Gear Stick hard to move...Help?

[taza]

Alright the last 2 days or so my Forester has felt different to drive. The gear stick seems harder to move into and out of gears even with the clutch fully pushed in. I have checked the clutch fluid which is fine and was replaced not long ago. I want tot check the transmission fluid but cant find the dipstick. I feel like an idiot but I have no one to show me how, where or what to do. Since im living along and all my friends know nothing about cars and not as much as me about computers I find it hard to ask someone for help when I need it. Can someone point me in the right direction of the dipstick? I have looked in the manual but I still can find it

Its not real hard to move but fells as if the clutch isnt all the way in. I dont want to take it back to my mechanics as my last service last week cost me $600. 300 of which was labor. I want to learn but dont have the time for tafe and dont have anyone to teach me

Also has anyone experienced anything like this before? Could it be the clutch is on its way out. Im still on the original clutch with 135,500km. Since I have had it I have burnt it badly, once to the point of white smoke coming out the engine hood (13,000km ago). I also drive the car hard and ride it every now and again during hill starts and quick take offs. I have succeeded in learning techniques not to burn it when offroad :biggrin:


Thanks and Regards
Taza

 

[Barry]

Taza, that sounds like the clutch.
Mine did similar about 2 years ago, just didn't feel 'quite right'. Was like that for about 150 km then just went from working but a bit stiff to 'totally stuffed' within 3 street blocks.
Lucky for me it was literally around the corner from my mechanic in Geelong, having just commuted 70+km from Melb.
I'd expect a clutch to get closer than that to 200,000 km, but having 'let out the smoke' probably pushes the total down a bit! :biggrin:
Also, what was 'serviced' for $600 / $300 labour? I'd want a bit done for that I recon.

 

[carljwnc]

No dipstick on a manual, you have to remove the fill plug, which should be somewhere above the drain plug, and stick your finger in there to see (feel) where the fluid level is. Should be pretty much to the top.

Sounds more like a hydraulics issue to me, check the master and slave cylinder for any leaking, including the firewall inside the car where the clutch pedal goes through. Keep in mind just because there are no visible leaks, there may still be 'seal bypass' issues. Also, there is a piece of 'isolator' flex hose that runs from the fire wall in the engine bay to the engine/tranny, check it's condition as well. The one in YotaRu caused me much grief till I replaced it.

Sorry I can't be of more help with locations, your owners manual should tell you where the tranny fill plug is. Follow the clutch line from the master cylinder and you will find the isolator hose.

Hope this helps!!!:ebiggrin:

 

[mr turbo]

I want tot check the transmission fluid but cant find the dipstick.

The dipstick is towards the back of the engine bay (under the intercooler) in the center & sits quite low.
In the meantime this pic might help. It's not the best pic I know. When there's some light in the morning I'll take a better pic & post it up for you.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[taza]

Ok Thanks for that guys. I did have the master and slave cylinder replaced with the hoses 10,000km ago due to a sticky clutch. I hope I can get another week from the clutch as I have to drive 400km this weekend

Serviced well. Engine oil replacement, oil & fuel filters, power steering & air con belts, LH inner CVB Kit replacement, Injector cleaner, a few other bits n pieces. Also I had part of the rusted exhaust cut off that was rattling. About 300 for the parts and equiptment used and $250Au for 2.5hrs labour.

In the manual it says there is a dipstick for manual transmission Foresters. Will I have to take the air filter box off to get to it? Its a N/A engine, no intercooler.
This is my engine bay. lol
https://img822.imageshack.us/img822/172/trsuystusrtywruwrru.png

 

[Barnboy]

Looking in the engine bay, at the back of the engine on the left as you face it. As you look down you will see the gearbox. The dipstick is quite far forward close to where it joins with the engine. Should have a yellow top, but probably like mine and covered in crap so you can't see it easily.

The easiest way is to take the airbox off and then you can look straight down on it and access easily.

Hope this helps ( I had the same problem when I first looked for it)

 

[Rally]

Dipstick is on drivers side under the air filter. See where the front driveshaft is, then look forward of that a couple of inches- it is right at the front of the gearbox (bellhousing).

I suggest you remove the air filter assembly. The clutch master cylinder is next to the brake master cylinder but is smaller- both have yellow caps. Check the fluid level, and fill with brake fluid to the full mark. There is a a brake line at the bottom that exits at the front of the master cylinder that you need to follow. At some point it will become a hose. This will take you to the slave cylinder which is mounted on top of the gearbox (bellhousing). Where it enters the slave cylinder there is a nipple just like the one on your brake caliper, above it.

Loosen that nipple with a spanner then close it again, not tight, just snug. Grab a friend and plonk them in the drivers seat. With a piece of clear plastic tubing that fits snuggly over the nipple, open the nipple up as your mate presses the clutch pedal down- tell him to hold it down. Fluid should come up through the tube- have a small bucket for this fluid to drain into. Close the nipple and then tell your mate to take his foot off the clutch pedal as you would normally. Don't let the reservoir on the clutch master cylinder ever run out of fluid, or you'll have to start again. Repeat this procedure say 5-10 times. This is known as bleeding the clutch. Tighten the nipple when you have finished and if you have spilled any brake fluid throw water on any painted surface.

If this does not fix it, it could be a problem with the box itself.

 

[mr turbo]

Dipstick is on drivers side under the air filter. See where the front driveshaft is, then look forward of that a couple of inches- it is right at the front of the gearbox (bellhousing).

Like rally said, the dipstick is under the air box/filter on the N/A (intercooler for turbo's)

This pic might also help. When you look at the 2nd pic, you can just see the end of it. (dipstick)

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Rally]

Might be obvious but just make sure nothing is fouling the shifter- I remember someone who had a problem and it was something silly getting in the way.

 

[taza]

Problem solved for now

Thanks guys.