Post here only if you have had your TRANNY replaced.
I've had this odd rumble at 3500-4000 rpm since 10K miles (I'm at 22,600 now). It started off happening every now and then, maybe every few weeks. It seems like it is getting worse and happening more often, however, it could be one of those self fulfilling prophecy things that I'm tuned into it now and notice it more.
Here's how I can replicate it. I start off in 1st, go to 6500 rpm, then go to 2nd, go to 6500 rpm, then go to third. The RPM's should drop down in the 3500 range at this point while I shift. I keep accelerating up to 5000 rpm (I'm probably doing 65-70 mph now) then back off the gas and let the engine wind itself down. When I hit 4000 rpm I get a horrible rumbling in the shifter and can feel the vibration in the pedals. The rumble lasts unil the rpms drop past 3500, but if you give it a little gas and hold the rpms between 3500-4000 (I aim for 3700) the rumble will continue indefinetly. If you shift up/down a gear or go outside the 3500-4000 rpm range the car returns to normal. The rumble doesn't happen all the time, it seems like it only happens in semi-hard acceleration at the 4000 rpm mark. You lose a little power/TQ while in the 3500-4000 rpm range but once you clear 4000 all your TQ comes back.
I've had it into the dealer 2 previous times and both times I got the "could not replicate issue" line from the service manager. I just dropped it off at the dealer again this morning and took the service manager out and showed him what it was doing. He gave me a line about it being normal for a Mazda RX7/8 doing that (he was an old Mazda tech) but it didn't feel right to me, I don't think he was taking it seriously. Why take the service manager out instead of the tech? Because they asked me to come in at 7:00am to drop it off, after I told them I needed to take a tech out with me, and of course this morning there were no tech's there for a test drive (yeah, a wee bit pissed at that one).
There was a series of posts up here about a year ago about the same thing but I did searches on 3500 rpm, 4000 rpm, transmission, rumble, etc but couldn't find the old thread to see if anyone else ever figured out what it was. A friend of mine thought it seemed like a flywheel problem but that was just speculation.
Any info, tips, etc I could pass along to the dealer would help. At this point I have a feeling they are just going to say "could not replicate issue" again and send me on my way.
Here's how I can replicate it. I start off in 1st, go to 6500 rpm, then go to 2nd, go to 6500 rpm, then go to third. The RPM's should drop down in the 3500 range at this point while I shift. I keep accelerating up to 5000 rpm (I'm probably doing 65-70 mph now) then back off the gas and let the engine wind itself down. When I hit 4000 rpm I get a horrible rumbling in the shifter and can feel the vibration in the pedals. The rumble lasts unil the rpms drop past 3500, but if you give it a little gas and hold the rpms between 3500-4000 (I aim for 3700) the rumble will continue indefinetly. If you shift up/down a gear or go outside the 3500-4000 rpm range the car returns to normal. The rumble doesn't happen all the time, it seems like it only happens in semi-hard acceleration at the 4000 rpm mark. You lose a little power/TQ while in the 3500-4000 rpm range but once you clear 4000 all your TQ comes back.
I've had it into the dealer 2 previous times and both times I got the "could not replicate issue" line from the service manager. I just dropped it off at the dealer again this morning and took the service manager out and showed him what it was doing. He gave me a line about it being normal for a Mazda RX7/8 doing that (he was an old Mazda tech) but it didn't feel right to me, I don't think he was taking it seriously. Why take the service manager out instead of the tech? Because they asked me to come in at 7:00am to drop it off, after I told them I needed to take a tech out with me, and of course this morning there were no tech's there for a test drive (yeah, a wee bit pissed at that one).
There was a series of posts up here about a year ago about the same thing but I did searches on 3500 rpm, 4000 rpm, transmission, rumble, etc but couldn't find the old thread to see if anyone else ever figured out what it was. A friend of mine thought it seemed like a flywheel problem but that was just speculation.
