Anyone have clutch issue on 1-2 shift?

[NoOne]

We picked ours up a few days ago and have run into a 1-2 shifting issue.

Feels like its not releasing at high rpm's and there is nothing there at all.

First run to 6K and shifting resulting in a nice solid wall, no 2nd gear. I've run into it a few times and its not a driving error, even my wife said the same thing.

I've never heard of it being a problem at all, this is an 02.5 car.

Lazy or slow shifting at lower RPM's is fine, all other gears are fine.

I've run into this on my Camaro, same feeling and it was always an overworked slave cylinder and it would not disengage.

 

[banned bandit]

We picked ours up a few days ago and have run into a 1-2 shifting issue.

Feels like its not releasing at high rpm's and there is nothing there at all.

First run to 6K and shifting resulting in a nice solid wall, no 2nd gear. I've run into it a few times and its not a driving error, even my wife said the same thing.

I've never heard of it being a problem at all, this is an 02.5 car.

Lazy or slow shifting at lower RPM's is fine, all other gears are fine.

I've run into this on my Camaro, same feeling and it was always an overworked slave cylinder and it would not disengage.

ya i got the same problem...if you shift after 5k in 1st you almost have to jam it into second.....

 

[JimmyRay05]

dido
i gotta force it into gear at high rpm going from 1 to 2.

did the grind a few times because of it

 

[NoOne]

Hmmm....

anyone gone to a dealer yet to see what they say?

It sure feels like the slave cannot provide enough pressure to get it to disengage at high RPM.

Anyone know what the gear drop ratio's are? If its bigger on 1-2 than 2-3 or 3-4 that might explain it.

 

[Sir Nuke]

This is common with our cars.....its not a race car....and the dealer will be little help....you can get a smoothe shift that high if you take your time to get from first to second and not try to do it as fast as you possibly can, just take a little more time. Sure, not the best thing if you are in a race situation....but better than screwing up your gear box, your syncros, or something else.

AND, if you still have your stock shifter that makes it even worse.....there is just to much throw and slop in that thing.

(stash)

 

[NoOne]

Race?

I don't buy that myself.

The dealer will fix it, the engine revs to 7K or whatever the redline is and the transmission should shift at that range. This isn't racing, this is normal driving and the car is being operated within its intended design area.

I pulled out today from a driveway with a hidden spot due to a hill, there is zero way to see if a car is coming, you just pull out and go.

At 5500rpm I went to shift into 2nd, clutch in, shift nothing but grinding, no car behind me, but if there was....

I went and checked the NHTSA website for TSB's, funny I found 2 that apply to my car. Slight wind noise at speed from the passenger side, a whistling and steering wheel slightly off center.

One car we drive was seriously off center, mine is just a tad off, not worth fixing.

I'll call them tommorow and see what they say, if there is an issue I'll give Mazda a call. I can absolutely guarentee you that this situation is not acceptable to someone in powertrain, it just a matter of getting the situation to them.

 

[Sir Nuke]

NoOne.....I guess I read a little into your original post that wasn't really there......VERY TRUE...if you are shifting normally....regardless of the rpm...it should go...and easily I might add....I know mine does...I shift at the upper range of the tach a lot.....and have never had it grind.....HOWEVER....I have heard of a LOT of guy having that problem if they try to shift REALLY fast...as in a racing situation.

(stash)

 

[goin2mlb2]

Same problem here guys. Keep us all posted on what mazda has to say. I planning on a kartboy very soon to try and relieve some of the problem.

 

[Kooldino]

I have problems when going into 2nd from ANY gear. :-(

 

[TexP5]

Not being a funny man...Why would you wanna rev it that high in first anyway??? seems to me you lose torque in First waaaaay before that. I get out of First as soon as possible personally.

 

[NoOne]

Well the motor does kinda crap out after 5K, but to get into the powerband on the 2nd gear shift you do have to get it up higher.

Its not a matter of driving characteristics, its the fact that the tranny should shift.

I do not think a new shifter will help, it doesn't feel like a linkage problem.

