Just had my car in today and complained about not being able to make smooth shifts (It's not just me, my dad can't either and he has driven stick for 35 years.) and about a clutch squeak. I guess Subaru has some recall of clutches and they are replacing the clutch with an upgraded one or different one. So if you are having same difficulties, then bring it in.
The clutch recall was on the 02s and they replace it with a POS clutch, which I just found that I had in my car, pisses the hell out of me. If you get it changed make sure to tell them to put in a WRX clutch not just any clutch. And as for the shifting, its notchy, all WRXs are like that.
It is free mod because so many people have brought it in. In response to the what problem am I having question, every time you shift from first to second and let up the clutch the car jerks really hard no matter what you do. Even if you let clutch up really slow. I am not sure as to what clutch they are putting in yet, I think it is from Subaru because they have to order a new one and I will get a call on when it comes in and I will ask what kind it is. My dealer said 6 or 7 people have come in with the same problem and got the replacement and said it works like a charm. Although my dealer said the clutch will be so soft it won't take any work to push it in (I don't think I will be happy with that, that clutch sounds like a ford or toyota clutch, I want a sporty clutch but we will see.)
Mine when its cold doesnt want to go into 2nd. I mean only when its really cold. Other wise it goes from 1st to 2nd easily. Cold- I have to really jam it in there.
We will wait till the spring (warm weather) comes up. If I still have that problem I might take it in for them to check it out.
I haven't had any problems with my '04 shifting. 2nd gear is a #####y gear and not as smooth as the other ones but I figured that's just a characteristic of the WRX. I remember hearing other people say that it was notchy so I just accept it.
i have a hell of a time getting it into 1st and reverse. sometimes i have to try a good 5 times before it will go. sucks when your doing a 3-point aside from that my clutch is sqeeking like crazy, well not actually the clutch more like the pedal. it's really annoying.
ok well i guess i don't really have that much of a basis for comparson, i've only owned one other manual a 01 maxima se and that went into reverse every time.
Yeah, my new '04 has the same issue. Anytime I make a shift at about 3000rpm's or higher I get that jerk (gets worse the higher rpm you go). I have driven a ton of standards and don't recall ever feeling such a jerk when shifting. I thought it was just normal for the WRX... I have to run to the dealership later this week, will make a stop by the shop and ask.
I use to have the problem when I initially got the WRX (currently rolling 13.5k miles on it right now), but if you just manhandle it a little bit it will loosen up. When you put the clutch all the way in and go to grab the shifter, pull it into second with a firm pull, dont baby it and slide it in there. After some firm pulls you will be able to baby the car into second as the shifter will loosen up.
Also, Reverse has no synchros in it in all manual transmissions, which is why Reverse is a rougher gear to use (Although the funny thing is that Reverse was the one gear I could use easily and successfully all the time when just starting out with this car).
Also, after shifting at 3,000rpms and then shifting at 3,500s for only first gear, I believe the sweet spot for the car that will give a smooth shift into second is just below the 3k mark. When the tach approaches the small line on the tach just below 3k, put the clutch in and shift into second. It should be a smooth transition.
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