o_town_racer

Got a call from Fairbanks Mazda today. They pulled the transmission and have ordered new parts (they did not give me the list). The car might be ready by Thursday.

Ducky

My dealer just called and said they are pulling the Tranny too =(

o_town_racer

Just got my baby back this afternoon. Apparently the parts needed to repair the transmission were on back order, so they just went ahead and replaced the entire transmission! WOO HOO! They also gave me the latest ECU reflash and took care of the squeaky front brakes. My service advisor (Jim Couch) at Fairbanks Mazda in Longwood, FL is the BEST!

knight7

iTrader: (1)

i dont get this lol how easy your service centers just get stuff done. lol i hate the bronx.

Ducky

Yea aparently mine wasnt a big issue afterall...

They said "Debris was stuck in the shifter" although they didnt tell me what the debris was or how it got there, they did tell me it was a common enough occurance where Mazda had documentation on it though...

:Shrug:

It works fine now...

o_town_racer

Oh yes...forgot about the recall....mine is included in the heat shield recall but the parts are on backorder. When they come in they will let me know and schedule a time to install them.

eclps0

marlin mazda said they will replace entire tranny only once mazda wont cover it but they will foot the bill. so i have to sign paper work saying its a good will gesture and will not happen agian.


p.s they said shifting the car at 6500 rpms is abuse and i should be in 3rd gear by then. I told them its a sports car that they advertise teh 9000 redline and cant expect peopel to go there is bullshit i said if the car had tq i would not need to rev it up high rpms.

not likin the tranny,./

i agree theres something wrong with the syncro,s my third and forth were redone at 11,000 now my second gear is going, i drive the way this car should be drivin, been driving standards for 6 years havent seen this problem so bad before.

Crackdog

My trans. makes noise, though I think it's the clutch, because in neutral at idle I hear a raucus coming from the bell-housing. When I push the clutch in it goes away until I release it again. Noticed it with about 4-k miles on it, but could have been doing it sooner as I bought the car with 3-k miles on it. I didn't notice it at first because I was too busy listening to the engine and exhaust. I want to take it in to the Mazda dealer, but just have not been willing to give the car up yet. :D Now it's getting louder and I may not have a choice much longer.

khoney

Just make sure you get it checked before 12K miles, or they'll try to screw you like they doing to me. I have a rattling sound in neutral with the clutch out, and they're telling me it may not be warranty work, because certain parts of the clutch are considered 'wear items', which aren't covered. I have never abused my clutch, and I'm getting this BS.

Crackdog

Thanks khoney for mentioning the mileage of 12k. Yes, I seem to recall this is an important juncture because when I bought my car the finance manager pitched their extended warranty to me. I believe, she in this case, was recommending a "CNA" warranty for about $1400, but I declined. She said I could still purchase the warranty up to but not past 12-k miles. From what I know the CNA plan covers everything under the sun, and no dealer ever has a problem getting repairs approved with this particular warranty corporation.

Sorry to hear that you are getting B.S. regarding your clutch. I believe your clutch is doing the same thing mine is, and I haven't abused mine either. If I was always dropping the clutch hard or speed shifting or something that's one thing, but it seems dealers assume people lie about their driving habits and don't care what us customers tell them. That's just the way it is, but even so, you would think they would try to help a customer out just to secure a business relationship that could be beneficial down the road. Wouldn't you be loyal to them if they had your back? I know I would, but that's just me. Anyways, I'm getting carried away here, sorry. Later. :D

southwest8

Just thought I would let everyone know that I too am getting a new tranny at 19,000 miles. I just bought the car two months ago, and then last week second gear started being testy, took to the dealer, and now will recieve new tranny next week.

mattrx8

Hey guys I'm new to the forum. I have a 2004 8 and I've already had to rebuild the tranny once. I do race it and I admit that I've grinded a couple times shifting from 1st to 2nd, but I don't understand how I have friends with hondas, grind their cars lots of times and nothing happens to their cars, but I do it a couple times and I have to get it rebuilt. I've heard that RX8 has the Miata tranny is that true? I've also heard that RX7 has a more robust tranny, would that tranny work on the Renesis 13b? I know its a 5 speed, and since the 8 is a 6 does that mean the Rx7 tranny is geared higher? Basically I'm tired of all these problems I've had and would like some feedback from you guys. You know tranny swaps, driving tips, ect... I love my car and thats the only thing that disappoints me with it.

