'Noon all,

My recently acquired RA (STI v2) seems to have a lot of play in the stick when "in gear" to the point that I've actually stalled the car a few times by taking foot of the clutch whilst in gear AFTER doing the usual wiggle-the-gearstick test to make sure it was (apparently) in neutral. I've had a couple of scoobies before (one JDM, one UK) and I didn't have this prob with them. Anyone else experienced this?

Also, I often find it difficult to downchange from 5th to 4th (generally when entering a corner quickly during the normal brake/change-down phase). The 4th gear synchro was replaced prior to me picking up the car (due to it crunching on the same scenario whilst road testing) so I initially put this down to the new synchro not bedding in yet, however I've put a few miles on it now and it doesn't seem to be improving. Again I don't remember experiencing this on my previous Scoobs.

I haven't yet spoken to the place I got the car from so not going to name them here and to be fair I have every confidence in them (good rep etc) fixing the probs if necessary. I really wanted to get some feedback from anyone else who may have experienced these symptons.

Apart from this, it's a cracking little car

Cheers
Ken

 

Get them to check all the simple external bolts/springs etc on the box to see if loose/missing.
There after take it back or contact someone like David at www.apiengines.com as he has seen every gearbox in Impreza's. He is a No Bullsh!t zone, so talk and listen, will be well worth it, but the supplier is the first port of call?

The gate on an RA should be nice and precise.

Graham.

 

It does sound like a linkage problem, and there may or may not be a further problem with 4th gear.

 

Yup - sounds like a linkage problem - check the cup / ball joint at the bottom of the gear stick and the rubber locating bush on the side of the gearbox - these are prone to wear. Also check the nut / bolt pivot joint from the gearstick to the selector shaft cos they can come loose to

If all thes joints are tight then you'd have to question the 'new' syncro

Rob