Miata transmission change

[ispoonwithmugen]

So I have a dilemma with the Miata. Not only does it have to go but I believe that the transmission is shot. I have a broken hand so I can't work on the car at all or at least the extent I can is very limited. Would anyone want to take on the job and get paid or take something I own? Still not completely convinced it's the transmission but AAMCO insists it is. Symptoms are 1,3,5 aren't going in at all. It feels like it could be the shifter cable but I don't know if that has north/south movement versus east and west movement. The shifter feels like its getting held back from going forward, like a resistance band is holding it from coming forward.

[SlimKlim]

Sorry to hear about your hand.

The miata shifter is a direct linkage isn't it? I don't think there is a cable, the shifter bolts directly onto the back of the trans. I don't understand transmission internals very well but I wonder if the selector fork is somehow damaged inside the trans.

The good news is swapping a miata trans can actually be a 1 person job, you don't even need a hoist. I was able to drop mine using a set of long 1/2" extensions to reach all the bell housing bolts, then I rigged up a sling with a couple 2x4s on top of the trans tunnel and a rope to loop around the back of the trans so that i could wiggle the front loose, then I just lowered it down by hand, it only weighs like 60lbs.

I wish I was closer so I could give you a hand, hopefully someone in your neck of the woods has some free time.

[JPolen01]

I wish I was closer so I could give you a hand

:lol:

[CaptainHenreh]

I'll do it all by myself for 4500 bucks.

[SlimKlim]

I wish I was closer so I could give you a hand

:lol:

8)

[Jake]

There's no shift cables, the shifter goes straight down into the trans.

It's very easy to pull that bit apart - center console out, shift knob off, four bolts to take the rubber boot off and you can pull the shifter out from there. Maybe it's just not sitting in there quite right?

[Evan]

the white plastic bushing on the bottom of the shifter where it meets the trans wears out real easy, it can cause gear selection issues.
the rubber boot(s) also rip and the few CCs of gear oil in the selector leak out, which also makes it harder to put in gear.

not sure if either adds up to not being able to put in gear AT ALL, but couldnt hurt to stop by the dealer for the $2 bushing and pour in a dab of gear oil to find out

[*insertusernamehere*]

Buy me a clutch and flywheel for my car and I'll do anything you want.

[Sully]

$1k for whole car

[SlimKlim]

Buy me a clutch and flywheel for my car and I'll do anything you want.

If Evan's suggestions to replace the bushing and top up the gear oil don't work out this sounds like the beginnings of a deal. :thumbup:

[Mike]

I see everyone else's offers and am prepared to give you $50 less than the lowest one.

[Kaan]

one handed Miata repairs always start with

[ispoonwithmugen]

^lol that's about where I am right now.

[navin]

Did you ever replace the clutch slave cylinder?

[Goodspeed]

Is the clutch master cylinder play and pedal height properly adjusted? I'm no expert but I remember on this car that we had to fiddle a lot with the adjustment of both to move enough fluid to disengage the clutch. And as the clutch disc wears re-adjustment is necessary. I know in my car after the clutch install, it all of a sudden had problems going into 5th and reverse that got worse over time and a readjustment fixed, just throwing it out there.

[Evan]

Did you ever replace the clutch slave cylinder?

oooh yeah forgot about that. i went through at least 3 on my racecar.

cheap rebuild kit and a good bleed fixes it. (dont short the bleed, takes a while)

[SlimKlim]

Jake did we put a new slave on it when we swapped the motor or no?

[Jake]

Jake did we put a new slave on it when we swapped the motor or no?

No. The slave was replaced in summer '08 right after I bought the car. One of very few things I paid a shop (the dealership, actually... sigh) to do before I learned how to work on it.

[ispoonwithmugen]

Just an update. Fell off a little bit. I don't think it would be the slave or master. The car shifts fine in 2nd,4th, reverse. I can drive it fine and have great pressure on the clutch pedal.

[Sully]

Synchros? Gears? Rebuild it? I tore apart the civic trans. Wasn't that hard.