What is the cure for 3rd gear miss shifts/grinding

[Yoo Shin]

I bought my MS3 new in 08 (it's a 8.5) and ever since I've been frustrated with the frequent 3rd gear miss shift and or grind. It doesn't seem to be isolated to any particular situation, but at much any RPM above 4k, with the wheels straight or turned.

I'm guessing it's a motor and drive-train movement issue, and did a bunch of searching on various mounts and ETDs, but haven't anything that has said it remedies this issue.

I have a SU motor mount, and shifter bushings, both of which improved the "feel". I'm wondering which would work best, passenger side mount, transmission mount, ETD, or all. I'm not concerned with NVH.

Thanks!

 

[kbzon01]

I have experienced the same thing myself and have zero shifter mods...what gives with this???

 

[CnoTataymo]

Try putting some tranny fluid and weighted shift knob. If you're running stock suspension, you might want to bump up to some coilovers.

 

[Darth Vader]

If you've got a grinding synchro, a weighted shift knob will likely make it worse.

Change the trans fluid asap for synthetic like Redline Mt-90 or Ford Xt synthetic. It's just a good idea.

Then try adjusting your shifter, as I've recommended here in the past. Here's a common vid on the subject:

http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa212/Bearman72/MS3/?action=view&current=finetuneshifter.flv

I've rocked the track, speed shifting all day, on Mt 90, several times. Stuff works.

 

[714ms3]

Excellent tutorial. I always thought this was due to inexperienced manual drivers, but perhaps the adjustment (or lack there of) on the cable could be a factor.

 

[Jackis]

Darth Vader, you're my miracle!!! I had 1st-Rear gears problem: like smth blocked it sometimes. Your video told me, what's wrong )) Thanks!!!

 

[MM BOOST]

Wow, I've never seen this video before. That helps a lot! I am going home today and adjusting my shifter. I thought since I have upgraded rear motor mount, ford tranny fluid, twm short shifter, twm shifter bushings and counter weight knob, jbarone shift weight, that the tranny still felt "off." Thank you so much for posting this!! Has anyone else done this fix and it worked for them too?

 

[Darth Vader]

I can't take credit for it, I'm just the librarian directing you to the right resources.

Glad it worked out.

 

[JBR]

Wow, I've never seen this video before. That helps a lot! I am going home today and adjusting my shifter. I thought since I have upgraded rear motor mount, ford tranny fluid, twm short shifter, twm shifter bushings and counter weight knob, jbarone shift weight, that the tranny still felt "off." Thank you so much for posting this!! Has anyone else done this fix and it worked for them too?

Make very, very small adjustments...Less is more.

 

[Yoo Shin]

And of course since I posted this thread it hasn't hicupped once.

Good advice. I'll try the adjustment and see how that works, and order some Ford fluid as I know this was a big improvement on my old Subarus (which I'm seriously considering going back to but that's another story). So if this doesn't do much to help, would a transmission mount or engine torque damper be worth it?

I was beginning thinking to myself, "wow I drive like a asshat and cant' shift a car anymore". I like to think I'm pretty decent at driving a standard which I've done for 20 years now in every car I've owned.

 

[hnda etr]

If you've got a grinding synchro, a weighted shift knob will likely make it worse.

Change the trans fluid asap for synthetic like Redline Mt-90 or Ford Xt synthetic. It's just a good idea.

Then try adjusting your shifter, as I've recommended here in the past. Here's a common vid on the subject:

http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa212/Bearman72/MS3/?action=view&current=finetuneshifter.flv

I've rocked the track, speed shifting all day, on Mt 90, several times. Stuff works.

Thanks for the video.. very informative! But man, WTF with the sniffles?

 

[Darth Vader]

I think the dude has a coke habit....anyway....a rear motor mount is an essential mod for this car, an ETD is great for the track but, too noisy for the street as it bolts to the engine right next to where the cam chain runs. The Street Unit rear mount is a good piece for a good price. Others like the CP-e unit but, I have no direct experience with that. ANYTHING is better than stock. I have about 20,000 miles on my 08 and the rubber in the stock mount was already starting to separate from the bearing shell, and I had it glued with epoxy for the whole of last year.

 

[hnda etr]

^^ Lawlz!

Check out what helped my notchy shifting problem...

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123774232

 

[coololddude]

Quit race-shifting and drive like you had blue hair!

 

[Kindred]

I was beginning thinking to myself, "wow I drive like a asshat

I've seen you drive, you do drive like an asshat. (nana)

 

[Yoo Shin]

I've seen you drive, you do drive like an asshat. (nana)

I have a lot of fun driving the car safely in a spirited way. Just GTFO of my way next time(no).

Besides my 3rd gear shifting issue happens more when I granny shift but lately I'm thinking it's during a sweet spot of the RPM right at about 4100-4300.

 

[2ManyCars]

Here I thought this problem was just my crappy shifting. The issue I'm having is an occasional grind into 3rd. It's normally fine. It seems to happen a couple of times every few days. But it is HUGELY annoying.

Has anyone who had those symptoms followed the adjustment process from the video and had this resolved?

Thanks

 

[Tronspeed3]

Changed the trans fluid to amsoil MTG and it got rid of the grind from 2nd to 3rd. It does make a little LSD whine when turning 90 degrees at low speeds ( < 20 mph) but that doesn't bother me too much.

 

[bani]

the grinding is due to the fact the ms3 aisin trans is under-synchro'd. different fluid may help the synchros hook up better, at the cost of increased noise.

 

[Need4Speed3]

I am having the same issues after 2 months of ownership. I will probably start with low lying fruits like the trans oil and if that doesn't work try the adjustments in the video. Tried out jbarone's ssp in one of his MS3's and it does feel way better, so that's a must have IMO.