andrew.anderson Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 We own a 2005 Legacy GT Limited w/ 5MT. On our way down the Autobahn yesterday my wife noticed that it had gotten difficult to shift gears. The clutch pedal responds normally, it was just like the transmission does not want to go into gear. It does this regardless of the gear and it is the same when the car is parked. There is a scraping noise when you move the shift lever around also. Like metal on metal. We checked the transmission fluid and there is none showing on the dipstick. It appears I have already self diagnosed the problem but I would like someone with more experience to back up my diagnosis 1) Do those symptom match with what would happen if your transmission fluid is low? 2) Any theories on how the tranny fluid gets that low after only 9500 miles? 3) What is the stock transmission fluid? I believe it is 75/90 . Is is Synthetic, synthetic mix, which brand? I ask because I don't even want to drive the car to the shop without putting some in. If anyone has any questions just Post or PM me and I will post the info here. I hope other can learn from my problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derffred Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Without proper lubrication, the damage may have been done already. Plus with your MT, the front differential shares the same fluid as the 5 speed. The only reason why the transmission may be empty with fluid is one of two reasons (if it was never tampered with).... 1. You have a leak. 2. It was low from day one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 I hope you are wrong and the tranny is fine. ANyone know what brnad of fluid Subaru uses? I only ask becasue the Owners Manual says not to mix brands and I want to put soem in before I drive it to the shop. Am I being overlly careful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derffred Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 When I did my 30K service, I replaced the 5MT fluid with Pennzoil 75/90. I ASSUME the only reason why Subaru says "Don't Mix" is because they're afraid the client will use a Non GL-5 fluid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 Now I have another question. Since the tranny and front differential share the same fluid, if the fluid was low what kind of noice would the front differential make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 What does GL-5 mean anyway? I have never had to deal with a transmission issue so I have never bothered to learn alot about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilT Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 That's the grade of oil, if you are just driving it to the shop, then it won't matter too much if you mix, as it sounds like you are going to have to open it up for an inspection. Be prepared for a big bill, mine cost $2,000 to rebuild Double Award Winning Legacy GT Wagon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 How much does a new tranny cost? If I am going to fork out thousands of dollars why not put a 6MT in. As I mentione di know very little about transmissions. Maybe that is more work then it is worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groff Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 uh, a 6mt swap will run you quite a bit more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 How much? 3k instead of 2k? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.T.Subie Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 There is some one doing an STI tranny swap on the boards. I had some bearings go on my trans 5mt last December. More and more people are coming up with the exact problem around 30k miles. http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51969 Denial is your best friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groff Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 o no. heres just one example of a thread to read about it: http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61199&highlight=6mt+swap replacing a 5mt you'd need: clutch transmission swapping in a 6mt you'd need clutch flywheel (?) transmission (more expensive one) R180 rear diff with correct half shafts hubs and wheels OR R180 ring and pinion inside your R160 rear diff (cheaper, not as strong overall though) Front half shafts (iirc) and depending on what car you get the 6mt out of the supporting wiring/sensors/harnesses etc (as I'm pretty sure the one out of the spec b is different from the STI...which has DCCD) this is just off the top of my head, there may be more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 Okay, that sounds like alot of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groff Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 sure is, i've done the STI swap into a WRX, it was a pain, and to be honest, not worth it in the end. i forgot that you'll need a new driveshaft as well. i'm thinking the cost of his swap was around $6,000 for the whole set up. with an upgraded turbo its even less worth it imo, because first gear is so quick. when i do my tranny upgrade it wont be to a 6sp. i'll get something custom built by andrewtech most likely because i'd like to have a longer 2nd and 5th gears (effectively same as 6th, since its not like i spool up in 5th anyway unless i'm cruising at 80mph ), and stiffer 1st, 2nd, 3rd. will basically be replacing everything i think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 I am just hoping I can put the new gear oil in and everythign is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeddr7 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 did you check the fluid level yet? Who needs tickets to the gun show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 just put whatever 75w90 dino gear oil unless you can get 75w90 Subaru extra-s oil (allegedly synthetic) but tranny is probably shot anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 ...tranny is probably shot anyway Thanks for those words of encouragement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeddr7 Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 did you check the fluid level yet? are you assuming its low or did you check it. I ask because mine was leaking and acted different than what you are describing. Who needs tickets to the gun show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 are you assuming its low or did you check it. I ask because mine was leaking and acted different than what you are describing. It is low. See First Post, "We checked the transmission fluid and there is none showing on the dipstick." Would it act like this if there was somethign wrong with the shifter bushings? Regardless, the fluid is low so once I find a funnel that will allow me to get fluid under the Perrin TMIC and into that tiny ass hole I will post up how it runs after we add fluid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groff Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 find ... that tiny ass hole I will post up how it runs after we add fluid. don't worry, many guys have trouble finding that tiny asshole at any rate, my suggestion is still to take the 5 mins to remove the top mount and then add the fluid, it will just be easier in the long haul i feel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 Truthfully I did not even think about removing the TMIC. I guess that does make sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIZARD Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 Good luck Andrew, hope there's no damage. I look forward to reading your "I can't get the Perrin TMIC back on" thread coming soon. Stage2.5376, TDC ProTune,blah blah blahhhh and....Alky/H20 injection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 You can get a flexible hose-funnel, no need to remove ic. I'd drain whatever oil is there (you will need that funky torx, don't remember which) and see how the drain plug looks like. If there is lots of metal the tranny is probably shot as I said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew.anderson Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 I checked the tranny fluid again when I got home. It actually registered on the end of the dipstick today. Still low though. I put in 500ML of Castrol Manual SMX-S Synthetic. I ran the car for a few minutes and then tried the shifter again. Still making the nasty noises. I don't know what to try now. Do I need to actually drive the car to get the fluid on circulating? Or could it be the bushings? I don't see how bushings would cause it to be difficult to move the stick and cause noises when you place it in gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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