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As the title says, I was driving my car when it seemed like the transmission got stuck into 2nd? I was doing a pull onto the highway just up to 60mph in second gear and when I clutched in to shift, it felt like my shifter was stuck.
When it finally came unstuck after forcing it, I could go into 1-4 no problem and it felt like there was a wall that prevented me from even trying to shift into 5th or reverse. I've also had issues with downshifting into 2nd or 1st gear, it requires a lot of pressure to push it into gear or I have to slam it into 2nd to downshift so I just don't ever downshift like that.
-Doesn't go into 5th or reverse no matter how much I mess with the clutch or the throttle, even when the car is off so it isn't the synchros.
-Pulled shifter to find that it is in very bad shape. The spring that returns shifter to center was snapped off and just missing in general so I removed the rest of the spring with a pliers and clippers, careful not to leave any of it behind.
-I did some research on the forums, and took the bolt out the back of the shifter and found that the spring was just fine, but no ball bearing fell out. I can provide pictures by noon today (It's Sunday) to help figure out the issue.
The whole shifter bushing thing doesn't go far enough left (shifter moving right) to put it into 5th and reverse it seems, and it goes into 1-4 no problem. Any insight would be fantastic.
We should be able to help with this. The first thing that comes to mind is that sometimes the shift rods in the transmission can sometimes engage the 1,2 and 5,R rods at the same time. This happens a lot when they are dropped, shipped on their side, or experience some significant axial force. It can also be from worn and loose linkages. If you did a hard pull in 2nd and let off all of a sudden, the 5,R may have shifted on you. I am willing to bet that you have two gears trying to engage at once and your synchros are fighting it. Pictures are great, so here's a place to start.
1. Make sure the shift rods are centered. The way that the shifter connects to the shift rods allows the shifter to displace one shift rod at a time and return it to center. When a rod is displaced, the shifter can only move the one it is engaged with, until it returns it to center. If a rod is out of place elsewhere, the position of the rod prevents the shifter from engaging it. The best way to check would be to remove the cap bolts, springs, and detent bbs (I'm assuming you have an s4 NA transmission) shown on page 7a-6 of the FSM as items 7 and 8. This will let you stick your pinky finger (if its small enough) in and feel if the rod is centered, or what I suspect is half a hole off. If it is off, return it to center with a prying tool and repack the bbs and springs. If you have questions on this, take some pictures and we can guide you through it.
2. If the other linkage was halfway engaged, its likely been chewing on your synchros. Check the transmission fluid and make sure you don't have a lot of metal in your fluid. If there is, not a big deal, you'll want to rebuild your transmission. The manual ones are very simple and you can do it yourself.
We should be able to help with this. The first thing that comes to mind is that sometimes the shift rods in the transmission can sometimes engage the 1,2 and 5,R rods at the same time. This happens a lot when they are dropped, shipped on their side, or experience some significant axial force. It can also be from worn and loose linkages. If you did a hard pull in 2nd and let off all of a sudden, the 5,R may have shifted on you. I am willing to bet that you have two gears trying to engage at once and your synchros are fighting it. Pictures are great, so here's a place to start.
1. Make sure the shift rods are centered. The way that the shifter connects to the shift rods allows the shifter to displace one shift rod at a time and return it to center. When a rod is displaced, the shifter can only move the one it is engaged with, until it returns it to center. If a rod is out of place elsewhere, the position of the rod prevents the shifter from engaging it. The best way to check would be to remove the cap bolts, springs, and detent bbs (I'm assuming you have an s4 NA transmission) shown on page 7a-6 of the FSM as items 7 and 8. This will let you stick your pinky finger (if its small enough) in and feel if the rod is centered, or what I suspect is half a hole off. If it is off, return it to center with a prying tool and repack the bbs and springs. If you have questions on this, take some pictures and we can guide you through it.
2. If the other linkage was halfway engaged, its likely been chewing on your synchros. Check the transmission fluid and make sure you don't have a lot of metal in your fluid. If there is, not a big deal, you'll want to rebuild your transmission. The manual ones are very simple and you can do it yourself.
Shifts into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th no problem at all and the actual little brick under the shifter doesn't want to move far enough left to push forward into 5th or reverse. It didn't grind or make any bad noises when it got stuck in 2nd but with some force, came out of second and then didn't want to shift into any gear, it was stuck pushed to the far left and in neutral until I smashed the shifter around a bit and then it loosened up. Best way to put what I did to it.
