On my way home tonight I ran it through the gears up to high-way speeds and it would not shift into 6th.
I tried everything short of ripping the shifter out with my arms to no avail.

Has anyone had this happen?

Doug
Las Vegas

No. In my case 5th and 6th are the smoothest gears. 1st is fine. 2nd through 4th feel like something isn't lubricated, I'm not sure how to explain it but it feels like "metal on metal without lube" in those gears.

What's weird is it used to feel smoother now it feels...kind of ...grindy? I'm wondering if I haven't caused the problem myself and eventually my higher gears will begin to feel the same way.

edit:

I'm speaking ONLY of the feeling I get from the shifter, it just literally feels like a little bit of "scraping" right below the knob...hope that makes sense. I don't think the GEARS are grinding.

When I shift into 6th I have to push towards the passenager door just slightly but it slipps in real easy. Just dont press DOWN.

i rarely use 6th but when i do no problems yet.

I guess it goes into the shop on Monday.......I love this car

DG

Any other transmission problems out there?

Originally posted by Doug Green
Any other transmission problems out there?

not saying it is a problem but in neutral there may be a whirring noise. when the clutch is engaged it goes away. some are saying its the throw out bearing that needs to be replaced. others say its ok.

Mine makes a very loud noise until you push in the clutch....that can't be right....and now 6th. gear is out.....maybe just a bad trans.

Sounds like you've got a hosed tranny. Try rev-matching. At ~80mph, shift to neutral, release clutch, rev to 4k, then push in the clutch and shift into 6th. Rev-matching not only saves wear on the synchros, it makes for a far smoother shift. Basically you want the engine speed and the tranny speed to match up before you shift. Done perfectly, you don't even need to use the clutch (aside from 1st and reverse).

Thanks Winter.......I have tried that and everything else...it just will not go into 6th. 900 miles on it so far.....

Doug,

No real ideas here ... so feel free to skip this post ...

Seems that 6th and reverse are very close. Possible the mechanism that allows access to the R gear has slid over and blocking 6th? Can you put it in R without pushing down? Havent' seen the machnics of the sihfter hence my starting comments. If this was the case, then it's not a trany problem. Again, totally speculating here.

Thanks WHealy,
No you still must depress the shifter to get reverse.
Just called the dealer they can see me in 9 days!
Thing is I very seldom use the 6 gear...in 900 miles maybe 75 were in top gear. Now the transmission is making a lot of noise in all gears and out.

What a bummer.....still love the car however.

Kind regards.
Doug

Doug, this happened to me once when I was coasting down the the freeway and then tried to drop it back into 6th; it wouldn't go. It really freaked me out! It has never happened to me again but I theorize I may have in fact been trying to drop it into 4th thinking it was 6th or for some other reson the gear box was locking me out. I was going about 75mph. I was able to get it into 5th and then eventually inot 6th. Hope this helps.......

Mazda has issued an 'M' tip for their technicians about difficulty shifting. They are told to duplicate the customers concern and then check the torque of the clutch cover bolts. Tighten as necessary. If that's not the case you may actually have a bad trans.

Thanks CERAMICSEAL,
I will tell them.....I spent the day looking it over and found nothing.
Still no 6th. speed.

DG

still looks good broken.....

My other rides....

Did you check the brake/clutch master fluid level? My Miata had separate master cylinders. When the clutch cylinder went, the problem did not show up in all the gears simultaneously. The 4th (of 5) went first.

Thanks bernieunger,
No I have not checked that...but I will this afternoon.


Kind regards,
DG

I will tell everyone what Mazda says when I take it in...but another wrench said 6th. gear appears to be locked up (read needs new transmission)

Vampyr,

Doesn't sound like your tranny is in good shape. I would say that you didn't do anything. Judging by your previous posts I would expect that if you were to experience a problem it would be the clutch starting to slip out of gear. It would take you a while to burn the clutch out bad enough for it to start slipping though and that doesn't make it difficult to shift or start creating a noise (unless you count the higher revs as the gears begin to slip at higher torque).

OK thanks 93rd, I take it you meant it doesn't sound like my tranny is in BAD shape, right?

