I am not sure but make sure you put the gear in fully and dont let up on the clutch too early. If you dont have the gear fully engaged and you let up on the clutch then it will pop out. But if you push it all the way in and it still pops out consistently then maybe a syncro is going bad but this is the first I have heard of this as an mechanical issue so I doubt that the tranny is messed up.

 

Sounds like a personal problem to me.

 

Look i have been driving stick quite some time i know how to drive. Even if i shift incredibly slow it will do it sometimes.

 

prolly the shifter or shifter seat and bushing. shouldn't cost too much to replace.

 

But how would the housing or bushings cause it to pop out of 3rd gear only

 

it can happen, but only a guess.
i suppose you could try changing tanny fluid to RP or amsoil and see if that helps.

 

[quote author=Adam3324 link=topic=154533.msg3300068#msg3300068 date=1251415575]But if you push it all the way in and it still pops out consistently then maybe a syncro is going bad but this is the first I have heard of this as an mechanical issue so I doubt that the tranny is messed up.
[/quote]

There are several threads here about failing third gear synchros. It doesn't affect huge numbers of Mazda3 owners but it is known problem. It is quite possible the third gear synchro is failing in this case.

 

Thanks ill start searching around. I would like to know about what its about bc i just called mazda and they said a short throw shifter voids the transmission warranty! SO STUPID!

 

This happened to me third gear would just pop right out and I found a few threads on here about people having that same issue arond 30k miles. I took it to mazda and had to argue with them a little bit about it but they had the rep come in and he ok'd them to go ahead and fix it under warranty. I have the twm short shifter a speed3 exhuast and a few other things that I just left on the car. They did try to give me a hard time about it but in the end they fixed third gear and didnt charge me. If they do try to get away with not doing this for you just be firm with them and tell them you know for a fact this has happened to quite a few other 3's from doing research online and they should oblige.

 

Yeah i have an HKS CBE, CAI an the short shifter. Since the short shifter was a fairly easy install i think im just going to put the stock one back in so i dont ahve to argue as much.. Thanks for the advice. I wanna get it fixed but ill miss my baby when shes in the shop

 

well, at least we'll find out if it was the shifter bushing (if the oem doesn't pop out of 3rd).

 

I highly HIGHLY doubt that its a bushing. I cant even imagine how a bushing would force the tranny out of third gear and not also do the same to first or fifth being that they are in the same position and even closer to the bushing locations.

 

[quote author=zoomzoom74 link=topic=154533.msg3301171#msg3301171 date=1251480717]
Thanks ill start searching around. I would like to know about what its about bc i just called mazda and they said a short throw shifter voids the transmission warranty! SO STUPID!
[/quote]

don't tell them you have any mods and if you go in for warranty work just swap the modifications to stock and you will be scott free

 

Exactly what Adam said. Always keep stock parts if your still under warranty.

 

I dont understand how it would be the bushings either. Im 99% sure its the syncro. Because if i drive right (let the rpm's drop) before releasing the clutch it shifts fine.

I still have all the stock parts. Im just going to swap the short shifter though. Im not going through changing the exhaust.

 

Mazda just called me back today about the problem. They are charging me $2700 saying its warn and from abuse! How do i argue when i have an exhaust and intake?

 

2700$?!? You could buy a tranny for less than that.

The exhaust isnt your problem, the short shifter is why they won't cover it.

 

you tell them to get na down there and you know for a fact that its happened to several other people and been covered by mazda. make them get a rep down there and the rep should do the right thing. the hp from an intake and exhaust would not wear down just third gear like that. you just need to be firm with them and demand they get a rep from mazda down there to ok the work because you know the facts that its been covered several other times same gear and everything.

 

Trust me the short shifter was taken out! And thats what Im planning on this is going to be fun....
Thanks for all the help! If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know

 

[quote author=zoomzoom74 link=topic=154533.msg3345122#msg3345122 date=1254171387]
Mazda just called me back today about the problem. They are charging me $2700 saying its warn and from abuse! How do i argue when i have an exhaust and intake?
[/quote]tell them to prove it
i had the same thing happen to me and they said it was from abuse/racing
they couldnt prove it so i argued with them
at the time i only had hids, drop, header, welded on magnaflow.

after a while i got it warrantied but was no longer accepted at that mazda ever again

but its def. a syncro
not your clutch/shifter/bushings

 

You need to throw a fit with customer service at the dealership. If the car is well maintained there is no way they can prove the car was abusefully driven. I would raise all kinds of hell, that is ridiculous.

 

i heard that any kind of modding will void it. then again i also heard they have to prove to you that the modding affected it in order to void that one part of the warranty. all words of mouth. so idk.

 

it does say on the owners manual that exhaust modding will void drivetrain warranty
or something like that

 

o boy i didnt know that. But good news. The mechanic was really cool (ownes and races a speed3 himself) and they are doing it for free :lol:

 

My third gear always seems to grind. When i'm getting on it it'll go into 3rd for a split second and pop out. When playing around with the gears, it seems like it doesn't want to go completely into gear. I never had this problem till I switched to redline mt-90 and put in my twm sts. One of the bushings aren't bolted down because I stripped the bolt while installing it a few months back so the shifter plate itself does flex a bit. I don't know if that would contribute to my problem. I'm hoping its not my synchro's going bad, but all signs to lead to it. I might try some GM synchromesh. Does anyone recommend using the friction modified version over the regular?