Blown Transmission again!

[briand805]

(pissed)


After recently installing a 3" exhaust and doing a minor tune today I decided to go out last night and see how she was running. Well I didn’t even make to the spot when something let go.
I was checking the boost levels in 3rd at Wot when I suddenly hear what sounds like I am running over plastic. A rhythmic smacking sort of sound. I instantly pulled the car out of gear and checked the gauges... In the green on everything.
I pull over and shut the car off. I jump put and take a look under the car to see if I have run over something or some plastic has come loose. Unfortunately it is getting dark at this time and I can’t see shit and my dumb ass didn’t have a road kit in the car.

I get back in the car and check all the gears.. Every thing seems fine. I start it... green across the board. Revving produces no noise or changes in the cars vitals.

So I put it in first and slowly move. I hear a rhythmic clicky clank sound which I also hear when the car is in neutral and rolling with the engine off.

I am on the side of the road in a shitty spot where I have seen cars go well over 100mph so I have to drive about 100 yards to a side road...

The car makes the noise the whole time.

When I rolled the car really slow I could feel a thump it seems with every rotation of the tire.

Well I got under the car and had a look this morning. I could see nothing such as mounts broke that could be causing the problem. In the course of trying to figure out the problem the gear shifter has no pretty much froze up on me again and I can hear something rattling around in the transmission housing. I can turn the wheels by hand even when the car is in gear.

At this point it looks like another blown trany. That makes 3X with this car. I have already shelled out several thousand dollars in transmission work alone and the thought of having to drop more money into this car has me seriously considering either fixing the tranny and returning it as much back to stock as I can and selling it or finding someone to buy it turbod. For the money I have put into this thing I could be driving any number of very nice cars. I've pretty much had it with this thing.

[Captain KRM P5]

could be a blown differential...?

[briand805]

could be a blown differential...?

No idea. At this point I have zero confidence in this car. It looks like if I can’t find a buyer with it trubod I will most likely try and part it out and sell it as stock. As drastic as this sounds I can’t have this car breaking on me. I use this car to take my Handicapped elderly father to doctor’s appointments and such. Well also like to go on drives up the coast. I just can’t see driving him around in a car that could break at any time.

[Gambino]

I use this car to take my Handicapped elderly father to doctor’s appointments and such. Well also like to go on drives up the coast. I just can’t see driving him around in a car that could break at any time.
I cant see driving him around in a boosted car! sorry to hear this news though, and good luck!

[briand805]

I am making a big list of parts for sale. If/when I decided to sell this stuff off I will make a thread in the buy/sell section

[Gambino]

link it here

[briand805]

link it here
Will do.

[Zano]

Shitty deal man I hope everything goes well in whatever you decide.

[mazda3zoom]

dude that sucks, every time you've rebuilt it have you just been using OEM parts or have you upgraded it? I thought i read somewhere that theres a company that would use stronger gears or whatever it is they do?

[Rennoc]

sorry to hear about your car man, you have an aftermarket clutch? in my supra the extra rattling and what not from an aftermarket clutch actually tore apart some of my gears so that could be it for you, granted the supra was probally rattling a little more than the mazda.

[Jeph]

That really sucks, I know the feeling though. I've had 2 different sets of shift forks go on me since owning my car.

[briand805]

sorry to hear about your car man, you have an aftermarket clutch? in my supra the extra rattling and what not from an aftermarket clutch actually tore apart some of my gears so that could be it for you, granted the
supra was probally rattling a little more than the mazda.
Removed the fidanza flywheel after I blew 3rd. Removed the spec stage 3 after losing 4th about two months ago.
So I am running stock now.
Looking into a full transmission swap possibly an mtx-75 or something that hasnt had gears explode in it.

[Rennoc]

once the ms3 comes out you could swap in the six speed from that im sure it will be able to handle the amount of boost your putting through it

[sjdmp5]

Then you should have left it stock.

At this point I have zero confidence in this car. It looks like if I can’t find a buyer with it trubod I will most likely try and part it out and sell it as stock. As drastic as this sounds I can’t have this car breaking on me. I use this car to take my Handicapped elderly father to doctor’s appointments and such. Well also like to go on drives up the coast. I just can’t see driving him around in a car that could break at any time.

[briand805]

Then you should have left it stock.

(jerkit)

Anyway... Looking now trying to find a reputable vendor for a transmission. Then have Cryo treating done after that we will run shockproof fluids.

Or we might keep this one on blocks until something can be done with the MTX-75.
I hate driving the 04 sand colored corolla around but it's better than rushing into a repair on the Mazda that won’t get the job done.

