my99 gearbox is hard to engage gears when cold,also first gear is almost impossible to get unless you have almost stoped.is this the norm with this gearbox?has anyone got a similar prob or am i being to fussy?

 

change the oil to a synthetic one, also add some extra additive, ask your dealer, he knows whats best.
In the worst, your clutch is starting to give up...

 

thanks wally ill try the synthetic oil,only seems to be a problem when cold ok when warm have heard of later evos suffering same problem.thought it might be close ratio box norm but wil try the oil,any ideas on the additives though.

 

My MY 99 in my opinion has a funny gearbox also, although the dealer says it is fine! It can be very very notchy and you can also catch the gears unless u mash the clutch into the carpet, even though the bite point is about three quarters of the way up the pedal travel. I have on a couple of occasions cruched into fifth and third. First is also very difficult to get into on some occasions but then perfectly ok on othes.

Would changing my gearbox oil help this?

cheers

Danny Boy

 

I would not recommend a synthetic oil. Use Castrol Syntrax, which is a semi synthetic. Approx 4ltrs

 

hi dan, whats the mileage on your car? mines on 25,000 and wondered if the oil would be changed on the 30,000 mile service.
,after all these box's certainly take a canning.

 

had the same prob with my wrx 1997
and was told the gear box wiz F***,d

 

Unless the gearbox is in a very bad way, then try changing the oil to Syntrax.
Do not use fully synthetic oils, I have tried a couple, and the box does not like them.
This is not an advert for Castrol or anything, but it simply is one of the best gearbox oils to use for a Subaru, and you may be surprised at how much of a diffrence it can make. It has been tried and tested by probably most people on Scoobynet.
Castrol Sytrax....

If it doesnt fix the problems you are having, then your box may well be fu*ked, but it is a lot easier to try an oil change first.
Even a rebuilt box in perfect condition, with the wrong oil could feel crap.

 

The car has only done 18K miles so i would hope the gearbox is not fu*&@d, especially as the guy at the dealership said it drove better than most when he had a go. Where about sells this castrol syntrax, is it a halfords job or a specialist supplier?

Danny Boy

 

What part of Brum r u in subsy, as i spend quite a lot of time around those parts latley. Look out for a silver classic bog standard at the mo cos still got a warrenty to think about

 

hi danny live in erdington area of brum and drive mica blue turbo with gold speedlies hope to see you cruisin some time. subsy

 

Halfords sell it.

 

use the Syntrax for gearboxe + i have found they are knotchy too as long as there is no grating when selecting gear its ok, just a very direct box

 

Same prob on mine. I just grin and bear it. 1st stiffer than the rest but not to hard. Ive been advised previously to change the oil!!

 

sounds like an oil change time for me then. Do the dealers change it as part of the 36 month service cos mine is dur for that in march. Would hate to spend 40 quid on posh gearbox oil only for the dealers to pour it awat in two months time!

Danny Boy

 

They will replace the oil if you request it. Shouldnt be charged, but you never know

 

www.castrolclassicoils.co.uk
For Syntrax cheaper than Halfords, and free delivery. Ordered mine yesterday and it came today
Box feels a bit better than it was (I had usual probs with 1st, crunchy reverse, and a tough job changing down to 2nd) only done a few miles with it in so suspect it may take a while (and some heat into it) to do it's thing.

 

I think that this post confirms my thoughts, most of these gearboxes and mine included need overhauled. I said most not all. My G-box does the same, tricky first, always difficult 2nd and 5th can be prety whiney, double clutch has to be used most of the time for 1st and 2nd. Yet the clutch is telling me that theres still life in it yet as the biting point is only a third of the pedal depressed.
Im prety positive they arent like this new, Snytrax didnt do anything to help my problems so at 60K I reckon it will need over-hauling!! Great!
Would Grade-A be a good place to start for some gearbox internals or $ubaru for new ones?? If its $ubaru then im just gonna live with it.