I have 250 miles on my 8 now and the clutch has always been very strange to me. Like speedracer said, the first half of the travel is completely dead. It's like there's nothing there. I'd honestly like it if there weren't so much extra travel there. It seems kind of unnecessary to me.

Speed, did they adjust your clutch and say if anything was wrong with it or did they say that this was the proper position? I've got to take my car in to get the L flash done (I was surprised they didn't do it before I picked it up) so I figure I'll have them look at the clutch too.

I don't really have any problems shifting, I just don't really like the extra travel I've got in my clutch. It's nothing like any of the other manuals I've driven (350Z, Trans Am, Mini) and I find that odd.

 

At least on the hydraulic clutch in my maxima, you can adjust the amount of pedal freeplay. I assume this is fairly common across the board for hydraulic clutches. If you can, finding out how would be another question, but I just wanted to throw that out there.

 

The dealer said that there were "NO" adjustments on the clutch and I'd have to live with it.

One afternoon, I was telling one of my friends about the dealer's comments and he said that they were full of it and he was right. He found that the linkage on the clutch pedal is adjustable and it only took a couple of turns before the clutch felt right. So the problem has been fixed. :D

 

Is there any reason you'd want the clutch to be as long as it is now?

I cant think of any, in fact, I think it's kinda dangerous.

 

There are a couple of reasons to have a longer travel. It gives you more leverage against the clutch and it makes the pedal feel lighter. The extra travel also gives you more control over when the clutch engages.

Personally I would rather see a shorter travel and have a faster engaging clutch.

 

so how did you pal adjust the clutch Speed Racer????

Jeff

 

If you look at the very top of the clutch pedal assembly you will see the linkage which goes through the firewall. If I remember correctly it is a threaded rod with a couple of nuts. The first nut (closer to driver) acts as a lock nut and needs to be loosened before you can make any adjustments. The second nut (closer to firewall) adjusts the amount of slack/freeplay in the linkage. Turning it clockwise should give you more slack. When you find a position that feels right tighten the lock nut. :D

 

I am glad I read this thread. Just recently I have been haveing a hard time getting into reverse. All the other gears are fine. But, I am going to make a appointment for my 8 for next week now.

I see another substandard Mazda rental car in my future..

 

Okay guys..I need to vent! I Just got of the phone with Cap Maz..and my normal rep who I have been working with is on vacation... I told them I would like to bring my car in to get the reverse checked out. He was like well..u have to double clutch it to make it go into reverse..its a close ratio six speed transmision and reverse takes a little bit more to get into. I was like...man, I dont' have to double clutch my car..THATS WHAT SYNCROS ARE FOR...two I had my car since AUGUST and I have never had this problem. Make my apointment check out my car AND DON'T TREAT ME LIKE AN IDIOT!! Argghhh.... man, I knew I was in for some bull when he told me my rep was on vacation.

 

I wish they wouldn't give us the run around when something is obviously wrong with the car.

Keep us posted about your appointment and it outcome.

 

No doubt..

 

Not saying you shouldn't keep pursuing action since the symptom has shown up over time, but his ranting and raving about synchros & reverse aren't entirely false. It is not uncommon in a car for reverse to have a very basic synchromesh in comparison to the other gears. Think about the engine speed when you're typically engaging reverse.

This is why a lot of manual transmission cars grind a bit going into reverse even when the car is just moving back slightly compared to at a full stop, and also why sometimes you have to try engaging the clutch again (not necessarily 'double clutching', but...you get my drift).


Speed Racer - procedure sounds good to me! Guys doing this, just make sure that you don't do what I did last time and screw the rod right out. It was a little bit of a pain to get it threaded back in and the linkage put back together, etc.

 

This morning the same thing happend. Clutch in, push down on the stick, over to the right..ease of gas..MISS.

I had to grab the stick with two hands to get it into reverse this morning.

I am convinced now that something is wrong. I have 11k on my 8 and this is my first REAL problem.

 

how much of a slope were you on?

 

None. I parked in a level garrage.

I went to lunch with a co-worker and the same thing happend.

So, when we got back I rushed the car to the dealer... and of course I couldn't re-create the problem. So I am not one to cry wolf..period. But, the agents from Ford who were covering for the Mazda people thought I didn't know what I was talking about.

Why must Mazda be in bed with Ford????

Anyway..I wanted them to give me a rental for the weekend so they can work out this issue with my 8 and they were like no..you have to bring it back in Monday..

Very frustrateing.

9-K Rever

 

Glad I seen this thread too, I'm having the same problem with reverse. On the phone now with Mazda!

 

Let us know what they say!

 

Just got off with the Service department at Mazda, they know me well now with the recalls and flooding. They said that I can bring it monday to have it checked out and their manager complained about the same problem with his 8.

Enterprise rental here I come...

 

Riddiculas..the stupid Ford people were trying to talk to me like I was an idiot.

The Mazda people know me..and they know I hate bringing my car in there cuz it means I have to seperate from it. The also know I know my car, and I only come in for basic maintance.

So hopfuly I will have a better experience on Monday.

Once again..very frustrateing.

 

Okay, I get my care back from the shop and they say there is nothing wrong with my tranny or clutch. They didn't even take it out to see if there could be an issue. They just shifted it a couple of times and since it didn't act up on them, they figured it was fine.

I am kinda pissed about it. But, hey, all I know is Mazda will be eating a warrenty claim if something seriously f-ed up happens to my tranny due to their neglegence.

9-K Rever

 

When you are having trouble getting into reverse, have you tried going into a couple other gears first before trying to put it in reverse?

I've had to work a number of MT cars into reverse that I owned or backed out for whatever reason. Generally I shift into the gears around reverse and then into reverse. If it's still not going in smoothly, I lift off the clutch and re-engage, then do it all over again.

 

Probably because Ford owns 33% of Mazda?

Found in Chicago Tribune article:
Ford and Mazda have done little to take advantage of each other's automotive expertise.

Ford bought an equity interest in the Japanese automaker in 1979 and a controlling interest in 1996. But other than exchanging greeting cards, the two have been distant.

When we recently asked president Nick Scheele why Ford waited so long to take advantage of Mazda and derive a product, he replied, "We haven't utilized the strengths of Mazda for years." Scheele could have said: "There wasn't any Mazda strength to utilize for years." Until the Mazda6.

 

I never had to do this before with the 8. So, I mean..what Speed Racer is saying about unusual cltuch wear may be the key..

 

Okay guys and gal (Elara) check this out. My chick and I go up to CAPITOL MAZDA this morning to drop off my car. First thing I see is my favorite Mazda team there and ready. No need to talk to the Ford people... Pull up, they greet me with my name and I tell them the issue. I give them the keys, and the Mazda mechanic was there, and he was like let me take a peek at it. Got in my car...ran through the gears..and walla....NASTY GRINDING NOISE IN REVERSE comes up. He was like...ahh...now thats a issue. They couldn't give me a ETA because they said they had to call Mazda to see what the issue may be. So, I could be w/o my 8 for a minute. The Ford side of the shop..didn't even do that much. So, hopefully I will hear something by the end of the day.