[vindication]

so much for M3 tranny being stronger than protege tranny. sucks dude. sorry to hear. MAybe you can try and put the 6speed that is in the MS3 and MS6 in there

[briand805]

so much for M3 tranny being stronger than protege tranny. sucks dude. sorry to hear. MAybe you can try and put the 6speed that is in the MS3 and MS6 in there

I suppose thats and option also.
I was pretty pissed at first but I had some time to rethink things. Putting the car back to stock would be such a major pain in the ass as well as parting it out.

So far it has been a great car and was pulling really strong until it broke.

Ill just take my time and find a solution that works instead of rushing into things.

[briand805]

Well I got under the car this evening and drained the transmission fluid into a clean pan. It looked brand new.. it should it has only been in the car a month. I could see no metal or other particles. I also ran a magnet through the fluid and was not able to pick up a single shaving. I dont know if this means anything I just found in interesting.

I also found that I have no side to side movement of the shifter. I was turning the driver side wheel and listening to the small rattle inside the transmission when I suddenly hear a clunk and a rattle that was very loud. At this time the right wheel starts to turn for about 1 revolution and then the rattling stops and the right wheel stops turning.
Then the light rattle starts again. Prior to this the gear shifter was pretty much froze.
Now I can shift into 1st and 2nd gear only with no lateral( side to side) movement.

I can also turn both wheels freely even when the car is in gear. :?

Anyway just thought I I'd share some more of my misfortune :lol:

[goldwing2000]

could be a blown differential...?

That's what I'm thinking, too. Sounds like a spider gear or a side gear busted.
Pull off your diff cover and see what falls out. You might have cracked something the last time you blew the trans and it just waited until now to let go.

[briand805]

That's what I'm thinking, too. Sounds like a spider gear or a side gear busted.
Pull off your diff cover and see what falls out. You might have cracked something the last time you blew the trans and it just waited until now to let go.


Pulled the side cover off... all the side gears looked good however there is metal in the bottom of the cover and pretty big chunks in the mechanism that transfers oil from one part of the case to the other. I stuck a magnet in there and pulled a bunch of metal out.

[goldwing2000]

Pulled the side cover off... all the side gears looked good however there is metal in the bottom of the cover and pretty big chunks in the mechanism that transfers oil from one part of the case to the other. I stuck a magnet in there and pulled a bunch of metal out.

Pics? Might have blown a bearing cage or something. Sounds like the tranny might be ok, though.

[briand805]

Pics? Might have blown a bearing cage or something. Sounds like the tranny might be ok, though.


No picks.. however a few of the larger pieces are shaped like gear teeth.

At this point aside from parting out or returning to stock we are looking to start with a fresh transmission(used inspected not abused) and then cryo treating.

[Jeph]

Isn't the engine in the speed 6 the same engine as the 2.3l in the regular 3?
If yes, then couldn't you get a 6 speed from the MS6 instead of waiting for the MS3, which you wouldn't be able to find a used tranny for that quickly anyways

[briand805]

Isn't the engine in the speed 6 the same engine as the 2.3l in the regular 3?
If yes, then couldn't you get a 6 speed from the MS6 instead of waiting for the MS3, which you wouldn't be able to find a used tranny for that quickly anyways


From what I am told the transmission in the 6 is diffrent than the 3. It think right now my only real option is an used inspected unabused transmission. Then have it cryo treated.
Juan from Hiboost is having gears made but it could be quite some time before thsoe are available and I need to get this car back on the road sooner than later.

[goldwing2000]

The Speed6 has AWD, so it's a different tranny.

Cryo-stabilizing is a good idea but you'll probably want to put a stronger diff in it. Was that one stock or was it upgraded with the rebuild?

[vindication]

dont get the speed6 tranny, get the speed3.

[briand805]

The Speed6 has AWD, so it's a different tranny.

Cryo-stabilizing is a good idea but you'll probably want to put a stronger diff in it. Was that one stock or was it upgraded with the rebuild?


Stock...

Also I have been told that aside from the 6 speed the speed 3 transmission wont have any drastic changes as far as gears and strength. I suppose since it is only putting down 220hp?

I talked to juan Yesterday who is now offering transmissions which have been cryo treated and shot peened including the case for around $1500.

hopefully this will be done sooner than later as I would like to get this car up and running again.

I will also be looking to change the spring in my wastegsate so I can drop my boost below 8lbs.

[goldwing2000]

Also I have been told that aside from the 6 speed the speed 3 transmission wont have any drastic changes as far as gears and strength. I suppose since it is only putting down 220hp?

I heard 260+hp, just short of the MS6's 274hp.

[briand805]

SO Juan emailed me back apologizing for not being clearer in what he was saying. And that he did not regret doing this for me but that he wouldn’t be doing it for anyone else.

I must admit I was shocked at the previous email as I read it as Juan and I have a pretty good relationship.

So I will check out the transmission for myself and if I can’t see any sign of treatment I will ask him about it.


I'll let you know how it goes.

Brian.