Firtly, apologies for posting a very manufacturer/model specific thread. However, I know there are a lot of MX5 owners here, so thought this information might be of some used to you.
This relates to issues specifically with the 6 speed transmission in the Mk3 MX5. There is a lot of talk about this particular gearbox exhibiting some annoyances which many (including myself) have put down to simply being characteristic of the car. However I recently started browsing miata.net, an American based MX5 owners forum and stumbled across this very interesting thread whereby the OP found that making a fairly routine adjustment cured a lot of the problems;
I was intrigued because I have found that these are the exact problems I had with my transmission, as well as finding a lot of my shifting very jerky and unnatural feeling.
Anyway, I wont go into too much detail as the thread explains most of it. But in summary, it appears that basically a lot of the MX5s with the 6 speed tranmission have their clutch pedals improperly adusted. The bite point is very low and it turns out that the above problems are being caused by the clutch not fully disengaging, even with the clutch pedal buried in the carpet.
The good news is, you can adjust the clutch pedal slightly to increase the throw it places on the hydraulics - essentially raising the bite point and ensuring that the clutch is fully disengaged. Instructions on how to do that are linked in the thread (http://www.miata.net/garage/adjust_clutch/index.html).
Given that I had always found the transmission on this car a bit of a weak spot, I was eager to have a go and last night I managed to squeeze myself into the footwell and get behind the clutch pedal (big guys beware....you might get stuck). I made the adjustments as per the instructions on the Miata thread and took the car for a drive.
The difference was immediately apparent. The bite point has been raised to a much more natural position - no longer only an inch or two off the carpet, it now bites about halfway up the pedal travel which makes for more fluid and natural feeling gear shifts. It's much easier to balance with the throttle. The car doesn't lurch when upshifting and accelerating hard (a problem I was convinced was down to my poor driving technique), and it downshifts into lower gears much more easily (a particular complaint with the 6 speed - it's incredibly hard to engage first gear at anyhting other than a dead stop; its now much easier to do this, albeit, still quite a struggle unless moving slowly). It also fixed the notorious 2nd gear problem - when cold, the first time you try to engage second gear, it is almost immpossible to get into gear. This morning, I rolled out of my garage and for the first time, I switched into second gear with ease.
There has been a lot of discussion about how an improved transmission fluid can help the baulkiness of the 6speed. I think this might be the next step for me, as when cold, the gears still feel a little notchy. However, adjusting the clutch pedal has transformed the car - it now feels like Im driving, rather than fighting it.
So, apologies once again for the manufactuer specific thread, but I really hope that the other MX5 owners here who have had the same problems with their gearbox and just accepted it as "the way the car is" get to see this and try the adjustment themselves. Read the Miata thread in detail and see what you think. I made the adjustment last night and I am ecstatic that it's improved the car so much for the sake of 10 minutes upside down in the footwell with a couple of spanners
My only dissapointment is that I didn't know about this when I bought the car a year ago. It really has been my only complaint with the car thus far.
This relates to issues specifically with the 6 speed transmission in the Mk3 MX5. There is a lot of talk about this particular gearbox exhibiting some annoyances which many (including myself) have put down to simply being characteristic of the car. However I recently started browsing miata.net, an American based MX5 owners forum and stumbled across this very interesting thread whereby the OP found that making a fairly routine adjustment cured a lot of the problems;
I was intrigued because I have found that these are the exact problems I had with my transmission, as well as finding a lot of my shifting very jerky and unnatural feeling.
Anyway, I wont go into too much detail as the thread explains most of it. But in summary, it appears that basically a lot of the MX5s with the 6 speed tranmission have their clutch pedals improperly adusted. The bite point is very low and it turns out that the above problems are being caused by the clutch not fully disengaging, even with the clutch pedal buried in the carpet.
The good news is, you can adjust the clutch pedal slightly to increase the throw it places on the hydraulics - essentially raising the bite point and ensuring that the clutch is fully disengaged. Instructions on how to do that are linked in the thread (http://www.miata.net/garage/adjust_clutch/index.html).
Given that I had always found the transmission on this car a bit of a weak spot, I was eager to have a go and last night I managed to squeeze myself into the footwell and get behind the clutch pedal (big guys beware....you might get stuck). I made the adjustments as per the instructions on the Miata thread and took the car for a drive.
The difference was immediately apparent. The bite point has been raised to a much more natural position - no longer only an inch or two off the carpet, it now bites about halfway up the pedal travel which makes for more fluid and natural feeling gear shifts. It's much easier to balance with the throttle. The car doesn't lurch when upshifting and accelerating hard (a problem I was convinced was down to my poor driving technique), and it downshifts into lower gears much more easily (a particular complaint with the 6 speed - it's incredibly hard to engage first gear at anyhting other than a dead stop; its now much easier to do this, albeit, still quite a struggle unless moving slowly). It also fixed the notorious 2nd gear problem - when cold, the first time you try to engage second gear, it is almost immpossible to get into gear. This morning, I rolled out of my garage and for the first time, I switched into second gear with ease.
There has been a lot of discussion about how an improved transmission fluid can help the baulkiness of the 6speed. I think this might be the next step for me, as when cold, the gears still feel a little notchy. However, adjusting the clutch pedal has transformed the car - it now feels like Im driving, rather than fighting it.
So, apologies once again for the manufactuer specific thread, but I really hope that the other MX5 owners here who have had the same problems with their gearbox and just accepted it as "the way the car is" get to see this and try the adjustment themselves. Read the Miata thread in detail and see what you think. I made the adjustment last night and I am ecstatic that it's improved the car so much for the sake of 10 minutes upside down in the footwell with a couple of spanners
My only dissapointment is that I didn't know about this when I bought the car a year ago. It really has been my only complaint with the car thus far.
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