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OFFICIAL LIST OF MS3 SHIFTING PROBLEMS

51K views 274 replies 84 participants last post by  nosaccordh22 
#1 ·
Alright, I started this post http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=84746.0 explaining the problem i have been having with my transmission. I am at work, and do not have a lot of time to sit here and type up a big pretty topic head like what was done for the motor mount, so if someone else has the time and wants to do it, go right ahead. However, i will start a list here of all the other people with the same problem. I will be causing a fuss with Mazda over this issue, so with luck, my car will get fixed, and other people will benefit from my work (which is good, since i've used M3F in my battles with the dealer before, i'm just giving back...)

***In your post, be sure to include details such as when you are having the problem, what RPM you are shifting at, and what mods you have done to the car***

Anyhoo, here is the list that i know of so far. Reply if you want to be added.

LIST OF PEOPLE WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS

1. killa cam
2. Mattleegee
3. CHTHHULHU
4. rogers1
5. USAxela
6. mikesmazda3s
7. Ryz
8. Fritch
9. P5_2_MS3
10. CaSHMeRe
11. Paco
12. dutchie3
13. Boosties
14. Babyface
15. mazdaSPD3
16. wxchaser
17. tigermack
18. gru
19. vanspd3
20. abalinka
21. samoanms3
22. TruboPower
23. Julio
24. dbuenger
25. jahman
26. jasno999
27. mattspeed3
28. mrlilguy157
29. kpuser1
30. dazed_and_confused
31. jayrod16
32. BeeSpeed3
33. falconx84
 
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#52 ·
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1622335#msg1622335 date=1186603516]
[quote author=Betelgeuse link=topic=84847.msg1622068#msg1622068 date=1186599720]
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1621522#msg1621522 date=1186587814]
well thats what i am trying to do here, get the dealer to fix it.
[/quote]
Good luck, seems your dealer is a complete POS if they reproduced that grinding and still refused to fix your car. They can't be the only one in Jersey.
[/quote]

well, its not the dealers fault. mazda refused to pay for it, so the dealer can't do the warranty repair.
[/quote]

Eh, to me if the dealer REALLY wants to back up their product (hey, they sell it!) and their customers (to get repeat business), they will. Don't WANT to do is different than CAN'T. But yes, I do understand about what you mean when you have an issue such as this and get now help, but it would be nice to see the dealer do the right thing and help. Just MO.
 
#53 ·
[quote author=Cyked link=topic=84847.msg1622548#msg1622548 date=1186606783]
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1622335#msg1622335 date=1186603516]
[quote author=Betelgeuse link=topic=84847.msg1622068#msg1622068 date=1186599720]
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1621522#msg1621522 date=1186587814]
well thats what i am trying to do here, get the dealer to fix it.
[/quote]
Good luck, seems your dealer is a complete POS if they reproduced that grinding and still refused to fix your car. They can't be the only one in Jersey.
[/quote]
well, its not the dealers fault. mazda refused to pay for it, so the dealer can't do the warranty repair.
[/quote]
Eh, to me if the dealer REALLY wants to back up their product (hey, they sell it!) and their customers (to get repeat business), they will. Don't WANT to do is different than CAN'T. But yes, I do understand about what you mean when you have an issue such as this and get now help, but it would be nice to see the dealer do the right thing and help. Just MO.
[/quote]

i'd say its rough man... a fix like this has to cost the dealership a grand or two, and i didn't buy this car at this dealership. i bought it somewhere else, and i've come to learn that all the dudes over there are a bunch of dumb sh**s. i think the guys at this dealership is trying the best that he can to help me out...
 
#54 ·
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1622697#msg1622697 date=1186609088]
[quote author=Cyked link=topic=84847.msg1622548#msg1622548 date=1186606783]
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1622335#msg1622335 date=1186603516]
[quote author=Betelgeuse link=topic=84847.msg1622068#msg1622068 date=1186599720]
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1621522#msg1621522 date=1186587814]
well thats what i am trying to do here, get the dealer to fix it.
[/quote]
Good luck, seems your dealer is a complete POS if they reproduced that grinding and still refused to fix your car. They can't be the only one in Jersey.
[/quote]
well, its not the dealers fault. mazda refused to pay for it, so the dealer can't do the warranty repair.
[/quote]
Eh, to me if the dealer REALLY wants to back up their product (hey, they sell it!) and their customers (to get repeat business), they will. Don't WANT to do is different than CAN'T. But yes, I do understand about what you mean when you have an issue such as this and get now help, but it would be nice to see the dealer do the right thing and help. Just MO.
[/quote]

i'd say its rough man... a fix like this has to cost the dealership a grand or two, and i didn't buy this car at this dealership. i bought it somewhere else, and i've come to learn that all the dudes over there are a bunch of dumb sh**s. i think the guys at this dealership is trying the best that he can to help me out... [/quote]

No they're not. If they were, your tranny would be fixed already. Trust me I know what a good dealer is like and from your story, yours sucks. Now if they couldn't reproduce the issue that would be a different story. You have a warranty for a reason.
 
