Gear Box Problems, CLunky change 1-2

Hi guys im new to this. Im in New Zealand and my dad just brought me an rs200 and im only 15. Im loving it!!!!!!!!!Although i am noticind a noticeably loud clunk (with the radio off) coming from the outside, when shofting straight back from first to second. If i shift back into the centre and then move it far left and shift back into second it seems to make the noise a lot less noticeable, but it is still there. Is any one having the same problem ????????? I am shifting like this to eliminate it but it makes the gear chancges increadibly slow.
Along with this when shifting (softly) from 2 to 3 the it kicks back without making any noise but kicks back into your hand. If you shift fast and hard you don 't notice it. I was reading a post about a guy who had the problem between first and second along with some others but it didnt' ahve much about it. Im not sure what to think. please get back to me if your having the same problem.

Cheers Jebbe

Sounds like a lot of the manual gearboxes here. Largely, this can be expected from this gearbox as they get older. It can be helped by the regular replacement of a good quality gearbox fluid (make sure they do this at each service). My clutch is rather worn, and i will hopefully report much improvement when i get a new one in. What i have noticed is that the 'clunkiness' from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd has gotten slowly worse as the clutch wears out. But you can make smooth changes by closely matching the revs at each change (ie. changing quickly between 3000 and 4000rpm). I have had at least one service guy at Lexus tell me they i should pause between 1st and 2nd when changing 1st to 2nd, but if you hold the shifter away from you as you change you can get a resonably smooth change.

And can i just go on record as saying your one LUCKY 15YR OLD! You had better appreciate that car of yours or ELSE!

Where abouts in NZ jebbe? Catch up with some other members and try their cars to see if your's is any worse.

I have no problems with mine, no clunkiness, but your's sounds like worn synchro cones. Maybe they've been well hammered in the past.

cheers

keith

Hey Jebsta,

Sounds just like mine! exactly the same things including the kick in 2-3. As Thunderbird said, the gearbox fluid change makes a huge difference. I just put in some Castrol VMX (not too expensive but great lube), it made a massive difference. I thought it might be my clutch too but I just changed that, the thrust bearing and the flywheel to single mass and it made very little difference.

Good luck, welcome to the club and congrats on the new car you lucky little shit!!!

Mine will clunk if you pull the stick 'promptly' from 1st to 2nd. A slight pause on the way through however does avoid the clunk.

same for me, except if you pull it harld left when going into 2nd no thump

As Greeneyes has mentioned above, the fact that difficult changes usually only occur bettween 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd is a good indication that worn syncros could be at fault. I'm fairly sure this is the case with my car. Jebsta, how many K's on your car?

mine does it and its 10,000km old

15? Fark you lucky bastard!

Mine was fine @ 80,000kms, its even better now...Supra 5 speed

Clunky 6speed is normal/common.
Nothing to worry about. You won't get rid of it whatever you do!

It's more like a feature It's the soul of the car

Mines a 2001 and it's done 80 000. So you guys reckon replacing the gear box fluid and see what happens ?
Im on the north shore in Auckland. Don't worry guys i respect it !!!!!! lol. I know im a lucky peice of shit. How many of you guys are in auckland ?

Jebbe

This is my "mother" voice (not that I've actually got any kids)
I HOPE YOU KEEP WITHIN THE REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR RESTRICTED LICENCE
Also recommend a proper track based driver training course. You will have all the fun in the world and not risk endangering your licence, or worse hurting yourself or someone else.
You are really lucky to have such a nice car at such a young age. Enjoy.
Stern face off now
Tania

Hey thanks for the MOTHER voice. I am keeping within my restrictions because my parents will sell the car if i don't. I am actually doing a BMW driver training course at Pukekohe because my dad just bought a new M5.

hey ok i take it you ARE brads brother, its nelsons brother, welcome to the altezzaclub

Well by now I would say you have all the answers you require. I have read all the replies and yeah I think you will have the gist of things.
I live out Howick way as a number of us do. There are a couple of members on the shore - hook up with them and see what you can work out.

Regards
Stephen.

Update: some improvement to report with my new clutch (and flywheel). The problem is reduced, but not eliminated. Having driven Charlie's car, his gearbox is newer, and much smoother. Cluckiness is still there, and by all reports will only be reduced with more power/torque eg. via improved exhaust.
Further discoveries with the new clutch/flywheel combo have revealed that, even more then with the stock setup, the gearbox much prefers quick, snappy changes (which are easier with the sport clutch) peferably at around 3500-4000rpm. These seems to be the sweet spot for smooth easy changes.

This post has been edited by Thunderbird2 on Jan 12 2006, 10:54 PM

Yeah i think its just another altezza thing! Every car i have ever test driven has done it. lol I might change my oil next weekend and see how that goes. Mine car is up to 37,00kms now. Hey Jebsta where on the shore are you. I am in Hillcrest up by Glenfield!

I just came across a new website, check this link out.

http://www.mx-5.com/forum/Default.aspx?g=p...=33&find=unread

Hey im in Takapuna.
Thanks for all the info guys

Yes, I see the problem is the same for the MX5 enthusiasts.

I've tried to hook up with them for lunch runs, but no replies. A pity as the two clubs have such similar interests and enthusiasms, and the Altezzas would be a good match for MX5s on our country roads.

Imaging 20cars heading for Taupo via the back roads!

I think my car has a similar problem, shifting from 1st to 2nd, then sometime from 2nd to 3rd. Doesn't always happen, but very noticeable when the car is cold. After driving a while, it seems to smooth out.

Getting my car serviced very soon, should i just get them to do it, or save the money and do it myself?

It would be interesting to find out what fluid they use. Providing you know what your doing and you can source the right fluid, it would obviously be cheaper to do yourself.

I have the short shifter now, and this improves changes a little, but more force is required with the short shifter. It's still smoother to pause when changing 1st to 2nd, particularly when cold. Once warm, changes above 4k rpm can be down quickly and smoothly.

A clunky gearbox when cold is common to most cars, more noticeable in some then in others.