- Hey Scotty I have 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata 6 speed manual Transmission with 72,000 miles on it and the car was working perfectly fine. However two months ago I took it to a dealer for regular service and for Transmission fluid change and after they changed the transmission fluid when ever I shift the gear from the first to second gear it became notchy and very hard to select the second gear specially when it’s cold however when I took it to my regular mechanic and he told me to do another transmission fluid change with Ford motorcraft synthetic transmission fluid. but after all that work done still I am dealing the same problem. So Scotty what do you recommend me to do?
This most likely is coincidental. I would look at the transmission shifter and transmission turret. There are two bellows around the shifter, … plus dust cover on top. Those bellows don’t last that long without tearing. Especially the one that bolts on right onto the turret. Once that one rips, … shifting precision is lost. Also, once that one rips, it opens the transmission shifter and the internals to elements. I would look into this. Important! Troublesome problem, … you have to remove centre console, rubber bellow - between shifter and body, … than inspect the rubber bellow beneath - shifter to turret. Also, turret has a plate on top. That plate sometimes comes loose, too. It will than shift a bit and that effect shifting precision, as well.
Anyway, … while deep in there, I would check the shifter pivot, - check it, lubricate it, perhaps even change plastic parts in there. These parts usually crack with age.
F.S.
Btw, … 1-2 shift has been complained about on ‘06 and up frequently. Actually, all 6-speeds are not as precise as 5-speeds, … unless, of course, everything is tickety-boo precisely installed, lubricated and adjusted. fwiw.
F.S.
Did you use the same specification transmission fluid that’s mentioned in your owner’s manual, on both occasions?
To honest the first time I took it to a dealer I don’t know what kind fluid that they used.but I know my regular mechanic used Ford motorcraft transmission fluid (XT-M5-QS) for second time.
Your owner’s manual recommends -
https://imgur.com/a/GEJ7TJ7
The motorcraft fluid is 75W90 (if I’m not wrong) which is the same as your manual recommends, did they fill in the correct quantity?
What other work did the dealer perform on the transmission, other than changing the fluid?
They changed only the transmission fluid.
But did they take it for a test drive? See, you have been driving your car with care. Precision. Dealership minion, who, just perhaps, don’t normally drive a manual, drove it as, … well, who knows. Crushed plastic shifter bushing? Or perhaps tore up a bellow?
https://www.amazon.com/2006-2014-Miata-Turret-Shifter-Bushing/dp/B014K6OQPO/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=miata+shifter+bushing&qid=1614871387&sr=8-6
Anyway, … look to these two parts.
F.S.
Yeah, you’ll need to investigate why it’s behaving differently, post the dealership visit. Something they did has caused this.
I don’t think it is a fluid issue. You have a manual transmission not an automatic one.
