first shift in drive is super hard

[suburpoo]

I'm new to Subaru's and I bought a 96 legacy for $200. Great car for the money. In "drive" it's first shift is really hard. But if I manually shift from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd all the way back to "drive" it's fine. What could be the cause of this?

[MilesA]

Check your AT fluid level using the dipstick. It could be low. Inspect the fluid on the dipstick, see if it is clear and not burnt. It would be a good idea to change your AT fluid with fresh.

 

Since the car is new to you, it's really a good idea to change out all the fluids, that way you will know when they were changed and that the right spec was used: trans, front diff, rear diff, cooling system, brakes, power steering. You don't have to do all that at once, but as you get time. Good fluid maintenance is one of those things that help Subarus to last a long time.

[Stevo F]

This is common on our cars. No one has found a specific cause (Fluid changes, valve body replacement, etc...) Of my three 2nd gen legacy's only the '97 we just bough has the hard 1st to 2nd shift and I haven't felt it yet because the previous owner said in only does it in cold weather and was smoother if you let it warm up.

 

I did just do a drain and refill of the ATF as the old stuff was brownish a little burnt smelling.

 

MilesA is correct about changing fluids on newly acquired old cars- we've bought two legacy's over the past 6 months and I plan to change engine oil, ATF, flush brake fluid, front and rear differential fluid, and coolant over the next few months.

[suburpoo]

Awesome, thanks guys. I'm glad I'm not going to have to rebuild/replace the tranny knowing that it is an issue that these cars have.

[Setnev]

Lucas ATF Conditioner helped my transmission tremendously.

[RustyRuu]

Do you know any tranny cocktails for a 5MT, setnev?

[Setnev]

I've used Synchromax in the past with good results, but it's a synthetic gear oil that replaces your existing oil. It is supposed to better protect your synchros and quiets noisy gears. There's also Uncle Scottys cocktail, which is over on NASIOC, that people have said works really well.

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920674

 

With manuals, there's not really a magic cocktail you can use because the technology is more "primitive", for the lack of a better word, than autos. Autos benefit from conditioners because they rely on internal clutches and solenoids that get gummed up and cause poor shift performance, hence why they're used to clean them up. With a manual, if you have a weird noise that won't go away with changing the fluid, you've almost certainly worn out something that will continue to get worse.

[RustyRuu]

, if you have a weird noise that won't go away with changing the fluid, you've almost certainly worn out something that will continue to get worse.

 

and worse and worse... it a slow death of a old transmission and if its anything like an older 5mt i had, one day it will finally go.

 

can't get into first sometimes until you creep in second then third takes a decade sometimes if you hold it at the gates until the syncros catch up so your better off with ringing out 2nd gear and skipping it strait into forth then, 5th gear is kind of the same but quicker to get into.:lol:

 

i've got my money saved and a finger on a tranny if i need it right away but I kinda want to see how long it will go if it makes it through summer it will be close to 220k to 225k miles its at 210k now. yes i drive that much.

 

sorry for the tread jack :wub:

[Setnev]

I just bought a WRX 5MT that has the ill-fated 2-3 synchro issue that I am going to be rebuilding myself. I've been studying a lot of the disassembly and rebuild process so hopefully when I'm ready, it should go semi-smoothly.

[TylerHartman]

My old 96 Outback 4EAT Did the same thing, Even my 06 Legacy 4EAT isn't the most refined thing on the plant. I'd change the Transmission fluid and go from there