Shamblerock

Although it doesn't sound right, its normal. Complained about the same thing and actually tried it on a brand new car at the dealer, exact same noises. Its Normal. Weird, but normal. No ill affects after 20K Miles. My second gear still sucks the bag when its cold and it kinds grinds are doesn't go in smoothly at all. After its warmed up, its fine.

newcastle

iTrader: (3)

04 8 with 24K miles. Last week I noticed a grinding like noise when ever I shift into 5th (doesnt matter is its from 4th to 5th or from 6th to 5th). I did notice that if I were to shift into 5th very slowly the noise would not occur. Any ideas? I will be bringing it into the dealer next week and will keep you up to date.

Shamblerock

Identical thing happened to me. They had to drop the tranny and replace the 5th gear syncros. Hasn't happened since they fixed it, but 2nd gear when cold is a problem as I mentioned below.

newcastle

iTrader: (3)

I had the same problem with another car I use to own and was told to try a different oil weight. For cold temperatues try using a thinner weight.

newcastle

iTrader: (3)

Ohh yeah more than likely its the syncros because today (after I read this very helpful thread) I noticed it only makes the grinding sound (or at least most noticable) when shifting into 5th at higher rpm. I will be dropping it off at the dealer tomorrow morning and will keep you guys posted.

Shamblerock

I actually did put in lighter 100% (redline) synthetic, it actually felt worse unless it was a very hot day. Its weird. I think its the syncros that are garbage on these cars, at least on mine (2004). Maybe they improved them on the 05 and 06. Many stupid little things with this car, but man does it ride well, sound great and look great.

newcastle

iTrader: (3)

Ok the Mazda dealer is telling me that this 5th gear grind is normal and that they test drove some 05 models on their lot and they make the same sound?!?! I'm going to try to test drive one of these 05 models on the lot to verify it for myself. At any rate I feel as if they are jerking me around so im requesting a descriptive paper trail explaing the issues with the gear so if this were to fester later in the future i'll have paper work to back it up.

awreksate

Ok, first post here. I searched but couldn't find anything like my problem. I too have the grind into second and tough shifts into 4th, and noisy throw-out, and can somewhat deal with those until the blow, my issue is this: I can get the car into first at higher than 10mph, but it does grind and clunk when it engages. As the transmission starts to spin up or whatever it is that catches up to the motor before you relese the clutch, I can actually feel my car shake and shiver under me. Kinda like something is not balanced. Does anyone else have this issue? Anyone know what the heck this might be? Thanks Oh, I have 2800 miles and no mods whatsoever.

RX8VR

I also have this problem. my third gear grinds going in (with the clutch on the floor of course) and also going into fourth gear. (also with the clutch on the floor). kindof sucks. the dealer says that if they can't duplicate the concern under normal driving conditions then warrenty can't do anything. They also called tech and said that nothing could be done under warrenty.


I JUST WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DRIVEN!!!! AAAHHHH!!!

VOODOO8

As you read through the many threads on this site and others regarding MT RX-8 noises & issues you tend to find several similarities:
1). Many issues with synchros, all gears affected but most often 2nd. Given the low torque profile of normally aspirated rotary engines and the zoom-zoom nature of their drivers you would have to think that we all probably put a beatin' on those 2nd gear synchros from time to time.
2). Dealerships from coast to coast will tell you that all sorts of various sounds and feelings are normal operating parameters for this vehicle. To this point, I never had anything but flawless performance from my 93 RX-7 and the same was true with my 06/03 build date RX-8 right up until I had the original clutch and throwout bearing replaced at 60,000 miles. Now the throwout bearing in noisy when holding the clutch in at a red light, etc. and my dealership has just added me to the "that's normal for an RX-8" club even though they know it has not been normal for me.

MazdaRich

Mine is grinding going into 2nd. I figured it was a clutch problem, but I guess it could be syncros.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

the tranny is definitely one of the weakest links in the car, for several hundred dollars more they could have beefed it up to take all the abuse you could have thrown at it