I'm gonna go outside and start taking some pictures.
Sorry for somewhat low quality pics but I took the two 10mm bolts off that little blockoff plate that I think was part of the thing you mentioned with BB's and the spring because a spring and bb came out. I'm having a hard time comparing the diagram to my actual transmission from the drawing because it's not exactly spot on afaik. Hard to tell what I'm looking for. The 17mm or 19mm bolt that goes in there has a spring inside the bolt but no bbs (I put it back on last night, decided not to pop it off just now).
Close, but not quite. I have highlighted the caps you need to look at in red. The one you have undone is in green. The problem is further forward towards the gearbox of the transmission. Have a look here and give it a shot.
You are looking to move the 5th/reverse shift rod, #13 in this picture. They're further forward on the trans than the one you took out.
It looks like the 5th/reverse cap is the lower of the two paired caps, towards the drivers side. Check that one first.
You wrote: "Shifts into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th no problem..."
That's good. At least, that makes it somewhat driveable as long as you can get by without using reverse.
Back in May 2014, I was driving my S5 NA with MT to work one sunny Wednesday morning. I stop at a stop sign at a not very busy suburban intersection. Shift from 5th to 1st and let off the clutch and the car dies. I restart and try starting off again and the dies again. I immediately realized that my MT was stuck in 5th gear. So, I had it towed to a nearby parking area until that weekend. I thought that one of the shims in the shift lever broke off and partially jammed my shift lever. This happened to me once or twice before. Well, unfortunately it wasn't the shift lever. It must have been either the shift rod or fork, or it may have been something more serious like a clutch hub or synchro. It was my original transmission with nearly 309k miles. I had a spare used transmission with supposedly 190k miles, so I just swapped it out. Threw the old transmission out. Was tempted to tear it apart to find the problem, but I just had surgery and was in no mood.
Apparently, this is a common problem on NA transmissions. Problems with either the 5th/reverse shift fork, the 5th/reverse clutch hub or the synchros are common. Hopefully, you'll get your RX7 back on the road again soon. If not, than I'd seriously consider trying to pickup a used transmission from a local junk yard or Ebay. Repair your existing transmission and hold on to it. You might need it someday. These transmissions are 30+ years old and some parts are no longer available.
You wrote: "Shifts into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th no problem..."
That's good. At least, that makes it somewhat driveable as long as you can get by without using reverse.
Back in May 2014, I was driving my S5 NA with MT to work one sunny Wednesday morning. I stop at a stop sign at a not very busy suburban intersection. Shift from 5th to 1st and let off the clutch and the car dies. I restart and try starting off again and the dies again. I immediately realized that my MT was stuck in 5th gear. So, I had it towed to a nearby parking area until that weekend. I thought that one of the shims in the shift lever broke off and partially jammed my shift lever. This happened to me once or twice before. Well, unfortunately it wasn't the shift lever. It must have been either the shift rod or fork, or it may have been something more serious like a clutch hub or synchro. It was my original transmission with nearly 309k miles. I had a spare used transmission with supposedly 190k miles, so I just swapped it out. Threw the old transmission out. Was tempted to tear it apart to find the problem, but I just had surgery and was in no mood.
Apparently, this is a common problem on NA transmissions. Problems with either the 5th/reverse shift fork, the 5th/reverse clutch hub or the synchros are common. Hopefully, you'll get your RX7 back on the road again soon. If not, than I'd seriously consider trying to pickup a used transmission from a local junk yard or Ebay. Repair your existing transmission and hold on to it. You might need it someday. These transmissions are 30+ years old and some parts are no longer available.
Definitely what he said. I've got enough to build a spare trans for myself (although mines turbo). This is the 3rd or so NA MT I've seen do this. If 5th or reverse had engaged when you were romping on it, kaboom. I think your synchros were what kept it out of 5th/rev. Really hope you check out your syncros to make sure they haven't been destroyed.
Close, but not quite. I have highlighted the caps you need to look at in red. The one you have undone is in green. The problem is further forward towards the gearbox of the transmission. Have a look here and give it a shot.
You are looking to move the 5th/reverse shift rod, #13 in this picture.
x They're further forward on the trans than the one you took out.
x
It looks like the 5th/reverse cap is the lower of the two paired caps, towards the drivers side. Check that one first.
Sweet! That explains a lot. I'll take a look later today. Trans is coming out anyway as my new clutch arrives Wednesday.
