I remember you mentioning that 1-2 shift issue at the DC Pro.

I'd try a few high rpms shifts on the street. If the problem persists, definitely take it into your dealer - might be a good idea to have the tech ride with you and show him the issue.

 

that's the same problem I have regularly. I don't want to bend the fork by jamming it, but this thing just shouldn't act like this.

 

You guys need new trannies. Same problem I had. Synchro and the gear itself were shot. They tried just changing the synchro, and that didn't fix it at all, had to bring it again for a second rebuild where they replaced 2nd gear.

 

We've got 22 in the shop...no luck for us either! HAHA! But the '09 trannys we have seem to be holding up better...

 

I heard the 09 trannys are Miata trannys?

 

That's the identical issue that Foley and I had during the '07 season. Different fluid won't make a difference, changing the slave cylinder won't make a difference. Your 2nd gear synchro is going bad, and the only way to fix the problem is to replace the synchro. Mine was caught early enough that 2nd gear was salvageable, but apparently CodingParadox wasn't so lucky. Or maybe he was luckier, since he got a brand new tranny out of the deal instead of a rebuild.

 

It's still a throw of the dice with these gearboxes...we've had on more than one occassion where we had brand new trannys straight from Mazda that were junk right out of the box. It's not designed for the abuse that many of us put on them.

 

I only got a rebuild. No brand new tranny.

 

Not unless they got a new design too, the original RX-8 trans is similar to the MX5 6 spd, but not identical

 

i get crazy grinding going from 2nd to 3rd above 7k but the dealer told me syncros arent covered under warrenty. i think thats bs but every time i go there they just tell me NO!


is there any other way i can get them to fix this with out digging in to my own pocket?

 

The answer to your question is yes...take it to another dealership. I had my 2nd and 4th gear syncros go bad and the dealership replaced them free of charge and washed her all up for me. :p

 

Live from the 2008 SCCA Runoffs… Just got back from the Mazda party, where my sources at Mazda confirmed that the 2009 RX-8 does use an MX-5 trans.

 

That's probably why it shifts so much easier...I like the 09 tranny. Looking at getting one as an upgrade to the 04 I have now.

 

the 09 transmission is dreamy.

beers

 

similar, but not identical

 

Just talked to a tech rep, previous info was from PR. Now the story is both cars (RX-8/MX-5) get a new trans in 2009. Many parts are the same, but neither use the previous years box. New box should be stronger, and word is a few Grand Am teams are using it, and the results are good. Biggest change for the 8 is a much taller 6th gear, to make up for the rear gear change.

 

is there a short shifter for the 09 tranny yet? sure would be a good addition to my fi o4--the torque would love the ratios.
OD

 

HAHA, the word is we are already using the 09 gearbox in our ST cars...a few other teams have bought some from us also. They seem to hold up very well as opposed to the previous.

Oh yeah Denny, I heard from a little birdie that RP is already working on the new shifter...wink, wink!

 

09 here, got it with a factory gift of a shot 3rd and 6th gear syncro, required getting a whole brand spanking new transmission

 

Brings up a good point. I'd rather grannyshift with what I have than to throw a crapshoot and speculate as to what I can get in terms of a rebuild. The issue I have does not surface itself during daily driving- nor if I were to sell the car and offer a test drive to your average joe. It only happens at the track, or if I go for a fast 1-2 shift on the street at 9K rpm.

If all I have to do is shift at 7.5K for a 1-2 shift to avoid the problem, and grannyshift at track days, then my tranny issues aren't all that bad- but then again, I'm not participating in competitive events.

 

point--and thanks dude for the news on rp--i am waiting. my box is ok but i have always shifted according to how the synchos let me. i mean for gods sake you can feel the synchos when you shift --just dont try to make then do some thing they cant. now in competition thats a different story
We will be at roebling 11/8 and 9 for a event with Darkside DE--they are a charity group supporting the boys/girls patterned after a porshe club style. the people running it have been around a while. bunch of us are doing this.
Sorry for the hijack!
OD

 

^
I drove charity laps to a handful of kids (and one kid's grandmother who got in the car and said "go as fast as you can!") last month at Sebring during a PBOC event. It's great.

 

hope i can get a grandma like that!!
OD

 

well go back to my original comment

but you do know that the shifter location between the two is completely different, don't you?

similar, but not identical ....

 

I would have liked to start a fresh thread for this but my 30 days of being a noobie aren't up yet.

Long story short I'm building a 24 Hours of Lemons Racecar. If you're not sure what that is I'll leave a link below and you can check out our VBlog build.

My question is how are Transmission temps on the Stock RX8? I'm not talking 30-minute track sessions I'm talking 8 hours a day swapping driver every 1.5 -> 2 hours. If its an issue I can repurpose the AC radiator for trans cooling if need be. Can't get too fancy with the $500 car limit but I can maybe rig up something.

I've also heard that the diff fluid can boil on some peoples track days? If that's true that might be more of a concern for us. Any input would be great guys.

2019 24 Hours of Lemons VBlog: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...wsvsWiEKQpnr1A