Since I bought my RX8, the tranny has always felt funny shifting and stuff. I recently had a bad throw out bearing and had to have it replaced. I have a new clutch, bearing and a resurfaced flywheel now. When I shift into second gear from first or even downshifting from any other gear, with the clutch to the floor, 2nd grinds real bad. I think the car was beaten from the previous owner. Mazda is willing to take a look for me but not for another week or so. I pretty much can't use second gear cause it grinds everytime I try to put it in, and just won't go in. Anyone know what the hell is going on? It pisses me off cause I know my throw out bearing and clutch can't be the problem (and it's not my shifting either) I baby the car as much as i can. Someone please help. Thanks in advance.

 

Check your clutch bracket..if it's OK...probably the syncro's are shot in the tranny

If your under warranty let Mazda fix it...otherwise get a low mileage wrecker tranny...that will be much cheaper than a rebuild from the dealer

 

It's still under warranty, so I won't have to worry too much, but this problem has been an ongoing thing and they still haven't fixed it. I thought I'd ask you guys to see if you knew. And the car has 40314 miles right now. My guess is the car was beaten to hell from the previous owner. What a shame.

 

Maybe, try to shift it slow/ at lower RPMs? I'm not sure if this works, but my car has quite similar problem shifting from 3rd to 4th, there're times where it would grind, and not grind when I shift it properly+smoothly....

 

I know where your coming from with this transmission issue. Lately, my gear shift throw from 1st to 2nd gear is a real bitch. Also it's affecting the other gears as well. So lately I took my car to mazda and third party car shop specializing on rotary engines just to get both opinions. Both techs explained to me that I will need a new transmission soon. Now the price for a new transmission must be at least $2-4 thousand dollars similar to getting a new engine. I recommend you go to another mazda and third party rotary shop for another opinion. Plus you still got warranty. I didn't extend the warranty when I bought my pre-owned rx8 and now 7,000 miles later I have to get a new engine for my baby. So in my opinion get a new transmission while you still can.

 

that's beside the point, if it grinds at all and not in every gear then either the synchros are going out or a shift fork is bent, the only fix is to pull it out and replace the appropriate parts

 

It's not even a matter of babying it into 2nd. I have to make sure the synchro is lined up myself. Around 3000 rpm, I can get it in. I can't be downshifting or be coming out of 1st with too high of rpms. I figured since I have the warranty too, I'd try to mess with it a little to see if I can try to get around this problem. I brought 1st up to about 7000 and just shifted into 2nd pretty damn hard and quick, and it didn't grind. I'm sure it wasn't good for it, cause I heard a slight thump, but it worked I just never realized how much I actually use 2nd and need it. I mean of course you can go from 1st to 3rd, but with such a low amount of torque at low rpms, it doesn't accelerate very fast when you need it, example: passing a car on a main road..

 

haha will do