Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

After not having used my SVX for 5 days, I started the car this morning. Everything seemed fine.

After having let it warm up, I pressed the brake and put the shifter in reverse. To my surprise, the shifter was moving freely and effortlessly in all gear (I could barely feel the gear notches) and the car wouldn't go into any gear.

Since I was parked in a slight slope, the car was slowly going backwards, but without any resistance from the engine or transmission, regardless of what gear it was in. So I stopped the engine and put the hand brake back on. Then the car wouldn't start, period. I could no more hear the brake release solenoid when I depressed the brake pedal (it worked fine 5 minutes before), so the shifter was stuck in park. Since the shift lock release didn't seem to allow me to shift into neutral, I dismounted the whole center console to get acces to the shifter mechanism (yes, maybe it was useless).

One thing I did notice while trying to get the engine started (besides the fuel pump priming) was a constant buzzing noise (like a stuck bee) comming from under the car. I think it has to do with the transmission in some way (maybe the valve body solenoids) because when I unpluged one of the harnesses that goes to the TCU, the buzzing stopped.

What are your ideas, and what should be my next move?

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

Sounds like some linkage came loose from the shifter... At the very least a shifter problem.

Take a good luck at what goes on with the inhibitor switch when the shifter is moved. The inhibitor switch would prevent start but probably because it isn't rotated properly, not that it is defective.

I think it is moved mechanically with the shifter, so not moved to one of the start positions is a clue. Wouldn't think it is a big problem to check out and get going... Sure hope not!
We are pulling for you!!!
Keith

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

Awsome!! I'll start with that and we'll go from there. Thanks Kwren.

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

it sounds like the shift lever on transmission is not moveing.it located pass side of tran you might want climb under car have someone move shifter and see if lever on tran moves back and forth if it doesn't cable might be broke

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

Your shifter cable is most likely broken....

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

You guys were right on. The cable broke at the very end of the shifter. Anyone know the part number?

EDIT: never mind. I did a bit of search and found "35151PA000" on the SubaruParts.com web site. 66$. Thanks to you all for the help. Hopefully, another problem solved.

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

Glad you got it figured out...
I'm guessing that the cable out of a Legacy will work too, as they use the same style shifter/tranny combo...if you wanted to pick up a used one..

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

Since the 5 spd linkages need to be extended doesn't it make sense that the SVX shifter cable would also be about 2-3" longer???

I'm not sure, just thinking out loud...

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

you said it was parked on a hill, was the e-brake/hand brake on, preventing the tranny from holding the load of the car? if not, i would suspect its not very good on the tranny to hold the load of the car from rolling. it puts unnecessary strain on the transmission.

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

I thought that was what "P" was for.:confused:

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

possiably....but untill someone trys it, thought maybe someone here might have a parts Legacy to compare it to...

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

yes, park does prevent the car from rolling, but its using the transmission to do so, thus putting strain on it. i always use my e brake when parking somewhere where i know the transmission is going to be put under pressure. plus, the brakes are made to stop the car, the tranny is not. id think it would be ok for only park to be used on flat ground and on ground with a certain incline, but once the steepness of a hill gets to a certain point i think it wouldnt be wise not engage the parking brake.

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

Never knew that!
Thank you,
Keith:)

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

I just replaced a broken transmission cable in mine. PITA. I'm not really equipped at home for that sort of thing.

Re: Shifter moves freely, car won't start. Please help!
 

Sounds like some preventitive maintenence on this cable would be a good idea, does it break from lack of lubrication, corrosion??