tl;dr - Car turns over, but won't get into gear. I heard something metal drop somewhere below the gear shift just before it slipped out of gear and refused to get back into it. I need to fix it myself. Send help.

 

This is my first car and I am by no means mechanically inclined (I can follow instructions like a champ though).

 

I was driving along the highway when I heard something metal drop below the gear shift. The car slipped out of gear and I was just revving at that point.

 

I couldn't get into gear, and whether or not I pressed down on the clutch, I was able to move the gear shift into all of its positions.

 

I can still get the car to turn over, but getting her into gear is proving to be a problem.

 

The couple guys I talked to didn't know too much about fixing up cars either, but one guy seemed pretty confident that the clutch was fucked up.

 

I'm not in any sort of financial shape to get her into a shop to figure out what's wrong, and/or get them to fix it.

 

I have the car's manual, but I'm just wanting to get a few pointers here and there about how to not break my car more.

 

Any help would be seriously appreciated.

http://www.rs25.com/forums/f105/t128163-diy-clutch-replacement-pictorial.html

 

This is by far the best writeup on how to do it. Only difference is that you will have a clutch cable to detach instead of a cylinder and your wiring harnesses will be on the drivers side of the motor. It looks long. It kinda is long, but no one step in there is very difficult.

 

Exedy is the best clutch kit out there for subaru but if you're looking to save $$$ I've had good experience so far with 2 banhof clutches off ebay.

 

Your issue may be a busted/bent clutch fork in which case I have a spare one floating around in the garage or find a good used one from a pick n pull etc. You can have a buddy push the clutch pedal and look for movement on the clutch fork to see if it's moving as it should or flopping around/stuck.

Sounds to me that your shift linkage has become disconnected from the trans.  

- Put the car on ramps or jack stands

- get under the car and you will see the shift linkage going into the transmission on the drivers side rear of the transmission (right up above the rear trans cross member)

- Have someone shift the transmission into all 6 positions

- Did the trans input shaft move with each shift?  If not you have found your problem - fix the linkage.

If you can move the shifter while the engine is running and get no engagement or grinding ... then I agree with imdew , look at the shift linkage.  

Sounds to me that your shift linkage has become disconnected from the trans.

- Put the car on ramps or jack stands

- get under the car and you will see the shift linkage going into the transmission on the drivers side rear of the transmission (right up above the rear trans cross member)

- Have someone shift the transmission into all 6 positions

- Did the trans input shaft move with each shift? If not you have found your problem - fix the linkage.

How obvious is the shift linkage gonna look? The diagram in the manual is looking a little dated, so I really don't even know what I'm looking for here. (Sorry)

1/2 metal rod moving the trans input shaft in and out.  It goes in and out.

1/2 metal rod moving the trans input shaft in and out. It goes in and out.

So I checked out the shift linkage, and it's working just fine. Got any ideas what's wrong now?