Weird reverse problem (02 Forester)

[RubyTueSoob]

I was talking with Meeky Moose about something, which reminded me I have a strange issue with my Forester. Sometimes I have a hard time getting it to go into reverse. I thought at first it was user error, as this is my first manual ever. But, over the past 3 months I've improved and its not that.

Sometimes, like 25% of the time, the stick won't go all the way into reverse. Its not a matter of pushing the clutch in further, as its in all the way. And I'm not moving forward at all. In fact, my parking spot at home is slanted slightly backward, so if I take off the brake I would roll backward very slowly.

 

Of course, it never has this problem when the shop looks at it. Any thoughts?

[1 Lucky Texan]

My old Datsun SRL 311 would just NOT go into reverse reliably so got into the habit of slipping into 2nd before rev. Worked really well. Some datsun mech. told me to try it. I've seen it mentioned here too.

Maybe a different/syn. gear oil would help too.

[Setright]

From neutral, press the clutch down, wait about half a second, and it should clonk into reverse nicely.

 

If you don't wait long enough, the noise will be CLONK!

 

Wait too long, and the gearbox internals will have come to rest and this will make it difficult to engage reverse. Not only does reverse lack synchromesh, it is not even constant-mesh, and there lies the "problem".

[RubyTueSoob]

Originally posted by Setright

From neutral, press the clutch down, wait about half a second, and it should clonk into reverse nicely.

 

If you don't wait long enough, the noise will be CLONK!

 

Wait too long, and the gearbox internals will have come to rest and this will make it difficult to engage reverse. Not only does reverse lack synchromesh, it is not even constant-mesh, and there lies the "problem".

 

ah ha! So the problem may lay in my usual starting sequence, which generally involved keeping the clutch down from the time I crank the car until I pull out. hmmm I'll definatly keep this in mind and start releasing the clutch until just before I am ready to go into reverse.

 

Guess it was user error after all

[Subie Gal]

WELCOME to Subaru

 

as was stated,

reverse is not synchronized.

the gears to not mesh most of the time.

if you try R and it doesnt work

 

go back into 1st...

roll forward 1-2" and try again

thus allowing the gears to line up

 

it's one of those quirky scoob things

 

good luck

Jamie

[NWScooby]

I too have had this issue with my '98 OBW ('97 Nissan Altima also). Both cars would go into reverse fine if you put the car in neutral and let off the clutch, then pressed the clutch in and tried reverse again.

 

Now it makes sense knowing reverse is not sychronized.

[RubyTueSoob]

you put the car in neutral and let off the clutch, then pressed the clutch in and tried reverse again.

 

the more I think about it, the more I realize this is what I do to get it to work. Although, "letting off the clutch" is usually happening while I say to myself "#!&*#@ Calm down Ruby. Deep breath. Try again." I only learned to drive stick 3 months ago, in Washington DC rush hour traffic. I'm still a bit nervous that its me. But now I know, and I won't curse at my lack of stick shift skills anymore.

 

Now, a more philisophical question. What is the design motivation in this? To keep you from shoving it into reverse while moving forward? Because, it seems to be a design flaw to me.

[NWScooby]

As a computer professional, I think it is a Microsoft-esque automobile design. Sort of like when you delete something and the computer asks "Are you sure?"

[subyroo]

It's a GM - SAAB "thingymabob" :D :D

[Setright]

It's not a Subaru fault, but the added inertia in a AWD system makes it more obvious. Land Rovers can be a real pain to get into reverse sometimes.

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: Reverse is not even in constant mesh, the cog wheels are not in contact at all until you bash the stick into position. Essentially, you are moving a third cog into place between two others, which is what makes the car go the other way.

 

ALL the forward gears are constant-mesh, that is, all the cog teeth are in contact. You select them with the synchroniser rings.

 

Agreed this is a simplified explanation, but it's late and I am too tired to write an esssay now

[Sweet82]

It's also an Isuzu thing!

 

Any forward gear then to reverse and it will behave.:madder:

 

Glenn,

Bunches-o-Cars

[Setright]

By the way Ruby, it is good practice to start the engine with the clutch depressed. Slighty easier on the starter motor since it doesn't have to pull transsmission internals AND of you have left the car in gear it won't jump forward....

[RubyTueSoob]

By the way Ruby, it is good practice to start the engine with the clutch depressed.

 

That one is easy The car won't crank if the clutch isn't it. Found that one out my first week of driving. Stalled on the beltway in rush hour, got a bit freaked out, and I couldn't get it cranked again. I had the clutch pushed in, but apparently not far enough. My passenger was yelling "Clutch In, Clutch ALL THE WAY IN!!" and eventually I realized what he was saying. Luckily, I has put a sign in the back window "New Stick Driver" so people were much nicer than they usually are. Looking back, its funny, but at the time is really freaked me out.