transmission or clutch failure. can anybody help me?

[piperpilot26]

I have a 93 subaru legacy with 201,000 miles. I cold started the car the other day, and while running in neutral the car suddenly stalled very hard. after restarting the car, it wouldnt idle in neutral unless the clutch was disengaged(clutch pedal pushed in completely) it will go into every gear, but when I try to pull away, the car wont move and the engine just boggs down, as if I tried to pull away with the brake on. it will also drive in neutral!! :shock: I had the clutch replaced 2+ years agao and have also had clutch chatter since the replacement. I've tried to adjust the clutch in the past to get rid of the chatter but I've had no luck. the car has the 2.2ej and is naturally aspirated. it also does not have a hydrolic assist clutch. anybody have any ideas as to what it could be?

[decke48]

if the car will move in neutral you have problem. either the linkage is bent. or a fork is broken and the car is stuck in gear and when you try to switch into another gear the tranny binds. probally wont find the problem unless the tranny is taking apart. which is weird because is just happen to do it when the car was idling in neutral?

[piperpilot26]

yeah it was very weird, the car had been parked on level ground, so I didnt bother putting it in gear. and when I went to start it after sitting for about 7 hours or so, It ran in neutral for about a minute or so, then boom! it just stalled, very hard, as if I literally put it in 1st and dumped the clutch at around 1,500 rpm with out giving it any throttle. after that it wouldnt idle in neutral unless I kept the clutch all the way in.. and when I put it in gear, try to pull away, and then try to take in out of gear, its very very difficult. could it really be the fork? and if its stuck in gear, is there anyway to get it un-stuck?

[decke48]

if the fork has come loose from the shaft you need to take the tranny apart to fix. otherwise it can happen again. but you can try tapping the tranny with a hammer and see if it will come loose. does it bind when you put it in gear and try to move. does it do it in every gear if you try to move? its not grinding when you go into gears?

[piperpilot26]

I can put it in every gear without any grinding. by binding, do you mean hard to get out of gear? I can put it in and out of gear no problem, as long as I dont try to pull away. if I attempt to move the car in any gear, only them is it very difficult to get out of gear.

[decke48]

by binding i mean like the car is stuck in two gears and wont move. will just stall or bog the engine

[nipper]

Yes your stuck in two gears at the same time. Its just really wierd the way it happened, but i agree that an internal fork somehow walked into gear.


nipper

[piperpilot26]

thanks for the help!!! is there anyway I can get it un stuck? would it help if I tapped the trans with a hammer? also would this be an expensive fix? I would assume the fork is located within the trans, not where the clutch is located, is that right?

[nipper]

You can get under the car and manually put the linkage in neutral.

Be careful.


That should solve the problem for now, but if the car did it on its own something is defanitly worn internally.

And may happen again.

nipper

[piperpilot26]

thanks, I'll see what I can do. is the shift linkage located behind the exhaust? I know its pretty tight under there.

[TheAngryPidgeon]

I think this may solve your problem:

http://www.tarmac-usa.com/index.php?productID=420

I'm having one installed when they do my clutch/engine replacement.

[piperpilot26]

thanks! I'll def get that. I had all of those symtoms prior to this happening. it sucks, but hey, Its a machine...machines break, its in their nature.. :roll:

[nipper]

But you dont have that problem. You have a jammed transmission.


nipper

[piperpilot26]

ohh..whoops :lol: so is it a shifting fork thats causing the problem? is changing one a hard job? thank again I really apreciate the help guys!!

[TheAngryPidgeon]

Sorry to lead you astray. But while you're in there, might I recommend you get one anyways to prevent the aforementioned problems from occurring in the future.

[decke48]

manual tranny are expensive to fix (parts cost). looking at a bit of labor around 10-15hrs and replacement parts. it might just be well worth to get a used tranny and swap it in

[piperpilot26]

well I tried to get it un-stuck, and it worked!!! I just tapped the trans lightly with a hammer, played with the shifter a little bit and bammm!!! it was fixed!! I drove it 5 miles or so and everything feels ok, for now at least. :smile: I just wanted to thank everybody for your help, I really appreciate it!!!

[Huffer]

It'll probably be worth changing the tranny fluid out now...

[piperpilot26]

cool, I have plenty of gear oil, I'm gonna change it as soon as possible. thanks again!

[99gtlimited]

I wouldn't suggest just using regular old gear oil. I use Redline MT90 year round in my 5MT

[piperpilot26]

cool, I'll see if I can find that type. I havent changed the gear oil sinse I've had the car, which has been three years. its well overdue.

[Huffer]

You could also hit up Subaru and get some Subaru Extra-S tranny fluid.

[piperpilot26]

hmm I cant believe I didnt think to hit up subaru for the fluids..thanks for all the advice.