When its colder out, my car doesnt want to go into first unless you are almost stopped. It was fine all summer.

Mine does it too. May want to try switching to a synthetic gear oil in your transmission.

 

I just put up with it, and its fine once the car warms up.

You are not supposed to shift into first unless you are stopped. It's very hard on the 1st gear syncro. You can fill the tranny with ATF, and run it for a few hundred miles to clean the syncros, and then fill it with Redline or your favorite synthetic. Takes about $40 worth of Redline to fill a 5 speed.

 

GD

You are not supposed to shift into first unless you are stopped. It's very hard on the 1st gear syncro.

GD

 

Wow. I never knew that, but it does make sense, and I've always found it hard to shift into first (not just on subarus) if its still moving.

 

If the clutch is too loose (engaging too close to the floor) it can also make it harder to get into first and reverse (when stopped).

 

Z

Its not hard on it if you know how to heal-toe... first just try blipping the throttle befeore you (Gently Theses sync's are really slow) push it in gear

I usually just double clutch if I need to go into first. This is because the first gear syncro on the wag is wearing out, and I can usually time it right to just pop it in.

Yeah double clutching works too... And im not saying to become a ulmate racer... just an expierement for you subiebuffs... its getting cold here in az also... you can really feel the car drag more because of it... I would totaly reccomend some mobile one gl-5 gear lube... or redline synthetic... there the 2 best brands out there!!! and remember these cars wernt made for fast shifting.. especially down to 1st!!!

I used synthetic gear lube in my '78 & '76 4 speeds. Shifted smooth & easy, winter & summer.