MX-3.com

I have been looking for a new mx3. And I think I found one however shifting into 3rd isn't as simple as pushing straight up from second you actually need to push up and little to the right to get it into gear. I am wondering if this is an indication of bigger problems down the road thanks. Evan

well yes...it's not an insurmountable problem, but it shouldn't do that...so the diff may be going, third gear may have a problem, the shift fork may be bent. If you like the car and it's in nice shape otherwise I wouldn't let is stop me. I would just go find another tranny.

it could also just be worn bushings in the shifter linkage...

Probably bushings, mine has the same problem and my bushings and just about gone, I replaced a few and they just fell apart when I took them out.

Im not to familiar with the bushings or even how to go by replacing them, if i were to get this car how long might this problem last before it became a bigger issue and what would the job entail replacing the bushings when i got around to it?

It should get progressively worse.

It invovles jacking your car up, crawling under it, and working at the linkage in the middle of the car beneath the shifter. No special tools required. Only a ~$30 job.

I may not be understanding something here but 3rd isnt directly above second, if you push straight up from second you would be in first, of course you have to go a little to the right...

Haha, reading it over, You're right.

This guy sounds like he doesn't know the standard 5 speed pattern...

Maybe he's a farmer, used to reverse being top left, first bottom right.... twin stick. Poor Guy.

Also, has anyone ever really tried a hard downshift into 1st? does it let you? I know you can't do 5th to reverse without hitting the area b/n 3/4 first... can you shift into 1st when going 60-70 kph? (absolute max of my 1st.)

Ryan wrote:Also, has anyone ever really tried a hard downshift into 1st? does it let you? can you shift into 1st when going 60-70 kph? (absolute max of my 1st.)

It was discussed a long time ago... http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=59821" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lol you can't do it at high speeds, it's a safety feature. Only if you're going really slow, though I've noticed double clutching helps a bit (I always double clutch when downshifting).

Mooneggs wrote:

Ryan wrote:Also, has anyone ever really tried a hard downshift into 1st? does it let you? can you shift into 1st when going 60-70 kph? (absolute max of my 1st.)

It was discussed a long time ago... http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=59821" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yea that's the exact reason I almost never use first, it's just such a hassle to have to stop before going into it when I'm driving down residential streets because there's a stop sign on every block.

I can downshift into first so the RPM's jump to about 3k. Sure is quite the lurch though. Not fun, doesn't sound good.

I barely ever completely stop at stop signs. For the most part, at every stop sign, you can see several kilometers in every direction and unless you're not looking at all you'll never get in trouble. Only time I come to a complete stop is when there is LOTS of traffic, or I had to brake hard for a yellow.

If you see the light turn red, just coast up to it going 40-20. Pisses everyone with an auto tranny off, but when it turns green before you get there you can easy take off past the people who raced ahead to stop at it

Ryan wrote:If you see the light turn red, just coast up to it going 40-20. Pisses everyone with an auto tranny off, but when it turns green before you get there you can easy take off past the people who raced ahead to stop at it

Haha I know that strategy!