OK, I am warning you people who plan on boosting your MP3

[NC_MP3]

...the stock tranny ******* blows. So mine locked up and I got another one right. Well I only have like 2k miles on the new one and I am getting some terrible noises from it. One is a nasty sound that it makes when I press the gas and accelerate in a gear, almost sounds like a bad exhaust leak but it isn't. Next up is the bad rattle type sound I get when I let off the gas while it is in gear. Next is a ticking sound when the car is in motion. It is related to the tranny cause when I slow down it gets slower. Finally I have a whining noise. Sounds like I am running with no gear oil or something.

And get this. Was driving Sat night and I was hitting almost 120. I look in the rear view and see sparks flying from under the car. I thought my exhaust had fallen or something. I get out and look but everything is cool. The sparks are gone but I think it had something to do with the tranny cause the ticking noise started when the sparks flew.

So if you plan on upping the HP significantly, watch the tranny, it sucks.

 

[APEXistud]

Didn't you change to a different clutch right before you started having trouble with you trans. I also remember you using a 6 puck clutch which I think is way too much clamping force for a car only pushing barely 15% more power. I think we'll be fine upping the power via forced induction as most front when drive cars are. Just don't buy a clutch that's too powerful for your trans, that's when tranny problem appear. I have yet to experience a problem with my transmission. Oh and NC being that you're a moderator, could you please try to set a better example and watch you language a bit.

 

[spoolinmp3]

Perhaps the problem is the gorilla style clutch you are using. 6 puck clutches are real bad for stock trannies. Thats how I blew out my miata. Its better to burn out clutches than trannies and use street disks

 

[Kooldino]

Would you reccommend running the best NON PUCK clutch available?

 

[C Rae]

I would NOT recomend doing 120 when you know there is a problem with your tranny. thats just not smart.
take it to the dealer and take one of the guys for a ride.( let him drive )
if there as noticable as you say, you sould have no problem with getting this one fixed.


unless you voided your warrenty.

 

[DooMer_MP3]

I'm surprised they replaced your tranny anyhow, after they saw your crazy-ass clutch setup . I guess the fact that a few others have had problems helped. I wouldn't say "The MP3 tranny blows" because you have too many variables in there that are different from most of us. Good luck with this one...

Chris

 

[Razhael]

i will agree that we do not have the beefier transmission other cars have (my 93 miata? ) but i "barely" have some grinding in my 15k miles mp3, and i will agree that most of the issues you are having are because of the clutch you are using.

 

[1sty]

Since I learned how the car shifts I've had to problems with the tranny. Only up shift after 3000 rpm and only down shift to second under 1200 rpms. Have to be a compleate stop to go to first. If I shift from 1st to second at more than 3500 then it goes in pretty damn smooth.

 

[vegasmp3]

Sorry to hear about your problems nc.........I really dont think our cars are made to be fixed up.......Unless maybe you put lots of money into at once........Upgrading everything in the engine, clutch what not.........Instead of doing it step by step with stock parts still being used with aftermarket parts........I may be wrong, that is why my car still is stock........Plus there isn't much out for our cars.........Did you install parts yourself, or have someone else do it? I am curious because I would love to add some power to my mp3 but I dont want to have the same problems...Well, I do hope you fix it and your car runs how you want it.........It is very frustrating when s*** like this happens. Especially,after putting a lot of money in to the car........

 

[APEXistud]

Sorry to hear about your problems nc.........I really dont think our cars are made to be fixed up.......Unless maybe you put lots of money into at once........Upgrading everything in the engine, clutch what not.........Instead of doing it step by step with stock parts still being used with aftermarket parts........I may be wrong, that is why my car still is stock........Plus there isn't much out for our cars.........Did you install parts yourself, or have someone else do it? I am curious because I would love to add some power to my mp3 but I dont want to have the same problems...Well, I do hope you fix it and your car runs how you want it.........It is very frustrating when s*** like this happens. Especially,after putting a lot of money in to the car........

Which ties in to exactly what I said in the Forced Induction Forum. How fast do you want to go and how much do you want to spend. You can have a nice looking car with a bit more power over stock, but if you're looking into whooping some serious butt and beat the pants of some ITR's, American Muscle or WRX's, you're gonna need to spend at least $6000 on a decent turbo setup. Of course you can build a relatively cheap system, but it won't be reliable and you won't be able to drive it everyday. And if I'm gonna spend that kind of money on a car, I want to be able to drive the damn thing everyday.

 

[mazdamastertech]

nc hey now, i'm using the act and street disc and no problems. i just broke my second pair of motor mounts, i seem to be harder on the trans than u. the motor mount problem will be fixed by friday my polys will be here then $127, not to bad, no more broken mounts. as far as the rest maybe the tech didn't assemble it correctly, or just missed a broken piece. come to texas, i'll fix it!

 

[BigBlue]

I agree with Apexi and Vegas. I plan on upgrading everything along the way.....which was my plan all along....it'll probably save a bit of money on labour too as the car will be all apart and once putting all the stuff I plan to do with it at once. Will it be expensive? Yup for sure....I'm budgeting in my head for somewhere around 10K to be truthful as I don't get the same sorta prices you all do. Of course some people say....well why put that kinda money in an MP3....well I want to do it to be unique.....but I want to do it right.

Sorry that you've been having so many troubles tho NC_MP3.

 

[spoolinmp3]

Bigblue
You are exactly correct.
If you want good and reliable performance dont go halfass. It will cost you about 10 grand in total for a good build up on a car...considering brakes, suspension, turbo, fuel managment, installation and PROPER TUNING. That last one is the key element!

 

[1sty]

Bigblue
You are exactly correct.
If you want good and reliable performance dont go halfass. It will cost you about 10 grand in total for a good build up on a car...considering brakes, suspension, turbo, fuel managment, installation and PROPER TUNING. That last one is the key element!

I always assumed a proper turbo kit should include fuel managment and require little tuning, Are suspension is already pretty damn strong and brake aren't rocket science.

 

[Legacy GTR]

it should come with proper fuel (don't forget ignition!!) management. But not nessarly little tuning. Little tuning means it's not as effective or what's the word....agressive(?) for YOUR car. And I don't me the mp3. I mean the one in your name. Everycar is different (even same model/year......) and it's for that, and weather/atmosphereic conditions that you have to tune for. Perhaps little tuning (for those reasons) off a good base map.
I think spoolin (and others) would probably agree.

 

[chdesign]

You can have a nice looking car with a bit more power over stock, but if you're looking into whooping some serious butt and beat the pants of some ITR's, American Muscle or WRX's, you're gonna need to spend at least $6000 on a decent turbo setup. Of course you can build a relatively cheap system, but it won't be reliable and you won't be able to drive it everyday. And if I'm gonna spend that kind of money on a car, I want to be able to drive the damn thing everyday.

Who says you can't have a good turbo system for cheaper oh wait i designed it made it and tuned it so nevermind.