Attn: 5spd owners

[MAZDA Kitten]

Considering that Ive never owned a brand new car before Ive experienced this with my 3.
The car just hit 8k... and recently I started noticing the shifting is A LOT smoother. Before going from 1st to 2nd was (for a lack of a better term) \'jerky\' as well as 2nd to 3rd but not as bad as 1st to 2nd. Everyone else who has driven my car (my brother, my dad and my BF) has commented on the same thing so I know its not my driving. I cant describe how amazing the shifting feels now compared to before.

Is this a normal thing to expect with a brand new clutche Like I said this is my first brand new car and I didnt test drive a 5spd prior to buying this one so I have nothing to compare it to.

TIA

[rbart4506]

I\'m find the same thing with mine....I think it also might have something to do with just getting use to the car itself...I know that the electronic throttle has a delay to it and it make starting smooth a bit more of a task...

Rich

[chaser]

i notice that shifting is smoother than before, after my 1st oil change at 7000km. But don\'t know whether it is because of the Mobil1 0W20 or the gearbox has finally run-in after 7-8K? Anyway, I enjoy driving it, even more :D

[MZ3_GS]

Light long throw clutch and really smooth shifter makes the difference.

You can try doing what I do, Clutch before going off the throttle so the engine RPMS spin up. By the time you get the shifter into the correct gate and start letting out the clutch the engine rpms should be at the right place so very little jerk, and easier on the clutch.;)

[majic]

Originally posted by MZ3_GS
Clutch before going off the throttle so the engine RPMS spin up.

wouldn\'t that cause some clutch slipping? b/c you rev higher as you ease off the clutch.. wouldn\'t it be better to clutch in, blip the gas, gear down to effectively rev match the lower gear (wait are you talking down or up shift?) and then ease in the clutch and gas and off you go w/o jerking

[MZ3_GS]

Upshift.

I don\'t engine brake(only going down a hill). I use my real brakes.:sarc

[majic]

Originally posted by MZ3_GS


Upshift.

I don\'t engine brake(only going down a hill). I use my real brakes.:sarc


i don\'t either.. i was talking when you need to downshift to pass or when you come into a corner..

[tommy36]

Man, i hope mine gets smoother, although i don\'t know if it matters because i want a short throw.....:)

[kl7402001]

do u guys have probs goin into reverse? .. sometimes i can\'t get it in .. .. i m thinking something is wrong with mine

[david3]

Are you going from neutral -> clutch in -> reverse and not from lets say, 1st directly into reverse?

[billyfo]

I am thinking changing the transmission oil to Redline synthetic one at 24K service, try to find out any difference.

[keving]

Yeah sometimes the teeth don\'t connect on reverse, I think reverse is lacking a synchro maybe? But anyways, if you can\'t seem to go into reverse, you can
a) put it back in neutral, clutch pedal back up, and then try again
OR
b) with the clutch pedal pressed down, shift to any of the forward gears, then shift to reverse with the clutch pedal held down all this time.
Hope this helps,
kevin

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Reverse gear is straight-cut while the forward gears are spline-cut.

this is one of the reasons why reverse is hard to get into at times.

[kl7402001]

thanks for the suggestions guys ... i do that.. i put it in neutral and do it again ... but its such a hassel is there something i can do to fix it? .. or its just the way it is ...

[car_demon]

Originally posted by kl7402001


do u guys have probs goin into reverse? .. sometimes i can\'t get it in .. .. i m thinking something is wrong with mine

Pretty much what the other guy said regarding going into 1st gear 1st with the clutch depressed and then to Reverse.

[car_demon]

Manual Shifting Techniques (http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/)