blatant Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 i have an 06 outback, 5 speed, about 3k miles and 2nd gear starts feeling funny, like it's shifting too quickly, or it doesn't pull down all the way, i called it an "indy shift"....next thing i know i loose the bottom gears of the "H" 2, 4 and reverse, the upper gears were off as well. i'm thinking wtf....everything else feels great. No dealers too be found where i was. i'm pretty mechanical....so i climb under, so glad this car is high....apparently there is a "stabilizer bar" or some sort of torsion looking bar attached to the tranny to apparently help the shifter do it's job. Well the stupid nut apparently rattled off, and caused it to slip off it's fixed stud....10 minutes and a nut and whaaaa laaaaa.....feels like new again, still was a pita....new car and all...just wanted to put this out there, if it happened to me could happen to someone else. I know some of you are going to say should've let the dealer do this or that but there wasn't one anywhere near by and you loose so much time sitting there. I can't imagine it being a warranty issue as nothing really happened. putting a nut on is like putting in a new windshield or head lamp or lug nut. anyway....anyone ever hear of this.....thought it was a bit odd...also was just in for the first oil change at the dealer...so again, my paranoid thoughts were running.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 sounds odd. i've swapped transmissions and never had to adjust the auto lever mechanisms. just bolt it in and go. i'd probably tell the dealer and have them look at it, in case there's anything that could have caused it to come loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferret Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 Does it have the Short Shifter? If it does, these were dealer/port of entry added instead of factory, so it's possible a tech/mechanic forgot to torque that rear shifter bushing. It's not the easiest to get to. Access to it stinks. There are aftermarket bushings (Kartboy) which stiffen (tighten) the shifter. I've replaced these and know how tight that area is. Anyhow...Good Catch.......Enjoy your Subaru.....I have...owned 7 of them, all new, all 5 speeds, since 1978. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMattyD Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 The part that you are calling the stabilizer bar has two attachment points, one is in the front, on a rod attached to the transmission, with a round rubber bushing and a nut to hold it in place. It is attached in the rear by a rectangular rubber bushing. This bar is part of the gear shift assembly. Basically, it provides a fixed pivot point for the shift lever. The shift lever extends downward from your hand into a ball and socket joint that is toward the rear end of the stabilizer bar. The movable part of the shift mechanism is attached partway up the shift lever, and it connects to the gearshift stub on the transmission. That is the part that you are actually moving back and forth, in and out when you shift gears. It is important that the fulcrum of the lever (the pivot point) remains fixed, otherwise you will not have positive control of the shift rod. As you saw, you lost the ability to shift normally. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=&what=allfields&name=bigmattyd&when=0&whenterm=&condition=and Click on the link to see the photos I posted when I had to repair my shifter. Matt D P.S. Of course, I don't know why yours came apart, but once you have fixed it, it shouldn't happen again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blatant Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 big matty! Dude, million thanks for the pic. that's exactly the one in question. I just had the opportunity to climb under there and examine the dealer oem "repair" the outside, washer/spring hook is identical, however there is no spring and apparently no nub/mounting point on the other side for a spring. So i'm going to assume that there is indeed no spring for the 06. The dealer didn't allude to a spring missing and said my "fix" would've held forever. I can imagine them repairing it half asses, especially when they know I know exactly where and what to look for. Anyone want to climb under their outback and verify there is indeed no spring on this item. Big M what year are those pics from and what kind of subie is it. what exaclty is the spring supposed to do? i mean it shift fine. thx again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blatant Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 big matty! Dude, million thanks for the pic. that's exactly the one in question. I just had the opportunity to climb under there and examine the dealer oem "repair" the outside, washer/spring hook is identical, however there is no spring and apparently no nub/mounting point on the other side for a spring. So i'm going to assume that there is indeed no spring for the 06. The dealer didn't allude to a spring missing and said my "fix" would've held forever. I can imagine them repairing it half asses, especially when they know I know exactly where and what to look for. Anyone want to climb under their outback and verify there is indeed no spring on this item. Big M what year are those pics from and what kind of subie is it. what exaclty is the spring supposed to do? i mean it shift fine. thx again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juan Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 , on a rod attached to the transmission, with a round rubber bushing and a nut . It is attached in the rear . fixed pivot . The shift lever downward from your hand into a ball The movable stub moving back and forth, in and out when you shift gears. fulcrum http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=&what=allfields&name=bigmattyd&when=0&whenterm=&condition=and Click on the link to see the photos I posted when I had to repair my shifter. quote] Nice pictures, Matty. Really. I just had to laugh when I went to open them. They look so... so..., well, porno-like. I mean, at first glance; if I had ever visited a porno site, that would, maybe be what they look like, I mean. Then again, maybe I just love my Subaru a little too much. Juan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMattyD Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 The pictures I took are from my 96 Legacy L Sedan, AWD. There are a lot of subtle variations in the shift linkages from the different model years. The spring that you see is a centering spring to help move the shifter back into position after shifting. Your car may not have one. Juan: regarding the "porniness" of my pictures... I had to get deep inside my vehicle to get those pictures, and yes, she had to expose herself, if that's what you're talking about. Actually, maybe it's more like a sex manual, with all the labels, etc. Matt D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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