Speed-Shift "grind" from 4th to 5th gear

u000gbk · 10-08-2005, 03:51 PM

Just curious if anyone out there has noticed that their STi 'grinds' when going into 5th gear at high RPS (over 5500-6500) combined with shifting quickly. I want to know if this is a typical characteristic of the 6 speed trans. or if this is unique to my car. If I shift more slowly ... no issues. Only happens when shifting fast. Almost like the syncro rings for 5th gear are deficient compared to the ones used for 1st thru 4th gear shifts ... 1st thru 4th shifts perfectly with no grind ever noticed ... this issue only happens when going into 5th. I have noticed this since I got the car (08/2003). It now has about 16,000 miles on it and it hasn't changed since day one. If this is not a typical characteristic of the transmission, do you think Subaru would replace the entire transmission "under warranty" or are my chances somewhat slim on this ???
Please comment ...Speed-Shift "grind" from 4th to 5th gear

rob142sti · 10-08-2005, 04:37 PM

yes we all have it.. do a serach it will tell u how to fix it..

u000gbk · 10-09-2005, 03:25 PM

A search revealed some who changed to a special oil and had the problem 'go away' or lessen and others who got the tranny replaced under warranty (some with grief). What is the BEST fix??? Will Subaru replace the tranny to correct this ?

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 10-09-2005, 03:50 PM

no, it's not normal. if it's a 5th gear syncro, subaru will replace it under warranty. they replaced my 5th and 6th gear syncros and threw in a clutch at 36k.

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 10-09-2005, 03:53 PM

...and don't take any crap if they refuse to honor it due to your mods.

**Digitalfiend** · 10-09-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob142sti

yes we all have it.. do a serach it will tell u how to fix it..

Sorry, we don't all have it.

EastSTi · 10-09-2005, 04:08 PM

Wait Bruce the delarship put a new cluth in for you under warrenty?

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 10-09-2005, 04:24 PM

they did...after a fight and after they refused to do anything because of mods. i walked into the dealership the second time with the copy of the federal law regarding warranty (available as a sticky in the warranty section) and i told the nice (if slightly overweight) lady behind in the desk, in the most alpha-male voice a middle aged white guy can muster, "i'm working my way up the food chain ({pointing}} - starting with you."

(dude...your girlfriend is stunning...but you knew that already isfh)

u000gbk · 10-13-2005, 11:16 AM

I just got off of the phone with the Dealer who I asked to look into the issues I have described above and they said, and I quote, "we can't get Warranty-related payment authorization from Subaru to even look at the car, to determine if you do in fact have a warranty issue, until the car is returned to a fully stock condition". So I asked, what my after-market intake and exhaust system had to do with a transmission issue and they just repeated the above statement. I can't believe that this is the end-all "policy". I then said " so you are telling me that if I return it to fully stock condition, then you can look at it" and he said "yes". I next asked him " will that then be addressed as a warranty repair" and he said " it depends on what we find". This really burns me !!! The parts that have issue are in no way connected to the parts I have changed. They also made a statement that "we also have to now report your mods. back to Subaru". So what does that mean? I paid almost $2,000 bucks to purchase an extended Warranty from them when I bought the car and now they are telling me that I can't get any warranty repairs done until the entire car is back to stock !!?? That seems like BS to me. Anyone have any words of advice or experience related suggestions? What should I do ... changing it back to stock just to get it "looked at" is a real pain in the a**.

**gforced** · 10-13-2005, 12:21 PM

That is actually illegal. Get a copy of the Federal law that Bruce was talking about and take that in when you drop off your car. You do not have to return it to stock and they have to warranty any defective parts that are covered unless they can directly relate the problem to the aftermarket parts. Dealers can be a pain but it is the law.

