May 31, 200619 yr This has been happening way too often. Sometimes it happens in 4low while im decending a hill, and sucks cause then I start rolling downhill like crazy. Happens in 2WD even more often. When im decellerating, if I put the gearbox in 1st and release the clutch... it will pop out into neutral. Doesnt do it in 2nd, has never happend in 3rd or 4th either. Im hoping this is a simple fix, anyone know what would cause this? -Brian
May 31, 200619 yr I'm afraid it comes down to sloppy shifter bit's inside the tranny. This is caused primarily from people grinding the gears. The little notches that engage each other to hook the gears together are what get "ground" down and there really isn't a fix for it - time for a 5 speed. GD
May 31, 200619 yr sounds like a worn detent on the shift rod inside the tranny. Seen it happen on quite a few manual trannys that I rebuilt, not just Subarus.
May 31, 200619 yr Author Sooboutlaw, not sure if youve wheeled a subaru before... but that statement isnt aplicable when it comes to downhill decents. GD & Russ, thanks for the replies. I guess it is time for a 5spd. Too bad I have a whole list of other shizz than needs to be done 1st. Toppping the list is the installation of my Lift, and as of last weekend I am in dire need of a new passenger side front CV Joint. -Brian
May 31, 200619 yr well there should be a plate over where the shift rods are, which is also where the detents are located. There also might be a couple plugs ont he side of the transmission that when removed, will be followed by a spring and the detent ball. Usually, if the dentent ball gets stuck in a certain spot, it'll wear down one side making it oblong instead of round. I'll look at my spare d/r 4-speed tomorrow to see if I can find a way to replace them easily.
May 31, 200619 yr Sometimes it happens in 4low while im decending a hill this used to happen to me in my '85 and I just adjusted the hi/lo shifter 1 turn at the tranny and that fixed it... how worn are your tranny mounts? is there much flex in the shifters when you are decending? I know in my '82 I get a lot of flex, enough to trigger my 4wd light... I need to check my tranny mounts still, but seems like the likely culprit... --Spiffy
May 31, 200619 yr Author Yeah spiffy, theres alot of flex... i can feel the shifter wanting to move when i drop the clutch. I remember your '85 having this problem, but wasnt it a problem with the 4WD lever disengaging??? Not the actual gear? -Brian
May 31, 200619 yr Mine occaisionally does the same thing while decending, only I have the additional pleasure of having it sometimes pop from 4lo to 4WD "neutral" while climbing. I've had the mounts looked at and evaluated by more than a couple of Subaru specialists, and have been told they're OK. I chalk it up to age: 303,000 miles since 1983:drunk: . Just my 2 bucks
May 31, 200619 yr Author Yeah my hatch is 1/2 that age Dave 148k on the ticker. I can handle the problem for now, all i need to do is keep my hand on the shift knob and make sure it stays in 1st. At least its not as bad as my wagon was... the wagon had completly lost 3rd gear all together. When I install the lift, i'll take a good look at the mounts and tighten everything up in there. But i do see a 5spd in the near future. -Brian
May 31, 200619 yr I've had a few trannies that do that, 2 of them improved when I added thicker gear oil with some additive to help it move around at low temps. But you probly don't need that so maybe try some thicker oil when you get a chance?
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