If car has been sitting a day, the transmission makes a clunking sound when I release the clutch in 1st or reverse. It feels like it is resisting something, then clunk!.........and then all is fine.

It won't do this when taking off at a stop light, but only when it has been parked.

Are the synrcho rings finally dying after making noise for 18 years?

ps....I already tried search

 

My REPU is doing that and I think it is the U-joints in the driveshaft.

 

Syncros only operate when you are actually in the process of changing gears.Once the dogs are engaged,the gears are solidly secured to their shaft.

Build up of torque,followed by a sudden release could be a few things.....

Frozen u-joints/bent driveline.
Heavily worn bearings in the tranny or rearend.
Tranny popping out of gear,this is usually a bent fork or weak detent spring.(Doesnt seem to be the case here,unless you ARE popping back into neutral when it happens.)

If you havent done it in the last few years,start with the cheap simple pratice of changing the tranny and rearend oil.Inspecting the old oil can give you an idea of both units condition.While you are down there,you can inspect the driveline for roughness. All three items are common failure points on our cars,given their age these days.

 

hey try this go to www.mazdatrix.com check out there transmission section and diagnose it from there they have a lot of info on it you telling us whats happening and not actually seeing it happening its kind of hard to tell it could even be something stupid like a pilot bearing. just go check that out and see what they say