Jumping out of [3/4] gear
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Jumping out of [3/4] gear
Now fixed by adjusting 3rd/4th position 
Has anyone any experience of a SII [in this case R3] jumping out of gear in 3rd & 4th at higher revs (5,000 to 6,000 rpm), in this case when cornering hard?
It's not a nice thing to happen with fast cars behind . . . . .
Has anyone any experience of a SII [in this case R3] jumping out of gear in 3rd & 4th at higher revs (5,000 to 6,000 rpm), in this case when cornering hard?
It's not a nice thing to happen with fast cars behind . . . . .
Last edited by Ian_D; Jun 5, 2013 at 03:11 PM. Reason: Updated position
2009 RX-8 Touring
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 6
From: Manassas, VA USA
Yes, the 3/4 shift fork has some special adjustment necessary to align it properly, otherwise it doesn't engage fully under certain conditions. Mine has this problem with 4th gear in certain circumstances; I need to take it to a dealer and make them readjust it.
Yes 2010 w/26k. There are some threads on this already that detail the fix. I spoke to a dealer and they wanted to keep the car for some time to diagnose. Have not done that yet. I'm a bit worried they will make it worse...
It was happening once or twice a day when I first got the car a few months back. Strangely, it seems to have stopped after my 2nd track weekend. Either something moved during that weekend, I have now programmed my subconscious to always shift firmly into 4th, or I am just not using 4th as much.
It was happening once or twice a day when I first got the car a few months back. Strangely, it seems to have stopped after my 2nd track weekend. Either something moved during that weekend, I have now programmed my subconscious to always shift firmly into 4th, or I am just not using 4th as much.
The adjustment goes back and forth between gears 3 and 4. If this is the issue, it should be jumping out of one or the other, but not both at the same time.
Join the club, mine's been doing it off & on for the last year. Dealer has not found the problem because it so periodic in occurrence even with 10 days at the dealer where it did not happen once. On record now as a problem!
2009 RX-8 Touring
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 6
From: Manassas, VA USA
I just re-read this, and my symptoms (and those indicating the adjustment is required) are a little different. For me, it is 4th gear only, and it is when the load through the transmission is low. The same point in time when it would be easy to push it out of gear without pressing the clutch. It can be as you vary the load through the transmission, but it will not happen under load. Revs don't matter, but if you are lifting on and off, it will rock the engine and transmission, and that might help it jump out as it goes through the 'neutral' state.
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am I the only one with a perfectly functioning S2? mine's been fine. I've been ripping through gears all the time. heel and toe, revmatching all gears even double clutched into 1st never had any transmission problem.
2009 RX-8 Touring
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 6
From: Manassas, VA USA
It doesn't happen when you're "ripping through the gears". It happens when you're puttering along in traffic.
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Guys, thanks for the inputs.
It's not happened on the road since my first post.
I'm on a track this weekend for a short time (part of an open day rather than a track day) and will see whether it jumps out of gear on load again.
It's not happened on the road since my first post.
I'm on a track this weekend for a short time (part of an open day rather than a track day) and will see whether it jumps out of gear on load again.
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2009 RX-8 Touring
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 6
From: Manassas, VA USA
Then you got lucky, plain and simple. Looking at the adjuster, it must be an incredibly fine adjustment, and even a slight miscalibration will cause at least occasional misbehavior. Yours just happens to be perfect from the factory.
I've been on a bit of a road trip the last week, thru Ontario Canada, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and into New Brunswick Canada (1400 km's). While in the Appalachian Mountains
my car jump out of 3rd four times under acceleration uphill but on the way home thru Quebec not once.
I've got to get this Fixed!
my car jump out of 3rd four times under acceleration uphill but on the way home thru Quebec not once.
I've got to get this Fixed!
Last edited by RXeckless; May 15, 2013 at 06:06 AM.
2009 RX-8 Touring
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 6
From: Manassas, VA USA
I've been on a bit of a road trip the last week, thru Ontario Canada, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and into New Brunswick Canada (1400 km's). While in the Appalachian Mountains
my car jump out of 3rd four times under acceleration uphill but on the way home thru Quebec not once.
I've got to get this Fixed!
my car jump out of 3rd four times under acceleration uphill but on the way home thru Quebec not once.
I've got to get this Fixed!
Last edited by fyrstormer; May 17, 2013 at 02:09 PM.
Originally Posted by Jason Saini
NC 6-Speed Transmission Adjustment Procedure DIY
Ok,
I've been seeing some transmission discussions pop up, and have been witness to some assertive misinformation by some members. I thought it was time to share what we know about the NC MX-5 Six Speed transmission. What we know, we've learned through our participation in the SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup. Our team were champions last year, and are leading the points this year. We've found several weak points/failures in the transmission which will only manifest themselves with racing or HPDE use. There is, however, an adjuster on the side of the transmission that sets the throw of the 3rd/4th gear shift lever. If you're having a 3/4 problem (popping out of gear, grinding, not engaging, etc.) then this adjustment could be a solution. If you're having a problem with any other gear, this is not the problem and you should seek warranty coverage.
A word about this adjustment - most dealers don't know about this, as it was omitted from the Factory Service Manual. In fact, the procedure I'm about to describe was passed on to the appropriate people by the CA Mazda Tech Center and should make it into future FSM's. SO, if you're having a problem with 3/4 gear, the dealer probably won't know how to fix it.
