So I'm driving home from work today, and I stop at a red light. Light turns green, but I can't get the damn thing in gear. I struggle with it for a bit and finally it goes into gear, but even with the clutch pressed in the car starts to move a little bit. This happened a couple more times, but then it stopped doing it for awhile. At first I thought it was my clutch slave going out or something, but there's more to it. Now when the car is stopped and at idle, I can push in the clutch and put it in any gear, but when I do this I can hear and occasionally feel a vibration (almost sounds like a rattle) coming from the tranny.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? I can still drive it fine when it doesn't screw up like before, but I don't really want to if the tranny is about to go out.

BTW, about a month or two ago I put in a Mazdatrix street/strip clutch and pressure plate, and the tranny has about 132K on it so I'm sure that only put more stress on it. I'd like to know what everyone else thinks, any info is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Kind of sounds like it chewed up the TO bearing.

 

could be a bearing in the tranny failing or something of that nature.

so your saying it still drives ok and everything?

pay close attention to what it is doing. what gear your in when it makes the noise and how often it does etc.
then you can get a better idea of whats going on.

could be problem w/ the stuff you just put in too. does the noise get worse if you have the clutch in and rev engine?

 

On decel. when I used to downshift the tranny would always make a whinning noise, but now it does it with that weird rattle noise. While cruising or on accel. I don't really hear anything though. After it refused to go into gear those couple of times it seemed to drive fine, I could shift through the gears with no problem. Without a doubt the part that has me baffled the most is how the car was creeping along a little bit when I finally did get it in gear, but had the clutch fully pressed in also. I didn't hear anything get louder noise wise when I revved it up at a stop with clutch in and in gear, just that same slight rattle.

I also replaced the TO bearing while I was in there, but could it have gone out this quick? What would cause it to get chewed up?

 

Have you adjusted the pedal throw?

 

I just drove it around the block, basically the same thing happened, wouldn't go into gear at first, then it finally did.

What I didn't notice before though was something about that vibration that I feel every once in awhile. At idle when stopped and clutch pressed in, if it's in first gear when the vibration happens, the car feels like it's inching foward slightly. Same happens in reverse, only it moves back instead of forward.

This sucks Any additional thoughts? Thanks again, I appreciate the help.

 

Pedal throw? No I haven't, I didn't know that I needed to. It's been fine before tonight though. How do you do this (forgot the Haynes manual at my g/f's house), I'll give it a shot.

Thanks.

 

I got sorta the same problem. I can feel my tranny wanting to grab even though I have the clutch fully pressed. I also get that damn whining and slite rattle. Specially when I punch it before its warmed up good. But if I lift up a little on the stick it all stops and sounds fine. Also sounds fine after its warmed up good. I recently changed the gear oil thinking that would help, but nope still got the noise. I will just replace the trans this weekend with the one from my parts car.

 

There's a real good chance you're just low on transmission fluid. Check it

 

I will check the fluid tomorrow. Thanks guys, keep the suggestions coming.

 

I think mine is worst. I just fired up my ported motor for the first time and i noticed that when the car is not running i can play around with the shifter and would go into gears but when the engine running and idling in my driveway i cant shift it into any gears w/out putting alot of force. I just installed a new ACT clutch (S/S) and extreme pressure plate with new TO. My shifter is also new (MAZDATRIX Shortshifter).. Im also gonna check my fluid level.. Also a mech told me that the guy that installed my clutch might have installed it wrong. I know he used an allignment tool though. But the mech told me that he might have installed the wrong face. NOT SURE but im crossing my fingers..I dont want to pull the whole engine again.

 

Ditto, I really hope I'm just low on fluid, I don' t want to have to start looking for a tranny either as I am out of money after doing all of this stuff.

 

Ya gotta know these are clutch symptomes - hydraulic or mechanical.

 

Try pilot bearing. If bearing goes, trans will not slow down, making it difficult to engage. Noise would occur when pedal depressed. Rattle could be worn bearings/race.
Was pilot bearing replaced with clutch assembly? Hope so!

 

Well, it looks like no matter what it is, I'll probably have to drop the tranny to fix it. I just checked my clutch and tranny fluids, those are all normal.

Yes, I did replace all the bearings when I had all of the stuff apart. Assuming that it is the TO or pilot bearing or something, what would cause them to go out so quick? I did all this when I put in my fresh engine, which was a month ago, so I haven't beat the car up or anything seeing as I'm still in break in period.

I'm gonna play with a few more things and see if I can't get something to happen. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to tear it apart again. Thanks again guys, I'll keep ya updated.