Malachite

First time poster. So go easy, but please do advise if this is misfiled.

I purchased and began driving a 2004 Manual RX8 (Grand Touring) around June of this year. My previous car had been a 2000 Civic Si, which was stolen and stripped (joy). The Si of course had a manual transmission. Never had any issues with it. But since driving the RX8, I've had considerable issues with tendonitis in the right wrist. The shifter isn't extraordinarily stiff, but it isn't quite as smooth as other vehicles either. Getting into reverse in particular seems to jar the wrist a bit. But really all gears require just a tad more effort than I have seen elsewhere.

So my question is: does this sound at all familiar? If so, is there a way to make an adjustment to ease this issue? Can I acquire smoother shifting? I hate to give up this car, but after 5 months of pain and treatment, one has to consider it. Please help rescue my relationship with this car! The Mazda challenge at FedEx field hooked me.

Shini

With a name like Malachite, sounds like you're hooked to something else too. Tigers Eye would have been a better name :D (I'll be suprised if anyone gets this...)

As far as the wrist goes...5 months of pain? You haven't changed any behavior you do with your wrists since owning the 8? One would think after driving the car around for a week or two the pain would start to subside, I had the same problem with chairs at a place I use to work, they practically killed my back, I didn't have a constant pain but every now and again my back with have a muscle spasm..

I don't think the strength it takes to get the car into gear is what is causing your wrist problems, more so the angle the wrist sits at while shifting/driving. Try getting a shifter **** and see if the pain subsides any, IMO.

thecow135

yeah get a knew ****

AJ's Shinka

Did the previous owner install the AFE SS? That could contribute to it being stiff (but precise) to get into the gears which is what it was wade to do. Go back to the stock shifter you girly man. I joke.

Shini

Are you gonna take that sitting down with a limp wrist you girly man?

Rotor Kreuzer

Trade it in... for an AT!

Shini

lol

But then his wrists will get sore from the Magnesium paddle shifters.

Malachite

The jokes are a nice touch. I've heard more &^$% from my friends than you can imagine, which is good because this is such an asinine problem to be dealing with. I don't quite get the malachite addiction comment though. It's all about the copper, but I digress.

So a new shifter ****. I have the triangular one now, whatever that means. I suppose a different shape (e.g. round) would allow more flexible movement? Is that the theory? Forgive my ignorance. It fits well with the girly man limp wrist.

Did a search for AFE SS and see citations here but not an explanation. Some kind of sport shift?

What about a shorter throw?

Shini

Well, the stock OEM one to me seems a little short, so it looks like to me when you drive it around you'd have to arch your hand a little bit more than you would if you want something a little taller and something you can get your palm around.

That's my guess as to what is causing the sore wrist.

Malachite

I see. Thanks for the insight. Let's hope that between the hand surgeon and local Mazda dealer they have a clue as to what would be most appropriate to try. I have a hard time right now personally imagining an AT. Too many years with a manual. If I have to, I'll switch. But I'll endeavor to make this work first. Thanks again.

Shini

np.

My guess is when your hand is on the the shifter, you probably keep it in a position like one of those little cranes in the crane machine that you win stuffed animals from. With your arm horizontal and your hand/wrist in a vertical angle.

With a taller shifter, your arm will still be going along horizontally, and your wrist will will flatten out and be parallel to that horizontal line instead of arching over and making a bend/curve in that line.

So it should be easier on your wrist if you can get it to not have to bend so much to get your hand around the shifter. That's not to say it needs to be like rigamortus (bad spelling) or something, but just straighter.

Having an AT isn't all too bad, the only thing that I don't like about it is that it's only 4 gears >_<

cajunrx8

OK first the new 8's are 6speed auto, secondly, where do you have your hand on the shifter? do you grip from the side, the top, or somewhere in between?
I am 42, have never owned a auto car besides the wifemobile and have never had a prob.
give us some better insight on your driving style.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

It may help to change the oil in the gearbox ....... A lot of people here like the royal purple for smooth shifting .

Also - if it has the AFE shifter you should go back to stock . Remove the leather boot and take a picture of it and we will tell you what you have.

Shini

Yeah, I probably should have mentioned that, but maybe I want everyone else with an AT to be as miserable with the transmission as I am :p

ken-x8

AFE SS is a short shifter - it moves 30 percent less to go from one gear to another. You said the shifter needs more force than you're used to, so I don't think switching to the AFE shifter would help.

Someone asked if maybe the original owner had installed the AFE shifter. There's also a MazdaSpeed short shifter, about a 20% shorter throw. You should be able to tell if you've got a short shifter by comparing with another 8 - or letting Brettus see a picture. If you do have a short shifter, I'll bet someone here will be happy to trade you their stock one for it.

You mentioned a hand surgeon. He'd be the best one to advise you if anything in your shifting technique is causing the problem. I've had some lower back problems, and my doctor and a physical therapist did wonders in telling me how to stand, etc., to relieve it.

Ken

paulmasoner

iTrader: (1)

i read only the first post and i KNOW what the prob is....

you got the RX-8, now you constantly have wood from driving such a sexy machine.

your wrist hurts because your jerkin off too much...

ashwins

Do u depress the clutch completely?

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

I got it lol (at least I get one of the possible jokes...) is tiger's eye a type of malachite? I'm not even near being knowledgeable on the subject but I know they have similar patterns but different colors I think?

passtheapathy

Oh god, spare me. I'm sick of AT drivers beating themselves up and regretting their decisions. It's still an RX-8. It looks sexy as hell and even with 197/212hp, it still ends up being faster than most cars you're trying to overtake. While the stick drivers may give you flak for it, ignore them. If you never came to this site, you'd probably be pretty happy with the AT, so enjoy it. I've driven the AT, and it's still a very fun experience.

Mazurfer

Tito..Tito....have you seen my tissues?



(Just kidding!)

In all seriousness....see a therapist if it's that bad. Also, if you rest your hand on the shifter......then don't! When/if you get the short shifter you won't want to do that!!!!!
It might actually be the non-movement between shifts that is getting you. Roll your wrist around from time to time, then get some weights and work that wrist.

Malachite

Car is at dealer now for warranty SRS repair. I will ask them tomorrow.

And to answer another Q: yes I do depress the clutch fully.

Malachite

I've had Xrays. Been seeing an excellent therapist for 4.5 months. Next step is hi-res MRI. The car is surely not the only cause/factor, but definitely was the trigger. And it may thus be an ongoing aggravating factor for me.

I've tried all manner of different shifting styles and postures. I remove the hand when done shifting. I hold my hand with palm on top of shifter, palm on side of shifter, even used closed fist to push stick forward when shifting to 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Heck I've learned to shift with left hand.

Thanks again to all. Former owner is a close friend in Iraq. He told me this forum would be helpful. I'll pose some questions to him also as I can.

User24

iTrader: (1)

This doesn't sound like my shifter at all. Within the correct RPM range, a shift is nearly effortless. And if I happen to shift at exactly the correct RPM, there is no resistance at all. I shift using the five fingertips.

MrCairo

Make sure you are doing what Shini says above. You can avert a lot of wrist issues if you can keep you wrist horizontal. Use your arm to move the shifter, not your wrist. If you've already done all of this then ignore this post.

Also, I come from having experience with carpal tunnel syndrome. Even the vibration of the transmission can aggravate that condition.

coastie08

I'd agree that a circular **** (like the Voodoo Magnum) is much more comfortable than stock. After getting stuck in traffic on I-95 for hours at a time, I have to say that I notice a difference.

I am not using the AFE short shifter.