I think I know but for some added assurance, I thought I would post.


I have a 95 mazda tranny, for some reason it takes a notion every once in a while, to not go into first or second from neutral with the engine running, slide the shifter back to the right and 9 outta 10 times it goes into gear just fine after doing so. However, the other day I went to put it in reverse and it made the inevitable grinding sound. The slave cylinder was replaced 40000 miles ago and there are no simillarities between now and when the slave cylinder went. Its also very inconsistant, one day it won't mis a beat, the next it might be difficult going into first or second, the reverse grinding may occur once a month. Its the inconsitancy thats throwing me off.


FWIW, there is no tranny fluid leakage, actually just replaced that today. NO leaks in the hydraullic line or at the slave cylinder, the master cylinder is full of fluid. The firewall does not move. I measured the travel of the clutch it came up short by about 1/8", appears to be hydrallic but is there a way to check and determine if its the slave cylinder or master cylinder? I am gonna play the odds game and change the master cylinder if there is not, probably lose but thats life. I attached my marks just for the heck of it, just incase someone wanted to see what .450" looks like on an envelope. The red mark is how far the clutch actually traveled, the travel goes left to right.


Any thoughts?

 

Motorhead,

I don't have an answer but I do have the same problem on my '95 Mazda. Currently at 150k and I've changed the tranny oil several times hoping for some relief. Everything is still factory. It started doing this at about 60,000 miles and the tranny hasn't crapped out yet. Sometimes I will slip the tranny into 4th and release the clutch just to where it starts to engage, then it will usually go right into 1st or R.

Hope someone out there has an answer for us.

 

Have you checked your slave cylinder travel, ideal is .450", there is a rubber plug at the bottom of the drivers side, remove it, if you get someone to push the clutch for you, you can eye ball the slave cylinder and see how far it moves, make two marks on a piece of paper .450" apart, should meet or exceed that.

I will change the MC if that is not it, then I am suspecting its the shifter forks....

I used to when it wouldn't go into any gear from neutral, slide it into reverse, then right back into first it would go but that has since stopped working...


9 outta 10 times, if I go to put it into first and its a no go, if I slide the shifter to the opposite side, first gear slide to the right, reverse slide to the left, then back, it goes right in...thats why I am thinking it has nothing to do with the hydraullics because the clutch pedal stays planted on the floor the entire time. another oddity, finally after I get it into first, if I then put it back into neutral and release the clutch pedal, I can feel something inside the tranny move and I am back to were I started, no go into any gear....aggravating as hell...

 

Hey fella, just spoke with a tech.

He stated that on these trannies, there is a plastic cup on the shifter assembly, he stated they wear out easily and hes replaced many, thats if the slave travel is good, no leaks, no fluid loss etc.

Just an FYI


later

 

I haven't ever checked out the clutch travel but the fluid level in the clutch master cylinder seems to remain about the same. I'll check out the plastic cup.

Thanks!

 

Well fella, I checked the cup in the tranny and replaced the master cylinder, nothing improved. I am out of solutions right now, I am thinking more and more its the tranny, something internal, shifter forks or synchros?


Thought I would tell ya, when my slave cylinder went bad, my clutch pedal came back to the upright position, but it didn't engage until it was almost to the floor and very soft.



later