Hey guys, I used to be on these forums a while back but my account must have been deleted, I've read through numerous posts and cant find anyone with a similar issue.

Basically, when I shift my 04 6 speed into any gear, it seems to 'slip' for a split second or stay in nuetral for a split second before the gear catches. I plan on doing a Diff fluid and tran fluid change thursday and see if that is the issue.

Any information would help me out greatly as im a broke college student barely scraping by :D

 

How many miles do you have on the car and have you ever changed the clutch?

What you could do is get going about 30-35 mph and shift into 6th gear. Then push the gas pedal down as far as you can and see if the rpms climb up or not. If the rpms move up at a decent pace and the car is not going any faster then your clutch is slipping.

 

Excellent, yes i did an experiement today, but i did it in fourth gear, I was going maybe 50 dropped it into fourth..it hesitated for a split second then engaged the gear, and it almost felt bogged down at around 4k rpm and wouldnt go higher. The gears arent grinding or anything like that. It just doesnt feel like the clutch because the clutch still has the same pressure and feel to it when i first bought it.

It has roughly 76k miles, and i doubt the original owner changed the tranny fluid. I had the car brought to mazda for a decarb (what a ripoff almost 500 dollars) and they checked for clutch pedal recall and it checked out alright.

I'll see what happens when i change out the fluids, if it doesnt improve i'll deff look at replacing the clutch next! Thank you for the advice, I wouldn't have known where to go next. :]

Edit:

Also, if it is the clutch is it a DIY project, and aprox. amount of money to fix up? I cant rebuild a tranny, but i can do oil changed, tranny fluids, brake pads, tune ups and the like, so i think i can tackle a clutch unless special mazda tools are required -.-

Also dont ever go to mazda for a decarb, since they charge about $150 per OEM spark plug. hence the retarded cost.

 

Not likely an "oil" problem....it is likely your clutch disc getting worn out. If you try and start out in second does it slip...or catch and stal the car?

If it was oil related you would get grinding...same with the transmission...grinding or noise are the usual symptoms..or not being able to shift into gears...sometimes all...or often just specific ones.

Make sure your clutch pedal is adjusted properly...

 

Great thanks guys, yeah I just took her for a spin and hit 35 in 2nd, shifted to 6th and it was extremely bogged down and only accelerated after liberal petal to the metal. Sounds like the clutch is the culprit. let me go test it trying to start out in 2nd..i do remember i could start from 2nd all the time (obv on accident when i first got the car).

Edit:

Took her for another spin, i was able to pull out in second without the car stalling (which ive always been able to do with some good babying) but it seemed I had to baby it a lot more this time. I am definitely assuaged that's its not my transmission now. Because I was freaking out, I don't have that kind of money. Im still going to do the fluid swaps (for the hell of it) and hope it will last till next thursday so I can give her a new clutch. It seems we caught it at an early stage since its not making my drive horrible, I just cant drive her like a sports car, and I have to baby the clutch like an old lady.

*4-cylinder pretend mode go!*

 

What exactly did a mazda decarb entail? You said they charged 150 per plug...? You could have bought a set of 4 brand new plugs for $80 and tax at autozone if you meant they sold you the set for that price. Even using the mazda decarb cleaner shouldn't be anywhere near $500.

 

list price from Mazda is like $70 a plug, its a little nuts.

Re the clutch, 76k is a little early for it to be slipping, but i guess it depends on how it was treated. with mine it started slipping on the freeway, Ie shifting to 6th it would rev up and then come down, after a while i could just hit the gas and it would rev up.

replacing the clutch is a fairly big job, but its not very hard. the transmission is heavy, so i would suggest lifting the car as high as you can, and using the floor jack to get the trans in about the right spot.

also have a look thru the shop manual, Foxed.ca - Mazda RX-7 Manuals , there is a thing called dimension A, which is really important. if its wrong the drivetrain can hit the body, which is loud and annoying.

 

in the mornings when im trying to pull out of the driveway when i try to shift into reverse i cant seem to get it into gear i was thinking it was the clutch i was looking into changing the whole clutch set but i was told it might be the master cylinder clutch instead. any ideas of what it could be?
it only does it when the car is cold.

 

it could be the clutch hydraulics, it could also be the clutch pedal freeplay. there is an adjustable pushrod between the pedal and the clutch master, i've found that this adjustment is often way off, and my current car came with one that had come loose.

so start with the freeplay, and then you can try the hydraulics, then it would be something in the clutch/trans

 

okay here we go 179 for the set of plugs..315 for labor for the decarb what a ripoff. After i change my clutch im doing the decarb myself. I hate dealerships.

PS thank you for the advice I now know its my clutch, its actually not bad and it doesnt slip 1-3 but 4-5-6 any moderate acceleration it will slip for maybe 1.5 secs then engage.

In response to not being able to put it into reverse. This happens to me from time to time, it just doesnt like to go in, ill try 3 or 4 times and it'll get into gear, I have the same problem but It doesnt bother me that much. Cheers :]

Im debating doing the clutch myself, or bringing it somewhere, for all the parts and tools itll be around 500 dollars from mazmart. Any idea what a tranny shop would charge... and @j9fd3s My clutch started acting up after I tried teaching my girlfriend how to drive standard -.- lol

 

i called a few places and they said they want to charge over 1500 dollars to replace the clutch. eff that im doing it myself.

 

I think I am having a very similar problem with slipping [@83K Mi.]. My mazda shop is gonna replace the master cylinder first. if that doesnt solve it, then i might have them put a Centerforce II or a Exedy Mazdaspeed clutch in - -

 

check out: RX-8 Clutches & Related Parts

Good prices there too. Im just gonna grab the street strip upgraded pressure plate.

 

i just did mine, its a pretty big job, and the trans is HEAVY, but there is nothing about the job that isn't straightforward.

 

Thanks 4 the link! That Stage 1 kit sounds great - good luck installin
Wot clutch are you using j9fd3s ? BTW, Mazda wanted $1700 to put in the OEM clutch

 

I hear that, I found a local mechanic who said hell do it for 500 if i supply the replacement clutch... so it'd be around 800-900 dollars with an aftermarket (also better than oem IMHO) clutch.

If you have a decent job, write out a budget and try and get a new one as soon as possible because it may not last much longer.

 

I agree, DEFINITELY, dont go a Mazda Dealership. My clutch is slipping too and Mazda wanted to charge me $1,300.00 to replace clutch with OEM clutch and $100+ for decarb... Crazy!!!