Can not shift into first...

[x340psi]

My car is a 91 Legacy Turbo 5spd with the pull type hydraulic clutch: I was driving about 65mph and attempted to downshift for a ramp, I tried to get the transmission into fourth gear, however it would not go, I gave it a little more force and then heard and lightly felt the gears grind, therefor stopped forcing. I attempted to lift the clutch however it was stuck to the floor. I pulled the clutch up and then pushed it down again. After playing with the shifter I was able to get it into 3rd gear, and I shifted my way back to 5th normally until my exit, about 3 miles. Then I came to a stop sign where I had the same problem, the clutch proceeded to stick to the floor, and I also could not get the car into any gear. I had it towed via flatbed to a place where I can work on it. I tried to bleed the slave cylinder, but that did not help. I can force the car into 3-4-5 and reverse, however can not get it into 1 or 2. When in gear(3-4-5-R) and I release the clutch, with the car on, it will not move. I can also push the car with it in gear and turned off. I never heard any load obtrusive noises, and the clutch worked great before. The car has 119,000 miles, only 3k being my own. I was never hard on it, but who knows about the other +100k.

>>>Also, I found some information detailing the placement of the 1-2 gears, they are fixed on the output shaft and have roller bearings on the input shaft, rather than the fixed position of 3-4-5 on the input shaft. See any coincidence?? Ideas? I have to take the transmission out of the car outside, so I must wait until it at least stops snowing, then I can give a better description of the mechanicals. I have had clutches go out on other vehicles before, never with these symptoms, so its not looking good to me.
Any information is appreciated. Thanks
Eric

[entirelyturbo]

Sounds like your pressure plate finally bit the dust. If you have your factory clutch still, don't be disappointed, 119,000 miles is a good life for one, mine went at 110,000...

And mine happened more suddenly than yours. I drove to a parts store for something about 6 miles away, and my clutch was working okay, not great but okay, and on the way back it became absolutely unbearable, I was able to change gears but not easily, I had to force them in. It still got me home though, and still to the mechanic the nest day, it was a close mechanic and I just left it in second to get there, and the pedal stayed on the floor when I got there.

Oh and BTW, do not, I repeat do not go to the best-priced place you can find. They will screw you over. My car was put back together so sloppily afterwards, and I'm pretty sure they left the old throw-out bearing in too...

Good luck...

[x340psi]

I think I have eliminated part of the problem. The clutch's pp side was metal and rivots!! So I replaced it with a WRX Exedy. 120k on the original clutch is pretty good, but 120k for a trans' life would not make me happy. With the clutch installed, I drove the car, still no first gear. I can now shift into second, occasionally a hangup, but will slide right in. Same with the rest of the gears. Why could I still be having troubles with first? Once again I will take the trans out, and most likely tear it apart, but still try to shift it first out of the car. Never having opened a Subaru 5spd up, all I can speculate from here would be either a bent shift fork, or perhaps the synchros could be torn up and getting caught? When I drained the fluid is was absolutely clean, no metal bits. My rubber transmission mount is also torn, could this be causing to much flex when I try to shift, thus misaligning the gearshifter? That ones kind of a long shot. Any input is appreciated. I finish school today, so I will finally have time to tear into it. Having the car for two months and only driving it home really sucks!! (even though that was almost 3000 miles)
Thanks
- Eric