Trans Syncro's fix or swap
 

My 2nd gear is impossible to shift into above 6K RPM's now, the other gears work fine but can be a bit tricky to get into. I just bought the car about 2 months ago and it's got 60,000 miles on it. I've done all other maint I can think of so far except putting new trann and diff fluids in, which I will do in a couple days.

If the new fluids don't fix it am I better off just buying a used tranny for $4-800 off ebay, or having someone open it up and fix it? How expensive would it run?

Thanks

Put new fluid in first. Syncros may be fine. Do some research and decide what fluid to use, the wrong fluid can also cause those symptoms.

I've decided on eneos after researching. I hope that will fix my issues

Something to check, this is a common, overlooked problem:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-...4/#post4653110

While it's a good idea to change the oil since it's likely contaminated with metal chips it's highly unlikely to be a solution

The Motorcraft XT-M5-QS synthetic 75W90 GL4 oil is as good as you will find and can likely be purchased at a local Ford dealership ... feel free to google it online with 'mazda' in the search title

I disagree. I've seen firsthand what a difference old vs new gear oil can make and while it may not be the problem in this case it can definitely cause trouble shifting at high rpm, and it's not from metal chips.

You disagree with lowering someones expectation and then having them be relieved if it works vs a crushing let-down? Well ok then ...

I've seen these exact symptoms (couldn't get into 2nd at high rpm while the other gears were not particularly smooth to shift) twice with two different high miles S1 transmissions with dubious maintenance history. In both cases changing gear oil fixed the problem and they both shifted like butter. Why would I tell anyone in the same situation that the most likely solution is a transmission rebuild/replacement? Sure it may come to that, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

I have too and beyond it having the wrong oil in it to begin with more often than not they get misdiagnosed. I've also seen broken synchro rings, broken gear teeth, worn out bearings/bushings, etc. i've also seen plenty of the link I posted up. There are five S1 transmissions in my garage. I've had at least four rebuilds over time. I sold the last good one that I pulled out to replace it with an S2 trans.

I'm not really sure why you want to make a fuss over it? I didn't say that it wouldn't work and all the internet opinions in the world mean nothing. As I suggested, replacing the oil needs to be done regardless. It either works or it doesn't. Even if it was only the oil it sounded to me like it had been grinding for a while. We can only guess whether there is or isn't permanent damage before the oil is changed.

Well I ordered the fluid and a hand pump which will arrive Tuesday, so we will find out then. I actually have trouble getting into any gear except 5th first thing in the morning for the past 2 days now. Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. If the new fluid doesn't fix it I will look into that.

good luck

How much fluid does the tran take? 2.5 Quarts?

According to the workshop manual, 1.85 quarts. There is a plug on the side of the transmission,fill the tranny until it flows from this orifice.
http://www.normalexception.net/libra...l.pdf&type=FSM

Yep, 2 of your quart bottles will fill the 6-speed. I tip it all in with a funnel and hose dangled through the engine bay into the filling port, then let any excess drain out while the car is level.

You can speed things up by leaving the bottles sit in a bowl of hot water beforehand.

You can fill the 6speed S1 transmission through the shifter turret, no tubes needed. exactly 2 quarts is the capacity, so just make sure it's all drained out and then don't open a 3rd bottle.

^ True. Don't try this on a 5 spd however - they tend to belch the oil back out over the floor

It was pretty bad
http://s11.postimg.org/z3y9rk70v/Sna...8959032473.jpg

It feels like a whole new transmission with the new oil in, every gear is easy to get into now. It still grinds at high RPM's trying to go into 2nd though.

What's the next step now?

I put a couple ounces of Lucas oil stabilizer in mine. Thickens it up just a hair, and causes it to shift a little rough while cold, but after it warms up it's great. Before you try that though, see if it shifts different hot vs cold. Also it could take a couple weeks to free up crud in the transmission. I think the tolerances of the S1 transmission cause it to be temperamental with regard to oil weight to light or to heavy and it grinds.

If it still grinds bad when trying to shift at high RPM after a fluid change then the synchro is shot and I would start looking for a transmission at wrecking yards.

Don't write it off yet. I vaguely remember having some trouble for a little while after my gear oil change, that's why I say give it a couple weeks. Also transmissions at junkyards are going to be as hit or miss as the original unit, who says the person who owned that car took any better care of it?

^^^maybe you should dance around the fire or communicate with the ancient ancestors to fix it for him ...

How did your trans turn out? I was just wanting to add a bit to the conversation. If the old fluid was really nasty; which it looked like it was in your picture. Then you might need to drive on it for a few hundred miles and drain it again. So as to remove the leftover nasty ness. Also the high pressure additives and friction modifiers that are in gear oils will take a few hundred miles to fully "break in". I don't know if break in is the correct word but it basically takes time for the new additives to work their way in to the pores of the metal and fully begin to do their job. Also takes time to clean out all the old crud. One more thing, if the car had been serviced by a jiffy lube or someplace like that, make sure they put correct plug in the correct hole, my car had the fill and drain plugs reversed when i got it. This made it so magnet on the drain plug wasn't doing anything because it was above the fluid as the fill plug. My trans had a super "notchy" 1st to 2nd shift. After a one fluid change with the cheep stuff to clean it out. Then one with the Ford stuff mentioned above, $20 a quart on Amazon btw, its silky smooth. 5-6K 1st to 2nd shifts are still super easy and smooth.

How it shifts at 9000 is what counts

This is true, LOVE that 9k red line.