tranny problem, really freaked out
 

so i am getting alittle scared, because every time i down shift it grinds in 4th gear. I'm not trying to be a little pr*ck or anything but i am pretty good at down shifting :burn rubber: and in every gear its fine except 4th :( i have a kartboy short shifter, white line shifter bushing and kartboy rear bushing (or whatever it is) and i don't think any of these would cause this. WTF DO I DO?!?!?! I'm scared to drive it. I've been trying not to down shift but it suxxx :iono:

Well, you could be scared or take it to the dealer. If you have modded it, you could take it to the shop. Just a thought.

I thought this was a thread about Thailand....

What fluid are you using? I would either A. Go back to stock setup and see if it still does it. If it does, your synchro is probably shot and you should visit the dealer.
Or B. If you're still on stock fluid, try Motul 300. Seems lots of people have problems with 4th grinding.

I have the same issue and you have a bad transmission. A lot of people have this issue. Take it to the dealer and get your new transmission on order and all will be right in the world. :D

It's become such a common issue now I didn't have to take my car in to the dealer to get a new transmission on order just me name and vin number over the phone.

Sent from my Q10

is this a problem with fifth gear too? I've been having a crunchy-grind every 2 weeks or so while shifting up in to 5th. Not readily repeatable at this time. The clutch pedal is on the floor and it just grinds anyway :(

Obviously no dealer yet, as I can't get it to repeat. But when it does repeat I will definitely hit them up... This is stopping me from modding the car because I don't want to be blamed for their bad trans :(

I think the dealer said it was an issue with the syncros so it could happen in any gear. I have heard of it happening to 2nd and 6th (6th caused catastrophic failure) as well like mine and op (4th). So it sounds like it can happen to any gear.

Sent from my Q10

Alright i will be taking it to them, i hate goin to dealers they dont know about jack when it comes to our cars!

I would return it to stock first.
Otherwise you are asking for a denial of warranty service because you modified the shifter.

They could easily make the case that it was your shifter mods that caused the problem (even if it didnt)

Fml @stugray
Im still on stock fluid

Bite the bullet remove your mods on trans and go to dealer. Trans fluid is not going to fix that.

Yea it's not fluid, do you think I should really take mods off just for the check up like to figure out what it is? They aren't going to take the center console apart to see if I have a sts @Dezoris

You should definitely take the mods off.

I agree remove the shifter mods. They will only be triggers for the dealer to point fingers and deny the claim.

Some might argue that it's fraudulent to return a car to stock to get warranty work done, but in this case its virtually impossible for an internal problem to be caused by bushings and a SS.

If it was a known mod-friendly dealer then I'd say leave them because they clearly don't modify how the transmission itself works internally, only how your input feels.

When it comes to a $4000+ warranty claim chances are they will be instructed to look for modifications to deny claim.

Mine grinds in 4th and 5th...but only when speed shifting or down shifting...I've got 10k miles on the car...I assumed it was the clutch cuz I drive it kinda hard day to day...it's all stock...could this be same issue??

I talked to the dealership I go to today and I was told there is a list of potentially effected vin numbers but no official recall. I bought mine in June 2012 and the other I heard about bought theirs almost a full year later so I have my doubts about that list of vin numbers. I also would assume the same parts supplier made all of the internals for the transmission. It sounds like a nice way of saying we are only going to fix the ones that complain and avoid an official recall unless forced to by a government agency. I was given the same story in 2012 when I first went in for the chirping. I would bet if some of us have this then the majority have it.

Sent from my Q10

You nailed it. The AISIN manual transmission is definitely a chronic problem for us BRZ and FRS owners and Subaru or Toyota will only fix it if we complain enough. I doubt the government will get involved because it's not a safety problem. The best we can hope for is perhaps a class action lawsuit.

This crap transmission really puts a black mark on an otherwise pretty decent and fun to drive car. It's a shame that we have to whine and beg to get a faulty transmission fixed. I blame AISIN for the most part, not Subaru. So maybe we should direct our complaints to AISIN?

so i went and the guy went for ride with me down here in the nw. i went to toyota of kirkland, and the guy that went with me told me about how he has a 240 and blah blah and he asked what mods i got, and i started of with suspensions and exhaust and tried to not mention about the transmission stuff. and then he asked what about your transmission, i was like nah i don't have anything, so we went back to the dealer and he told me that i could come back and get the transmission fluid replaced and we could go from there. so my appointment is on friday.

I am a real estate appraiser aside from my weekend job helping people with their muscle cars. As an appraiser I am lied to every day.. I swear every house has imported cabinets from France. If you go back and he sees the mods like the bushings I would be ready cough up $4k for a new transmission after they deny your claim. Not trying to be mean but when someone comes to your work and tries to play you for a fool you normally do not respond well. If I were you I would have the trans stock before you go back in and let them get it on a lift.

Sent from my Q10

We tried. He didnt listen.....:bonk:

IF YOU HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS GO TO THE FREAK'N DEALER AND TELL THEM! WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BRING THIS UP SO IT CAN BECOME A RECALL AND NOT A WARRANTY FIGHT. my car does this as well, its bad syncros and my dealer tells me im the first one in the area to mention it.(possibly a lie) Everyone that has a syncro problem needs to file a claim with Toyota so this can get fixed. this has nothing to do with mods or power, its a faulty syncro and if everyone that's moded the car is afraid to tell their dealer this wont get resolved.

