omnislash321

Hey all,

I just got my car (year 2004 model) back from the mechanics after replacing my whole clutch assembly (my throwout bearing blew up and needed to replace the whole thing).

After the fix, I was able to drive off without much of an issue but I realized my clutch felt super soft and really easy to disengage (stepping on the pedal). I was told that there's just a break in period of 50 miles so I didn't think much of it..

But my main issue is that I'm now unable to get into reverse gear. Usually I can push straight down on the shift **** and put it into the same spot as the 6th gear to get into reverse, but now it won't let me push down on the **** at all and I can't ever get to reverse.

I've tried to look in the forums but it looks like no one's had any issue getting into reverse like me? I'm not sure if something needs to adjusted with the pedal to make it disengage fully or if my clutch assembly is just totally installed wrong. Or maybe I just need to bleed the hydraulics because there's air pockets or something.

Just trying to get some ideas to see if anyone's had any issues before I bring it to another mechanic to check. (The current mechanic that did this job seemed new to working with RX-8's. He kept telling me my spark plugs were wrong because I had 2 different types (trailing and leading). I just didn't say anything because this is a clutch job not an engine job and wanted the job done. They looked because they did a 'full inspection' or something like that.)

Cheers.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

The last two clutches that I've installed required an adjustment of the clutch pedal. The activating rod has a lock nut that must be loosened and the rod can be adjusted to the proper amount of clutch pedal free play before engagement. I'm not sure if this was due to the Exedy brand clutch that I used both times, but after I installed the new clutch set and pilot bearing, the pedal felt like crap and the clutch would start to grab as soon as you moved your foot off the floor. It made for awkward gear changes and made getting the trans in gear troublesome. So after adjusting the rod, it was much better in both occasions and gear selection was back to normal. Just something to consider.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

The "push down" is a function of the shifter itself. Possible they reinstalled the shifter incorrectly?
You can take it apart, it's pretty straight forward. There is a plate over the shifter hole on the trans which forms the lock-out (that which requires you to push the shifter under the plate to go into reverse). Possible they've put it on backwards or upside down.

Also get them to own their work or refund you for the time you're spending as result of their mistakes.

omnislash321

Awesome, I'll definitely take a look at adjusting the rod.

Thanks for the information! Just to clarify - is this something I could fix by just removing the **** and that whole center console area and finding the plate and moving it around or would it require some work inside the actual transmission/clutch assembly?

Unfortunately the shop I went to was very pushy and kept trying to push the blame on me or my car saying that something else is broken or needs to be fixed and they kept charging me for more parts and labor. I have a feeling that if I bring it in again and say that my shifter was installed incorrectly, they'll say something's broken with the shifter and need to replace the whole thing and charge me for labor again.

Thanks to both of you guys!

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Yeah you can take it apart yourself. Look for short shifter install guides, it's all the same steps.

Unless they have some kind of fancy drive through garage, they must have uses reverse to either drive the car in before the work, or drive it out after. So either they gave it back to you fully aware of the problem, or it was fine before they touched it. Either way, if the person you're dealing with doesn't want to budge, escalate to their boss and their bosses boss until someone cares

omnislash321

Hey Loki, Thanks so much for the advice.

I took apart my shifter and discovered the issue. For some reason, the plate that blocks shifter from going into reverse is either too thin or I'm missing something that separates it from the main block below. Here's a picture of the plate:


Bottom view of the plate, I just took the gasket off for the picture.

Top view of the plate.


Here's the plate fully screwed down, obviously blocking my shifter from going any more to the right:

Sorry it's blurry. Completely screwed down, blocking my shifter.


I looked online, and I couldn't find what the original stock plate looks like. Did they install the wrong plate? I'm 99% positive I don't have a short shifter installed (I'm the 2nd owner and have never looked in here before this issue) so is my shifter just too tall?

Thanks again for all the help.

omnislash321

For some reason, my reply didn't get posted.

Just wanted to let you know that I managed to resolve the issue when I was taking apart the shifter. Apparently they didn't install the spring correctly so that the metal bands holding down the spring were in a "+" (vertical and horizontal) position instead of an "X" (diagonal) position. This prevented my shifter from falling down into place correctly. I had to manually turn the spring holder until it matched the white plastic of the shifter.

Here are some of what I'm talking about.


The 4 little metal clips/bands holding down the spring are in a "+" vertical and horizontal position.

Here it is correctly positioned with the shifter already installed. Notice the metal bands/clips of the spring are in an "X" diagonal position.


Thank you all again for the help!