So ever since getting the "new" transmission into my 8 in October, it's been tougher to shift. It's also felt very rough, like as if it's hitting something before slotting into gear, like a definate clunk, or like you're closing one of those pressure buttons on a shirt, where you gotta put a bit more pressure before it pops into place. But, not overly so where it's a massive effort, there's a definite difference between my 8 and other 8s, especially other 09s though.

I took it to the dealership about a month after getting the new tranny, after putting 1,600miles on it (I had originally figured it was tough because it was still new and stuff). After much arguing and 3 test drives of wasting my gas and them dirtying up the interior of my car, they said it was perfectly fine and that basically I was just imagining things.

Considering how shitty they were when dealing with the original problem and nearly taking 2 months to fix it, I didn't bother pressing them and told em peace and left.

Fast forward 7,000miles and I've been experiencing random gear lockouts, where I would need to push it into another gear before going back to the one I wanted to (mainly only 1st - 3rd).

I would also get this weird problem where if I put it into first without coming to a complete stop (that means even if I'm going 1mph, I never put it back into first unless I'm going 5mph or slower), the shifter would feel like it bouncing on the gear teeth, but not grind, before slotting in roughly. I learned to sometimes avoid the problem by double clutching (didn't always work).

Then I went to Gainesville last weekend and that was just pure hell. The drive there (~300miles) was just peachy, except I was barely managing 16mpg when the last time I went there I did 28mpg driving the same way (80mph in 6th gear). When I got there, the tranny decided it was going to worsen.

The whole time I was there, it would continually lock me out of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears, leaving me having to start in 4th a lot of the time, which meant the clutch got burned to hell and back (you could smell that **** so bad).

No amount of shifting around, warming engine, or trying to slam the gears into place worked, it just utterly refused to let me go into those gears (occasionally I would get them, but most of the time no).

Upon getting home (another 300miles), a new problem came up though I got rid of not being able to shift into 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. This time, I wouldn't get locked out of 1st gear, but instead it would just start to grind, but not all the time.

So I'm taking her back to the dealership next week, but just wanted to see what you guys think?

I don't shift like a madman, nor do I burnout/peel out or do donuts and stuff, the most I do is take some corners a bit faster than I would with my parents' cars or accelerate flat out on onramps.

 

What about draining the gear oil and putting in some quality stuff just to test?

*EDIT* Take it to another dealership, let them ride WITH you, and you show them the problem.

 

Your original transmission had synchro problems shortly after you got it too, and it was replaced right?

Do you have the paper-work from the original transmission change? Do they specify what type of fluid they put in the thing? Did the dealership ever check the clutch pedal adjustment? If the clutch isn't quite fully disengaging when you press the pedal, it will cause major damage to your synchros, and will behave about like what you're describing. It wouldn't affect fuel economy much though

Sorry to hear about all your troubles

 

I'm not that mechanically inclined yet, I've barely started to get under the hood, draining the gear oil is still a bit beyond me at this point.

I took a tech for a ride last time and he said it was fine. It doesn't happen 24/7, it's at most once or twice a day, but the problem is that it is happening, just can't pin it down to why.



Original tranny had a blown 3rd and 6th gear syncro, they never gave me any paperwork or anything relating to the problem. Nothing that gave those details anyways, I'll double check every paper they ever gave me when I get home though.

As far as I'm aware, all they did was swap the tranny, I wouldn't count on them being intelligent or caring enough to check if anything else was wrong.

 

Getting to the right thread now and reading it, and seeing you are on your second transmission, dare I suggest you look at your "technique" in using the gearbox, you are very young and on your own admission not technically minded.

These gearboxes are very tight when new, like the rest of the car, irregardless take some advice new cars still do need care in running in, I don't give a dam what any salesman or mechanic says..

Having read some of your posts, where your car won't start and you flip the hood, then remember you are starting a manual car, and are too tired, and start off in 3 rd gear instead of 1st , revving the crap out of the car to get moving and smelling the clutch burning, on your own admission you have done this a number of times.

Instead of blaming the car look at the driver, you clearly are not experienced, even though you may think you are.

Just some advice, as you know your cars computer records almost everything you do, I would be very careful how you approach dealers and or Mazda NAO in the future as they will look at what you are doing to your car and will walk away from you when your clutch goes and any other issue that may arise.

Make sure you keep your oil level where it should be and DON"T wait until the dash light flashes, Don't just throw in an amount of oil you think it needs as too much oil can almost be as bad a too little., I have noticed that you put in a lot of oil, are you sure it needs that much as eventually too much oil can get into your intake and stuff the running of your car BIG TIME.

Going flat out over 240KMH (148MPH ) and trying to see how fast your car goes when new is IMO stupid and you are looking for trouble.

I am not on your back mate, but over the years here I have seem a few guys who have had their warranty voided for "abuse"...

I think you are very lucky that MNAO or your dealer (s) have not reported your car as abused.

The car is far from Bullet proof, NO car is, and yes you can say that your Moms car has done this or that.

So take it easy, life is not a race in the fast lane all the time.

I have the same transmission in my car and to date no issues..cross fingers, in fact NO issues at all!

Ash

 

cranky,

i missed this post.. good job ash..

but this is not the first tranny issue with the 09 in the usa. but it is the worst.

beers

 

Yeah, I agree, Mazda has modified 6th gear so far, but that is all.

I have said in a previous post that I am a little concerned that Mazda have used basically an MX-5 Box with changed ratio's and thicker casing, but that is about all, it shares the exact same bearings, main shaft and most everything else.
Clearly this box is going to take more load and RPM that a Miata.

And yes there were tranny issues with the Series I RX-8's too, and for
memory most of the problems came from "Young Guys".

I was young once too you know...