Squeaky AT Shifter

If they can't find a part or clip or something that is actually 'broken' or out of place - I suspect they will need to locate the general area that's squeaking and either secure/isolate it somehow (double side foam tape or ?) or perhaps use some silicon grease in the area.

I suspect there are standard procedures for dash and trim noises. I dunno.

carl

You're supposing this is a regular problem for Subaru owners. A quick check of this and other groups tells me that no one else has reported such a problem as you've described.

I d>

I've heard of using felt stuffed between squeaky dash/trim pieces to suppress squeaks, but I've never actually seen it or done it. Sounds promising, though. I suppose a piece is wrapped over the edge of a putty knife and pushed in?

Mike

I've had the exact same problem with my '04 OB. It's a case of plastic rubbing against plastic. usually caused by food, dust, sand or other particles entering the shifter housing thru the gaps.

Only way I've found to fix it is to take the whole shifter plasic trim assy apart and scrub clean all the parts in a washtub filled with soapy water and a brush. Dry with towel, leave bake in the sun for 1/2 hour and re-assy and the problem goes away. I have resigned that this problem is an inherent design flaw. Only way around it is to not eat on the car or allow anything to fall into the oh-so-annoying-crooked-grooveway AT shifter. Subaru made the plastic parts in the shifter trim and bezel waaaay to tight with not enuf room for age/play/tolerance/foreign object incursion.

Note also that I've had the EXACT same problem with the Power mirror button and seat heater switches that are mounted in the center console gumming-up form foreign matter incursion. Same problem, a bad location to put switches and cheap switch parts used.

(I guess nobody eats in the car in Japan ?)

Though, not in cars, I have had good luck using application of simple chapstick on squeaky plastic parts. It stays slippery enough in most temp ranges and is cheap and harmless.

If you are going to take it apart, might as well add some of that. (Your crumbs will stick more, but might soften up to the point they don't make any noise.)

I guess this is not a common problem with Subarus based on the response.

I will go ahead and take the car to the dealer again, and hope they can fix it right this time.

If anyone has any further advice or experiences, please advise. Thanks!