I did a search , and found no solution to this problem. At 2k miles on my car , the transmission would grind from going to 3rd to 4th gear from 7k -9k rpm. Around 2500 miles it went away, very weird. I know most sticks i had and driven , the transmission would grind always on the 1-2 shift(on a hard acceleration), but never a 3rd to 4th shift. And the grind only occurs when the rpm's are over 7500- 9500 rpm, never 7k and under.

Currently at 8k miles the problem has came back, i took my car in Friday and had Mazda check it out. They came back to tell me that they "couldn't duplicate"the problem crap. Well i wasn't satisfied with that awnser and i wanted them to drive the car with me in it. So they got one of there tech's and i was in the passenger seat. He gets to wind her out,shifts 1-2....absoulutely fine ...2-3......fine once again.....3rd to 4th(8300 rpm)......NO grinding! I told him let me to drive the car, i go through all the gears , purpously shift at 9k rpm to show the tech that there is a problem. NO grinding once again! WTF!!!!!

The tech is looking at me like i am crazy....

Well we get back at the dealership and the tech gives me a computer read out showing that they did a diagnostic on the tranny, and everything turned out normal. So feeling dumb, i hopped in my car to go home, so i ran through the gears again , got to that 3rd to 4th gear change, GRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNDDDDDDDDDD! Why me.....

Well since Friday afternoon, i have been getting and missing the 3rd to 4th gear shifts. I don't know what to make out of this....if the synchros were going out, wouldn't the grind happen all the time on the 3rd to 4th shift? Do any of you guys know what the problem might be?

 

Bring it back, definitely not suppose to grind anywhere.

 

Sounds like the shift forks.
Go have them check them.
I had my entire transmission rebuilt because of a bad 3-4 fork. They replaced all of the synchros and all of the forks.

 

I am suprised that they even tested a grind around redline on the 3-4 gear change, considering you were right around 100mph. Most dealerships don't allow testing problems above highway speeds.

 

I have the same problem. Going to just replace the tranny myself.

 

I had the same problem. They fixed it then 5 gear went out. I brought it back to a better dealership. They confirmed the problem and replaced the whole tranny. Now the tranny is better then ever. Have the dealer look at it again and if no luck try another dealer. Some dealers are great with customer service other not so much

 

I talked to one of the service department reps who call and ask you if your service needs were met. I told her i wasn't satisfied and the reasons why, she told me she will have her manager call me back ASAP , the latest tomorrow.

This is cool that my Mazda dealership double checks to see , you the customer is satisfied or not satisfied, because at first when i left the service department i felt so shafted, i knew deep down inside that (1) they didn't bother to check the tranny thorough (2) this shouldn't be happening on a brand new car.

Stay tuned , i will let you guys know what the manager says and what steps he will or will not take to fix this problem. Like many of you, i might have to take my car to another dealership.

 

You have bent shift forks, my dealer replaced mine a year ago.

 

Since the delership is by a highway , they can test it that high. I was shock too when i was looking at the Rx-8 to purchase, my saleman took me to 115mph in in the 8 during my test drive . I don't mind if i do it....but he was trying to look and talk in my direction while driving that fast, i kindly told him if he could please slow down and pay attention to the road.

 

Hey all, the exact same thing has happening to me. Been problem free, until now (a '05 with 12000 miles). Here's the exchange so far;

I'm in Friday. I say there is no way a lubricant will fix this problem permanently. What do you guys say?

 

My 3rd to 4th shift also grinds at 8000+ RPMs, probably started at 25k...I made a thread a while ago asking about it and it seems to be among other owners.

I noticed depressing the clutch a little longer, and shifting into 4th slower and more sensibly instead of a very quick shift keeps the grinding away. But still, I hope it doesn't become a big problem later.

My dealership has also asked me why I've been in high RPMs when I told them about my marbles, when I 'shouldn't be'

 

Raptor, there is no way I'd let them lecture me on high RPM's. Simply put, the car shouldn't be grinding anywhere.

I'll update after Friday.

 

huh?

 

Yeah, it's a sports car that I've bought and will continue to drive as a sports car, and as long as the rotary is stress-free at 9000 I'll continue to hear the buzzer a dozen times a day...

I'm guessing my transmission will go out sooner than an average one though, since I learned stick on it, and my Dad also semi-learned on it, and I can't resist shifting gears even while cruising. And all those wheel spins....

 

I have this as well..no matter _how calm and easy_ I am shifting to 4th on the track after the first lap or so once the tranny heats up.

Could be the same weak fork issue that the RX7s and Miatas have _always_ had, but I dont feel like tearing one apart to see if the same fix would fix it.

Will be asking for a replacement "soon".

 

Well, I just got back from the dealer and I'm getting a new tranny shipped in from Japan, under warranty. I was expecting the "you must have abused it" crap but they were great! As they should be, I never screwed up a shift, always clutch full in and full off throttle at every shift.

Still, I can't believe a 15 month old car with 21000kms needs a new tranny! I just want it fixed at this point.

Maybe I'll slip in a new MS flywheel.

 

I have the same problems with my tranny going from 3-4th at 9000 rpm. At lover speeds it's ok.When i shift slowly it's ok, but who does? I think the problem came at 15 000 km when my dealer switced tranny fluid from Motul to Shell Helix. Drove 3000 km with Shell oil and then switched back to Motul but problem still exist. I hope my dealer can repair my gearbox this winter!

/Lasse

 

I think there's better flywheels out there than the MS...maybe not...but an aftermarket flywheel is a good mod.

 

I thought i was just a shitty driver...
I too grind going from 3rd to 4th at 9k rpm.

Sigh lol!

Has anyone figured out if there is a solution to this problem?

 

ya, I have the same problem... Mazda actually spent 4K on fixing my transmission under warranty... But the problem came back...

If you depress the clutch longer, and shift slower than the problem seems to go away... I guess just don't expect to be flying at 90 mph...