After Clutch Chatter Fixed
 

I was wondering if anyone else who had the repair for the clutch chatter TSB performed had any problems with their tranny after they got it back. I got mine back Wednesday (worked fine), my wife had problems with it on Thursday, and I drive it today and its all f'ed up.

The transmission is grinding in second gear and the action is very difficult going from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 1st (starts going away as the tranny warms up). If you go neutral to 1st works fine, makes me think maybe they screwed up the synchros. Dealership is trying to blame it on the grease they used and won't look at it until Monday. Very pissed off, just wanted to verify it wasn't common before I went and kicked their butts.

That Sucks
 

Sorry to hear about your transmission problems--

Say, on the note of clutch chatter, did you have any trouble getting the dealer to do the work in the first place?

I'm getting the clutch chatter issue when cold, but it doesn't do it all the time, and I am concerned that when I take it to the dealer for inspection they'll come back with the lame-ass "Can't reproduce" spiel. There have been a few times, however, when the car shakes violently due to the clutch erratically engaging (and no, it's not the front tires losing grip). It's a major piss off.

Anyway, regardless of the cause, you know the transmission isn't in the same good shape it was before (except for the clutch chatter), so obviously they screwed something up. They'll make it right or I'd say you should contact Mazda directly.

Good luck!

Only problem I've had is the clutch pedal is really mushy when it's cold. No problems with the selection of gears.

I had some trouble getting them to do the work. When I gave them the TSB number (in the FAQ) they went ahead and did it. I acted like I looked it up the day it came back "no problem found" instead of knowing about it beforehand.

If any of you guys have trouble reproducing ANY cold-car problems, try to leave your car at the dealer overnight so THEY can drive it cold. You shouldn't have any "cannot reproduce problem" inspections if they can drive it when it is truly cold.

~HH

Dealerships have this wonderful ability to not be able to reproduce problems, even when you do leave it overnight. I was going to have to go down to the dealership the next morning and show them what was wrong, but when I gave them the TSB number they fixed it.

I had the same thing with the cold engine rattle. I had to go up there early in the morning before I had to be at work and take the mechanic on a test drive to show him what the problem was.

Taking my P5 in Thursday for tranny/ clutch issue. Its my daily driver but only has about 2800 miles on her and have had her since last May. 2nd gear has always had issues (grinding) Rvrse is a b*tch sometimes, in fact I found that if I let the clutch half way out it will shift into reverse..... Why? Took the car in for this about three months ago to no avail. There isalso a loud rattle they said they fixed (didn't) comming from my passenger door, and the sunroof now grinds when tilting.
All in all this car is one hell of a package and much better built than my previous one. Just hoping the trany isnt gonna be a huge issue.

clutch chatter
 

What exactly do you guys mean abouth clutch chater i recently bought a 2002 mp5 5-speed my first stick shfit car but been driving them off and on being my friends have them and all. but do you all mean like when it heasitates to excellerate when it is cole and feels like the car is bouncing in a sence bc this is what my car does in the cold.

I had the work done to mine as well, but I haven't had any problems with mine. Didn't notice any difference other than a smoother engaging with the clutch and no more chatter.

They have looked at it and decided that the problem is the transmission fluid they used. For some retarded reason they used a transmission fluid different from the stock fluid (idiots). I hope that is all that is wrong but I have a feeling my car is going to be back in the shop later this week.

I would get them to put that statement in writing - the part about using the wrong fluids. The, after any repairs are made (or they just put in the right fluid), contact Mazda headquarters and ask them what they are going to do for you. At the very least, they should extend your warranty on the tranny - doubling it would be nice. That way, if you have any issues down the road, you have your proof and you'll get it taken care of.

Even if Mazda does nothing for you, get the statement in writing anyway - it can only give you leverage in the future should bad things happen.....

~HH

Yeah. Instead of "we used the wrong fluid" now it is "we used a recommended fluid, but a heavier one" so we changed it to a "lighter one that is listed as an alternative" and then MNAO told us to change it to a "full synthetic". "We changed the transmission fluid twice today". I'm pretty sure the service advisor did not enjoy the last conversation I had with him. I'm about to bring Mazda into it, and the dealership owner, because this is absolutely absurd. The sad part is that Jeff Haas is one of the better dealerships in Houston and the only decent one nearby. The only dealership in Houston I have to choose from is Joe Myers and they, frankly, are the crappiest dealership I have ever been to in my life (sales and service).

Tomorrow, I'm betting that I will start the car, get moving, and try to shift it into second. Then I'm going to hear a beautiful grind (if I decide to slam it in) and be Incredible Hulk pissed off.

I guess I told me so. Looks like my little ES is going back to the shop on Monday. I'm going to make them put the full synthetic back in when they change it (just because I'm an a-hole).

My guess is that the synchros on this transmission aren't all that good to begin with or they dropped it pretty hard. Either way I'm pretty pissed. MNAO is getting a friendly phone call tomorrow.

I had mine done about a month ago. I have not had a single problem out of it since, and it gets real cold here in Maine.

Its been in the shop again since Monday. I might get it back this afternoon. Only good thing about it is that they are finishing the engine noise fix while it is in there.

Bad thing about it is that I'm driving a bleepin SOHC Focus around. Most exciting drive I've had in years, mainly waiting for the wheels to fall off or the brakes to fall apart (what kind of rental company rents a car with more than 30k miles?).