WRX Manual Tranmission.....

I still have an 85 Cherokee in the driveway. I think I've had four sets of master & slave clutch cylinders on it. The fuse block has finally succumbed to the corrosive effects of brake fluid, as a collateral casualty.

BTW, that's where I learned to save "box-ends", recieipts, and warranty cards, when doing automotive repairs. I paid for the job the first time, the next three times I did it myself, with free parts (~$400 total) each time, because I could produce that first receipt and warranty card. The last set wasn't even provided by the original maker--they had been bought out---but their new parent company honored the old warranty!

I had a similar experience on my 1990. 2 slave cylinders and 2 master cylinders and the clutch line itself in 2 years. Warranty or no I got sick of doing the work all the time. I had to replace all the fuses when I got the thing. Talk about a stupid design! They could have put some sort of cover or leak shield over the fuse box at least.

I also had an '86. I put 1 master cylinder in it and that was all I did for

35k miles. I figured I was lucky if I could go 2k miles without having to fix something.

Ok I have had a very simular problem with alot of WRX users out there. When shifting into first, with mine at a dead stop, I would grind 1st gear.

1. The WRX transmission is not to be shifted into first unless under 5MPH Period, If it resists going in and you force it it will reck the shift forks which will reck the 1st gear syncro.

I had my transmission in 5 times to repair the same problem and on the 5th Time the SUBARU SERVICE REP came down and did a class on rebuilding my transmission.

It now works PERFECTLY.

They accused me of recking the transmission by drop shifting and told me that they would not cover it. I told them that I would call a lawyer and they conceded to fix it again and again and again.

Heres the fix that worked.

They replaced all the shifting FORKS and the SYNCROS. They had replaced the SYNCROS before and even 1st GEAR but it still did not work right. When the REP Replaced the forks and Syncros it works great just as it should.

You must keep hounding them and make them do the work. This transmission can be rebuilt to perfectly new shifting if you get some shop that knows what the heck they are doing. The problem is actually finding a shop that will do transmission work under the factory warranty.

Oh it was a total of 6 rentals on subarus bill, and 72 days in the shop to rebuild my transmission 5 times. In the process of this they broke the seals on the axels twice, so watch out for this.

And if they are rebuilding your transmission now would be a great time to look at your clutch and replace it with a better one. Just ask them and they will more than likely work a great deal with you.

If you have any questions just email me at snipped-for-privacy@juno.com. Thanks

Here's my tranny problem on my '05 WRX... 4,500mi. No track time or other "hard" driving other than me being young and in the city.

On a FAST, HARD downshift from 5th to 4th (like when about to pass in a short spell) my tranny locks out of 4th gear. Rack it back hard and it stays in the between zone where it moves freely left and right. As long as I maintain back pressure it locks out. Let up a bit and then pull back and it goes right in. Pull it back slightly slower and/or softer and it still slips right in like butter. It is almost hard to make it happen on accident, but I can get it to repeat each and everytime on purpose. And it has happened enough times that it bugs me. Nothing like making a quick shift to pass or get around a guy and getting hung out to dry with the clutch in and the engine at idle because you can't get it into 4th gear.

Double-clutching might work, but still, it defeats the purpose of the quick hard shift in the first place.

I keep talking it to my Subaru dealership here in Corpus Christi, TX but their "Subaru tech is out of town" and has been for a long time and nobody within a 100 mile radius will look at it for free that I know of (e.g. warranty).

Any ideas? Mike

Here's my tranny problem on my '05 WRX... 4,500mi. No track time or other "hard" driving other than me being young and in the city.

On a FAST, HARD downshift from 5th to 4th (like when about to pass in a short spell) my tranny locks out of 4th gear. Rack it back hard and it stays in the between zone where it moves freely left and right. As long as I maintain back pressure it locks out. Let up a bit and then pull back and it goes right in. Pull it back slightly slower and/or softer and it still slips right in like butter. It is almost hard to make it happen on accident, but I can get it to repeat each and everytime on purpose. And it has happened enough times that it bugs me. Nothing like making a quick shift to pass or get around a guy and getting hung out to dry with the clutch in and the engine at idle because you can't get it into 4th gear.

Double-clutching might work, but still, it defeats the purpose of the quick hard shift in the first place.

I keep talking it to my Subaru dealership here in Corpus Christi, TX but their "Subaru tech is out of town" and has been for a long time and nobody within a 100 mile radius will look at it for free that I know of (e.g. warranty).

Any ideas? Mike