So im driving i punch it get up to about 6 grand not too high and engage clutch and my car goes BANG!.. and i cant shift into seconed... The car will move a lil but have not tried much but whenever i hit the clutch it makes this clunking sound

 

Time for a new clutch.

 

^^^and (maybe) tranny. Maybe more. FYI Low mileage used ones at Mazmart (Paul.)

 

8k is not too high???

 

sounds like you might have shattered the mainshaft retention ring. i would edit or delete your post about the 8k, and take it to the dealer

 

The way I read it is he gunned it in 1st gear and was changing into 2nd at 8k when it stopped working, not dropping the clutch at 8k.

 

Thats the way I read that too. That should be a warranty issue if you are within the limits.

 

I think you need to more clearly explain how this happened.

If you shifted into 2nd gear at 8k rpm and first gear blew, not your fault, get it fixed.
If you dumped the clutch from a stand still at 8k rpm... way to go man, way to go. Please sell your car. Dont get it fixed, just sell the car.

 

Doesn't the car rev limit at 6 or 6.5k with the clutch engaged anyway? He couldn't have dumped it from 8k from a standstill.

 

^^^ Wow this is new

 

no i didn't launch it... I was driving and when I got up that high i just pushed the clutch in and it started making this clunk clunk noise all around... I thought my drive shaft shattered and was hitting all underneath the car but thats not what it was I checked for that... I really dont know but when the car isn't in gear right now at a stand still it idles like normal until you engage the clutch... and then it makes this clunk noise even in neutral...

 

No you can rev to redline anytime you want.

 

It seemed like when I pressed in the clutch pedal it wasn't actually engaging the clutch but I heard that loud noise so i was instantly like WTF... I was more worried about my drive shaft being shattered and hitting my gas tank!


BTW Car is a 04 with 46K miles on it

 

What's the build date of you car?

 

I would take it in to be checked out, obviously something is not right. Sounds like you weren't abusing it to me.

What are some specifics on your car? If it is a 04 model, some of them had trouble with the pressure plate being loose or not correctly mounted from the factory. Red Devil beat me to the post on what the build date question.

 

The VIN ends in 121823 and the build date i believe is Feb 04

 

Hmm, I must be thinking of when the car is in neutral then. I know my manual had a rev limit (not just cold related) of some kind. Since I don't drop the cluth from 8k at a dead stop though or try to rev the engine while it's not engaged too often, I wasn't sure which it was.

 

I took mine to the dealer yesterday. Waiting to hear back.

I was coming to a stop light and in 3rd doing ~25mph and the transmission made this funny sound and wouldn't let me into neutral. Once I got it into neutral I ouldn't get it into first or second. I saw the TSB about the shift fork, but it seems like a clutch issue.

The best part... The dealer tells me the mazda only covers the clutch to 12k. I have 16k and I baby this thing. The clutch gave me no issues and there were no signs of a problem until the failure. My last car I replaced the clutch at 80k.

I think my build date is either feb/mar or 04.

 

They pulled the ol "Its a normal wear part" to me too!

 

Just got off the phone with the dealer and mazda usa. The dealer (Star Mazda) says the clutch "came apart" due to .......drum roll....abuse. I called Mazda USA and they have to go by the dealer assesment of the situation. Nice right.

My car has 16k and I have the oem tires with 60% tread left, but some how the clutch wore out from abuse, but the tires are fine.

The best part is the guy at Mazda USA claims he's never heard of clutch or transmission related issues with rx-8s. Flooding yes. Clutch/tranny no.

 

They should explain that to my replaced clutch. It was all in its head.

 

Yet another example of why Mazda sucks customer service and support wise. Their equipment fails, it's covered under warranty yet they use the "abuse" line to avoid having to pay up. I have heard this "abuse" excuse so often it is a joke.

Fix it, pay for it and sue the basterds, I have read of another user that did it and Mazda didn't even fight it. This is just a quick and easy way for Mazda to save a buck.

 

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT LET THEM PIN THIS ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=clutch+disc


They FIXED MINE - they will FIX YOURS; as there is precident in your favor.

 

Thanks dmp, I'll definitely reference that post

Today, I went to the shop and took some photos. (Got so pissed off I was beside myself ...more on that later).

The clutch was toasted, but I also took photos of my original rear tires with 16k on them. Remember, according to Star Mazda, I "abuse" my car.

I got the service manager to call out the local mazda rep. I guess they make the decisions regarding warranty work. The tech couldn't give me an answer on how I could do that to the clutch while the original tires remained pristine. The service rep eventually tried to rationalize that it may be because I dragged the clutch. Can you believe this crap? Me neither.

Just a thought...since there are so many documented clutch/transmission issues with this car and Mazda is so reluctant to stand behind its product, someone (maybe me) should start a class action.

 

Dont mean to thread jack, but I have a question regarding this type of stuff... I KNOW dropping the clutch at 8000+ RPMS is just plain BAD! so my question is... if you ARE going to launch the car, what is the maximum "safe" launch RPMs that wont damage or destroy your clutch?