As I get used to the car I am noticing minor nuances with the Rx8.

One of the things that has me bothered is that when I go from 1st gear to second it does not slot in as easily as the other gears. I also notice a very slight vibration coming through the transmission on acceleration.

The second annoying thing with the gearbox is the whurring sound you get when you lift the clutch at idle.

I wondered what observations if any others in the forum had made.

I noticed in the US there has been similar reports and worse. Even the whirring sound is curable. You will also notice that a number have also upgraded to better quality transmission and diff oil for better shift.

I was thinking of reporting these findings to my dealer once I get a better understanding of the problem and hopefully get a fix.

skc

 

Yes, I notice that 1st to 2nd can sometimes be difficult, but it's a matter of degree -- I've experienced a lot worse. Maybe different oil may help, but I would be surprised, as it seems to be more a factor with the shift mechanism rather than the gears themselves

That whurring sound you hear is the clutch throw-out bearing. Well-documented on this forum and I have heard of no known fix, although I notice mine less since the damper recall service

 

SKC,

Is it on the cold mornings of late you have noticed the 1-2 change thing? An increase in the vicosity of the 'box oil could alter the behaviour of the syncros. My dad had a car once that required automatic oil in it's manual transmission. He put manual grade oil in it once and couldn't change gears as the synchros didn't work. So at least it fixed his curiosity

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Hymee

I have had this problem for a while. Double clutching seems to help a little however I am not used to this and quick gear changes is more difficult using this technique when spirited driving is called for.

skc

 

After my last service the noise from the throwout bearing went away. I don't know what was done to stop it - in fact I didn't ask for it to be fixed.

 

sco, was that the service where they replaced the gearbox damper under recall??
Haven't noticed the noise in mine since that was done.

 

I have been hearing the sounds for quite some time now.

Also when i hit a bump on the right side its makes like a crank sound underneath (have no idea) but i have been picking up things here and there.

 

No... IIRC it was my first service where they didn't have the parts in stock (even though I had told them I wanted the damper done) - I had to take it back again for the damper.

Hymee - maybe you can check with Robbie if it's a known issue with fix with next time you're at Aspley?

 

After reading the various reviews on Redline Gear Oil, I've decided to give that a go. Now all I need is the time to do it......

 

I don't even find a slight problem in the gearbox during the last 2 track day. I think a better fluid is not really necessary. Matt Coleman (my race tutor) said RX-8 gear box is one of the best. I guess it is very hard to make it better.

 

My MX5 and RX7 have a stiff change from 1st to 2nd. Once the car is at full operating temperature the gear change is smooth as silk. This is the same as the 8.

Curious about the gear box damper, when was this recall issued, I haven't heard of it.

 

You should have got a letter from Mazda about a "Special Service Programme" if you were affected. SSP sounds like a euphemism to avoid having to issue a recall to me

 

I have Red Line synthetic transmission lube in my manual transmission and still hear the throw-out bearing whirring noise when the clutch is out at idle. I only hear it if I open the door/window and really listen for it.

All my 1st->2nd shifts are not as silky smooth as I'd expect them to be either .

rx8cited

 

Perhaps the reason that shifting is more problematic is
that the revs are higher than usual compared to other
cars especially the rev differential between first and second.
If you wait half a second in neutral between first
and second you might get the timing of the shift to be
at the point where the synchros have to do little work
and then you could shift with less effort. And the take up
when you lock the clutch will be closer to that gear ratio.

 

I've also noted the 1-2 shift is a little stiffer than the others, especially when the engine is cold. I reckon part of this is only because the gearbox is generally so darn slick that the slight difference in the 1-2 plane becomes more obvious by comparison. It's still easily the best gearbox I've ever used, so for me at least there's not much to complain about really....

 

Yeah, I've embarrassed myself showing off with some missed 1st to second changes, just thought it was my crappy skills ............................................ but now I have an excuse!!!!!! :D