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 10-13-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u000gbk

I just got off of the phone with the Dealer who I asked to look into the issues I have described above and they said, and I quote, "we can't get Warranty-related payment authorization from Subaru to even look at the car, to determine if you do in fact have a warranty issue, until the car is returned to a fully stock condition"

bs. that is the standard operating first salvo that (i believe) dealers are instructed to give you. they want to intimidate you to make you go away, especially with their ridiculous warning that they will "report you to soa" if you don't. i would have told him to put what he said in writing so you could report him to your state's ag office.

i can't say this enphatically enough; do not go away. go back to him in person with the federal law in hand, look the service manager in the eye and tell him "what you are doing is illegal under federal law and (just for effect) i now have all the facts i need and i am working my way up the food chain {{dramatic pause}} starting {{pointing your document at him}} with you." keep practicing in front of a mirror until you give yourself nightmares.

the legal burden is on them to cite in writing exactly which mods they claim void your warranty. they cannot do that without looking at it.

the dealer's retreat position will be that they will send it to cherry hill to determine abuse and neglect. as i said previously, if you are sure you have not abused it, you might even start off your new round of negotiations by insisting that they do. that is their only legal position, anyway, so you might as well start there.

**Digitalfiend** · 10-13-2005, 02:58 PM

Now, while I agree this is BS, couldn't they say that the increased power from the exhaust and intake (yes I know WE know that intakes don't do much) could have placed extra stress on the drivetrain? They might try to get by that law by using that type of reasoning.

***Neanderthal Racing*** · 10-13-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

Now, while I agree this is BS, couldn't they say that the increased power from the exhaust and intake (yes I know WE know that intakes don't do much) could have placed extra stress on the drivetrain?

nope.

evilrazor · 10-13-2005, 04:35 PM

I know this is way off topic, what about pinks and my rear strut clunk?? Probaly a no go but my dealer has never given me any sh*t before.

I also have the above mentioned 5th gear grind ill see if they will fix it under warranty.

u000gbk · 10-14-2005, 08:33 AM

These warranty issues I am having are associated with the Service Parts Director (Bryan Fiorella) at Concordville Subaru, located on Rt. 202 S. in Concordville, PA. As far as I am concerned, this sort of "stance" is un-acceptable and I will never do any more business with this dealer as a result. It is almost not worth even dealing with them on this issue, due to the attitude that could effect the quality of warranty work done under duress. I will also discourage anyone I know or meet from buying a car there for this reason.

Does anyone know of or have experience with another dealer close to the West Chester, PA Area who is a bit more "reasonable" to deal with regarding warranty repairs on my STi? I will go there and try this again.

10-08-2005, 03:51 PM	#1
u000gbk Junior STI Driver Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: AccessPort / Cobb TBE Location: PA Posts: 57 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Speed-Shift "grind" from 4th to 5th gear Just curious if anyone out there has noticed that their STi 'grinds' when going into 5th gear at high RPS (over 5500-6500) combined with shifting quickly. I want to know if this is a typical characteristic of the 6 speed trans. or if this is unique to my car. If I shift more slowly ... no issues. Only happens when shifting fast. Almost like the syncro rings for 5th gear are deficient compared to the ones used for 1st thru 4th gear shifts ... 1st thru 4th shifts perfectly with no grind ever noticed ... this issue only happens when going into 5th. I have noticed this since I got the car (08/2003). It now has about 16,000 miles on it and it hasn't changed since day one. If this is not a typical characteristic of the transmission, do you think Subaru would replace the entire transmission "under warranty" or are my chances somewhat slim on this ??? Please comment ...Speed-Shift "grind" from 4th to 5th gear This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-09-2005, 03:50 PM	#4
*Neanderthal Racing* Support Our Sponsors Car: CUTN EDG project Fav Mod: $20. mudflaps from auto zone Location: my cave Posts: 5,701 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	no, it's not normal. if it's a 5th gear syncro, subaru will replace it under warranty. they replaced my 5th and 6th gear syncros and threw in a clutch at 36k. Last edited by Neanderthal Racing : 10-09-2005 at 03:59 PM.

10-14-2005, 08:33 AM	#15
u000gbk Junior STI Driver Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: AccessPort / Cobb TBE Location: PA Posts: 57 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	These warranty issues I am having are associated with the Service Parts Director (Bryan Fiorella) at Concordville Subaru, located on Rt. 202 S. in Concordville, PA. As far as I am concerned, this sort of "stance" is un-acceptable and I will never do any more business with this dealer as a result. It is almost not worth even dealing with them on this issue, due to the attitude that could effect the quality of warranty work done under duress. I will also discourage anyone I know or meet from buying a car there for this reason. Does anyone know of or have experience with another dealer close to the West Chester, PA Area who is a bit more "reasonable" to deal with regarding warranty repairs on my STi? I will go there and try this again. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-08-2005, 04:37 PM	#2
rob142sti Professional STI Driver Posts: 415 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	yes we all have it.. do a serach it will tell u how to fix it..

