Hi guys,

Just after a bit of advice really.

noticed that the car is very stiff to get into 1st gear when cold. i have to come to a complete stop before getting it into 1st and when trying to get into 2nd gear i have to slow down so much before it will go into gear the speed is too slow for 2nd gear so the engine would be labouring very badly.

now i know that the STi 6 speed box is a bit agricultral but should it really be that bad? once the engine is fully warm its fine.
also had the car for over a year now and it wasn't like that when i first got it its been developing over the past few months.

Also got some juddering when pulling away again when the car is cold....is ok once warmed up.

and finally the car has poped out of first gear a few times in the last month. mainly when moving slowly round car parks etc.

I've had a garage check the gear box oil level and they siad it was fine and said there was nothing wrong with gear box however they drove it whilst it was warm when all symptons disapear.

colud it be early signs of clutch failure? as odd as it sounds i've never had a clutch fail in 7 years of driving.
Although there has been no slipping of the clutch which i always associated with a failing clutch.

Car details

2003 53plate WRX STi with PPP
46,000 miles

any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

 

has anyone got any info on this or had a similar issue?

today i couldn't get the car back into first so had to pull away in second.

that can't be normal surely even if the box is known for being a bit stiff to get into first when cold but this seems to be taking the biscuit a little

how stiff is reasonably stiff?

once warm its perfectly fine - no issues at all which is why when i took it to the garage they said it was fine

 

no one had anything even remotely similar??

 

Some clutch judder is not uncommon when cold. My 03 STi does it on occasions especially the next day after a long drive.
It sounds as if the clutch is not clearing properly (clutch drag) so check the pedal stroke and also get someone to push the pedal while you check the throw of the release arm on top of the clutch housing. Not sure of what the throw should be, however. Bleeding the clutch hydraulics would be a good idea, too. Lining dust on the friction disc can be problematic so a couple of quick starts can work wonders!

JohnD

 

Has the gearbox oil been changed?

 

was changed at 30K miles.

i got the garage to check it not long ago and they said it was fine

oil level was one of the first things i thought of

 

do you know what oil was used?

 

no i don't

i was done as part of the 30K service at a subaru dealer so would image its what ever subaru recomend