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help - 2nd gear

51K views 148 replies 57 participants last post by  abc.aust  
#1 ·
I am looking for some help. I have a GT manual transmission with almost 21,000 miles on it. I have been having an issue with second gear. I can not always get it into second gear with out pressing down on the clutch again. It doesn't always happen. And no it's not me. I had a friend drive it too.

I brought it to the dealership and they were no help at all. At first they told me it was premature wear and I would have to pay for a new clutch. How would they know that without pulling the transmission out? Then when the parts came in I said something to the service manager and he admitted they didn't actually find anything wrong as they were unable to duplicate the issue. Needless to say they are not going to be working on my car!

So anyone else have this issue? Was there a resolution?
Does anyone have a service manual? Can I adjust the clutch? It is grabbing a little high.

Thanks for any help anyone can give me!
 
#99 ·
I have the same car, same year. No grinding issues here. Been driving manuals for over 20 years (OMG, I am getting old). Were you in the car with the tech when they drove it? Maybe you are hearing something else which they are not paying attention to.

This was something I had to do when I took my car in for the subframe bushing issue. Multiple techs kept saying no problem. They I took one of them for a ride and heard the issue as I pointed it out to them.
 
#100 ·
No I was not in the car with them. I just talked to my buddy. He's gonna lend me one his gopro's. We're gonna mount it tomorrow after I pick up the car in the morning. On a good note, the service manager did say that since I complained about the problem before the warranty went out, any issues with the tranny will be covered...no matter when they actually hear it.
 
#101 ·
From first to second is the only gear that ever grinds for me on my Skyactiv. It will grind if i am just casually driving and dont pull it into 2nd hard enough. I get mad at myself evey time i do it too.

The skyactiv give the most annoying grind sound to, it sounds just like when the dentist is drilling your tooth for a filling. :cursing:
 
#104 ·
Same issue here. I have the 2010 2.0 standard. It usually happens when I get on it then shift fast into second. If I drive at a casual slow pace like an older more calmer driver, then no grind. From what I've heard, GM dealers sell a synchro mesh gear oil used in corvettes than in most cases ends grind all together. I've tried changing y fluid and used a different brand synchro mesh and that worked for about 2 weeks and the grind returned. Another option is to split open the tranny and replace the synchros. I would go ahead and test the oil first. And the reason the techs most likely didnt detect this is because they consider shifting anything over like 3.5k RPM as "abuse" and this issue only occurs for me over the 3.5 range.
 
#105 ·
Completely "normal" for the 2.5/6spd combo. Have had this issue since new and same response at the dealership "cannot duplicate"....'customer may be feeling DSC activate due to wheel spin on hard acceleration'.

I gave up on pursuing and changed my driving habits which involves a heavy pause between 1 and 2 on hard acceleration. I still get the grind occasionally on normal 1-2 shifts.

Hopefully Mazda N.A. will eventually recognize this as a problem.
 
#106 ·
Update: So, I mounted the GoPro in the car and it actually caught the tranny grinding when going into second gear (from first). I sent the video to my local mazda dealership. They said it looks good but they requested that the camera be mounted in a way that views the windshield AND the shifter. Their reason was so that they could see the road conditions and speed when the grind occurs. They told me that if I can get it to replicate a few more times on camera, then they'll send the video to mazda's tech line. When it's all said and done, I may post the videos so that other's can use it as a reference.
 
#107 ·
#108 ·
Hay the first to second gear change crunch is a common problem in the Mazda gearboxes its you gear sidcrome very common expecialy on the mps (mazdaspeed) most dealers will deny the fact caus it's an expensive part to replay my mates just had his done on his 2010 mps his was that bad to the fact the sidcrome was completely stuffed that second gear would just pop back out. I cost about $1800aus to fix. This is what happens with the Mazda gearbox Hence why people say that they like glass n brake easy