10-09-2005, 03:25 PM	#3
u000gbk Junior STI Driver Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: AccessPort / Cobb TBE Location: PA Posts: 57 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	A search revealed some who changed to a special oil and had the problem 'go away' or lessen and others who got the tranny replaced under warranty (some with grief). What is the BEST fix??? Will Subaru replace the tranny to correct this ?

10-09-2005, 03:53 PM	#5
*Neanderthal Racing* Support Our Sponsors Car: CUTN EDG project Fav Mod: $20. mudflaps from auto zone Location: my cave Posts: 5,701 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	...and don't take any crap if they refuse to honor it due to your mods.

10-09-2005, 04:08 PM	#7
EastSTi S204 Racer Car: 04 Carbon Black ///M Fav Mod: Right Foot Location: Northern, NJ Posts: 4,967 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (6)	Wait Bruce the delarship put a new cluth in for you under warrenty?

10-09-2005, 04:24 PM	#8
*Neanderthal Racing* Support Our Sponsors Car: CUTN EDG project Fav Mod: $20. mudflaps from auto zone Location: my cave Posts: 5,701 Join Date: Dec 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	they did...after a fight and after they refused to do anything because of mods. i walked into the dealership the second time with the copy of the federal law regarding warranty (available as a sticky in the warranty section) and i told the nice (if slightly overweight) lady behind in the desk, in the most alpha-male voice a middle aged white guy can muster, "i'm working my way up the food chain ({pointing}} - starting with you." (dude...your girlfriend is stunning...but you knew that already isfh)

10-13-2005, 11:16 AM	#9
u000gbk Junior STI Driver Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: AccessPort / Cobb TBE Location: PA Posts: 57 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I just got off of the phone with the Dealer who I asked to look into the issues I have described above and they said, and I quote, "we can't get Warranty-related payment authorization from Subaru to even look at the car, to determine if you do in fact have a warranty issue, until the car is returned to a fully stock condition". So I asked, what my after-market intake and exhaust system had to do with a transmission issue and they just repeated the above statement. I can't believe that this is the end-all "policy". I then said " so you are telling me that if I return it to fully stock condition, then you can look at it" and he said "yes". I next asked him " will that then be addressed as a warranty repair" and he said " it depends on what we find". This really burns me !!! The parts that have issue are in no way connected to the parts I have changed. They also made a statement that "we also have to now report your mods. back to Subaru". So what does that mean? I paid almost $2,000 bucks to purchase an extended Warranty from them when I bought the car and now they are telling me that I can't get any warranty repairs done until the entire car is back to stock !!?? That seems like BS to me. Anyone have any words of advice or experience related suggestions? What should I do ... changing it back to stock just to get it "looked at" is a real pain in the a**.

10-13-2005, 12:21 PM	#10
gforced Gold Member Car: '04 JBP STi Fav Mod: Swaping a VW for a STi Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 979 Join Date: Jun 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	That is actually illegal. Get a copy of the Federal law that Bruce was talking about and take that in when you drop off your car. You do not have to return it to stock and they have to warranty any defective parts that are covered unless they can directly relate the problem to the aftermarket parts. Dealers can be a pain but it is the law.

10-13-2005, 02:58 PM	#12
Digitalfiend Super Moderator Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: My wife :) Location: Brooklin, Ontario Posts: 5,058 Join Date: Oct 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Now, while I agree this is BS, couldn't they say that the increased power from the exhaust and intake (yes I know WE know that intakes don't do much) could have placed extra stress on the drivetrain? They might try to get by that law by using that type of reasoning.

10-13-2005, 04:35 PM	#14
evilrazor Spec C Club Car: 2005 WRB/G STi Fav Mod: AP Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,407 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I know this is way off topic, what about pinks and my rear strut clunk?? Probaly a no go but my dealer has never given me any sh*t before. I also have the above mentioned 5th gear grind ill see if they will fix it under warranty.