dubcaps

Leave the auto bashing comments aside for a minute please.

Alright i just got my FD back from having a new ignition switch put in. On the way home i went to give it some gas on the highway and instead of dropping into a lower gear, it stayed in the gear was in revved up a little and then at about 3000 the rpms just shot up without the car moving any faster. (it was like i had put it into neutral). So i turned around to ask the mechanic if they knew what was up. I shifted into reverse and it made the little noise it makes when you shift into a gear, gave it gas and the engine revved without the car moving. I left the car there yesterday and they were going to have it towed to a tranny shop. Turns out the tranny shop cant look at the car for a week as they are backed up and im just sitting here clueless and without a car. By no means have i abused my transmission, never revved it up in neutral and shifted to drive, never any torque/power braking, just normal driving. Anyone know what could be wrong?
-stephen

bajaman

Have you checked the ATF fluid level? Did the car work fine until you had the ignition switch fixed? How long was it at this shop? What was the mileage when you took it in compared to when you got it back?
I am just wondering if the guys that put the ignition switch in didn't go hell raising in it, and fucked it up!

I have the service manual in front of me....could be a host of things...

Check the fluid level first....it gets bad from there.

dubcaps

the fluid was the first thing we checked it was fine. the mechanic was a really good friend of my dad's so i cant imagine them doing anything but you never know these days. everything worked fine prior to taking it in there and now its like the tranny is slipping or something. we are taking it to a tranny shop today so ill let you guys know.
-stephen

bajaman

Since the tranny has its own computer, I imagine it is possible that if something didn't get connected back up correctly during the ignition switch replacement, it could possibly lock a valve open and not let pump pressure build.
Did you use a factory ignition switch when you replaced it?

Yeah, let us know what the deal is when you find out.

weaklink

hate to say it, but that is what happened when mine went out. I had lost 3rd gear. Reverse was gone for a while, but soon worked again. Happened soon after I installed PFC, IC, intake. About 10 minutes from RP in Dallas I nailed it on I-30...BANG. Just as you describe, when the motor should have shifted to 3rd it just spun the tach freely like it was in neutral. $3K just in labor. I had mine rebuilt with level 10 parts, but it would probably be cheaper to just swap a new MPV tranny in there. Or convert to 5 speed...which is what I plan to do later. Can't seem to blow the level 10 tranny up though!

dubcaps

it was a factory igntion switch b/c they said the only place that they could get one from was mazda and that it was like $140. the car is actually going in tomorrow to be fixed b/c i got detained in raleigh for the day. ill keep you guys posted.
-stephen

JONSKI

Sounds like a perfect excuse for a 5-spd swap.

dubcaps

And to the comment about hearing a loud "bang" when flooring it. i never heard anything but then again, i guess there is always the chance that one of the mechanics took it out for a joyride after getting it fixed.
-stephen

Edit: id love to swap out the tranny...we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

bajaman

Hmmm, that is about half the price quoted to me. I can't remember the exact figures but it was close to $300 for the entire switch or $240 for just the electrical part.
Regardless, it sounds like your tranny problem is just coincidental with that switch replacement.
I'll bet you can pick up a used MPV transmission for less than a "RX-7" transmission.....
Someone should do that, see if the salvage yards up the price for the same tranny just because of the RX-7 name.

Anyways, I hope you get back on the road soon man....good luck!

dubcaps

thanks for the help guys. i know its been asked a million times and i used to have a bunch of sites saved but does anyone have the links to the auto to manual swap sites? my HD crashed so i cant get any of my favorites back. thanks again.
-stephen