First abnormal thing was that there was a BB in the spot with the two 10mm bolts on the left side of the shifter housing thing here at the bottom just sitting there with the spring behind the select lock spindle. Not sure if that was supposed to be there, not likely. Shows it should be with the bolt and spring and whatnot that goes into this piece here instead on the FSM (I think?)
The spring and select lock spindle came out of here. BB was with them.
I don't know if this is all how they're supposed to look so here's a photo with the pieces that go in there laid out.
The BB in the 5th / reverse cap plug will not come out no matter how much I shake the transmission upside down with it in there, didn't bang on the trans or hit it on anything just held it up and shook it upside down over a tray.
Going to clean the exterior of the trans, order a new throw out and pilot bearing in preparation for my clutch and pressure plate to come in on Wednesday.
ALSO:
When the select lock spindle is removed I can push the shifter over far enough to put it in 5th and reverse, seems to go in with no problems at all.
After reinstalling everything properly according to FSM, I could still not get it to go into 5th or reverse. I had to back out the big bolt holding the little BB against the select lock spindle this far to be able to remotely have the leverage needed to push it into 5th / reverse.
Maybe this attached page will provide more detail on the shift mechanism.
I have installed everything to spec and the problem is with the spindle part number 17-476 in the pdf. With it installed, I cannot put the car into 5th gear or reverse. I installed everything exactly as shown in the images.
Yeah, that's part of the 5th/reverse gear lockout. That has often been a problem with some RX7/Miata owners. In your post #4, you showed a photo of you shift selector (Item 17-510 in pdf) with the groove all chewed-up. Apparently, somebody used excessive force when trying to put the car into gear. That was probably the cause of all your problems. That excessive force probably damaged part #17-470 in pdf. Your shift lever is toast and part #17-470 is NLA from Mazda. Maybe try buying pasts # 17-476 and 14-477 from Mazda (if still available) and see if that solves your problem. If not, than try shopping around for a used transmission. Don't know what else to tell you.
Yeah, that's part of the 5th/reverse gear lockout. That has often been a problem with some RX7/Miata owners. In your post #4, you showed a photo of you shift selector (Item 17-510 in pdf) with the groove all chewed-up. Apparently, somebody used excessive force when trying to put the car into gear. That was probably the cause of all your problems. That excessive force probably damaged part #17-470 in pdf. Your shift lever is toast and part #17-470 is NLA from Mazda. Maybe try buying pasts # 17-476 and 14-477 from Mazda (if still available) and see if that solves your problem. If not, than try shopping around for a used transmission. Don't know what else to tell you.
Until I can get the new parts or transmission, what kind of issues would there be driving without these parts? Would it just not return the shifter to center when I'm in neutral? I found a spare center return spring in my pile of extra junk.
If you Google "rx7 fc3 and can't shift into 5th or reverse gear" or "miata and can't shift into 5th or reverse gear", than you'll get a lot of different comments regarding this issue.
To start, I would suggest trying using a fine file and/or sandpaper to cleanup that chewed-up groove in the shift selector (Item 17-510). I thought I read a comment that somebody wasn't able to shift into 5th/reverse so that person removed items 17-476 and 17-477. You might want give this a try a see what happens. Other than that, I don't know what to tell you except to search and see how others handled this problem.
If you Google "rx7 fc3 and can't shift into 5th or reverse gear" or "miata and can't shift into 5th or reverse gear", than you'll get a lot of different comments regarding this issue.
To start, I would suggest trying using a fine file and/or sandpaper to cleanup that chewed-up groove in the shift selector (Item 17-510). I thought I read a comment that somebody wasn't able to shift into 5th/reverse so that person removed items 17-476 and 17-477. You might want give this a try a see what happens. Other than that, I don't know what to tell you except to search and see how others handled this problem.
I can go into the 5th and reverse gear but to pull it out of 5th gear and leave it in neutral it has a limp shifter. I reinstalled everything as the FSM shows and it doesn't work right. If I had a properly functioning transmission maybe I'd be able to pinpoint the issue but for now I'll have to run without those parts.
Drove the car all day today. Got my new clutch in and it's like an on/off switch because it's a unsprung sintered metal 4 puck.
Anyway, no difference in shift quality or anything, the shifter just doesn't return to center still and you can now go "too far" over towards 5th / reverse and have to bring it back a little to put it in gear. Besides that, no changes. Drives fine.
06-14-20, 01:22 AM
