For those having problems with reverse
 

I had them too and I finally may have an answer as to why you may grind going into reverse.. It's something unbelievably simple and yet.. terribly stupid...

reverse has no synchro.

I guess this was to prevent the car from going into reverse at high speed, but there's no synchro on that gear. I'm sure all of you knew this... but I certainly didn't until today.

shyt, i still remember the first day i had the car...had no idea how to put t in reverse....hahaha ended up having t let it roll down the street....hahaha how lame!!

LMAO.... well i think there's only 2 ways in the world to getinto reverse... 1 is push it down and shift... 2nd is jsut shift normally...

Ahhh, I didn't know that either. There was only one time that I experienced grinding while in reverse, but there was a few times that my reverse gear wouldn't engage at all. I had the clutch fully depressed, then gently slided the shifter into reverse and gave it a little gas while slowly releasing the clutch, and nothing. :confused: It felt like the car was in neutral, with no gears engaged and the engine revving freely. Could this problem be related to the lack of a synchro for the reverse gear as well?

synchro's are only needed for a moving gear change, as you should be at rest when selecting reverse theres no need for one.
I've found if you don't rush shifting into reverse it will go in every time.

It did that to me a few times even when I didn't rush shifting into reverse, and yes, I always shift into reverse at rest. I have no problems with gears 1-6; it seems that the reverse gear is the only problem. Maybe I have a bad tranny?

Has anyone tried shifting it into 2nd first?

It's a habit I picked up a long time ago and it's always worked on every car I've owned that was difficult to get into Reverse or 1st.

No, some cars (like volvos), you pull up a lever and shift.

This will go into the long list of endless valuable information that this forum has provided me. Thanks.

you are right.. good thing I got it the first time..ha ha :eek:

I don't think there was ever a MT made on any vehicle that has a syncro for reverse. I had my snycros go bad in second and third gear in an old Jeep Wrangler I once had. What a nightmare to shift!

All Rx-7's from 1989 on and all Rx-8's have syncronized reverse gears. The reverse synco ring does wear more because in all forward gears in it actually spinning backwards.

Lambogini 350/400 GT had a syncro reverse.
later Lambo front engine cars probably did also.

Was this issue ever resolved?
 

Im going through the same issue. At a stand still i cannot get my car into reverse. I have to try about 10 times... I try to put it in revers gently and everything but it will not work for quite a few times... (Got stuck at multiple places because this issue) also there is grinding going into 3rd and 4th and the clutch only catches when the pedal is into the floor completly.... Any advice? Ive only had mine for about 4 days.... I think i got screwed with this deal..... Especially since i took it to a mazda dealer to check out the recalls and they told me that my issues sound close to needing a new engine, but it most likely doesnt because it starts right back up after fading out.. Only mainly happens under 1000 rpms or sometimes in neutral. Thank god saved me $7000 lol.
but any advice? What should i question to the machanic?

First, Welcome

Second, before you go around resurrecting old dead threads read the new owners thread https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
It has all of the info you will ever need and more.

Third, grinding gears is never a good sign, possibly bad transmission. Also do not accept the dealership telling you "you need a new engine" without an engine compression check. The check will give you 7 numbers, 3 psi readings per rotor(the rx8 has 2) and a RPM reading. Some dealers will even nominalization them for you. Good luck.

adjust the clutch, anyone can do it.

Why are they adjustable?;)

For whatever reason she's not getting the clutch to release. It can be cured by adjusting it. Normal wear takes away from free play but in the instant case it would seem opposite, therefore your theory of pedal weakness does make sense.
On the other hand adjustment will solve her problem and also save the gearbox.
RAP

I went ahead and adjusted the clutch it works out really good now I still get a little bit of grinding every now and then. But I am starting to realize that this has terrible gas mileage I don't know if there is something I can do to help it but I am starting to realize that this has terrible gas mileage I don't know if there is something I can do to help it but it butt it goes through gas faster than a full size truck with Super Swampers. I run premium in it and I just got the oil changed i did the seafoam and After this tank I will be doing another treatment. Any more advice?
💎no more problems with reverse.
💎absolutly terrible gas milage.
💎delayed acceleration.
💎Thumping when shifting gears.
💎uneven idling.
💎 in reverse- idling bounces back and forth between 1000 and 2000 rpm.
💎how do you work cruise control?

You might have tweeked the neutral safety switch when you were adjusting the clutch. That will cause the idle to go up and down like that. It usually does it all the time though..not just in reverse...

Gas mileage....well it doesn't exactly get great mileage...and depending on your driving habits it can be dismal...

Not sure that a thumping noise would be considered normal when shifting..might want to get someone to look at that

I highly recommend reading the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. In fact, read ALL of the stickies in the new members forum...