[bigred78]

Good morning guys.

I've had my MS3 for about a month now with just barely over 1500 miles and I'm starting to wonder if my speed shifting abilities are lacking. I came from a 04 Honda Accord EX (v6 6-speed manual). I've overcome most of the subtle differences in driving my new Mazda, but I've started to notice that speed shifting in this car isn't as smooth as my Accord or something is wrong with me or the car.

When I speed shift from 2nd to 3rd I've found that there is a notch (or something) that keeps me from smoothly shifting into 3rd unless I over-exaggerate the motion of the knob. I've only really noticed this from 2nd to 3rd because that's when I'm on it the hardest, I believe. Also I've noticed that if I don't give the transmission about a half second before shifting after pressing in the clutch there is a high chance of gear grindage. It's scaring the crap out of me quite honestly. I'm no pro (driving a MT for 15 years) but I shifted my Accord aggressively with no problem at all (bar human error occasionally).

So I'm just wondering if I need to relearn my technique, a design limitation, or if something is wrong with the car.

 

[diablospeed]

I came out of a Honda clutch and there is a learning curve.

 

[Tigs]

I'm assuming you are shifting when the car has been properly warmed up etc. I personally have not noted an issue shifting from 2-3 when flat shifting. I do note a tendancy to grind when I slow down my shifting just a touch and am not shifting with the accelerator flat on the floor. I attribute that to my coordination not being as in tune as it should be on those instances. The only other gear grinding I've noted is 1-2 when the transmission is cold (winter driving), which clears up nicely once warm.

As for the notch between 1 & 3 when shifting into 3rd. Each car has that to some extent, and each gearbox is slightly different. I'd say just give it time. I've hit said 'notch' a couple of times in my speed 3 and considerably more than that in my spec V, and yet again in the car previous to that.

 

[Guest]

My 02 Altima had this same problem, which eventually became a grind into 3rd. Turned out to have a bad synchro from the factory.

 

[brecker]

search for the shifter bushing upgrade that some have done. The shifting is a little notchy and I fine the clutch very "on/off" - "grabby" kind of, like theres not much play in the engagement. I've only had the car 5 days and I'm getting used to it more and more.

 

[Unoriginalusername]

well honda is known for making one of the best gear boxes on this planet... I have driven a TSX a few times and they did a good job on that peice for sure.

Apparently the motor mount and tvm bushing make a lot of difference

 

[bigred78]

Well, I guess your replies are both good and bad news. Good in the fact that it is not a malfunction most likely. Bad in the fact that such a sporty well designed car wouldn't come stock with a smoother shift.

I've embarrassed myself a few times already while aggressively "passing" a few slower sports cars. I'm in the early stages of planning out some upgrades, but there is no way I'm putting money into horsepower until I'm happy with the way this thing shifts. If that means a few small transmission/shifter upgrades then so be it. I may have just gotten lazy with how smooth the Honda shifted.

 

[speed3wannabe]

get shifter Bushings...you wont have that problem anymore...35 bucks best mod you could get...twm shifter bushings...they are one of the sponsors...

 

[dread]

I had the same problem until I got the bushings, good advise Matt. Get the bushing now before its too late and you embarrass yourself

 

[dp3]

[quote author=bigred78 link=topic=73028.msg1291762#msg1291762 date=1174926575]
Well, I guess your replies are both good and bad news. Good in the fact that it is not a malfunction most likely. Bad in the fact that such a sporty well designed car wouldn't come stock with a smoother shift.

I've embarrassed myself a few times already while aggressively "passing" a few slower sports cars. I'm in the early stages of planning out some upgrades, but there is no way I'm putting money into horsepower until I'm happy with the way this thing shifts. If that means a few small transmission/shifter upgrades then so be it. I may have just gotten lazy with how smooth the Honda shifted.
[/quote]

The MS3 6mt trans is a vast improvement over the MZ 5spd though. The clutch is as well. I have hit that 3rd gear notch. The AWR mount does help. I think the shifter bushing replacement would as well. This is all part of the development of the marque. No biggie.

 

[dbuenger]

I've got both the AWR motor mount and the shifter bushings
and they helped a lot with this problem. Although, I'm still getting
a little grid from time to time when going from 2 to 3.

One thing I've been doing that helps tremendously is rev matching
the upshifts. when going to 3rd, instead of letting off or keeping
down the accelerator when the clutch is in, just back off on it a bit.
it takes some practice but when you hit it right it's nice and smooth
and shifts up with little to no fuss. :csweeney:

 

[digger10t]

This is a common problem when shifting quickly in the speed6 as well. I was hitting the gate a lot until I trusted myself that I wasn't going to go into 5th if I exaggerated the motion a bit.

One of the 6club members that went to the track with me yesterday had this to say about getting into 3rd gear:
"Also, I had run about 5 times or so but EVERY SINGLE time 3rd blocked me out! I couldn't get below 14.2! My most horrific run was a 14.7! Grr, I guess you win some, you loose some!"

