Hi, All. In July, I got my first Subaru. It is a 2005 Outback wagon. From the beginning it was hard to shift. I thought it was because it was new. But over the last month, it got worse. Sometimes I could barely shift it. I took it back to the dealer this morning and was told there was nothing wrong with it. I asked the attendent to try it again. He noticed the difficulty in shifting but said that was how Subaru's are. They have a ratcheting transmission he said. Well I find it hard to believe Subaru would sell any cars that shifted with this much difficulty. I asked to drive another 2005 Subaru Outback so I could compare it to mine, but, as fate would have it, they had none available. Please excuse me if I don't buy this explanation.

 

Can anyone advise please?

 

Muriel

I'd keep on them and aslo call Subaru of america. The squeeky wheel gets greased.

I'd keep on them and aslo call Subaru of america. The squeeky wheel gets greased.

 

Do you agree that this is not normal?? Do you know what could be wrong?

 

Muriel

What are you using as a reference, i.e. what type of vehicle did you drive before this?

 

 

 

Do you agree that this is not normal?? Do you know what could be wrong?

 

Muriel

I drove a Toyota Corolla station wagon standard shift. Effortless shifting.

I find the Subaru notchy, but not hard to shift. It ain't butter, but it's not like it's a bear to change gears....give it another go with the dealer, and if no satisfaction, contact SOA.

Thanks, I'll do that.

Interesting. I learned to drive stick on a Corolla and like my Legacy much better. However I must say that they are tricky. My clutch is completely different from my brother's Impreza. Which I have encountered shifting problems with his once where I could go into second, but this only last an hour. My Legacy shifts a little rough but I also have a very sensitive clutch.

Yes, keep harrassing the dealer, they better make it work!

 

Things to check: Clutch, is there the correct amount of freeplay? Too much and the clutch won't disengage fully and this will cause hard shifting.

 

Engine running, at standstill, in neutral, push forward firmly on the stick toward third gear. DON'T force it!

Then, start press the clutch pedal down slowly, keeping pressure on the stick. About 2/3rds down the gearstick should slip into 3rd gear. Meaning that the clutch pedal will still move down another two inches or so after the gear is selected.

 

If your clutch adjustment is wrong, the stick won't go in until the pedal is almost at the floor.

 

 

Subaru geaboxes are "recalcitrant" and stiff, making them sensitive to the correct gear oil and clutch adjustment. Also, the presence of two differentials inside the gearbox makes shifting tougher.

However, they aren't as bad as yours seems to be.

Thanks so much. I will try this. I'm supposed to hear back from Subaru's main office in a day or so. I told them I would contact the Chairman's office as well as the appropriate watchdogs if this isn't resolved.

I have a 2005 Forester with manual gear shift and mine is very smooth and easy. Its a two finger job to change gear so if yours is so much harder then there is something wrong.

I was mulling this issue over, and it occured to me that perhaps you have a linkage problem. Mis-adjusted, or something bent during installation perhaps? My 90 Accord had a linkage re-call after about 2 years and the difference in the feel of the shifts was quite noticable after the repair, just another thought....

Not sure if I did it right but it seems to me that the gear shifted before the clutch was all the way down. It happened so fast I really couldn't tell.

 

Subaru of America called me today and was very nice. They called the dhealer and now the dealer has agreed to let me drive another car like mine "so I could see that is how it is". Interesting they know what I will think in advance. The trouble is the dealer is an hour away and it is no convenient. I may get an opinion from a transmission specialist before I go back.

 

Any other ideas will surely be appreciated.

it sounds more like the clutch was overtightened more than a major issue. I wouldnt know why they would give you this much of a hassle to check that, assuming its like a honda you can adjust the clutch without needing much of anything.