The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hey all,
ive got a 2003 Impreza RS with 140,000 k's
recently the gearbox has been crunching when i change from 3rd to 4th gear. it started off only occurring intermittently (at first i thought it was just me not putting the clutch in), but now it is doing it almost every change. the clutch is all the way in, and upon changing into 4th it will almost certainly grind.

before i fork out and take it in to subaru, does it sound like a problem with the flywheel, clutch or (god forbid) gearbox?

thanks in advance...

usually that means the synchromesh is wearing out (in the gearbox).
Try putting thinner oil in, that can help starve off the problem for a while.

Otherwise it could just be a linkage problem, you might be lucky.

Try Penrite light weight shockproof gear oil.

Nah its the gearbox, sometimes when gearboxes starts crunching is a sign that its time or past use by date for oil change.. happens to mine as well specially 1st-2nd - it goes away when I do the oil change.
Cheers
AP

jordan...MR chickenpants...had the same problem...thought it was his clutch in a gen 3 outback....did oil change and it was like new

cheers guys, it just had a service last month, i think they changed the gearbox oil but i'll check. ive booked it into the mechanic next week anyhow.
hope its nothing too serious :/

Jacko wrote:cheers guys, it just had a service last month, i think they changed the gearbox oil but i'll check. ive booked it into the mechanic next week anyhow.
hope its nothing too serious :/

Keep us updated about this.. Maybe the oil is too thin?
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven wrote:Keep us updated about this.. Maybe the oil is too thin?
Cheers
AP

i think it might be the oil, because it doesnt crunch on the first few gear changes into fourth (ie. when the car is cold). and it only crunches at normal - high revs. anything under 2k revs is not really a crunch; more of a quieter click sound.