I was coming back home from the gym today and noticed the RPMs were acting odd...

One thing I noticed that wasn't right was whenever I shifted up into the next gear, the RPMs would drop to where they're supposed to be for that gear but when I stepped on the gas, the tach would abnormally spike up about 500 RPM (as if I still had the clutch slightly engaged, but I didn't), then back down slightly, and then back up as I flooring the gas. So shifting wasn't right.

Then, I tried engine breaking. Same old whistling at about 4000 RPMs but as it dropped to around 2500-3500 the synchros had a painful, grinding sound....sounded like an RC toy car.

I also went on the highway to drive it hard. Floored it and shifted around 8000 to see how the RPMs respond, and felt the same hesitation in the RPMs. It also feels like this could potentially take off a whole second off my 0-60 time (not a huge worry for me, but obviously something's wrong. Well, actually, huge worry, I like going fast).

Any ideas? Busted synchro or something? Bad clutch?

 

Clutch slipping??

 

Yeah, perhaps.

I'm at 40k miles btw

 

Just for the post count, I will second Dannobre. I doubt if it is a sychro. Synchos dont have anything to do with holding the clutch and plate together. Time for a lightweight flywheel and a centerforce disc and pressure plate!

 

pp bolts might have loosened up.. or as above clutch is on the way out...

beers

 

if it does come to that, what brand of clutch would u guys recommend? What light flywheel is a good buy? Im a total n00b.

 

I'm thinking clutch as well Raptor.

 

Alright, thanks guys. I'll visit the dealership tomorrow to find out exactly what's up, get labor prices and whatnot. After reading about clutch slippings, I'm pretty sure that is what's going on.

I'll PM you later Charles.

 

if you're going to replace the clutch; shop around a bit. See if you can order it from someone like www.onlinemazdaparts.com and then just have them install it. (otherwise, they'll probably charge you full retail for the clutch PLUS labor)