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Your Mazda dealer will deny the fact and try and have sum sort of excuse for it so they don't need to replace it as very time Consuming and expensive. U will have to fight with Mazda to win. My 2011 mps started to do it on my 1000km service and Mazda said its normal the gearbox and I explained about my mates which was fixed by the same dealer and the soon back peddled and just making up excuses not to fix it. Just like the clutch rattle from you throw baring when your clutch is released. When it comes to mechanical Mazda dealers r very hard to get work done. My mps is going it to the workshop tomorrow after noon again for the gear box and throw baring so ill keep you posted on how I go


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#110 ·
UPDATE: They're pulling the tranny

So I mounted the GoPro on the moonroof facing down and out so that the dealership could see the road conditions and my shifting. I was able to replicate the grinding from 1st to 2nd a few times. It was clear as day that I was properly shifting. I dropped off a thumb drive containing the video at the dealership and they reviewed it the next day. They asked if I could bring the car in. The key that I had to tell them is that THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 40 MINS AND SUFFICIENTLY WARMED UP. They followed my directions and sure enough, the car ground with a master mechanic at the wheel. Got a call yesterday. They told me to keep the loaner car and that Mazda Tech Line told them to yank the tranny out and bust it open. They said, due to parts possibly having to be ordered, I may not have it back til after Christmas. At this point, I'm just satisfied that something is being done to fix it...hopefully. I'll post up the outcome of their work. Oh, and I should say that this dealership is extremely helpful and an exception to the rule when it comes to "stealerships." I'll let you guys know.
 
#112 ·
Hay man I know how u feel I'm the same if I didn't love this car so much I woulda sold it already lol. Well my dealer ship r trying to say nothing I wrong it's a normal rattle as heavy shirt clutch pfft pissing in my pockets much.. I kiked up a huge stink at dealer ship n went of my head in front of customers so they have sent it of to Mazda head office in Sydney just waiting for a responce from them ill keep u posted mate


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#113 ·
All of you read this thread so you can find some solutions I merged your thread here so everybody stays on topic.
 
#116 ·
Final update

So, Mazda took my car in and even with the video said they could not duplicate. I told them to follow these directions specifically. I told them to drive it for AT LEAST 40 minutes to give the transmission time to get sufficiently warm. The service manager complied and had the wash guy run errands in it for about an hour. When the wash guy got back, the service manager had his master mechanic jump in and go for a spin. Sure enough, it ground going into second gear TWO times! When the mechanic got back, he said call tech line.

Mazda tech line advised them to pull the tranny out and report back. According to the service manager, my 1-2 synchros were "worn."....at 34,000 miles?!!! Anyway, tech line told them to replace the 2nd gear, the 1-2 synchronizers, AND....drum roll please....THE CLUTCH HUB ASSEMBLY. When it was all said and done, it took them 13 hours to complete and I didn't pay 1 cent. The key to this is, I had complained about the issue BEFORE the warranty expired. If you haven't done it yet, you are having this issue, and your warranty hasn't expired, GET IT DOCUMENTED. If you want video of what mine was doing, I can send it to ya, just let me know. Or, I could post it up here (I'm just at work and can't at the moment). I hope this helps.

Nic
 
#118 ·
My 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 shifts 1-6 like a dream no problem. I am planning on changing the fluid to the Ford stuff, thats about $22/quart here. I have it in my miata, and love it.

ONLY Problem with my MS3, is it won't go into reverse. I try it, doesn't work, let cluch out, try it, doesnt work, usually takes time.

I have been driving manual for many many years, never had this issue.
 
#122 ·
Thanks will check it out!

What I noticed is , the shifter itself, (felt through the leather shift boot) isn't a straight stick going down. It goes to the right and down. ALmost like an L shape.

Maybe I will meet up with you one of these days and compare yours, and see how it is and what is "normal"
 
#123 ·
I have the same problem as 90210
But I noticed today that it happens when the car is cold and when it warms up its alright.. But when I start the car n give it a minute n tries to put it in to reverse it doesn't really do it have to do it like 3 times to get it in.. Even then it feels like I'm forcing it to get into gear


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#124 ·
Mine happens in cold or warm, doesn''t matter. I started a new method, of pushing the lever left THEN pressing down, seems to be helping, instead of pushing down first and then moving left.

I met with
mazdaspeedmyk today and of course when he tried my car, it went in perfectly smoothly