Vampyr,

I can't say whether your tranny is in good shape or not but I can say that by your previous posts if you were going to experience a problem I would expect the problem would be a slipping clutch.

Let me explain: when you "ride" the clutch by releasing the clutch pedal to slow you can burn the clutch plate. This causes extra wear on the clutch plate and through time will cause the plate to allow the the gear to slip out. It starts at high torque usually in a high gear like trying to pass someone at freeway speeds by stomping on the gas in 5th gear. It will get to a certain point and then slip like it was coming out of gear. As you take your foot off the gas it will begin to grip again. After a short period of time you will notice it "slipping" in all gears and the engine won't have to be straining.

This is the typical wear clutches will see with a new M/T driver but usually the driver is able to figure out how to shift properly before there is any real damage done (otherwise my parents cars would've been screwed). Because your saying that your car is making an unusual noise and it is hard to get it in gear leads me to believe that it is another problem. If there is a problem. Have the dealer look at it.

On my previous RX-8 (before the re-cycle for the HP issue) I lost 6th gear. No grinding, no noise - just like it was a 5 speed. I could not speed shift (or speed match, as I have heard it called). Because this was a fairly early model, the dealer pulled the tranny and replaced it. Luckily, the western parts deport for Mazda is Ontario, CA. where the dealer is. I was able to get my car back the next day. The service rep told me I was the first to have a tranny replaced in the US. Whoo hoo!

Mine is doing the same thing!

Kind regards,
DG

Any word Doug?

Doug was banned

He can't answer you because he was banned for being a bad boy.
He is a pain and does not hold back. I know this guy (Douglas Green) he also has a place here in Aspen. He got the banner because he owned a Mazda dealer years ago and still knew the owners. I can also tell you that he is a old man that directed old t/v shows Hawaii five-o and the first few magnum PI's.http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-51990]
He also has a winery in Africa http://www.fastmoving.co.za/detail.jsp?providerNo=2622
He also has written several books.
He is (was) a full on pain in the butt, but I know him and so does a lot of people in Las Vegas.
I am a new member but I have been a guest on this site for 5 or 6 months. (please don't ban me because I know him, other members know him too.)
I think Doug is just a old man with nothing better to do.

Malcom

he sounds like a real character.

Doug:

Sixth is overdrive and not really a part of the shift pattern. That's why it's necessary to dog-leg slightly to the right when you go into it. It's a knack -- I had problems initially because I was trying to shift straight down. The difference is very subtle but if you don't do it right, it won't go in. (As the choirboy said to the bishop.)

That nine-day-wait attitude would be enough motivation for me to change dealers. Drop round your dealer and talk to your sales rep. Ask him to try shifting into sixth. (Just do it in the parking lot with the engine off.) If he can't, your sales rep should get Service on the horn and bring your car in immediately.

Originally posted by johncalifornia
Doug:

Sixth is overdrive and not really a part of the shift pattern. That's why it's necessary to dog-leg slightly to the right when you go into it. It's a knack -- I had problems initially because I was trying to shift straight down. The difference is very subtle but if you don't do it right, it won't go in. (As the choirboy said to the bishop.)

That nine-day-wait attitude would be enough motivation for me to change dealers. Drop round your dealer and talk to your sales rep. Ask him to try shifting into sixth. (Just do it in the parking lot with the engine off.) If he can't, your sales rep should get Service on the horn and bring your car in immediately.

to get into 6th i just use palm of my right hand and push the shifter to the right as far as it will go then pull it into 6th gear.

I thought the Auto was a 4 speed.

Sounds silly but I have found that placing my hand upside down on the stick (palm towards passenger door and thumb down) I can make a clean shift to 6th.

RX999 is Doug

Originally posted by Speedofheat
Sounds silly but I have found that placing my hand upside down on the stick (palm towards passenger door and thumb down) I can make a clean shift to 6th.

thats how i do it also.

Originally posted by RX_999
He can't answer you because he was banned for being a bad boy.
He is a pain and does not hold back. I know this guy (Douglas Green) he also has a place here in Aspen. He got the banner because he owned a Mazda dealer years ago and still knew the owners. I can also tell you that he is a old man that directed old t/v shows Hawaii five-o and the first few magnum PI's.http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-51990]
He also has a winery in Africa http://www.fastmoving.co.za/detail.jsp?providerNo=2622
He also has written several books.
He is (was) a full on pain in the butt, but I know him and so does a lot of people in Las Vegas.
I am a new member but I have been a guest on this site for 5 or 6 months. (please don't ban me because I know him, other members know him too.)
I think Doug is just a old man with nothing better to do.

