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1980 4 speed manual. Someone replaced the shift **** with non-labeled ****. The only reason I know it is a 4-speed is because my cousin who last owned it, told me so. But he does not remember the pattern since it was sitting in garage for 5 years. I'm trying to get it running again. It runs, but no reverse. Before I take the tranny off, I would like to know what the shift pattern is. I thought it would be easy to find via google search. Not so. Appreciate the help. And I'll take any tips on diagnosing the no-reverse problem as well!
Have you tried Neutral. Right (press hard against the spring), Back? Works for me.
Yes, and it sure feels like it engages into gear, except the wheels still turn forward. In fact, all the gears "feel" like they are engaging, but the result is the same: forward. One thing that is odd is that if I gently wiggle the shifter, I can make it move into any of SIX positions, which is odd since it only has FIVE positions as a four-speed. I'm guessing that one of the positions is truly sliding into a different one, giving the appearance of a valid shift. For example, a right and up movement may truly be putting it into the center-up position.
Is it possible that the metal stem with the spring at the shift handle is wore out, or the metal tab that it pushes down, preventing it from pushing down far enough? I need to get a diagram because I cannot picture exactly what is happening on the other side of that rod.
thanks
There is a plastic bushing on the shift rod that functions as a fulcrum for the shift rod. It is more than likely broken. Get the FSM if you don't already have it. See my signature for the link. It is a fairly easy replacement.
There is a plastic bushing on the shift rod that functions as a fulcrum for the shift rod. It is more than likely broken. Get the FSM if you don't already have it. See my signature for the link. It is a fairly easy replacement.
This is outstanding. Thanks! I downloaded the part manual as you suggested. I'm am starting to wonder if it is a 5-speed. The family member who had it is pushing 80 and his memory ain't what it used to be, plus he had not touched it for at least five years.
First question: Just to be clear, are you referring to part-set # 17481S ? For example, the bushing set sold here.
Second question: please take a look at the attached pictures, specifically the metal receiver part in which the shift lever ball fits down into. What part # is this on the diagram? It's not obvious to me and I'm trying to get my bearings in the parts diagram (no pun intended). Under the shift lever. What part number corresponds to the metal "receiver" for the shift lever ball and the metal tab to the right of it shown in this picture? bottom side of the shift lever mechanism.
Man, the inside of the tranny looks nasty, like sewage. I bet it smells nice too. I'd make sure you drain, flush and re fill it before you are done. Some overall pics of the car would help answer some of your problems. For instance, does your car have a 2 spoke or 4 spoke steering wheel? Is the shift lever straight with one bend like on the diagram or is it shorter with 2 bends in it? Does it have an intermittent wiper setting or just Hi / Lo?
S model cars have the 2 spoke wheel, straight lever and 4 speeds. GS cars had the 4 spoke, shorter gear lever and 5 speeds. There are other equipment differences btw the 2 models that would help verify what the tranny should be. The "metal reciever part" you refer to is P/N 17461A on the diagram. The plastic bushing that DummyFixer mentions snaps over the ball on the bottom of the shift lever and goes into the cup on the metal receiver. It is P/N 17462 on the diagram and is in the kit you found on eBay.
Did Banzai answer your questions enough? I'll add some numbers. You probably only need the sleeve bushing REF # 17462. The Mazda part number for REF # 17462 is 0398-17-462A.
Second question - the ref no. is 17561A.
As Banzai suggested, more info. on the specifics of your car will help with a diagnosis and remedy. The VIN is helpful as are details and photos.
Good luck and post progress, please.
Bonzai and DummFixer, I think you provided what I need. I can see how the parts now fit together.
Vin is SA22C. According to the parts manual that you kindly directed me to, the SA22C is 4 speed. steering wheel is 2 spoke. Here is a pic just for the heck of it.
Indeed, the worn out oil smells like a sewer. My wife thought a cat peed in the car. There is no plastic bushings to be found! Likely ground up long ago. So I will give this shifter kit a try and perhaps it will fix the problem and not have to drop the tranny. I don't think dropping the trans is the hard part though; it's having to deal with the mess of an exhaust system first
to drop it down.
I'll order the kit and let you know the outcome. All I know right now is that up on jackstands, every single gear makes the wheels turn forward. thanks!
From the photo it appears you have a very nice '80 S. Is the driver side as straight as is the passenger side? Do you know much of the history of the car, mileage, no. of owners., any modifications, etc.?
I'm curious about the rest of the VIN, since mine is a SA22C as well?
From the photo it appears you have a very nice '80 S. Is the driver side as straight as is the passenger side? Do you know much of the history of the car, mileage, no. of owners., any modifications, etc.?
I'm curious about the rest of the VIN, since mine is a SA22C as well?
SA22C 587758
The drivers side is in similar shape. Everything is there and okay except the choke **** is missing and currently has a paper clip attached to it for use. The window roll handles are broken on one side, but I have the piece for it.