 

[MP5Raycer]

no problem here

i have had not problem at all i mean ... I romp on my MP5 allt he time and it never gives me any trouble i shift outof first and 2nd at like 6500 rpm .. and i occasionally grind but thats becasue my foot let out to early .. but to ensure a smooth shift at high rpms ... make sure you ease off the throttle at the last second then as you shift resume the throttle you would be amazed at the amount of people that still cannot drive a 5 speed correctly still

 

[o.g.sk8er]

no trouble at all with my shifting. smooth all the time! sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.

 

[blynzoo]

The slave idea is a good one. I think it might be a "half" problem, meaning some cars have it and some dont. Maybe the trannies are done at two plants in Japan, who knows.

Hey! There's a good question! anyone know how many plants make the p5???????????????Somebody oughtta find some facts.


Either way, I would suggest holding it out of first for just a split-second longer than you would like before putting it into second. That should (temporarily:mad: ) solve the problem.
We also have this little safety feature on our p5's that keep us (in theory) from f-ing up the trannies. Try shifting into reverse while rolling forward at an appreciable speed. It will feel almost like you're hitting a plate, but you can get by it at pressure (and then you'll grind). Another thing I'm sure everyone has noticed is shifting into first above about 20mph (but not engaging the clutch of course). You will meet with stiff resistance there as well. It's there to keep us from burning up a tranny by mis-shifting or making bad shifting decisions. This could be the same resistance going from 1st to second, although I was unaware that the safety feature covered all gears.

 

[NoOne]

I originally named my post, 02.5 P5's have shifting issues.

I think it may be a mid model year thing, or a bad run of parts.

Suppliers are changed for cost savings and quality issues pop up.

As far as not being able to drive a stick, thats hardly the issue, and you should not have to let up at all. Its not an engagement problem, its a release problem.

I drive my Camaro as smooth as a normal hydraulic clutch and it uses a cintered bronze disc on a steel flywheel, metal on metal, there is no slipping the clutch in this. Do it wrong and it will shake you to death taking off, but thats the way a high performance clutch is.

I've had this same issue on that, slave couldn't provide enough fluid pressure to overcome the rate of the clutch. Our Miata had the same problem until I replaced the slave, although it wasn't bad, at least on the Miata I could shift without the clutch at all

I guess I need to find the slave unit, my first suspect and get the part number off of it, compare it to the part numbers off of each one who works/doesn't work and see if they are the same.

The lockout you speak of is just 1st gear and reverse, it doesn't effect any others.

 

[blynzoo]

TY, NoOne, I didnt think the lockout affected other gearing.

 

[Zeus]

My $0.2 worth

Alot of the problem is in the motor mounts and shifter bushings. They both allow a lot of flex at high rpm and torque, like when topping out in first. This results in linkage bind. Some of the problem is that the syncros are tight when new, real tight. And a small amount is in the clutch.

Bleed the clutch line thoroughly, and make all the peddle adjustment you can to reduce the release throw.

Give the syncros time to wear in, they'll get alot smoother. Mine did anyway.

Get the $20 Cartboy bushings. Without a doubt the best money I've spent on my car. A 5 minute install that makes a world of difference. They ship express and you'll probably have them the next day.

 

[goin2mlb2]

Thanks for the info Zeus, a kartboy shifter plus bushings is definitely on the way. Maybe it'll help a little, but got it more for the feel than to fix the problem. Anyways, how long would you say the break in period is on those synchros, i mean i've got 23000 miles, and haven't seen a change yet, im not thinking anything is going to change much now.

 

[nramsey]

FWIW I haven't had this happen on my car. 2002.5 w/ 2600 miles. Just did several 1st gear runs to 6500-7000 RPM yesterday and had no problems getting it into second. I don't shift it super fast though...aka I don't slam it into gear. Not sure how you guys are shifting though.

 

[sundevilMP5]

i have a little trouble getting from 1st to 2nd...but i've never grinded it...even when revving high...the only time i've grinded is from 2nd to 3rd...it's soo damn long...

possibly just need to let everything loosen up a little....

my only question for NoOne is...what are you doing reving to 6k if you just got your car a couple of days ago...you need to break it in first...