I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __gear box
Hi. I’ve searched the forum and can’t find this specific issue although many similar.
Car has covered 47k. Just made room in my garage so frequency of needing to engage reverse from cold has increased.
Basically, I’m struggling. Lever is depressing fine and crossing gate. Lot of resistance to push lever forwards. Usually engages on 3 or 4 attempts by cycling between first and back again.
Have just changed gearbox oil to Castrol Transmax 75w90 but no apparent improvement.
Box seems fine in all other respects. Even 1st to 2nd cold is quite smooth.
Any advice? Thanks.
Thanks. I’m having the brake/clutch fluid replaced next week so I can get this adjustment made at the same time. I’m new to the MX-5 having used autos for many years. Even so, despite the dealer’s assurance that “all MX-5 clutches engage low down” when I stalled on the test drive, it did strike me as unusual. Cheers.
These Master Cylinder’s can be a Tad tricky for one reason or another.
Sure you have worked out now that the master cylinder is the same reservoir for brakes and clutch.
I changed the fluid in the clutch line and the whole master cylinder went loose!
I thought the lip seals had gone and actually ordered a new one.
(Others have experienced that on here).
I was lucky and drained it all again and got the MS working and managed to cancel the order.
My opinion was a stubborn air lock persisted in the end.
The Clutch push rod is adjusted with a 10mm spanner and very awkward to get too!
Get your torch and have a look and you will see and hopefully you won’t slip a disc in the process!
I suspect that is the reason why this aspect never get done.
Just remember (whoever does it) not to over adjust it.
The reason being it will continue to “act” on the thrust/release bearing and very quickly wear it out.
There must always be a few mm of play when released.
Can’t remember exactly the Mazda specifications but must be done.
Good luck!
PS what that dealer told you was complete tosh! (In my opinion of course).
I fiddled with the push rod on mine in the early days to try and alleviate the 2nd gear problem, but made no difference.
If you are happy with the bite point, then leave it alone as you’ll gain nothing other than back ache.
As regards your reverse issue, I can’t say that I’ve had any issues with mine and mine lives in the garage all the time.
I have had this issue with other cars though and find that going in to a forward gear and trying again would work.
Revers has no syncromesh, so the gear teath have to align perfectly.
Possibly this (link below) although to try and ease the notchy 1st to 2nd thing.
I changed mine, it did tighten up the change but didn’t make a great difference TBH. They can be notchy when cold, never had a problem from cold in mine, I do reverse in the garage so from cold I suppose never use it to exit the garage.
Advice get the fluid changed first and possibly the rod adjustment afterwards if needed.
The part from mx5parts, unfortunately out of stock.
As Keat63 says, my daily driver is a little stiff to engage reverse from cold too. A couple of attempts sometimes, that’s for cold, fine and silky smooth the rest of the time.
Well. I’ve had the hydraulic fluid replaced, the gearbox oil replaced and the clutch pedal actuator adjusted. Gear changes are much improved all round and reverse is engaging first time for the most part. However, now encountering an intermittent problem with the box jumping out of fourth gear. Seems to happen on coasting or decelerating. I’ve found this reference material on the web. Adjustment appears straightforward but I think I’ll visit a local specialist.
Could be what you have found.
My opinion would be a worn gear/bush/bearing or worn bulk ring.
They don’t tend to jump out of gear for other reasons.
Unlikely, the selector gate/fork etc as when it’s in its in.
As when coasting as you state, there is less pressure on the gears and it tends to pop out because it’s worn.
“Hope I’am wrong”, but looks like a rebuild/repair.
Very strange for an NC2 with only 47K.
As you say get a sound diagnosis before anything.
Just an opinion.
I had an issue with the car very occasionally jumping out of fourth gear under light cruising throttle. It occured after a week in Germany and several trips to the Nurburgring. I was looking into the issue in late spring when the issue just went away and hasn’t occurred since!
That’s encouraging. I’m hoping mine is just the temporary effect of having nice new squeaky-clean gearbox oil. Perhaps it will settle down again after some use. People seem to report all sorts of issues either being caused by or resolved with a change of oil. I’ll have a decent run out over the weekend and see what occurs.
I had still found this to be a problem particularly when starting out from cold. Went back to the place that sold me the car and had this adjustment made. It required an 1/8 turn anticlock. So far so good. Fingers crossed.
