I recently noticed my car doing something that I have never felt before and am not sure whether I should be concerned or not.

Basically, whenever I am in 4th, 5th or 6th gear (primarily 5th and 6th though) and am cruising anywhere below 3k RPM's and I attempt to accelerate I see my RPM's go up to about 3k and than drop to 2.5k before finally accelerating.

I have never ridden in a car with CVT but it is kind of what I would imagine that being like. As though my car is down shifting without actually downshifting.

If this is normal... what is going on here?

If it is not normal... what should I do?

Background on my car: 2004 GT, 6 speed with 28k miles on it.

Thanks!

If you have a MT not a 6 speed AT then no thats not normal. Is sounds like you need new plugs or coils. I would say your plugs are shot.

To me that sounds like the clutch slipping when it shouldn't be.

^that was exactly what I was thinking.

is this your first manual?
are you heavy on the clutch/gas while shifting?

^Or that. A local owner told me he hit that gas to beat traffic, rpms droped he was going foward but really slow then they shot back up and he took off lol turns out he needed new plugs and coils.

On the other hand another member who had clutch slipp was showing me when he shifts from 2nd to 3rd the rpms would move but he would keep going at the same speed, then hook and start to go.

Sounds like clutch to me too...

Sounds to me like rotordos brain is slipping

how hard are you pressing on the throttle; partially or WOT?

It is not my first manual. I have had a few now.

It is not when shifting if that makes a difference. Say I am cruising at like 35mph in 5th gear and want to get up to 45 real quick. That is the scenario. Obviously if I want to get there quick I should be down shifting... but sometime I am lazy.

Team RX8, I would say half to 3/4 throttle.

Oh and it only does it in 5th and 6th gear. Haven't had any power issues in 1st through 3rd. Not sure if I've tried it in 4th yet.

Sounds like the clutch.

Doubt it... but is the clutch covered under the warranty?

Doubt it... but is the clutch covered under the warranty?
The clutch is considered a wear item. Mazda has been known to replace it for free if the trouble is in the first 12,000 miles.

Damn. That is what I figured. Best place to buy a new clutch?

Is the F1 Stage 1 clutch kit a good route to take? I found one for $132 online.

Dont skim on the clutch. Search F1 kit on here for reviews

Ok. Thanks for the advice. I'll look into it more.

Quick update: I call my local dealer and he isn't quite certain that it's the clutch. He said if it was slipping that badly there would be a noticeable smell which there hasn't been.

I am going to take it by tomorrow morning to have one of the techs drive it to see what they think.

Hopefully if it is something else it is covered under the warranty! Since I only have 28k miles on it, and my warranty expires at the end of next year I wouldn't mind getting a whole new engine! Especially since I'll be rolling over 50k miles RIGHT when the warranty expires.

Verdict: Definitely the clutch.

Here's the question of the day... Has anyone on here replaced the clutch themselves? I have a friend who has been rebuilding rx7's for a long time and is willing to help. Is this possible? Or a bad idea?

No... there is no way a RX7 dude can install a new clutch.

It's just not possible.

Your better off trading it in.

Because of the type of clutch in the rx8? Just not possible? That all there is to it?

Quote from the dealer:
Clutch - $700 (Not OE, after market performance clutch for slightly more $ than the OE)
Labor - $250
Sub Total - $950
Tax - $57
Total - $1007

Does this sound fair? I also called a clutch place who was around the same $ accept for a much cheaper clutch. So more labor, less quality.

Quote from the dealer:
Clutch - $700 (Not OE, after market performance clutch for slightly more $ than the OE)
Labor - $250
Sub Total - $950
Tax - $57
Total - $1007

Does this sound fair? I also called a clutch place who was around the same $ accept for a much cheaper clutch. So more labor, less quality.

no,
aftermarket clutch from vendor here.. ~350. good local mazda mech. for the install ~ 450.

btw, i have a stock pp and disk with ~ 5k miles on if. pm if interested..

done..

beers :beer:

Which vendors? I checked a few on here and they were all $700+ for a clutch kit.

So $250 for labor is a good than. My only concern would be that they will charge more on labor if I get the clutch somewhere else.

Thanks for the offer but if I am spending all this money I think I'll do new and aftermarket.

I really need to order a clutch today... so any last minute info would be great! Thanks!

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=182543&highlight=clutch+kit

Is this a good buy?