Newbie Here!!!

[H-Town Speed]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum here and my fiance and I just bought a 2003.5 Laser Blue MSP like three weeks ago. I just wanted to say hello to everyone and I guess I'll start with a question. I'm new to driving a stick and I sometimes have trouble putting the car in first gear at a light It doesn't happen all the time and sometimes I just have to push it in a little harder, but sometimes it takes me a few seconds of really trying hard to get into first. I even put it in second gear first, then try putting back in first gear and sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. Does anyone have this problem and how do I fix it??? Could it possibly be my shifting style? When I'm coming to a light I just put the car in neutral and let off of the clutch pedal and brake like you would an automatic car. Is this right? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

H-Town Speed.

 

[GotBoost]

1st off, welcome to the forum. as far as 1st gear goes I have never had that problem and I also have a Laser Blue MSP. are you sure you have the clutch fully engaged? i was gonig to mention try second and then first but I noticed you have tried that. other than that I'm out of guesses

 

[Wiggles6983]

Mine does this sometimes (not alot), I just either rev the engine a bit (just a few hundred RPM) or shift into first while rolling to a stop.

 

[Leadfoot]

yeah, mine does this occasionally...it's happened w/ all of my 5spds...just let out the clutch & back in real quick, then try to put it in gear again. It's just the gears in the tranny not meshing up. It's not a problem, just give it a quick in & out on the clutch then try the gear, maybe multiple times...works for me.

Welcome to the boards!

 

[Panzozo]

Welcome to the forum. Hope you and your fiance will your MSP.
Mine never does that. Don't really know what that is. If you worry about it, just take it back to the dealership and have them look at it.

 

[chino]

Welcome to the boards! Check out the Texas section there are quite a few of us in MSPs close to you!

 

[Rush]

My MSP was a real b****, as far as shifting, when I first got it. The gears -- most noticably 1st and 2nd -- were sometimes almost impossible to get in. Even with the clutch all the way in, it was just cranky. But as time went by, it got better. It still happens on occassion now .. I think it may just be a moderately annoying characteristic of some of the MSP clutches.

When I was test driving one of the MSP's before I bought mine .. something similar happened to me at a red light. I stopped, and for the life of me, I could NOT get that bastard into first gear. The salesman riding with me finally had to bash it into gear using the heel of his hand.

I think some of them just may be a little irritable. But it should get better over time.

 

[Excitmnt94]

welcome to the boards! seems like its somewhat common...and not really bad for the car. give it a little time and see if it gets better with age...if not...see dealer.

 

[H-Town Speed]

Thanks for the warm welcomes guys(and gals). Yes the clutch pedal is all the way to the floor so that's not it. I'm glad to hear that it's not a real big deal. It doesn't happen alot, just every once in a while, the car only has like 1500 miles on it so hopefully with time it'll get better. Next time it happens, I'll try releasing the clutch pedal and pushing it in again. Other than that, the car has been a real blast to drive.

When we were car shopping I was trying to get my fianc to lean towards the SVT Focus(I'm a diehard Ford guy), but once I test drove the MSP, my opinion on the MSP changed and the decision was made for me. This car is a real blast to drive!!!

The day we went car shopping it was raining bad here in Houston and the Mazda dealership was empty. Without even having to do any haggling the salesman, after speaking to his manager, came back with a price that we couldn't pass up. We got it for $16,995 plus TT&L with no money down and no trade in. After reading up on the prices that some of you guys have gotten them for, I see that I could've gotten them to go even lower, but we were very happy with the price and just couldn't pass up the deal.

By the way I just called the 1-800 number and ours is #2480 of 2750 and it's production date is 3/31/2003.

I'll check out the Texas section asap!

 

[WillisW555]

Mine does this sometimes (not alot), I just either rev the engine a bit (just a few hundred RPM) or shift into first while rolling to a stop.

(werd) That's what I do, tap the gas, then try again.

 

[mdaj]

Congrats on your new ride and welcome to the blue club

 

[skilletrx]

I agree w/ wiggles, when ur having prob. getting into gear, lightly tap gas and it shud work =) works every single time for me

 

[BlueWolfCry]

happens to me too, but as i slow down the stick slides to first..it also happens to me on second

 

[Hypnotized]

Congrats on the BLUE. This is the best place for all the questions you would have, although I cant help with the problem you have at this moment. Good luck and enjoy this car, be sure to drive it the way it was meant to be driven!

 

[Hypnotized]

Congrats on the BLUE. This is the best place for all the questions you would have, although I cant help with the problem you have at this moment. Good luck and enjoy this car, be sure to drive it the way it was meant to be driven!

 

[xXxJIGGAxXx]

Welcome to the board dude! I have the same issue you have sometimes. My other car, the contour, is notorious for rough shifting into first. What we do to fix it is use redline MTL. Now, not all trannies can use the same fluid so I have to do some research before I swap out fluids on the MSP. What I may try first is a ounce or two of friction modifier in the existing trans fluid. I'll keep ya posted.