'09 GT 5th to 6th gear shift grinds
#51
#52
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
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After bringing my car in to the local dealership last week complaining about the 6th gear grind, Mazda immediately sent a corporate engineer to test-drive the car the next day. After asking me questions like "do you race the car?", "is this your first manual transmission car?", etc. they confirmed my suspicions & authorized the replacement parts.
The dealership just finished replacing 5th & 6th gear on my 09 R3 after 4500 miles, and made a note in the service paperwork saying "Mazda advises against skip-shifting with this transmission"...probably to cover their *** for some reason if people admit to going straight into 6th gear from 3rd or 4th after being warned not to.
There's a bulletin for this transmission grind dilemma now, as it's becoming more than a "needle in a haystack" randomness. I'll post that bulletin # after work.
The dealership just finished replacing 5th & 6th gear on my 09 R3 after 4500 miles, and made a note in the service paperwork saying "Mazda advises against skip-shifting with this transmission"...probably to cover their *** for some reason if people admit to going straight into 6th gear from 3rd or 4th after being warned not to.
There's a bulletin for this transmission grind dilemma now, as it's becoming more than a "needle in a haystack" randomness. I'll post that bulletin # after work.
which tampa dealer? the tsb?
beers
#53
Sorry guys, before I could get home from work I had to bring the car back to the dealership due to a check engine light not going away & the cruise control not working. I've been told by the service manager the cruise control issue is directly related to the work they performed on the transmission, so we'll see what happens. Now I'm stuck driving a new (800 miles) Mazda CX-7 rental. My paperwork is still in the glovebox, so once I get it back I'll promptly post up everything Mazda wrote about the diagnosis & repair, including a scan for those visual people.
The dealership is Wesley Chapel Mazda by the way.
The dealership is Wesley Chapel Mazda by the way.
#54
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Sorry guys, before I could get home from work I had to bring the car back to the dealership due to a check engine light not going away & the cruise control not working. I've been told by the service manager the cruise control issue is directly related to the work they performed on the transmission, so we'll see what happens. Now I'm stuck driving a new (800 miles) Mazda CX-7 rental. My paperwork is still in the glovebox, so once I get it back I'll promptly post up everything Mazda wrote about the diagnosis & repair, including a scan for those visual people.
The dealership is Wesley Chapel Mazda by the way.
The dealership is Wesley Chapel Mazda by the way.
#55
The car was driving fine and shifting smoothly...it just had the check engine light on & even though the cruise control light would turn on, it wouldn't activate.
#56
Alright, I finally got the car back this morning (so far everything's perfect again) & here are a couple of cell phone pics of the service paperwork I've received:
The "bulletin" I was referring to is listed in the first pic... TAC REF# 592903. I hope that helps.
The "bulletin" I was referring to is listed in the first pic... TAC REF# 592903. I hope that helps.
#58
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Thanks for posting that up. Hopefully you'll be trouble-free from here on out.
And swoope, since the transmission is new for '09, maybe they thought they had addressed all the issues from the previous design? Apparently not yet!
And swoope, since the transmission is new for '09, maybe they thought they had addressed all the issues from the previous design? Apparently not yet!
#59
'09 RX-8 GT Nav
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As the original poster, I had my transmission replaced around 700 miles. At between 1,600-1,700, it began to fail again. I first noticed it on a shift from 2nd to 5th after accelerating hard out of a toll; a heavy grind. I then did a whole bunch of shifts from and to 5th gear from several gears. It was very bad every shift from 2nd, and more often than not occurred from 4th. It generally did not occur downshifting from 6th and I didn't do much testing on 3rd to 5th nor 1st to 5th.
I called the dealer and made them aware of the problem and will address it when I have time to leave the car with them again. In the meantime, I am avoiding the use of 5th gear and have noted no problems with other gears yet.
I called the dealer and made them aware of the problem and will address it when I have time to leave the car with them again. In the meantime, I am avoiding the use of 5th gear and have noted no problems with other gears yet.
#61
'09 RX-8 GT Nav
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I got the '09 GT from Mazda of Manhattan in late August; I live on the Upper East Side and after over a decade on the waiting list, even got a spot in my building's garage.
