Notchy gear shift

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Kenneth S. - 17 Jul 2005 01:40 GMT

The gear shift on my 1990 Miata (139,500 miles) lately has started to
seem notchy, and shifting into reverse sometimes produces an embarrassing
grinding noise. Does anyone know what the problem is, and how much it is
likely to cost to fix? Everything else on the car is fine, and I plan to
keep it for some time. I would just like to have the gear shift back the
way it was.

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Chuck - 17 Jul 2005 04:24 GMT

The first thing I'd check is the slave cylinder. If it seems to be working
OK, and there is no leakage inside the rubber boot, and the clutch master
cylinder is ok, it's possible that there is an internal transmission
problem. If so, a used tranny will be the least expensive way out.

I'd bet that there is a problem with the clutch hydraulic system.

> The gear shift on my 1990 Miata (139,500 miles) lately has started to
> seem notchy, and shifting into reverse sometimes produces an embarrassing
> grinding noise. Does anyone know what the problem is, and how much it is
> likely to cost to fix? Everything else on the car is fine, and I plan to
> keep it for some time. I would just like to have the gear shift back the
> way it was.

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Lanny Chambers - 17 Jul 2005 17:54 GMT

> The first thing I'd check is the slave cylinder.

Agreed; these are classic symptoms of incipient slave cylinder failure.
If the master cylinder reservoir is less than full and the fluid is
black, check for a leak by pulling the boot away from the slave
cylinder. Wear eye protection! Slaves are cheap to replace and even
cheaper to rebuild. Don't put it off, lest the car become undrivable.

---
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

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