I'm the proud owner of a clean 2004 RX-8 GT with almost all of the available options. I picked it up yesterday and proceeded to drive about 290 miles hope. The car didn't want to idle but that eventually sorted itself out (the guy had changed the batter for an Optima so ECU was reset). It idles fine now.

The but...when I got about 75 miles from home, I started hearing a noticeable whine coming from the transmission but not in 5th gear. I assume it's related to the countershaft. Figuring the transmission was probably already toast by that point, I gently limped it home and ran it in 5th gear.

I've already sourced a known good used MT and will be picking it up tomorrow. I'm going to keep the tranny that's in the car now for a future rebuilt (they only credit you $80 for a core charge).

In the mean time, I'm draining the fluid out of the transmission for a look. I had to use two ramps plus two 4X4 blocks to get it up high enough for me to get underneath. The front wheels are about 1 foot off the ground. When I pulled the drain plug, only about 1/4 cup of gear oil came out...that would explain the problems. But...at that angle, is there a chance that a LOT of gear oil is sitting back in the tail of the transmission? Stock fill quantity is 1.85qts. It seems like even with the car at an angle, I should have seen a lot more drain out.

I'm going to use a large syringe to refill the transmission because I don't have a lift so can't really do it with the car level.

Thanks in advance.

 

I do have one of those Motive oil "sucker" units. I'm going to see if the plastic tube will reach to the back of the transmission case and pull anything out. If not, this definitely explains the transmission noises. Ugh.

 

No way to tell whats left and at what angle it is, but you want the car level for the refill, otherwise no guarantees about how much oil you end up with But yes it was probably low

Recommend replacing the crush washers on the drain and fill plugs, since they're not super reusable and could be the reason its low .

 

I 2nd what loki said.

 

This is all that came out of the transmission when I drained it.



I don't have the ability right now to jack the entire car up to make it level, unfortunately. A mechanic buddy had a MityVac big syringe thing specifically designed for sucking out or pushing in fluids, so I used that to refill the transmission with exactly (I accounted for what remained in the MityVac) 1.85 quarts of Redline MT-85. I then gently drove it for a few miles at very light load and it sounds MUCH better. I know the damage is done (can't put the metal back in the bearings) but at least I can drive it for a couple weeks until the shop can install the replacement MT I found. I'm not going to pay the core on the used transmission, and will keep the one I have and look into having it rebuilt later if the need arises.

This just adds another reason why the shop will be getting a Bendpak two post lift soon.