Newbie 03 Impreza Trans/clutch question

[2106]

Looking at buying a used 03 Subaru 5sp with 40,000 miles and have 2 questions:

 

1. The clutch has a "squeak" as you push it in and get about 1 inch off the floorboard. You hear it best with the engine off. Clutch seems to work OK when shifting gears, and this squeak noise only happens when about 1 inch off the floor. Now this could just need some lube on the mechanical moving parts up under the dash, or a bad bushing???

 

2. After shifting gears, say you shift into 2nd and accerate up to about 20-30 MPH and then immediatly lift your foot completely off the accelerator, the car will instantly begin engine braking and you will feel and hear a double clunk/clunk in the driveline. Its a sound similar to a universal joint clunking (but very subdued and muffled) like when you have a bad universal joint and shift your automatic transmission into drive. I can't explain it much better in writing than this. If you are driving along at say 50mph and remove your foot off the accelerator fast and completly the car is not real smooth in the transition into engine braking taking over to slow the car down. This is also when you will get the little clunk/clunk feel and sound thru the driveline. The transition happens VERY fast and very noticeable into engine braking. Not at all smooth as the engine braking comes on to slow you down.

 

Now this car does not appear to have been abused, and records indicate ALL factory recommended services have been performed by a dealer.

 

Perhaps this immediate engine braking is not unusual to these little cars with 4WD. Perhaps there are driveline worn parts?

 

OPINIONS PLEASE Thanks

[Setright]

Rest assured, mine does both.

 

1) Linkage/throw-out lever needs grease. Air-filter box needs to come out to gain access.

 

2)Two things cause this. The AWD has more transmission "lash" or freeplay to deal with, and the engine mounts are too soft! You could replace them with mounts from the performance models, STi, WRX, or learn to live with it. I am choosing the second option, mainly for it's price. You learn to come off the gas more smoothly and the car repays you with a smooth transition.

 

 

Let us know if you make the purchase!

 

By the way, Castrol TAF aka. Syntorq will make the shift MUCH better!