So, don't feel bad...it's common, but it's easy to fix with some patience and practice

 

[bigred78]

[quote author=dbuenger link=topic=73028.msg1291921#msg1291921 date=1174930065]
I've got both the AWR motor mount and the shifter bushings
and they helped a lot with this problem. :csweeney:
[/quote]

I just put in an order for the bushings. But I'm not clear on what the engine mount has to do with this particular situation. I am not very educated in the inner workings of a car, so bare with me. I know I've already learned a ton by reading through the various threads. I know the stock engine mounts suck from some other posts, I just didnt know they have anything to do with shifting and grinding.

 

[k4hscorpion]

[quote author=bigred78 link=topic=73028.msg1292054#msg1292054 date=1174932858]
[quote author=dbuenger link=topic=73028.msg1291921#msg1291921 date=1174930065]
I've got both the AWR motor mount and the shifter bushings
and they helped a lot with this problem. :csweeney:
[/quote]

I just put in an order for the bushings. But I'm not clear on what the engine mount has to do with this particular situation. I am not very educated in the inner workings of a car, so bare with me. I know I've already learned a ton by reading through the various threads. I know the stock engine mounts suck from some other posts, I just didnt know they have anything to do with shifting and grinding.
[/quote]

When you talk about grinding what kind of noise do you hear? I only ask becuase I haven't done that yet and I have only been driving a stick for a couple months. I figure if anything I would have made some loud grinding noises by now from shifting wrong.

 

[bigred78]

I mean just basic mis-shift grinding. It seems to do this every now and then when I'm getting on it between the gears 1-3 and I know I'm pressing the clutch in all the way. It may be driver error or I'm not letting everything warm up enough. I'll have to test it out today after work just to be sure.

I just know I never had any issues with my Accord no matter what RPM I was shifting at. That's why I was initially worried.

 

[k4hscorpion]

I know I'm pressing the clutch in all the way.

To me the gear box feels kind of clunky sometimes. Try to not press the clutch all the way down when shifting. From 2nd and up try pressing the clutch about an inch or two down (a little above half way) and then shift. For me this stops the car from bulking and looking like and idiot when driving around town. When I do this, the shifts tend to feel smoother.

From 1st to 2nd while letting the clutch out I press on the gas and hold the clutch in for just a bit longer than normal. This keeps me from bucking in second gear.

 

[dbuenger]

the stock engine mounts are really soft, which is great for keeping a car
"smooth" feeling for the masses. the problem comes in when you have an overpowered
engine (DISI turbo) that likes to move around a lot when "letting her loose."

that thrashing around under shifting and acceleration makes it a little more
difficult for the gears in the tranny to line up properly, which results in mis-shift
and/or rough shifts.

the upgraded motor mount has a stiffer elastomer whose job is to cancel out
engine movement. this stiffer mount doesn't bother canceling out the smaller
vibrations, which makes the car vibrate a little and not seem as well refined. BUT,
it also doesn't let the engine move around as much when driving aggressively.
less movement of the motor/drive train lets the transmission do it's thing without as
much interruption, transmits slightly more power to the ground (makes it easier to
spin the tires and gives better throttle response) and helps the car seem more
planted when down shifting (the thrashing engine unbalances the weight of the car).

at least this is what I noticed and my best explanation of how that motor mount helps out.


I'd highly recommend it.



by the way, check out the dyno run on youtube, it gives a good idea of what I'm talking
about with the engine thrashing.

 

[flyrevs]

The stock engine mount sucks big time :x on the speed3, if you don't do anything else - you at least gotta get the upgraded engine mount. If your want to save $80 bucks then you can do it for $4 search my posts and you will find a write up - huge improvement either way you go.
Honestly there is no additional vibration in my car, you get a little thump when you start it but so what, the thump is the engine waking up and saying "I'm awake - ready to rock!"

 

[dbuenger]

[quote author=flyrevs link=topic=73028.msg1292450#msg1292450 date=1174941138]
The stock engine mount sucks big time :x on the speed3, if you don't do anything else - you at least gotta get the upgraded engine mount. If your want to save $80 bucks then you can do it for $4 search my posts and you will find a write up - huge improvement either way you go.
Honestly there is no additional vibration in my car, you get a little thump when you start it but so what, the thump is the engine waking up and saying "I'm awake - ready to rock!"
[/quote]

+1 (like I mentioned before). the added vibration is there, but it tends to put you more
in touch with the car and lets you "feel" the mechanics working underneath you.

i.e. it doesn't isolate you from the things that go zoom zoom.

 

[betelgeuse]

Different car, different gear box. Someone said it above best, there's a learning curve and it'll take time to get used to it. 1500 miles is only scratching the surface imo. I'm kinda lucky cause I learned on my ms3 and had no carry-over habits, so 2-3rd is almost never a problem.