I'm having a weird transmission problem. I have alot of difficulty shifting into 1st, 2nd, and reverse. 2nd is not as bad as 1st, but when I come to a complete stop I cant shift into 1st unless alot of force is used. 3rd-5th give me no problem.

1st I bled the clutch, no change. However I noticed the fluid is dark. Now I'm thinking its bad hydraulics, so I had someone push the clutch while I watched the slave and it moves(not sure what full travel is) But before I go and buy a m/s can anyone confirm I'm on the right track. I have been searching and this seems to be the most common solution.

 

I went to a local transmission shop and they test drove my car. They said that my trans. is no good and that it needed to be replaced. I'm not sure if they're trying to rip me or what. Anyway a friend also told me my clutch pedal is very hard, this being my first 5spd I can't tell the difference.


PS How far must the slave cylinder push the fork to be "fully engaged"?

 

if the hydraulic fluid is dark it should be changed simply because dark means it has sucked up water and may rust your cylinders from the inside (however this does not stop most lazy bums from leaving it in indefinately ), but it will still compress the same and thus should not affect the extending of the slave cylinder.

you seem to think it may not be fully unengaging the clutch. if you sit in neutral and then put it into first with the clutch in, does it drop your rev's at all as if the clutch is slightly slipping rather than being unengaged?

have you tried a trans fluid change? sometimes that can do wonders, it helped me alot when i first bought my car. i got my car at 80k miles i wouldn't be surprised if it had never been changed at that point, what came out looked like black tar and the tranny was much happier afterwords.

 

When I can get it into 1st there is no change in rpm. As for the fluid, its been a while since I've changed it but wouldn't it make it difficult to shift in all gears. I read on mazdatrix if you have trouble with 1st and reverse its the hydraulics. 2nd gives me alittle trouble but that could be the syncros.

Just wondering if this sounds like the problem. I would hate to go and spend the money on a new master and slave cylinder and not fix the problem.

 

It would be a good idea to check the clutch freeplay travel. Since you are having trouble with 1st and 2nd, it maybe a fork (cause they are on the same fork). It could also be the bearings, do you here any whinning noises?

 

I hear a whinning noise when the clutch pedal is not pressed and in neutral.

 

can you shift it ok with the engine off?

 

Yes, no problems shifting while the engine is off. It will even shift without the clutch in(when engines not running)

 

sounds like your pilot bearing might be junko.

edit: found a similar post here: https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/not-going-into-gear-387440/

 

Thats what I was hoping it wasn't. I just wanted to check the hydraulics before I have to drop the transmission.

However when I first start the car it will go into first with no problem, but as I drive it more it gets tougher. Then when I don't drive it for a few hours, shifts perfectly.

 

check your pedal end play, pull up on the pedal lightly and see how much play there is between where there is some action at the master cylinder and the top of the pedal travel, most of this play should be adjusted out using the adjustment rod.

 

yeah i feel your pain. the pilot bearing is a major pain in the *** to boot.

if you decide to change the hydraulics, i think www.nopi.com had the best prices on cylinders (at least it did when my master died)

 

Another wierd thing is when its too difficult to shift into first, it will go in no problem if I shift into first just before the car comes to a complete stop.

 

hehe. actually my car doesn't want to shift into first from a stop either once in awhile. i haven't taken the time to figure out why since it was never bad enough to bother me. i can usually put it into second gear and then into first after that. shifting into first just before stopping has basically the effect of matching your speed to your engine speed so you are synchroing the tranny yourself.

i've got all fairly new clutch hydraulics (master, slave, clutch line). i've adjusted my pedal. i'ts got fairly new synthetic fluid in the trans. i have a clutch kit that is sitting in a box with new bearings waiting to go in that i have not got around to installing yet. i probably won't have that changed soon enough to help you with your problem though

 

Well I guess I should start with the hydraulics and go from there.