I have a problem which is pretty hard to describe but I will do my best. I am not sure what I am noticing is normal on a Mazda3 or I might have a problem? When I shift gears from 1st-2nd, 2nd-3rd, 3rd-4th, I notice what almost feels like a notch/bumb with my hand. This won't allow a clean/smooth shift into the next gear. When I shift there seems to be a very brief pause that I can feel with my hand and then I continue with the rest of the shift to put into gear properly. It feels like the shift falls into a notch and then will proceed to go into proper gear. When I shift I can feel a bump/notch and then it goes into gear.

One other problem I have noticed a few times is that my car doesn't want to go into reverse. Yes I had the clutch fully depressed and yes I am an experienced manual driver. To solve that issue I would release clutch and try again and it went into reverse.

My Mazda3 is a 2007 with 20,000km's.

Thanks

 

It sounds like you are used to sloppy shifters, such as my wife"s Saturn, where you can just throw the shifter in the general direction of the next/previous gear and it finds it.
The3 has a very precise shifting mechanism, w/very definite detents, that notch that you are feeling,and it does require some thought/concentration to get it right.
Actually, the automotive journalist liken the shifter in the 3 series second only to a Honda's. Very high praise indeed.
As for the reverse thing, I don't usually have a problem but getting off, and then back on the clutch should solve that. I personally have had many manual shifts that do that.

 

Thanks for the reply!

When you say "and it does require some thought/concentration to get it right", I am assuming that with some practice I will get smooth shifts avoiding this notch/delay thing?

 

Exactly like Richard said you'll get used to moving the stick towards the actual shift gate vs. just pushing it in the direction of the next gear. Once you get that it'll just be snick-snick smooth and you'll be super happy.

The reverse thing happens to me semi-frequently, though as said I've had that happen with multiple MTX cars in the past so as long as it's not popping out I'm not terribly worried about it.

 

man... mytranny grinds like hell intermittantly when shifting hard from 1st to 2nd... almost like my clutch hose is flexing from pushing it too fast. anyone experiencing this? i'd blame myself... but... you know... im kinda perfect. lol

 

also the fact is. with the mz3 manual you notice that the gears are close to each other so sometimes you end up putting it into 4th instead of second. plus with the clutch you have to get it perfect sometimes otherwise you will grind the gears (as some of my friends have figured out while driving my car. myself included). As for reverse. i had the same problem but then richard told me something (virgin1), that when reversing if it doesnt go into reverse then take your foot of the clutch a bit untill it goes in. thats what ive done and it works quite well.

 

I think just about every manual I have driven (quite a few) has had that reverse issue. I think is has to do w/ the way manuals are synchronized, and reverse is usually just a spinner off 1st gear. The worst one I ever had was an old chevy p/u with 3 on the tree. Jeez, it seemed like you would grind the gears off getting it reverse.