3rd hard to get into?
 

well, no grinding or anything with my tranny. 3rd is a bit hard to get into. it requires a bit more force.
wonder if better transmission fluid would solve the problem.

it may, try it and let us know.

k I drove the car a bit longer today seems only happens when the transmission is cold, when its warmed up, all smooth.
so better transmission oil then?

Replacing the tranny fluid would be my first action.

I would start with the clutch pedal. Reinforce-weld it before things get worse.

While I agree that the clutch pedal should be reinforced/welded, I don't think its going to help him in this instance.
If the pedal was the problem, he would see it in other gears... not just 3rd.
And he also mentioned it getting better when it warmed up.
Doesn't sound like your classic "clutch pedal failing" symptom.

I used to think along those lines as well but no longer. I have seen this problem and been around the block with it WAY too many times. It just seems too simple to not do it when the payoff is that it will save a tranny down the road.

Looking at it antithetically; what would be the benefit in waiting for the inevitable? We already know the RX-8 clutch pedals are crap.

OK I'll give you that.
Hey, I can disagree with CRH every now and then... there might be times where I'm right ;)

Hey, we share the same conclusions a lot of the time. Just different ways of getting there.;)

I used to look at the "grinding gear/difficult to shift" phenomenon as one that became a concern as the hard-shifting became evident in the lower gears. Now, since everyone who has either welded or installed a brace likes the improvement, I promote it as a "must-do" and care not whether they get the brace from Race Roots, a new pedal with the welding service applied to it from BHR, or simply have their current pedal assembly welded locally.

I just hope they do a recall on this so everyone (including drivers not on this forum) drive safely.
Until then, we'll keep spreading the word.
Oh... and I just replaced a clutch pedal last weekend for a local who broke his while driving.
Luckily we had a spare pedal and got it welded and installed ASAP.
So jasonrxeight, like Charles said, its a good idea to get that pedal welded/reinforced.

BHR used to do a pedal-exchange program but the cores being returned were eventually so bad that we could not re-use them. That was why we switched to offering only new pedals with our service applied to them. This is also why I strongly urge people to take their pedal off and have it welded locally. Fix it before it breaks and it'll save you money and a LOT of potential trouble.

Plus, BHR is about to debut another fix for the pedal. ;)

Oh come on... you can't tease like that!!!

Yes, I can because I am getting in-touch with my feminine side...... :naughty:
I may actually take care of past BHR Reinforcement customers and incorporate the new fix into their pedals for them. And they won't even need to remove the pedal from the car!

Take THAT, Jon! :lol2:

........... Bastard .......... (stomps away pouting)

the S2 has the same clutch pedal problem?

From what we know there has been no change/update to the pedal assembly so the same concern applies to all models of the RX-8. There are 3-4 issues that even those who would otherwise NOT modify their RX-8s should pay particular attention to and the clutch pedal mod is one of them.

My 09 is somewhat similar. It's not as smooth and a little rough to get into third when cold. But when warm, shifting is perfect.

I went to Redline MT-90 a while back and it improved things marginally.

change your oil tranny with red line fluid and if it keeps doing that, check your clutch pedal assembly and get it weld if it needs to, here is a link to the clutch pedal problem.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ght=diy+clutch

dont forget to report the problem to NHTSA (if the problem has to do with the clutch pedal)
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/clutch-pedal-snap-off-8-year-warranty-recall-%7E%7E%7E-132912/

Clutch Pedals in S2's were/have been changed from a B Part Number to a C from 15 Sept 2008 Production date.

Sorry can't tell you what the change has been.

well lets see how it goes
it seems shifting fine recently, weird:icon_no2:

Funny that some people have this clutch pedal issue, but most don't.

it must be operator error ... :hahano:

,

Funny how some people shred their trannies every time they hit the track, meanwhile 99% of us have no issue with them. Just sayin'.........

MMMMmmmm True that Charles...

I just got back from the city...35 Degrees C (95F all week), it takes at least a good 20-25 minutes before my tranny is nice and Hot, and when it is the changes are like Butter Smooth, up down, back to front, any direction or RPM except reverse is an issue when going 30 KMH.

My point being is (and I will say it again) these Gearboxes are best when HOT, anything else and they are not as smooth.

See there is an issue with your trans.:evil_laug

ok, just went out to do some experiments.
when its cold 10F, hydraulics tend to be slow, so I make sure clutch is all the way to the floor, gearshift clean and smooth.
3rd gear is very easy to get into this time. so when its cold take it slow, make sure each gear change is clean, there should be no notchy problems.
also by using fingers when doing 3rd is easier by grabing the knob too cuz you might hit the bits between the gears.
mind you the last time I drove a manual was errrm 2.5 years ago.