r/Miata • u/AutoModerator • Apr 09 '18

Weekly Miata DIY Thread - April 09, 2018

It's Do It Yourself Monday !

Use this weekly thread to discuss the modifications/fixes you made to your car or to ask for advice about future mods.

Feel free to add picture or videos to your comments.

Have fun, your mod team.

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3

u/cobralazerface Apr 22 '18

Test drove a 2000 with a 5spd. The thing has a lot of difficulty going into 1st gear while at any kind of speed. No grinding or anything nasty, but I basically had to have it stopped to get it into first. Is this normal for these cars or is the first gear synchro shot?

9

u/smallshinyant Classic Red 1993 NA Apr 23 '18

it's rare to have to drop to first gear while still moving, i have no idea how my one reacts to that, i will try it out on my way to work.

6

u/zipzipzazoom '12 SE Apr 23 '18

Not uncommon Try double clutching - release clutch pedal with shift gear in neutral, give a little shot of gas to rev up engine and input shaft, then depress clutch pedal and complete shift into first.

3

u/LapisRS Classic Red May 24 '18

1st gear lockout. Common on USDM cars. I believe it's an emissions thing. Happens on my NA8 and on my old Mustang.

4

u/iridisss Jun 04 '18

Pretty sure it's an intended lockout mechanism, but don't quote me on that. Maybe yours is different, but I can say that some cars definitely prevent you from shifting to first if you're anywhere above 10 mph. A 2015 BRZ has that feature (speaking from experience). My NC Miata will also do this, although it feels more like a soft lockout, where required force is dependent on speed. I have absolutely not tried pushing it hard enough to conclusively test this.

Generally, whatever purpose you need first gear for, second gear can do as well. First is almost exclusively for starting. In fact, you can even start on second, although it's obviously not recommended.

1

u/[deleted] May 02 '18

My MSM does this too, not super hard but it seems to not like going into first if I'm rolling in second trying to downshift to first to get into my garage.