This transmission is an all new gearbox, designed in house for this car. It is NOT shared with the RX-8, as the rotary car has an outsourced AISIN box. The Mazdaspeed MX-5 Turbo has this same AISIN box. That box has it's own problems, and that's a whole other thread. Also, the 5-speed box in the NC MX-5 is the same 5-speed as the '90-'05 Miata, but with it's new case design it didn't hold up well for racing use - several 3rd/4th gear stripping failures, signs of heavy case flex, etc. We have since gone back to the 6-speed, as despite it's problems, is a much stronger/beefier and better transmission.
On to the procedure:
The first photo shows the location of the adjuster - you'll see it's on the driver's side of the transmission, slightly in front of the shifter turret. It's not accessible from the top, you must get under the car to get to it. It helps to have the entire car up on stands and to remove the lower crossmember brace to ease access.
The second photo shows the adjuster itself, it's a 19mm 12-pt so you can use a box-end wrench to adjust it. The eccentric shaft controls the position of the 3rd/4th extension lever that actuates the shift fork. By rotating it, you can change the fore/aft position of the lever versus the shifter mechanism.
The third photo shows the position of the adjuster in the transmission case with the top cover removed. You'll see that the adjuster goes through to the 3rd/4th extension lever.
The fourth photo depicts the inside of the trans, and shows the other side of the eccentric shaft, the 3rd/4th extension lever, and the actual shift fork below. 3rd/4th gear are on the counter-shaft on this transmission to make room for 6 gears, so the extension lever is needed to get the shift-action down to the lower part of the case where the gears actually reside.
The fifth photo shows the eccentric shaft and 3rd/4th extension lever removed. As you can see, there is an o-ring to seal it, and you can see where the eccentric portion of the shaft rides in a bore in the trans case. Stay with me, I am just getting started.... I want everyone to see the parts in question before getting to the procedure.
Ok,
I've been seeing some transmission discussions pop up, and have been witness to some assertive misinformation by some members. I thought it was time to share what we know about the NC MX-5 Six Speed transmission. What we know, we've learned through our participation in the SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup. Our team were champions last year, and are leading the points this year. We've found several weak points/failures in the transmission which will only manifest themselves with racing or HPDE use. There is, however, an adjuster on the side of the transmission that sets the throw of the 3rd/4th gear shift lever. If you're having a 3/4 problem (popping out of gear, grinding, not engaging, etc.) then this adjustment could be a solution. If you're having a problem with any other gear, this is not the problem and you should seek warranty coverage.
A word about this adjustment - most dealers don't know about this, as it was omitted from the Factory Service Manual. In fact, the procedure I'm about to describe was passed on to the appropriate people by the CA Mazda Tech Center and should make it into future FSM's. SO, if you're having a problem with 3/4 gear, the dealer probably won't know how to fix it.
This transmission is an all new gearbox, designed in house for this car. It is NOT shared with the RX-8, as the rotary car has an outsourced AISIN box. The Mazdaspeed MX-5 Turbo has this same AISIN box. That box has it's own problems, and that's a whole other thread. Also, the 5-speed box in the NC MX-5 is the same 5-speed as the '90-'05 Miata, but with it's new case design it didn't hold up well for racing use - several 3rd/4th gear stripping failures, signs of heavy case flex, etc. We have since gone back to the 6-speed, as despite it's problems, is a much stronger/beefier and better transmission.
On to the procedure:
The first photo shows the location of the adjuster - you'll see it's on the driver's side of the transmission, slightly in front of the shifter turret. It's not accessible from the top, you must get under the car to get to it. It helps to have the entire car up on stands and to remove the lower crossmember brace to ease access.
The second photo shows the adjuster itself, it's a 19mm 12-pt so you can use a box-end wrench to adjust it. The eccentric shaft controls the position of the 3rd/4th extension lever that actuates the shift fork. By rotating it, you can change the fore/aft position of the lever versus the shifter mechanism.
The third photo shows the position of the adjuster in the transmission case with the top cover removed. You'll see that the adjuster goes through to the 3rd/4th extension lever.
The fourth photo depicts the inside of the trans, and shows the other side of the eccentric shaft, the 3rd/4th extension lever, and the actual shift fork below. 3rd/4th gear are on the counter-shaft on this transmission to make room for 6 gears, so the extension lever is needed to get the shift-action down to the lower part of the case where the gears actually reside.
The fifth photo shows the eccentric shaft and 3rd/4th extension lever removed. As you can see, there is an o-ring to seal it, and you can see where the eccentric portion of the shaft rides in a bore in the trans case. Stay with me, I am just getting started.... I want everyone to see the parts in question before getting to the procedure.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 590
Likes: 3
That original post was made before the Series 2 RX-8 came out so at that time the updated transmission was only for that NC Miata and the original poster meant that this procedure is not used in the Series 1 RX-8 6-speed transmission.
You'll know which transmission it it by the location of the "reverse" gear.
You'll know which transmission it it by the location of the "reverse" gear.
2009 RX-8 Touring
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 6
From: Manassas, VA USA
I looked at my transmission the last time it was on a lift for an oil change, and the adjustment mechanism on the side is EXACTLY the same as the one described on the Miata forum.
I just wish I knew how sensitive the adjustment is, and which way to turn the adjuster.
I just wish I knew how sensitive the adjustment is, and which way to turn the adjuster.
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 41
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Mine popped out of 3rd gear while cruising on the highway. The culprit though was a bad throw out bearing, which destroyed the input shaft, throw out bearing, pressure plate, slave cylinder and flywheel :/ upgraded to a stage one clutch and lighter flywheel. I too saw the adjustment though when I had the transmission down.