Malcom

Doug you are so full of it, I can't believe how gullible people are. Good job, you googled your name and came up with TV credits, winery and some book authors. Pathetic. By the way, interesting that the winery was established in the 1930's and "Doug" is in his 50s.

Anyway,

I lost 6th gear last night. I know how to get in the gear and I can't now.

Yes, it used to be a dog leg but now that dog leg is gone. It feels just like a 5 speed.

Regardless of who Doug is, it is a problem with my car and it just happened to me.

-Mr. Wigggles

Originally posted by MrWigggles
Anyway,

I lost 6th gear last night. I know how to get in the gear and I can't now.

Yes, it used to be a dog leg but now that dog leg is gone. It feels just like a 5 speed.

Regardless of who Doug is, it is a problem with my car and it just happened to me.

-Mr. Wigggles

Did you get your gearbox in order

No,

I went to get something out of my car tonight at the dealership an there she was all torn apart :(

The transmission was gone and nothing but an empty hole was where the shifter and the transmission used to be. Since the car isn't in the bay, that is a good sign they are getting a new tranny from Mazda.

I don't know when I will get ride to ride my yellow Sunshine again but it couldn't be soon enough. The POS Ford Focus they gave me puts a serious cramp on my style.

I'm thinking of putting a sign on the back that says: "My other car is an RX-8", but I don't think anyone would believe me.

-Mr. Wigggles

I too am a victim of losing 6th gear! (My car has 12kmi) I was driving on the highway last night at about 98mph, got off at my exit, accelerated from the stoplight......no 6th gear. I tired everything to no avail. As others have stated, there were no noises or unusual feeling from the car...its just totally locked out, as if it were a 5 speed. I shift my car very smoothly, I've driven MT's for 18 years, never drop the clutch for quick launches, I'm careful with my baby. Yes I drive fast sometimes, but I'm good to my car!

I'm dropping my car off at the dealer Sunday night. Dealer hasn't heard of this problem before. I'll post an update when I hear news from the Dealer.

Oh yeah, I tried rev matching, double clutching and, once I got home, I also tried shifting into gear with the car off....still no worky. :(

wankelmaniac,

Who's your dealer? Sounds like a new trany is in order? If so, you might want to see if someone in town has already done this. Just a suggestion.

Whealy,

From Carmel, eh? I work near 96th & Hauge Rd, I may have seen you on the road!

I take my car to Roush Mazda for service, the're one of the few dealers around with good rotary knowledge.

Yep, sounds like a new tranny. I'd rather have a new tranny than have this one fixed.

Good sugestion regarding a dealer that has already done this, I know that Hubler Nissan has, they were putting a new tranny in a car that just rolled off the delivery truck!

wankelmaniac,

I work arond 116th and Meridian and do live in Carmel. So I'm pretty much stick in this area. I know one of the service writters at Roush pretty well if you need a hand probing to see if they've already done one. Just let me know and hope all goes well.

Wankelmaniac,

I bought my RX-8 at Hubler (1100 mi currently). Should I take it there for service? This is my first rotary car, and so far I love everything but the gas mileage! :)

Hello Nordic RX-8,

I saw my first Nordic Green the other day on the west side of 465, exiting at around 56th street. Nordic looks great!

They're fine, since a rotary is no different than a conventional piston engine in regard to routine maintenance. Personllay, I just feel more comfortable with a tech with rotary experience.

Well I just got off the phone with Troy at Roush Mazda. The tech (Pete) got her into 6th gear with a little effort and shifts fine now. Sooooo, I'll drive it and hope the problem was a fluke!

Hey Whealy - I talked to Troy, he says he knows a guy on the forum with a real nice blue RX-8 with some carbon fiber dash components. Must be you, eh? Sorry I didn't respond to your post about checking on Roush's experience working on the transmission.....missed it until now.....thanks for offering your help! I'll PM you as well.