#64
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Well mine's been going strong, except first gear's synchro doesn't seem to always kick in right.
Comparing mine to other 09s though, it's about 4x as much effort to change/put it in gear.
Comparing mine to other 09s though, it's about 4x as much effort to change/put it in gear.
#65
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For what it's worth... I got a chance to drive a 2002 Corvette, that we had tuned, on the track this summer, and, it was a bear to shift. You have to make a very conscious effort to push it into each gear... and that is considered normal
#67
Super Moderator
Yeah, I will add here that Mazda have changed 6th gear to a new Part Number that is interchangeable one way only, new for old, so you can't use the old 6th gear in a newer tranny.
These changes occurred around November 08 production.
I checked ALL the other parts in the 09 Manual 6 speed and Nothing else has changed apart from 6th gear.
P603-17-630 to a P610-17-630 6Th Gear
These changes occurred around November 08 production.
I checked ALL the other parts in the 09 Manual 6 speed and Nothing else has changed apart from 6th gear.
P603-17-630 to a P610-17-630 6Th Gear
#68
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The exact reason you will never see me buy a first year anything. R3 or not. Happens to every car. Even my Ducati was a second year and that thing was a problem child.
#69
Yeah, I will add here that Mazda have changed 6th gear to a new Part Number that is interchangeable one way only, new for old, so you can't use the old 6th gear in a newer tranny.
These changes occurred around November 08 production.
I checked ALL the other parts in the 09 Manual 6 speed and Nothing else has changed apart from 6th gear.
P603-17-630 to a P610-17-630 6Th Gear
These changes occurred around November 08 production.
I checked ALL the other parts in the 09 Manual 6 speed and Nothing else has changed apart from 6th gear.
P603-17-630 to a P610-17-630 6Th Gear
Paul.
#70
Super Moderator
Mazda continually changes (for the better) spare parts internally that you can not see and these changes are done at any time, NOT for a MY (Model Year) period, but when it is necessary to do the upgrades to components.
EG: You can have a MY 2011 RX-8, and two months into that production period a defective or better part is replaced with an improved part that is introduced at any time during that MY period.
In other words customer or engineering issues are rectified on the line at ANY stage.
If you waited for Mazda to give you the very latest and updated car, then you would never buy one as this is an ongoing process with them.
The very reason why Mazda are such a great make of car...always improving.
So, when you are Mazda owners ALWAYS, ALWAYS take with you your vehicles Chassis Number to your Mazda Dealer Spare Parts Counter when you buy parts...that's the JM1FE103290---305 number... that is ALL they need to identify what is exactly fitted to your Mazda...to get it right!
Last edited by ASH8; 02-04-2009 at 08:12 PM.
#71
Super Moderator
I think I have covered most (all) of the Mechanical Changes in the S2 RX-8 which are many, and well all know the external or visual changes.
I am happy to take requests from anyone concerning Mazda Parts.
#72
Super Moderator
The only mechanical difference are the 4 Bilstein shock absorbers, and a foam filled engine cross member and 19inch (instead of 18 inch) wheels/tires.
ALL the other changes are cosmetic like, seats, rear spoiler, side skirts, gear ****, hand brake ****.
#73
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Just to add the R3, is the exact same RX-8 as all the other Series 2 models with 6 speed Manual Transmissions.
The only mechanical difference are the 4 Bilstein shock absorbers, and a foam filled engine cross member and 19inch (instead of 18 inch) wheels/tires.
ALL the other changes are cosmetic like, seats, rear spoiler, side skirts, gear ****, hand brake ****.
The only mechanical difference are the 4 Bilstein shock absorbers, and a foam filled engine cross member and 19inch (instead of 18 inch) wheels/tires.
ALL the other changes are cosmetic like, seats, rear spoiler, side skirts, gear ****, hand brake ****.
https://www.rx8club.com/purchasing-financing-insurance-56/year-year-changes-143280/
#74
Super Moderator
We are Talking FE1032 Models, Not any FE1031 or Series ONE 2004-08, as Series ONE did not have an R3...OK
Please do not post a comment rebuffing what I have said before you investigate it properly, as you are not correct.