#57 ·
[quote author=samoanms3 link=topic=84847.msg1627161#msg1627161 date=1186721891]
add me too
[/quote]
please detail your problems...
[quote author=TruboPower link=topic=84847.msg1627237#msg1627237 date=1186725713]
my shifter has been fucking up alot lately. Couple pop-outs, grinding and not engaging at all
[/quote]
added

i have updated the status of whats going on. check out : http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=84746.60
 
#58 ·
[quote author=killa cam link=topic=84847.msg1627517#msg1627517 date=1186750397]
[quote author=samoanms3 link=topic=84847.msg1627161#msg1627161 date=1186721891]
add me too
[/quote]
please detail your problems...
[quote author=TruboPower link=topic=84847.msg1627237#msg1627237 date=1186725713]
my shifter has been fucking up alot lately. Couple pop-outs, grinding and not engaging at all
[/quote]
added

Why?....Its the 3rd gear grind. Its a once in a while occurrence and it just catches me......it feels like the tranny rocks away from where I am trying to put it. I think some solid mounts may help the shift but Today it gave me no problems. I think its more a mount issue rather than a fluid type thing.

i have updated the status of whats going on. check out : http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=84746.60
[/quote]
 
#59 ·
Problems from 2nd to 3rd (some grinding issues). I adjusted my seating position recently so when I engage the clutch fully my left leg still has some room to go. I also try to move the lever to the right as far as it can go when changing from 2nd to 3rd, it did help and I need to get used to it :shock:
 
#60 ·
[quote author=Betelgeuse link=topic=84847.msg1605019#msg1605019 date=1186014919]
No issues here and I stomp on it all the time. Tranny hasn't felt any different for the last 17k miles. When I get sloppy (very rarely)is when I might get a slight grind or two but it's all me. Are any of you guys in Miami or in the S.FL erea? I'll gladly meet up to compare cars. I really would like to experience this problem first hand.
[/quote]

Same here NO shifting problems unless I snooze with the clutch. 18,000 miles, over 1220 of which are constant shifting on road courses. :shock:
 
#62 ·
Hmm...

I guess I'm the only one whos having a 1-2 shift problem. Although this is under extreme, violent, all out acceleration and a hard shift (not powershift) to 2nd that sometimes it will go back to second and just make the nastiest grind and refuse to go into gear. This is probably my fault though due to the super fast motion (im probably not getting the clutch all the way down).

I cant say that I have the 2-3 shift problem other than the fact that I hit the damn gate from time to time which is really really annoying. No grind from 2-3.

One day this past week though, my car was cold, and I was shifting 3-4 and upon shifting to 4th I got a grind. The shift happened smoothly and felt like it should, but there was a short grind. I havent noticed the problem since.

So...I dont know if you want to classify me as having problems or not. I'm not real happy with the way the car shifts but I think bushings, better tranny fluid and mounts like everyone suggested might help my situation out a lot.
 
#63 ·
I am not a fan of the shifter in mine either. I think some of it is my fault but the other part of it is defiitly due to a non-smooth shifter. I can tell you that in the cold weather it is 10 times worse and new owners will see that then the weatehr turns. But even in the warm weatehr there are many times I go to shift from 2nd to 3rd and it just does nto want to go smooth.

Sometimes I get so pissed off at it that when I shift I do it angry and I go fast and hard with the shift. I don't grind anything and it does nto make the shift smooth but at least I know it is goign to go into gear. If I go to slow or soft I feel liek I am not goign to actually get into gear sometimes.

Sometiems I get the feeling that if the revs are in the right range the shift is smoother but I think that is all in my head.
 
#66 ·
hard shift from 2nd to 3rd is always a grind if i'm driving agressive.

and i know how to drive. its sad :(

add me.
 
#67 ·
I had some trouble when I first got it, kept hitting the gate going into 3rd, maybe 5-6 times. Once I figured it out I have not had any problems. I don't think it is the best shifting gearbox in the world but not the worst either ( you should try driving a Farrari manual gearbox when it's cold!!!) I am hoping a shorter throw (i.e. TWM or Cobb) will help some but there is nothing wrong with my gearbox or shift linkage at the moment.
 
