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2018 WRX Service Issue

6353 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  why2kmax
I just bought a 2018 Subaru WRX. The car had trouble going into first when slowly down and then having to take off rapidly. My previous manual had no issue going into first, as long as you're within the speed range for it. I have since learned that its difficult to go into first on the wrx above about 8 mph.

But, prior to finding this out, I took it to the dealership on another issue and asked one of the techs about it. He took the car with me on a test drive and kept trying to force the transmission into first at different speeds. He wasn't able to most of the time, but, finally at 8 mph and below, it went into first. Then he tried it a few more times and told me it doesn't work above 8, something he should have known before trying. Overall, he tried it about 20 times at various speeds. I read that trying to put it into first continually while being rejected could grind the gears. Do you think this tech grinded my gears and damaged the transmission by doing it 20 times despite it not going in? And, if so, do I have any recourse? I intend to keep this car for many years, and don't want transmission issues after the warranty expires.

Normally you'd hear the grinding as the shifted is directly connected to the transmission by a shaft. But, since the new WRX is connected via cable, it's hard to know if there's an issue going on.

On a side note, there's discoloration of the driver door panel. It was there since getting the car. Can I get Subaru to warranty replace it or do I have to go through the dealer I bought it from, which is far away?

Thank you.
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Welcome. I think you need to go back to the dealer immediately re:shifting issues
Your car will probably be fine. I don't believe these cars have a lockout on first it's probably just the gearing being shorter than you expected. Try rev matching.

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.... He took the car with me on a test drive and kept trying to force the transmission into first at different speeds......Do you think this tech grinded my gears........Normally you'd hear the grinding as the shifted is directly connected to the transmission by a shaft. But, since the new WRX is connected via cable, it's hard to know if there's an issue going on........Thank you.
Grinding gears is grinding gears. If you did not hear grinding then they were not ground. I, very stupidly, ground gears in my WRX once -- and I definitely heard it! It doesn't matter how the shifter and gear forks are connected (cable or arm) -- if the gears grind you will hear it. As XJman said, you should be fine.
dont downshift to first.
dont downshift to first.
Didn't know this and have been driving a stick my whole life. Is this really something you should never do?


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Didn't know this and have been driving a stick my whole life. Is this really something you should never do?

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You can. I was just referring to the old joke Patient: "Doctor, my arm hurts when I do THIS" Doctor: "well then dont do THAT"

Honestly though in my years of driving stick Ive rarely if ever downshifted to first unless I was going uphill following a truck going 5mph .
Didn't know this and have been driving a stick my whole life. Is this really something you should never do?


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You need to be good at rev matching to hit it.

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If the clutch is depressed the gears shouldn't grind.
If first gear has a synchro stuffing it into gear while moving too fast can smoke it. If he didn't hear grinding or the scream of an over spun synchro I'd say it's ok

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You need to be good at rev matching to hit it.

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yea, you sure do. :(
Second is usually fine at those speeds, monitoring such ocassions on my access port, doesn't seem to cause any lspi or any other knock events.
Best to be practically stopped before dropping it into 1st on the WRX. The clutch on this thing is temperamental until fully broken in. And, even then it can still act weird at times.
ive found my 18 wrx goes into first the easiest when slightly rolling, it takes a little push to get it into gear when stopped, nothing crazy of coarse, but when rolling it slides right in very easily.
Didn't know this and have been driving a stick my whole life. Is this really something you should never do?

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Its typically a bad idea from a practical standpoint to do so, unless you are going <5mph.
Its typically a bad idea from a practical standpoint to do so, unless you are going <5mph.
THIS!
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