Seems I can never win with the 7. Car has been "weird" since getting back from inspection on Monday. But first, my immediate problem.

When taking the car out of first gear it is rough, feels like it's almost hitting something. Won't pull out of first smoothly. It's engaging all other gears with no problems, but just getting it out of first, it feels like there's no lube to be honest. Not to mention, when putting into first, the shifter seems to be going to the left of first. Meaning, when I'd normally shift into first, the shifter would be at 12 o'clock, but now it'll go to 11 or 10 o'clock instead. I can still get it to go into the 12 o'clock position ( haven't tried with the car running though ).

I should also mention, when I said "weird" earlier, I mean shifting felt out of norm. I chalked it up to human error. Figured I hadn't driven the car in a few days, and maybe got accustomed to my dads car. Every time I went to go into a gear, I was a little off. Kept missing, and had to move to the side to find the gear.

Should also mention, 2nd grinds a little.

Anyone have some guessemations?

P.s. sorry if it's a vague or weird description, I tried to explain it to my dad, but couldn't figure out how to put it right, so just ended up showing him, as that was waaay easier.

 

bad shifter bushings? does it grind when you shift?

 

Second gear grind is quite common with these cars. It's so common, there was a Mazda Service Bulletin about it when these cars were still fairly new. As your thread title suggests this is often caused by a worn synchro, but can also be a lubrication issue. If you don't already have a quality synthetic gear oil in your tranny, this can make this much less noticeable. I'm using Redline MT-90 which is nice, but a little slow to warm up on a cold morning. In summertime, it's awesome. People have also had good things to say about Royal Purple, Neo, and AmsOil. Do a search for more suggestions on this subject.

The imprecise motion of the shifter could be a bushing issue, and the roughness you're feeling may be caused by broken up shards of bushing stuck in there. Mazdatrix sells bushing kits for under $30 I believe; they're supposed to be pretty easy to put in too. (The previous owner of my current car did mine already.)

Also might want to check the functioning of your clutch hydraulics (slave & master).

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I dropped the car off at my mechanics this morning before work, figured it was acting up after I got it back, it was his problem, so to speak.

There's no grinding other than the second gear synchros. Other than that, it's as quite as can be.

The roughness is only apparent when it "miss shifts". I can still get it to go into first normally, and it shifts fine out of that. But when it shoots to the left when going into first, that's when it is rough to get out. However, thinking back to when I got the car back and couldn't find my gears like I should have, I'm beginning to think it is the bushings.

 

Just thought I'd follow up and say it was indeed the bushings. Ordered everything from Mazdatrix and installed, car and shifter are great.

 

Good news. Enjoy!

 

hello, bringing back an old thread, my car has this second gear issue as well.

I was wondering which bushing kit you bought from mazdatrix? i have a '91

There seems to be three bushings from them, 79-95(upper), 79-95 (lower) and 89-92 (lower)

 

79-95 upper and lower Just replaced mine there in Signal Hill off the 405 right on Cherry that is if you in the O.C. in Cali. it was like 23 bucks all together. One is blue bottom and the top is white. make sure you tighten everything back up and dont break the bolts that go there or stupid things will happen. One of my bolts broke and if the other 1 loosens then I cant get my car into reverse, then I blow my fuse for my dash and warning lights.

 

How do you replace shifter bushings?

 

It's easy. Remove your shift ****, the surround and the shift boot. Theres your shifter, remove the 3 10mm bolts and pull the shifter out if you still have bushings left. You'll see them one on top of the ball and the other will be on the base. If they disappeared like mine did you have to try a turkey baster or like I did with my fingers, and try to get all the plastic chunks out of there trust me its tight in there. I have semi small hands so if I say its tight you know its tight.

Try to get as much of the old bushing out as possible. Try get all the gear oil out also, and replace with new gear oil the lower one is tricky with the metal spring washer thing to get seated in just right. Once it is put the shifter back in in the cup and put the new bushing on the top, line up everything and tighten it all down. DO NOT BREAK ONE OF THOSE 3 BOLTS REINSTALLING IT!!!'my bolt broke now half the time I cant get into reverse and if it wont go in reverse if I shift to 5th I pop my meter fuse.

 

Would bad shifter bushings cause the transmission to grind?
my clutch is pretty old and i thought that was it or my syncros are wore out.
it grinds most common from first to second and second to 3rd, and when down shifted from 2nd to 1st.

 

I dont think the shifter bushings would cause grinding, my bet would be the syncros. When you downshift rev match and see if it still grinds, if not its probably the syncros.

 

"Seems I can never win with the 7. Car has been "weird" since getting back from inspection on Monday."

To me it sounds like someone broke your shifter.
I would bitch or be asking questions about who beat up my car.

 

No it would make it hard to go into gear from time to time but not grind. The only reason I say from time to time is cause the shifter wouldn't be seated...

 

I usually rev match and the grind is still there just not as bad.
It must be my syncros then, thanks.