All I know about the history is that my cousin bought it around 2005. The pictures of it from that time were great when it was all washed up. He garage kept it. Notice in the picture with the shifter that there is a pink wire. I have not gotten around to chasing down what it is or where it goes, but it is a long wire and in the passenger compartment it is not attached to anything. The wire was there when my cousin bought it in PA. Anyway, reverse stopped working for him about 5 years ago so he just left it parked in the garage until I got it a few months ago. I rebuilt the carb and replaced the clutch master cylinder so far to get it to run. The brakes hold no pressure so that is on the list. I'll fix up some of the minor things at some point, such as the hydraulic cylinder for the hatch. two months ago, the head lights flipped up and down. Not anymore. Something else to fix. My plan is to fix it, sell it, buy a lift for my shop. I'm hoping I won't like the car too much in the meantime......
Forgot to mention that the odometer is around 89K. My cousin never drove it much, just around town for fun as it was not his primary vehicle. Messing around in the engine compartment and rebuilding the carb, it appears that everything is original. it even still has the original bright blue air horn. Even the exhaust is original and in good shape, which is why I don't want to mess with taking it apart for dropping tranny. I have never seen such a crazy exhaust system. I had to read about what the heck a "thermal reactor" was, haha!
I definitely want to sell it, but my cousin gets first option on purchase after it is operational. However, I highly doubt that he will actually buy it from me. But I'll give him that option as it was part of the deal. I would like to have reverse and brakes working properly before I sell since it would obviously bring a higher dollar. He gave it to me with the expectation of getting it running and moving in reverse.
The SA22C prefix only means it was manufactured in 79 or 80. It has nothing to do with what kind of transmission it came with. These two years are known as "SA" cars. In 81, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandated a new 17 digit VIN for all vehicles sold in the US. So beginning in 81, all Rx-7 VIN's began with "JM1 FB" making the 81 thru 85 cars known as FB's. All the model years (79-85) are considered 1st Gens, or Series 1's. From here, you have S models, GS models ect... throughout all the years.
You say it has a 2 spoke wheel (no pic however to confirm its an original wheel and not some aftermarket one). That plus the lack of exterior body moldings and the steel wheels strongly suggest that the car is an "S" model. These came standard with the 4 speed. GS cars came standard with the 5 speed, however its not that uncommon for later owners to swap in 5 speed boxes to replace the original 4 speeds. Your shift lever does indeed look like a 5 speed lever. Reverse on both transmissions is to the right and back. It can be a little finicky. You may need to "slap" the lever over and down.
Banzai, thanks for that. I'll get a photo of the steering wheel and also check the wipers for further clues.
Either way, as you stated, Reverse is locate over to to the right and back. After changing the bushing as suggested by DummyFixer, the shifting is much tighter and it is now clear that it will not shift over to the right side at all. How hard should I "slap" it?
Assuming you installed the bushing kit previously pictured and also assuming you cleaned up and added fresh lube, then a vigorous shove or slap is in order. Incidentally, is the transmission noisy when going thru the 1 thru 4 pattern?
Assuming you installed the bushing kit previously pictured and also assuming you cleaned up and added fresh lube, then a vigorous shove or slap is in order. Incidentally, is the transmission noisy when going thru the 1 thru 4 pattern?
It was cleaned and properly lubricated. That part moves smoothly. No hard shove is moving the shift lever to the right. It shifts nicely from 1 to 4, no noise. I removed the shift lever and found that I could shift 1-4 with my hand moving the metal receiver. The first picture shows the neutral position. From there I can shift it straight up or down, again, without even using the shift lever. It feels normal. In the second picture, I slightly massaged it to the right (which is the same as moving the shifter lever to the left), and can also easily put it into gear upward or backward. Those are gears 1 and 2. Third picture shows my attempt on the left side (same as the shift lever pushed to the right). It moves rightward into what feels like the proper position. Problem is that I could not move it back no matter how hard I pulled. And if I did not have it in the exact right position, it would flop over to the left side and move completely uninhibited not grabbing anything. i.e. I had to "feel" for the correct spot or else I would "miss". This was not possible when I was working the other side. Is this normal?
I've gone over your explanation, studied the photos and the parts diagrams for both 4 an d 5 speeds. There is nothing that I can see preventing shifting. The problem must be inside the case. With your description of the shaft "flopping" I suspect you will find a broken fork.
I've gone over your explanation, studied the photos and the parts diagrams for both 4 an d 5 speeds. There is nothing that I can see preventing shifting. The problem must be inside the case. With your description of the shaft "flopping" I suspect you will find a broken fork.
Okay, that is what I figured. Thanks for looking and thinking about it. Time to dive in !!! I'll start a new post later on as I start to remove the tranny and break it open.
When popping the case open, you might get lucky to find the folks out of place. I had to do this. Just crack it open enough to reach in/inspect before pulling the thing too far apart.
12-20-20, 08:00 PM
