So last night I was driving my girlfriend's Protege5 back from The Improv, and a 'spirited' shift to 3rd went all bad...the car rev'd as though the car was in neutral. Thought I missed 3rd, went for 4th, and it worked. However, from then on 3rd gear and the neutral position operate as 3rd Gear, 4th is perfect, 5th isn't easy to get into but works. 1st, 2nd, Rev don't work. When you leave out the clutch in those gears, it's as if you have the parking brake on. I'm assuming that the shifting forks are misaligned...correct me if that is a bad diagnosis.
Is a total transmission removal necessary, or have any of you bumped into this and have a simpler fix? I'm an average mechanic and am not afraid of pulling the tranny if I have to, but if I can get to the shifting mechanisms without all of that work, I'm all ears.
Also, if she won't trust me to do this repair, any idea of what the dealer would charge? Because I'm sure that is what her initial reaction will be - have it done by Mazda (car is out of warranty).
Thanks in advance...
Is a total transmission removal necessary, or have any of you bumped into this and have a simpler fix? I'm an average mechanic and am not afraid of pulling the tranny if I have to, but if I can get to the shifting mechanisms without all of that work, I'm all ears.
Also, if she won't trust me to do this repair, any idea of what the dealer would charge? Because I'm sure that is what her initial reaction will be - have it done by Mazda (car is out of warranty).
Thanks in advance...