I think I read a post about this roughly two weeks ago but I don't recall the answer (if one was provided). The guy mentioned something about a "noise" when he let off the clutch in neutral. At that time, I was experiencing a very innocent-sounding change in the "humm" when I let out on the clutch in neutral and figured this is what he was referrering to. The change in pitch that I was hearing almost sounded like the noise an engine would make if the rpms were increasing slightly.

For clarity's sake, I'm talking about the new 8 on level ground, with the brake on (probably would do the same with the brake off), with the shifter in neutral. I depress the clutch to start the car and it kicks over nicely. The engine-humm is all you hear. I let out on the clutch, still in neutral, and I hear what sounds like a metal to metal scraping sound. Depress the clutch-pedal, sound goes away. Let out on the clutch, sound comes back. You get the idea. The tach doesn't move perceptibly as clutch-pedal-movement causes the sound to come and go.

Now to try to describe the sound. First it's real and it's noticeable (both to those inside and outside the car). Having said that, it's not a sound of impending doom. It's not a grinding or god-awful abrasive sound. The best I can describe it is that it's akin to the sound a knife blade makes on a hand-held whet stone. A low-volume, continuous, "smooth-scraping" noise. Given that smooth and scraping are opposites and the fact that smooth-scraping is an oxymoron, I may be getting nowhere in my quest to describe the sound. It's how sand-paper would sound if you held it up against a spinning brake rotor (how's that?)

If the above left any questions, let's just say it's an uncomfortable metal-to-metal sound.

Now my question (pretty much the question that I read when I was new to posting here): 1) anybody know what I'm talking about? 2) anybody have the same thing happen to their 8? 3) anybody know what the heck causes this? 4) should I be concerned?

I'm planning on taking it to the dealer to have them check it out but since they dance the dance of BS more than half the time, I want as much first-hand info from people on this forum as I can get.

Thanks for reading the above and thanks for sharing your thoughts regarding the origin and significance of this new phenomenon that I've observed on my new 8. If it helps to know, the 8 has about 1000 miles on it. Thanks.....

 

I believe that is normal clutch throwout bearing noise. It always seems more pronounced in rotaries. You can hear it clearly idling in neutral. Clutch in, it goes away. Clutch out, it's back.

When you get to the dealer, take out an RX-8 on the lot with the service writer. Let us know and good luck.

 

I had this exact same problem so I brought it to the deeler. This is not a normal noise it turns out the throw out bearing was bad. I would get this checked if I were you it is free under warranty after all.

The Tick

 

I heard the same thing on one of our Forum members cars (who shall remain nameless). I know on my Gen 3 that the throwout bearing is starting to make a little noise, but this guy's bearing was much louder than mine (and this was a new 8 with less than 1000 miles). If you hear the noise, get it checked out!!

 

The thread you read was probably mine: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...;threadid=16448 it’s been 4 weeks now without my baby…so sad.
The people at Mazda told me that my syncros were grinding with something and they needed to replace that and my clutch because that got damage as well… so they are waiting on back order parts from Japan to fix my car…. So you might want to check it out….Best of luck.

 

No, that's not throwout bearing (TB) noise. TB noise is exactly the opposite: Idling in neutral foot off clutch pedal, no noise; step on clutch pedal (either just enough to take up the play or all the way), noise. As described, it actually sounds like transmission bearings (input shaft or cluster gear - or as or British brethren say: layshaft). These shafts rotate any time the clutch is engaged (foot off the pedal) and their bearings make a little noise. I think the bearing noise is a little loud in the 8, but the dealer says it is normal.

Quote:

When you get to the dealer, take out an RX-8 on the lot with the service writer. Let us know and good luck.

Good advice. And make sure that it gets recorded that you asked the dealer about it.

 

Any news? Did you take it to the dealer? Anyone who had this same noise and then had it fixed?

I have noticed some noise even in 1st and 2nd gears. For example, the car is going 15 mph in 2nd gear and press the clutch with car still rolling (coasting?), you hear this sound that just doesn't seem normal. Doesn't happen (or is not so pronounced) if you press the clutch when the car is rolling in 3rd gear or above.

Not trying to resurrect this issue! I did a search on "clutch noise" and read through a lot of threads but I didn't get a final conlusion as to whether its normal or if someone actually had this fixed.

I am extremely happy with my 8 so far (400 miles) except this abnormal noise.

Regards,
Max.

 

Edit:
I also have a tough time EVERYTIME getting into Reverse.

I just wonder if the clutch in/clutch out noise, 1st/2nd gear noise, problem getting into reverse are all related ???

Regards,
Max.

 

The Bad

I just got my car back from the dealer today after over 2 weeks.
After putting the transmission in and out 6 times and help from Mazda it was found that 6th. gear had siezed up.
They refused to replace the gearbox like the other known 15 cases.
So the surgery began, replaced 1. hub clutch 2. 6th. gear 3. and 9 other parts.
When inspected the first time there was no sign of metal shavings or any visible problem. 6th. gear just would not engage.

The Good

The car shifts as good or better now.
The "NOISE" that all the dealers say is normal (when you let the clutch out in neutral) has went away and is now quiet. This is a biggy for me.
They also gave me a RX-8 to drive for the last 2 weeks that I really abused (the 8 is tougher than I thought)

The Spin

We found out that you do not need to replace the trans. fluid with synthetic because it comes from the factory with it.
Any person needing help with this issue I can help as I have all the part numbers and now the answers.

The Ugly

It could happen in any RX-8, mine is a later build date and several have been early ones..........

The End

I love this car even with all of the quirks.

 

TheTick,

Looks like you had this covered under warranty. How much time did it take? Was this a straight forward fix?

 

I got tthe noise too , should I be worried ? THe car drives fine and smooth and no problem getting into 6th or reverse. My dealer said it was normal.

 

mine does that too... it seems to get better though once everything heats up. I think its the input tranny bearing. I'm not overly worried about it at this point.

 

mine is becoming a lemon soon...no more tranny problem

 

I have the same weird noise when idling in neutral with the clutch disengaged..................but no problems shifting in 6th or reverse. I wonder if I need to take my baby in just to see..........?

 

From the Mazda Repair Information, they called it "Transmission gear roll-over noise." It was described as whirring noise from the transmission while at idle in neutral. It is normal according to their claim and there will be no repairs available:

 

oh geez................ yea I've been hearing that sound ever since 500km....... DAMN IT.... I tried to ignore it as long as I could hoping it'd go away...
so they're holding it in their shop while they order it in?? any way they would let you drive the car until the parts come in? I mean it's not really a huge safety issue right? god I can't imagine without my car for a MONTH... would make me a very unhappy camper

 

Guys....Yesterday I went to the delearship to change the oil. While waiting for the oil to be changed I asked the salesman who sold me the car to try few new cars to listen for that noise we all got acustomed to. They had 18 new RX-8 and 2 demos. I started 12 of the 18 new ones and both demos and listened carefully and depressing the clutch to observe any noise changes. Guess what....All 14 cars had the noise, but I would say 30% of them seem to have a lower noise level, but it was still there. It could be the location of these cars . At this point I am not going to worry about it, knowing that most of us are experiencing the same thing.
Mark

 

This is true, however mine was making the noise and it was fixed...now it is as quiet as a BMW!!!!