My shifter is hard to move around and stays where I leave it, even with engine off. My friend had this problem with his evo too. Simply taking the center console off and lubricating everything that needed it there and underhood shift linkage helped alot. He used marine grade grease, but I plan on using white lithium grease.

I'd say do that first, before taking it to a mechanic asking him to find something wrong with your car (which he will, and does not guarantee he will fix the problem). Wont cost much (under 10$ for the grease) and takes less than 30 minutes if you have already handled a screwdriver. Also follow the shifter cables and lubricate it under the hood, anywhere they go through bushings or anything. Anyways, over-the-internet diagnostics suck, maybe more info could help. When is it giving trouble? With car on? Only when moving? Does it do that when your car is off, or on and not moving?

 

@Cranswick : Are you a mechanic? You totally talk like mine :P

Me : My headlights sometimes flicker.

Mechanic : The engine is shot, you need to change it. (the wiring to the headlights was crushed)

Me : There's a noise coming from the wheel, can you take a look at my bearing?

Mechanic : I took a look at it, you need to change the axle, spindle, ABS sensor, the whole suspension on the car, the rear seats and one of the back-up lights.

Me : Why?

Mechanic : Cause the light is burnt. (LOL)

Me : But what about my bearing?

Mechanic : Oh it's fine. (it WAS the bearing)

I hate mechanics... They often don't have a clue what's wrong/don't care and take shots in the dark trying to make a buck out of naive consumers, I end up figuring it out by myself, reading/checking.

No hard feelings, just messing with you

 

that's different than having difficulty shifting into gear...mine is sticky too, but i've been too lazy to pull it apart...but i'll get around to it...

no i'm not, i'm an avionics technician,, my dad was a mechanic, and taught me almost everything i know about cars, and i do turn some wrenches on the aircraft from time to time, even though my primary job is electronics, comms, radar, navigation, etc.

come on now, i'm not that bad, plus i don't ask you for your money in all honesty, if you lived close and needed a hand with something, come over on a weekend with a 12 pack of beer and i would gladly help you drink them after the job is done...

 

I'm actually thinking about the LSD install this summer, but it now seems compromised for personnal reasons. I was thinking about asking for your help, as my understanding of tranny work is pretty limited.

But if I were 16, bought a R//A andI would have read those things about my new car, I'd totally be crapping my pants. Guess I'm more of a "it goes well until I'm proven wrong", than "already jumping to costly conclusions" guy.

 

hi everyone..just got home after a full day of driving my RA around..noticed something about it................................................ ................

I DON'T HAVE TO CLUTCH TO SHIFT INTO THE GEARS!!! WTF!!! OMFG!!!

this is scaring me now..how bad is my situation? i hope to get this problem resolved asap because i don't want to ruin my transmission..

are you from toronto cranswick? if possible, i would like to swing by and ask for your help with this car..i don't trust my mechanic..i want to learn how to perform maintenance/troubleshooting on my own car..i'm a visual learner so i would learn quick if i actually did what i'm supposed to be doing..

please help!

 

sounds like you'll probably need a new clutch... does the car stay on even when the clutch is released and in gear?

EDIT: that acutally might not be what i was initially thinking or else the car would not be driveable at all...

 

the clutch can still engage and disengage but i can also just NOT use it to upshift or downshift..that seems pretty weird to me..do you guys have any idea about how to adjust the clutch? or anything that could fix this problem? i'm worried that i might be putting too much strain on my transmission by having a bad clutch..

 

what RPM are you shifting at...at like 3000-3500 you can shift through gears without the clutch, it's dodgy, and not that great for the transmission to doall the time...but if you rev match each each gear you can shift without the clutch no problem...

 

i've heard about that..i shift at around 2000-2500..sometimes even at 1500 i'm getting really worried about my transmission because i don't know if i'm ruining it right now by not servicing the clutch..i want to try to adjust the clutch, drain/change trans fluid and lube the clutch wiring/cables..i have a feeling that it's the clutch because i can smoothly and EASILY change gears when the car is off..so far though, i LOVE my RA this car is amazing and so fun to drive..i just need to get started on actually putting some time to work on it..

btw what kind of brake/clutch fluid should i get? and can i get it from walmart, canadian tire, etc?

thanks so much!!!

 

also, one more thing: it's SO hard to shift in reverse..i have to put way more force on the shifter to shift it into reverse than my 93 cherokee sport..it's crazy..sometimes i gotta neutral and try again cos it feels stuck

 

you should be able to shift through the gears with ease when the car is off...the gears are not moving...it might just be a cable problem...and DOT 4 fluid is fine for daily use, you can get it at walmart and canadian tire, yes...bleeding brakes and clutch, might help too...

 

rzrxn: you ought to convince Cranswick to spend an afternoon checking your car and advising on what needs doing - if he accepts your generous offer of beer and burgers on his driveway then I will pop by too

 

i also accept pizza and mastercard...

 

I lol'ed

 

I wouldn't force it into gear, when that happens, try to depress then release the clutch before trying to put it into reverse again.

Slightly moving forward (one inch) before reversing or putting it into another gear might help.

I got that all the time with my 365 000km, always beaten on Mazda... it just wouldn't die!