Synchro Gears

[ZooLander]

Is there a synchro gear for 1st and R? I've got a manual 2009 M3GT, 34000kms, bought it brand new in Sept. 2008. Since the cold weather has come I've been noticing that on a cold start I cannot find 1st or R easily. (i.e. it will not fall into gear, I'll have to pump the clutch one or two times before getting it into gear). It also feels like I'm 'crunching' through the gears when I shift 1st - 2nd or N - R (NOT grinding the gears). This problem disappears once the car is up to temperature. I spoke with a mechanic and he said what I'm experiencing is "normal" and is due to the cold weather. I can't recall having this problem last year...then again, I didn't park my car outside during winter last year.

On a related note, I am not sure if I'm getting lazy with my shifting (i.e. not putting in enough effort and not completing the shift) or if I'm actually experiencing a problem with my gears wanting to pop out. I'll be driving along when I shift and notice that I'm having to double pump the clutch and push the shifter back in place. If I don't do the double pump, the gears grind

Can anyone else comment?

[casperwonder]

The topic has been discussed recently.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...ad.php?t=39952

[dentinger]

1st and reverse are not synchronized.

[Olestra]

1st and reverse are not synchronized.

... First gear definitely has synchros, people wouldn't have a tranny left after 10k kms if it wasn't synchroed.

Reverse does not have synchros. You can test this by rolling backwards in your driveway at crawling speed, pushing in the clutch and trying to put the car in reverse. You will hear a nasty grind.
So never put the car in reverse while moving, even if you're moving in reverse. Always come to a full stop.

[dentinger]

there is a 1-2 synchronizer, but 1st itself is not syncronized.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

there is a 1-2 synchronizer, but 1st itself is not syncronized.

1st and 2nd gear in the 3 have double-cone synchros

the same transmission in the 5 has triple-cone synchros for 1st and 2nd.

[Olestra]

there is a 1-2 synchronizer, but 1st itself is not syncronized.

Each gear is synchronized, not in between gears.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

Most good information relevant to this discussion is on Page 3 (first gear) and 4 (synchros).

To the OP, you find that shifting becomes easier as the car warms up because when the car is cold, the transmission fluid is cold and therefore thicker and harder to work with.
Just go easy on it until everything warms up.
I double clutch in traffic when I'm downshifting but your gears definitely should not pop out once they are in.

Majestic: I noticed the Mazda5 article mentions downshifting from 2nd gear to 1st. This is for another discussion, but regularly comes up and shows that people actually do this. =) It'd be nice to have triple-cone synchros on the Mazda3. I think the MS3 has triple cone.

[Harbour Rat]

It sounds like there is no mechanical problem with the transmission, clutch or shift linkage, just "normal" cold stiff shifting. Many of us have found synthetic gear lube makes shifting smoother, especially when cold. Changing transmission fluid is much easier and much less expensive than replacing internal parts so it makes sense to try synthetic oil first.

[whiteomega]

Is there a synchro gear for 1st and R? I've got a manual 2009 M3GT, 34000kms, bought it brand new in Sept. 2008. Since the cold weather has come I've been noticing that on a cold start I cannot find 1st or R easily. (i.e. it will not fall into gear, I'll have to pump the clutch one or two times before getting it into gear). It also feels like I'm 'crunching' through the gears when I shift 1st - 2nd or N - R (NOT grinding the gears). This problem disappears once the car is up to temperature. I spoke with a mechanic and he said what I'm experiencing is "normal" and is due to the cold weather. I can't recall having this problem last year...then again, I didn't park my car outside during winter last year.

On a related note, I am not sure if I'm getting lazy with my shifting (i.e. not putting in enough effort and not completing the shift) or if I'm actually experiencing a problem with my gears wanting to pop out. I'll be driving along when I shift and notice that I'm having to double pump the clutch and push the shifter back in place. If I don't do the double pump, the gears grind

Can anyone else comment?

This happens to me sometimes. With the clutch in, I put it in second, and then pop into first or reverse, and usually that sorts it out.

[alhope34]

The MS3 must have a reverse synchro because I always put it in reverse going 3-5kmh forward. No grinding or difficulty at all.