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4th gear!!! GRR CRUNCH

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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 09:29 PM
  #1  
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4th gear!!! GRR CRUNCH

Does anybody else have the problem of entering 4th gear at high RPM's and it not going in smoothly (when i say high rpms i mean 7k and up)... Almost to the point where if you dont baby it it will just sit and grind making you cry. It has no problem at any other gear and just under 5k on the car. Am i just asking to much of the stock clutch or is there somthing i should get taken a look at.
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 09:36 PM
  #2  
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From: Gander, Newfoundland, Canada
I know there are a lot of people having difficulty shifting 1-2 (at high engine speed), but haven't heard anything about the 3-4 shift. I'd get that looked at if I were you.
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 09:41 PM
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Yeah its done it since day one and i find my self just shifting up to 5th to avoid it. Anybody else hear of this before?
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 11:12 PM
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Yup I have the same problem. Next week im gonna change the tranny fluid and see if that fixes the problem
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Old Jul 27, 2005 | 11:54 PM
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From: West Palm Beach, FL
I have the same issue. Changing to royal purple didn't help for me.
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Old Jul 28, 2005 | 12:04 AM
  #6  
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So if other people are having this same issue i wonder if its just the limitations of the stock clutch at high RPM's... But if that were the case wouldnt it do it at all gears?? Wheres a Techy when u need it : )
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Old Jul 28, 2005 | 12:07 AM
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From: East Texas
Well I have had several problems with my transmission. However I have the automatic.

My local Mazda dealer checked out my transmission when it wouldnt go in reverse about 6 months ago or so. They said chips and pieces of my transmission were getting caught in the transmission fluid. They changed my fluid and everything ran fine after that.
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Old Jul 28, 2005 | 07:35 PM
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it's too easy for me to go into 4th.. a lot of times i go from 5th to 4th on accident...
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 11:01 AM
  #9  
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From: boston
i haveing major problems from third to second, and now it started from first to second... i checked the shortshifter, now im goin to check my install on my ACT clutch and flywheel.. if not that has to be tranny.. but i got so much sht on this car i voided my warrenty.. so i also looking for help for this grinding problem.. casue it's just getting worse
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Old Aug 2, 2005 | 11:35 AM
  #10  
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From: CT
Originally Posted by Aseras
it's too easy for me to go into 4th.. a lot of times i go from 5th to 4th on accident...
5th to 6th is slightly more difficult for me. Also, sometimes reverse can be bothersome. I think it'll be in R but it won't be and the dog teeth just grind...

I did take it into Mazda--they said it was normal and that the tranny needed to be worn in.

FS
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Old Aug 7, 2005 | 08:34 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Iceis8
Does anybody else have the problem of entering 4th gear at high RPM's and it not going in smoothly (when i say high rpms i mean 7k and up)... Almost to the point where if you dont baby it it will just sit and grind making you cry. It has no problem at any other gear and just under 5k on the car. Am i just asking to much of the stock clutch or is there somthing i should get taken a look at.

dang i been having that problem for a long time now.....thats why im scared to redline at 3rd gear because i know its gonna be grinding into 4th gear......
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Old Aug 31, 2005 | 08:47 AM
  #12  
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Did u Knw Ur Grlz on my..
 
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From: Centereach, L.I.,N.Y.
same exact issues I am having. I took it to mazda and they toold me that they couldnt road test it at that speed. They are ordering me synthetic gear oil to try to solve the problem. otherwise acording to the sevice manager " nuke the training, and get a new one under warrenty". How can i "Nuke'' my training, i can't even bring myself to drive it while it's raining
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Old Aug 31, 2005 | 09:13 AM
  #13  
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From: San Jose, California
I haven't shifted at redline from 3rd to 4th, but at my normal shift poiint (say 4,000 RPM), I can definitely feel a crunching through the shifter that I don't feel between other gears.
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Old Aug 31, 2005 | 09:31 AM
  #14  
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From: Centereach, L.I.,N.Y.
I have a feeling this is going to be a real issue down the road!
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Old Sep 1, 2005 | 11:19 PM
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I have always had the problem after the fluid warms up in the race car. Okay for the first couple of laps.

Keep in mind that the 1-2 and 2-3 shift use a really trick new ball-synchro mechanism to allow faster shifting, so the 3-4 will seem slow by comparison regardless. Why Mazda chose those two hubs I can only guess, maybe they figured most people would never keep "zooming" through the gears beyond 3rd@9000 rpm?

But that said, I am losing big lap time because the lag is SO bad for the 3-4 shift (I never use 5th or 6th so I don't know about them). I'd love to have a good 1st gen or Miata gearbox by comparison. I am going to tear the tranny down and see if I can find a fix this winter.

Steven
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Old Sep 2, 2005 | 10:15 AM
  #16  
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From: New Jersey
I've had the same problem since I bought mine. Redline trans fluid helped a little bit. RP's Snickety-shift ( ) helped a little.

IIRC, only the first three gears have synchros on them. Slowing down the 3-4 shift has made the most noticable improvement. It doesn't take long for the revs to drop into an acceptable (rev-matched) range, and it will eliminate the grind.

Mine never really grinded, it would just refuse to go in. Like there was something blocking it. It'll still do it if I try to slam it, but my gearbox has loosened up a little, and I don't slam my gears.
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Old Sep 2, 2005 | 10:18 AM
  #17  
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From: where angle's fear to tread
synchro anyone? that'd be my guess....but i'm tired and havent' given in much thought :o also i'm not entirely sure of what kind our tranny uses...but i'm sure someone on here knows. good luck all.....
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Old Sep 2, 2005 | 10:34 AM
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Originally Posted by army_rx8
synchro anyone? that'd be my guess...
That's my guess too. I too have that problem. Mazda can't reproduce my reported issues and if someone's going to road test my ride at those speeds they have to have me as a passenger.
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Old Sep 2, 2005 | 10:35 AM
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From: where angle's fear to tread
^no kidding i am always nervous when teh dealership wants to test drive my ride..i know they are going to dog it :o
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Old Sep 2, 2005 | 10:38 AM
  #20  
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From: New Jersey
Is there a synchro on 4th gear? I thought I read somewhere that only 1-3 have them in our trans. I would be a bit more worried if this is true.

Anyone know definitively?
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 04:28 AM
  #21  
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From: cali baby
i also have this issue, god i hate it... , Im also thinking its may be the synchro... Friend of mine said a short shifter might help but idk?
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 08:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 8is>enuff
Is there a synchro on 4th gear? I thought I read somewhere that only 1-3 have them in our trans. I would be a bit more worried if this is true.

Anyone know definitively?
All the gears are definitely synchronized but I believe 2 and 3 are triple coned and 4th, 5th and 6th are dual coned type. From what I gather dual and triple cones are more durable than single cone. Reverse may not be synchronized as it is generally unnecessary; this is often utilized at 0 miles per hour as should 1st gear.
Paul.
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 09:06 AM
  #23  
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By the way, I should mention I do have 2 gearboxes left in stock for any of you that are out of warranty or that Mazda rejects due to abuse in their judgement.
Paul.
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Old Sep 6, 2005 | 07:44 PM
  #24  
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From: Montgomery, AL
Never had that problem myself and I do come out of 3rd at the redline. did it earlier today as a matter of fact. the only problem i have is reverse. thought it was in there the other day and i grinded the hell out of that thing. i hollered but then looked and there was some hot women next to me. it would have to happen in that situation.
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