Not sure about how it will affect the life of the tranny though...
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Old 09-28-2004, 09:46 AM   #10
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I agree with trying some new fluids.. my tranny felt a little off (I only have 20k on my 02') during shifting occasionally when the dino lube was in there. I switched to Redline Shockproof HD and it really smoothed things up when shifting. Also Redline Synthetic 75w90 in the rear diff. Now I just need SOA to replace my cold shuddering clutch under warranty..
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Old 10-06-2004, 07:39 PM   #11
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Redline Shockproof and GM Syncromesh do the same thing? Does either affect transmission life?
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Old 10-06-2004, 08:06 PM   #12
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Should have asked the transmission question in the transmission forum.
But anyway-
When you installed the bushings, did you put the big plate/washer back on the same way it came off? It is possible to accidentally put it back on the wrong way, and if you do this it will interfere with shifting. If you have the latest issue of Drive Performance magazine, check the article on the short shifter install. The washer in that car was installed backwards, causing shifting problems, and the Subaru guys didn't even realize it- they just ground it down where it was hitting the trans. Anyway, take a look and be sure this isn't your problem.
Also the bolt on the stud that holds the rod and bushings in place is not supposed to be that tight, if you overtighten it there is a good chance the end of the stud will snap off. It has happened to a few people. The correct procedure is to install it with a small amount of Loctite on the threads and tighten it just past snug.
Finally, check the pivot bolt on the shift lever inside the car. Sometimes these get overtightened as well making shifting more difficult. The torque spec for that bolt is only about 7-8 ft-lbs. The lever bushings should be greased with white lithium grease or something similar, and the bolt tightened to the proper torque which should be just past the point where the linkage fork compresses and takes out the side play from the shifter.
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Old 10-06-2004, 08:20 PM   #13
elhalisf
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Damn thanks for taking the time to write that out. I did put the plate in the right way, I am pretty sure. I probably did tight the bolt on too much so I am going to loosen that up at bit. I dont feel like that is problem. I have realized that the only time I get locked out of 2nd is when I am revving high in 1st. If I do a hard sprint in 1st and then try to shift to 2nd at anything above about 5k rpms, I just can't get it on first try. I have to let the revvs down and then it will work the second time.

I can believe it is 2nd gear synchro problem but I get ZERO grinding.
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Old 10-06-2004, 11:17 PM   #14
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i get that same problem sometimes...it just doesn't slip in smoothly from 1st into second when reving out 1st. I believe its in the way you come off the gas and the timing of when you apply pressure to the shifter to move it into second.
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Old 10-06-2004, 11:19 PM   #15
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Mulder said what I was about to post. I *did* put mine back the wrong way (the tab should point up, and arc away from the bushings, and thus out of the way of the linkage)...and had a hell of a time getting it into 3rd. Flipped it around, called myself a moron, and enjoyed the short shifter.
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Old 10-06-2004, 11:31 PM   #16
elhalisf
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scoobystas
i get that same problem sometimes...it just doesn't slip in smoothly from 1st into second when reving out 1st. I believe its in the way you come off the gas and the timing of when you apply pressure to the shifter to move it into second.
That would probably be the problem most people would assume but I have been driving manual for 3 years, and this car for 6 months, and never had the problem till 2 or 3 weeks ago. I checked the tab for the bushings and its on right. I guess I will just have to admit that maybe my synchro's are going bad. (Car only has 12k miles on it damnit)

Cobb Tuning highly recommends Redline MT-90 and that is what I am going to do. See what happens
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Old 10-07-2004, 03:30 PM   #17
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good luck...keep us posted. I have royal purple in the car. It was noisy and you could really hear the syncho's struggling. I added a quart of GM synchormesh and my syncho's are much happier. I'm actually thinking of going back to dino+synchromesh.
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Old 10-07-2004, 09:46 PM   #18
elhalisf
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Well I havent changed the transmission fluid it but I am having some serious problems with 2nd now. Even at low rpms I can't engage it. It just wont slide in. It would only work at first attempt when I am idling. If I am driving it takes me at least 5 or 6 times to get it in. When I try to engage it into 2nd and I put my ear next to the shifter I hear kinda of a shhhhhhh sound. I dont hear it with the other gears. Sounds like it is comming from the inside of the transmission. I'll see what happens when I change the fluid.

If it was a broken shift fork, it wouldnt go in at all right, ever?!?
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