This is a bit of a weird one. I had a Subaru Proven Warranty on our car as we bought it from them as Approved Used.

The warranty was due to end Saturday, and on Friday I had to ring my local dealer and report a gearbox issue to them. Now, I am really nervous about this as although it was logged with the warranty company on Friday, I'm worried they may try not to pay. This would leave me a huge bill that I couldn't pay.

On the other hand, something has occurred during the warranty period so it should be sorted, right?

The issue is that sometimes when you set off and move from 1st to 2nd gear, if you then come to a stop before you've actually let the clutch out in 2nd and you go back to 1st (so coming to a junction or crawling in traffic etc.), it will grind when going back into 1st. But it is absolutely perfect in every other way.

Before I put myself at risk of a huge bill, I just wanted to see if anyone could offer any insight, i.e. is this just a trait of these gearboxes (as my blob also did this sometimes) or is it damaged and will only get worse if not treated?

 

I was always taught not to try and put a car into first when it's still moving. Or does it do it when stationary?

 

I don't think so. It's hard to think on the spot so will have to go have a go with it this evening.

I just don't want to find out there's nothing wrong and this is just something they do etc. But then why would it do it sometimes and not all the time?

Very confused!

 

So, are you saying it grinds when down shifting from second to first while the car is still moving? If that is the case, I'd say it's generally bad practice to do it and not a lot of boxes will let you. I know my classic certainly doesn't like it however my Insignia will let me when I'm almost stopped.

 

Yeah that's right, but only at extremely low speeds, say under 5mph. I'd never shift down to first unless I was actually coming to a halt.

 

Well, i am getting my gearbox replaced on my 5 speed at a cost of about £1000, so it's not a bill i'd want to pay if there was a chance of warranty sorting it. If nothing else they will inspect it and say it's all good and give you peace of mind.

 

The cost is mainly the labour. It's dealer prices obviously, and if they strip it and find no real issue then that's me stung. If this issue is likely because I engage first while still rolling and these gearboxes simply don't like that, then I am daft to go through with this.

If however this is something that shouldn't be happening there's a problem and it should be fixed. I just need some help working out which it is so I don't make a large **** up!

 

I don't know if it's any help but my 5 speed won't let me change to first unless i am below about 5. When i do change then it makes no noise and changes happily.

 

Oh yeah you can't change down until it wants to let you. I don't force it.

 

Just reading up on this, even the Subaru manual says don't down shift into 1st when moving. The gearbox is designed specifically to stop this happening and try to safeguard against excessive engine revs and engine failure. If you have managed to do this before, chances are you have now damaged teh 1st gear synchro teeth and it may need a rebuild.

 

Well I've not heard that before but if it says it in the manual then I'd hazard a guess the warranty co will be aware of this and will point at it as being negligence on my part, which I suppose would be fair enough.

I just wish I had known this before! it literally is only ever at below 5mph though. If the teeth were damaged, wouldn't it also give me issues going the other way, i.e. from 1st to 2nd?

 

Changing into 2nd gear you'll be using the 2nd gear synchro teeth so won't be an issue. My guess is that the synchro on 1st is buggered and you need a new 1st gear installed. Fingers crossed though.

 

****ting hell. Not totally buggered as it is OK most of the time, but yeah, if it's damaged it's damaged either way.

Think I will cancel the dealer trip then, as they are going to refuse to pay if everything is as it sounds. Have to just live with it for the time being and hope it doesn't get worse if I stop doing what I've been doing.

 

You're better off talking to a specialist who rebuilds these gearboxes to get their opinion to be honest. The subaru main stealer won't know as they only send them off to get rebuilt. Call someone like API who do rebuild these boxes and talk to them. They may tell you not to worry about it.

 

Yeah good call. I think I will. Cheers matey.

 

Good luck!

 

As said above, you must not engage 1st gear while moving (this alone will make it your fault for wearing syncro for the bad habit if dealer knows this).
Does it do it once stationary?
My guess is that you're so used to doing it, which quite a few of us do and other cars are more tolerant of this, but will cause wear to syncro.

 

In my car if doing 5mph, I can set off in 2nd on a 6 speed so no need for 1st if rolling IMO.
Can't do with the kangaroo feeling if 1st is engaged and you set off while rolling

 

Can't believe this is my 4th Scooby and this is the first I've heard of this!

But yeah, I think I'll live with it until it becomes a real problem. It isn't really an issue as it is, just a bit irritating. Just seems so stupid as you HAVE to do it sometimes, i.e. stuck in traffic crawling going uphill etc.

 

Why not try the warranty route first ? All they can say is f**k off or yes its a problem .
Nothing ventured nothing gained .
I would also consider changing driving style a touch , just to try and prevent further damage .

 

The problem is you have fcuked the first gear cog by trying to put it in to first before the car is stationary
You would probably look at a grand bill +vat
You need to look at your driving habits of gear changing
If it's ok going in first without moving the garage rightly so aren't going to do anything
If you showed them your technique I don't think they will be keen on dealing with you

I've been driving 33 years and never encountered your techniques
Be patient
Wait untill the car is stationary

 

Can't try warranty because I'd have to pay for the labour of removing, stripping, inspecting and putting the box back together and back in, that's before any replacement parts.

Drives perfectly 99% of the time so I'm going to just live with it.

Not sure how any of you manage when in a situation where the car can't manage in 2nd such as the scenarios I mentioned before? I'd really like to know so that I can avoid having to change down into 1st in future.

 

Like I say, I only go into first at less than 5mph. And even then it's when I've moved off in 1st, changed to 2nd then the car in front has stopped so I basically go 1st - 2nd - 1st all while the clutch is still in and hasn't been released. If I know they won't suddenly move off again I can go into neutral and stop. It's just crawling traffic and the like.

 

You could always learn to double declutch?

I learned to drive in a 1960 Ford Anglia with only three forward gears and no synchro on first. Second to first was necessary due to the wide spacings of the ratios, so you learned to do it properly.

You young'uns have it all easy....when I was a lad....etc etc etc

 

Not that young, 34 now

But yeah, obviously this is my fault due to ignorance so I've cancelled the visit. I'll live with it for now as it happens so rarely I'm confident it'll be fine for a long time yet.

 

If you want to sell me your damaged car on the cheap just let me know!

 

Nice try!

 

Just drive it as if there's no synchro. Either don't do 2>1 on the move, or learn to double declutch, it's not that difficult.

I can still do it, and I've not had to for years.