#69 ·
Yeah, I am also experiencing the 2-3 grindage problem when shifting aggressively. Probably 25% of the time. Makes me look and feel like a dumb arse when it happens.... Sucks.
 
#70 ·
[quote author=ahproh link=topic=84847.msg1668651#msg1668651 date=1188054078]
At what mileage does this problem show up? mines at 2700 miles and my shifter shifts normal? I mean it's not the smoothest shifter but soo wasn't my miata. I mean it's not honda or acura integra smooth.... Feels like a sporty shifter to me.
[/quote]

I have 19,000 miles on my MS3, including some 2,000 miles of road courses (Watkins Glen, Mosport, etc.) and have no shifting problems. This is not, however a drag racing friendly shifter. I don't think is was designed as a lightning fast drag type linkage. Any shifting errors have been operator brain cramps in my case.
 
#71 ·
[quote author=chaos4 link=topic=84847.msg1669723#msg1669723 date=1188128695]
[quote author=ahproh link=topic=84847.msg1668651#msg1668651 date=1188054078]
At what mileage does this problem show up? mines at 2700 miles and my shifter shifts normal? I mean it's not the smoothest shifter but soo wasn't my miata. I mean it's not honda or acura integra smooth.... Feels like a sporty shifter to me.
[/quote]

I have 19,000 miles on my MS3, including some 2,000 miles of road courses (Watkins Glen, Mosport, etc.) and have no shifting problems. This is not, however a drag racing friendly shifter. I don't think is was designed as a lightning fast drag type linkage. Any shifting errors have been operator brain cramps in my case.
[/quote]

+1
Same here, whenever I have a problem it's me not paying attention. I don't automatically blame the shifter.
 
#72 ·
[quote author=Betelgeuse link=topic=84847.msg1670211#msg1670211 date=1188161656]
[quote author=chaos4 link=topic=84847.msg1669723#msg1669723 date=1188128695]
[quote author=ahproh link=topic=84847.msg1668651#msg1668651 date=1188054078]
At what mileage does this problem show up? mines at 2700 miles and my shifter shifts normal? I mean it's not the smoothest shifter but soo wasn't my miata. I mean it's not honda or acura integra smooth.... Feels like a sporty shifter to me.
[/quote]

I have 19,000 miles on my MS3, including some 2,000 miles of road courses (Watkins Glen, Mosport, etc.) and have no shifting problems. This is not, however a drag racing friendly shifter. I don't think is was designed as a lightning fast drag type linkage. Any shifting errors have been operator brain cramps in my case.
[/quote]

+1
Same here, whenever I have a problem it's me not paying attention. I don't automatically blame the shifter.
[/quote]

+2

Happens to me once in a while when I'm not concentrated enough or try to downshift a wee bit too fast and not putting the pedal completely down.
 
#73 ·
Please add me to the list as well.

I thought my problem was a result of this being my first manual transmission car. However, even after owning the car for 6 months now, I occasionally have the awful grind. And yes, I too have missed the 2-3 shift and have been ribbed by my friends about not knowing how to drive manual. It truly is embarassing.

Kev
 
#74 ·
I have a problem on the 2-3 shift, mostly when I try to shift fast, but sometimes when it happens, even if I leave the clutch pressed in and I'm deliberate and smooth, I can feel the dogs engaging and the synchros doing their job. I do not think this is a transmission problem but rather a clutch problem. I have seen something similar on my miata and it turned out to be a bad clutch master cylinder. I've also seen it if I'm not patient enough bleeding the clutch system. I plan on taking my car in and having them check for air in the clutch hydraulics. Otherwise, it could be a runout issue on the clutch of flywheel. At one point I thought it was me hitting the bump on the floorboard with the left side of my fat foot, but I became really conscious of making sure I tilt my foot inward and press all the way down. The pedal's stop is well off the floor anyway. Also, when it's working well, the clutch disengages well off the bottom, so it doesn't seem like a clutch pedal linkage/geometry issue.
 
#75 ·
Same problems with mine. 07 bought June 26th 2007. 2nd-3rd is horrible when trying to shift fast. Normal driving is fine with no grinding. Like someone said before, it is kinda embaraasing when you are trying to show off the speed of your car and then you switch and all you hear is grinding. Didnt have anytime to read thru this WHOLE thread so any updates to the problem or dealer fixes?

Thanks Jay
 
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