Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

Where is "here"?

LostAngel

I live just south of Erie PA.

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

Well, I may plan a trip to that area next spring to help other 8 owners do their mods, like nitrous, flywheel swaps, spring/swaybar sets, and such, so keep an eye out for a bunch of us getting together to share tools and labor. This stuff isn't near as complicated as it might seem.

LostAngel

really? That sounds interesting...maybe i'll join.

shaunv74

BunnyGirl have you found satisfaction yet? Did the other dealer finally listen to you?

BunnyGirl

Well, it has actually stopped doing it for the last few weeks. It actually stopped during our December Drive. It started out that way when I left to go there, and then seemed to have stopped either during or after because I haven't had anything like it was doing since, a notchy stiffness when cold, which seems to be "normal."

I had made an appointment at another dealership and everything for one of my days off. They had said to bring it in when it was acting up on me. Well, it stopped shortly before that, but I drove there anyway and told them it wasn't currently displaying the symptoms. They said in order to get a good idea of what was really going on I needed it to be acting up when I brought it in.

However, they feel it's that ethanol evaporation thing in the clutch workings and that it was "sticking" and has since loosened back up.

I just know when I got it back from taking it in for the recall, my clutch felt totally "off" with no resistance whatsoever when I pushed it in (mentioned it to my mom when I pulled out of the parking lot; unfortunately had no time right then to go back and have them look at it) and I couldn't actually get it all the way to the floor for the first dozen shifts or so, although the gears didn't grind at that time. It was almost like it was locked up since it didn't hardly move at all when I pushed down, but felt "wiggly" like the pedal was loose or something. Then it "relaxed" a little (after a sort of popping sound) and I could push it all the way to the floor again but it just felt sloppy. That's when 2nd gear started being really hard to use. It was about a month later when I took it in for them to look at it, and they said they couldn't find a problem, but when I got it back I noticed the clutch felt much firmer, like it used to when it was brand new and my shifting was somewhat improved, although not entirely. It has gotten better since then. I know have 10,500 and it feels pretty much like normal with it's normal "notchiness" when it's cold but otherwise smooth again when warmed up.

I don't know if that evaporation thing works itself out or not, but that was what I was told by a different dealership than mine. My dealership just said that if it acts up again to bring it back in, and if something does go after the warranty, that it should be covered because they have it documented that I was complaining about it earlier.

Cody Red

Well I started to notice this about two weeks ago. Above 40 mph, it sorta grinds (crunches) when I downshift into 2nd. At first I thought maybe I didn't full depress the clutch, so then I put it to the floor and it's still doing the same thing. I'm looking for another job right now so I dunno how long it will be before I have cash again (if I have a bad syncro). Does the Royal Purple fluid really cure it? Should I call Mazda and ask what they use/if I can somehow purchase some from them?

Mods are listed in sig if anyone's gonna ask.

-Cody

Cody Red

after 468 posts, i don't know what tsb and many other abbreviations stand for....

8is>enuff

TSB - Technical Service Bulletin. You can find them here - http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ins_index.html

Xantium

I took my car into billion mazda of sioux falls and they kept my car for 5 days and did nothing. I even printed out the tsb and put it on the seat. I'm so pissed off i think I'll probably go get arrested.

Xantium

Can I just buy a new clutch release cylinder and do it myself. This is actually the second time ive taken it to them for this tsb and this is the second time they give it back saying "clutch operation feels normal".

Cody Red

thank you....do YOU have any suggestions before I take it in to have it checked out? Don't wanna pay all this money if I could do something minor like change the fluids, know what I mean?

-Cody

8is>enuff

First off I'd make sure they address the tsb's if they apply to your VIN/symptoms.

If it's not covered in the TSB's, get under there and check the clutch pedal assembly. More and more of them are coming loose/falling off ( I know of at least 6). With your stronger PP you would obviously be more susceptible to the bracket coming loose.

Abbid explained how to check it earlier in this thread. Do it soon - if it's loose it'll wear the hell out of your clutch, and it really sucks when your clutch pedal falls off while you're driving.

I'm pleased with my synthetic fluids, but if I were you I'd wait until you get the issue sorted out before covering up the symptoms.

8is>enuff

BTW - Yeah, I know what you mean. Read this and follow the links - https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/clutch-pedal-came-off-111024/

Long story short, I installed a new ACT clutch and flywheel, changed my fluids (again) and had my bracket replaced after it fell off while I was driving.

$1300 later and my car is sitting in my garage because I can't get it into gear.

youpey

is there a TSB for the exact opposite, grinding when it is cold out. this one is for when it is warm out.

i had to pay a lot of money for a clutch when i had claimed all along i had exact problems in TSB, except when it was cold

8is>enuff

Not that I know of. If you're using synthetic it tends to be thicker in the cold (see also: molasses) and cause some grinding.

youpey

i have already gotten rid of the car, but the transmission and everything related to the transmission was stock.