...and Subaru

My transmission was replaced under warranty by Subaru and refilled with Motul 300 (I provided) by Subaru with approval of Subaru engineers.

A brief drive with the service manager to demonstrate the problem was all that was needed. A few min later, after he called SOA, the new trans was on order.

I know of 2 people in michigan that have gotten replacements. Problems like these are the risk you take when you mod a new car. In the past the after market for a car (aside from intake, exhaust, and suspension) came out years after the release. People that go forced induction are probably in for an argument as they will say the transmission was never rated for the power and torque they are putting in. If you just have the simple mods intake, exhaust, and suspension you should have no problem at the dealership.

Sent from my Q10

Magnusson act states that if they cant prove your modification caused the problem they can not deny you warranty service because of it. HP and TQ does not break syncros. Therefore, it doesn't matter if I put 1000whp to this transmission if im complaining about a syncro issue. now if I sheared the teeth of a cog that would be my own fault.

If it came down to it, (depending on the actual HP/Tq level) I don't believe that the power argument would hold up in court for multiple reasons. The Lexus from which these transmissions are sourced have more power than the CARB FI kits for our cars. More importantly, OEM clutches are designed to fail before the transmission. So, if the power exceeded the transmission rating, the clutch would've been toast before the damage occurred, unless we're talking about abuse by improper transmission operation by the driver.

With this in mind, if the transmission is being operated correctly, and the clutch is in good condition, then the power capacity of the transmission has not been exceeded and the transmission is probably faulty. Again, these transmissions are filled with GL-3. Lexus has a TSB with a Warning that says that use of fluid less than GL-5 WILL cause transmission damage. This should be a recall to refill all with Subaru Extra-S (GL-5). The fluid will not fix damage, but will probably prevent it.

Trust me we are on the same page I do not believe that it has anything to do with it. The problem is when the dealership tells you to kick rocks you have now have to go get legal representation. Your lawyer is probably gonna charge you a few hundred buck all they way up to a grand. You are going to have to find an certified mechanic with a degree to put in writing that power has nothing to do with it. Once all this is done your lawyer will present this to the corporate office. At this point it is pretty much a guarantee they will fix the car. If they still tell you to kick rocks you have to file a lawsuit and then try to get them to settle before you have to pay a lawyer for a visit to a court room. You are looking at a long drawn out pain in the ass. Most people will just get mad and go away to buy a new transmission out of their pocket. Should it be like this HELL NO!!! but unfortunately it is, and while your spending money and time all they have to do is keep saying no hoping you go away. The burden of proof should fall on them to prove is effects it not on you to prove is doesn't. They simply open the maintenance manual and say look this is what the trans was tested too for this car and you exceeded it now go prove it doesn't matter.

Totally agree.

I've had my car visit the dealer on 7 occasions, now on my 4th dealer, for numerous clutch/transmission issues. Crunchy 2nd and 3rd gears going up or down, loud and rough clutch engagement and plate sticking, clutch sounding like rod knock when cold, clutch fork squeaking, etc. Previous dealership visits always came back with the normal excuse that it's "normal operation" and they compared it to one they had on their lot. The visit before this current one had corporate involved and sent out a factory tech, who said "normal", although I was unable to demonstrate my issues when I went to pick the car up (just my luck).

Fast forward to now, I decided to try a dealership that is known for being more helpful, although is about a 35minute drive without traffic one way. I dropped the car off last night, told them to leave it cold overnight. Drove back this morning, and was able to get all of my issues to present with the shop foreman (fucking finally!). Was told that he is just waiting on corporate to give him the go ahead on what they find would be called for replacement. Hopefully I find out tomorrow what all they are replacing.

I went in with all current mods: shifter bushing, complete rear transmission mount, nameless op/fp, coilovers, rear control arms. Trans fluid was replaced with factory fill at 13k miles, replaced with Motul at 13,500. Neither of which fixed my crunchiness and hesitation and sometimes outright denial to enter gears.

Issues presented themselves at 1500 miles, currently at 14,2xx miles. I will post when I find out anything. I've been putting off my plans for the car because of this very issue not being solved. It has gotten to the point where I will most likely sell the car if I can't get this issue resolved.

i don't think they could deny my claim because its grinding in 4th gear, a sts or bushing wouldn't cause this


yea the guy said he had 2 other frs's come in with the same problem and he said he was surprised there isn't a recall yet

Mine was replaced under warranty for the 5th synchro grinding, the tech drove it for about 1 minute and got it to grind. They didn't even ask about mods, but my dealer is cool about that.

they replaced the whole transmission ?

That is what is happening to everyone's that isn't denied. In my state there have been 2 full replacements I know of, mine will be the 3rd and one person that was told to kick rocks because he has a turbo so he is putting an aftermarket trans in the car.

Sent from my Q10

Yes, put yours back to stock like others have mentioned and it will likely be replaced. If you leave your mods on, it may be declined and you will be up shit creek without a paddle.

They could DEFINITELY argue that a short shift kit could cause syncho problems because it shifts faster.

They could (try to) make the case that the faster shifting is harder on the synchros.
I am not, in any way, arguing on the part of the dealers, just why make it harder for yourself?
Let me guess - You did not install the mods/parts, and dont know how to remove them.

@enivid

I'm going to roll in with my FI car. We'll see if they deny me.

No it's just a hassle, like for the shifter I gotta take the whole center console apart again

the best part about this, is my turbo puts less stress on the syncros than a short throw shifter does yet im going to have to convince a service manager that.