Any info, tips, etc I could pass along to the dealer would help. At this point I have a feeling they are just going to say "could not replicate issue" again and send me on my way.
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Grass Lake, Michigan
Regarding the 3500 - 4000 rpm rumble
I had this issue with my 2003 Z and I notice it ocasionally with the 2005 model I now have.
In the first case, the dealers I went to said it was typical and there fore did not require repair.
I read somewhere it is an artifact of the dual mass flywheel used in the Z.
I do not believe it is the transmission as it was still there after the trans was replace in the 2003 Z.
Hope this is of some use to you
I had this issue with my 2003 Z and I notice it ocasionally with the 2005 model I now have.
In the first case, the dealers I went to said it was typical and there fore did not require repair.
I read somewhere it is an artifact of the dual mass flywheel used in the Z.
I do not believe it is the transmission as it was still there after the trans was replace in the 2003 Z.
Hope this is of some use to you
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: USA
Dealer told me to bring in my 2003 Z after he heard tranny problems during my oil change. Im around 34000 miles. They suggested I buy the throwout bearing and pressure plate since it isn't covered in the warranty (?), and since everything else will be new. So I did. Parts are coming in on Monday, so they're gonna do the tranny change, fuel filler hose recall, and lube the cluth pedal mechanism because it was squeaking.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
'06 Tranny Replacement
My '06 DB Base has had trouble with 4th gear since purchase. Armory Garage, Albany , NY has a "new" tranny in and will replace tomorrow. I'm happy with service so far. I'll let you know if the new tranny works better. Old trouble, couldn't get into 4th gear smoothly, felt sticky. SullyZ
Rothrock Nissan in Allentown PA did mine for me.
I'm picking it up this coming week. The did some other stuff too.
They were also nice enough to install a clutch of my choice for no extra labor charge (I just had to pay for the clutch kit).
The car had 21k on it when it went in for trans replacement.
I'm picking it up this coming week. The did some other stuff too.
They were also nice enough to install a clutch of my choice for no extra labor charge (I just had to pay for the clutch kit).
The car had 21k on it when it went in for trans replacement.
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: USA
After getting my tranny replaced the 5th gear would not hug the right wall. This thread explains the exact problem I was having and its solution: https://my350z.com/forum/exterior-and-interior/154228-how-to-take-of-shift-knob-adjust-shifter-guide-plate.html
The service center was supposed to do it but they didn't. Might be useful for some.
The service center was supposed to do it but they didn't. Might be useful for some.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
Shift to 5th gear - Hangup /Notch???
CEEVEE, explained the fifth gear notch, I also found this problem after my new transmission was replaced. As we shift into 5th it sometimes hits a notch enroute to fifth gear??? What the heck? Was the alignment plate not adjusted? Losing patience !!! Everything else seems to have been corrected with the new transmission @ 2K mikes. SullyZ
New Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
From: San Fernando
My trans, after the first replacement is still holding up.
Considering that I am flogging it daily, track it, drag it, and with the turbos, plus the RPS clutch/flywheel, I think that's saying something....
Of course we're never really going to get a good answer as to why this is happening in the first place, and why it's continuing on the newer model cars.
My guess is that they are trying to repair/recycle he early trans in the hopes the problem was resolved.
Considering that I am flogging it daily, track it, drag it, and with the turbos, plus the RPS clutch/flywheel, I think that's saying something....
Of course we're never really going to get a good answer as to why this is happening in the first place, and why it's continuing on the newer model cars.
My guess is that they are trying to repair/recycle he early trans in the hopes the problem was resolved.
New Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 0
From: San Fernando
Originally Posted by showstoppertk
Quote:
Originally Posted by punish_her
Drinking Nights??? WTF IS THAT? I sit in an empty house with no lights living off of rice, bologna, and water. My electric bill is $25 a month. But I have a cool car!!!
Originally Posted by punish_her
Drinking Nights??? WTF IS THAT? I sit in an empty house with no lights living off of rice, bologna, and water. My electric bill is $25 a month. But I have a cool car!!!