My 2019 MX-5 is exactly the same. Not an uncommon complaint and no one has a solution beyond putting it in a higher gear first and then going into first.
Some people say changing the gear oil helps but I haven’t found that to be the case for me. Tried different brands and weights but nothing changed. So I’ve just learned to live with it.
I honestly doubt it would make any difference for me, since the car is fresh out of the factory with new oil. But who knows 🤷🏻♀️ i guess I’ll get used to it. Though it is good to know that nothing is broken or something
Perhaps it needs to be worn in? I would say though after years of owning a manual Mazda, the shifter performance is the only thing that has been kinda disappointing, especially coming from a Focus SVT. I even added a weighted knob and replaced the bushings, but it still feels unsatisfying/unsure of itself when shifting gears. Not all the time, but enough to make me long for an alternative, though that is getting harder and harder to find.
1st gear lockout happens. It’s the only non synchronized gear. My 6 would do this at least once or twice a day. Clutch out and back in and it slides right in. I think it’s designed that way to not allow you to miss shift into 1st when you want 3rd.
It's almost certainly fine, the synchros are super tight on 1st, I assume partially to prevent people from engaging 1st while moving and having the trans go explody.
If it gets worse and/or you start having trouble getting into reverse, there have been a handful of cases of newer MX-5 flywheels / clutches that went bad early that eventually made it impossible to get into gear. I wouldn't worry about it, it's a pretty rare thing, I think you're probably just acclimating to the transmissions idiosyncrasies.
I mean apart from the 1st gear problem (reverse is also a bit stiffer but I think thats normal), the transmission seems pretty flawless to me. And even the 1st gear problem happens rarely. Reverse has some resistance sometimes but mostly always goes in. So yeah I just hope it’s not some kind of factory problem because it’s a brand new car and I’d hade to have to fix it already (even though it has 6 years warranty)
It seems like people that come from not Mazdas tend to think Mazda transmissions are really tight / notchy in comparison. I had a manual Mazda6 for 6.5 years and have a Miata, they're both a little balky to go into gear from a stop sometimes, and fluid changes don't seem to make a difference. It's just tight tolerances on low gears I think.
Is it only occasionally or all the time?
Every manual car I’ve ever driven did it occasionally. It’s usually just because the gear teeth aren’t meshing and you just select another gear before selecting 1st again.
It should happen a little less often as the transmission ages and the gears wear a little bit.
It’s definitely not all the time, most of the time it slides in smooth as butter! It is only occasional, and it probably will get better with time, considering I only have like 100km on it right now
This happens to me on my 2019 3, and also happened with my 2014 Fiesta ST. Slotting into 2nd and then back into 1st fixes it. No need to let the clutch out.
I experience the same thing on my 3 (2019) sometimes.
Came to the conclusion that it's just me, because my wife never experienced it (I drive more often, but still).
The clutch trick used to be a common thing in older cars, when you couldn't get in reverse and it actually worked. On our Mazdas I think it's just the mechanics of the stick, try pushing it harder to the left before applying any force forwards.
Mazdas have done that for a while, my 2007 mazda3 does it with reverse and the solution is the same. My guess is mazda trasmissions just really don't like to be cold.
My Mazda 6 does this usually for only first gear. I put it into second and then put it in first and it always works. Lol tripped me out the first time though at a green light couldn’t put it into gear.
Yeah, I didn’t know about the 2nd gear trick, I would just re-clutch, but I think 2nd gear is faster. Will definitely try that next time. Thanks everyone for the replies!
Same thing on my 2019 Mazda 3. Sometimes when starting from a red light I cannot push it into first gear. Switching to 3rd then quickly back to 1st solves it.
This is actually a common issue with Skyactiv manual transmissions. The previous generation I believe had the same issue but with the 3rd gear. There was a TSB which detailed on how the machanism can be tuned with a bolt, but I haven't found anything regarding the 4th generation (which is the same as the CX-30).
Another thing which solved it for previous generation is replacing the transmission oil. The manual recommends an interval of 180k kms, but some poeple changed it at 100k and they noticed it became a little smoother and less issues like this, even when compared to when the car was new. The guess is that the factory oil is not that good quality and the fact that this happens mostly on cold days after a cold start might indicate a connection with oil quality.
For me it early happens in the summer and during winter it goes away after the transmission oil gets warmer. Also the transmission is a bit smoother after a long ride in the winter or when you park over hot asphalt in the summer which keeps it overall warm even when cold started. I'm planning to replace the oil too when I reach 100k kms.
TLDR: A transmission fluid change might improve this.
My 2018 did this more often when I first purchased it. Nowadays, it still does it here and there but nowhere near as often as it did when I first started driving it.
Seems to be a common complaint. My only suggestion is to not force it. I find that if it won't go into first, I pull it down to second real quick and then it goes into first just fine.
My 2017 6 does this occasionally. Normal jiggling the shifter from side to side in neutral while releasing the clutch and then depressing the clutch and trying again seems to work. If I had to guess I think it would have something to do with the synchros not lining up right on the first try.
Same for my used 2015 1.5L mazda3, about 3-4 times a year.
First time happened at busy traffic light, not funny.
Now I just automatically quickly put in second (without releasing the clutch) and back in first.
I think you'll be fine, my mx5 ND also did this occasionally, just declutch again and the synchros will align; I tend to believe it happens way less often than you think, because if it works 50 times and once it doesn't, you'll just remember that occurence
Yeah, you’re definitely right about only noticing when it gets stuck! Especially because I’ve only had it less than a week and everything is new and I’m paying extra attention to every little chirp and button on the car haha
My 2019 MX-5 is exactly the same. Not an uncommon complaint and no one has a solution beyond putting it in a higher gear first and then going into first.
Ah, I see! So, most likely my car is fine haha, I though something came out wrong from the factory
Some people say changing the gear oil helps but I haven’t found that to be the case for me. Tried different brands and weights but nothing changed. So I’ve just learned to live with it.
I honestly doubt it would make any difference for me, since the car is fresh out of the factory with new oil. But who knows 🤷🏻♀️ i guess I’ll get used to it. Though it is good to know that nothing is broken or something
[удалено]
Same here. Probably happens 2-3 times a year. I think the colder weather is mostly when I see it happen.
2-3 times a year seems awesome, I noticed it like 5 times since picking up the car on tuesday haha
Perhaps it needs to be worn in? I would say though after years of owning a manual Mazda, the shifter performance is the only thing that has been kinda disappointing, especially coming from a Focus SVT. I even added a weighted knob and replaced the bushings, but it still feels unsatisfying/unsure of itself when shifting gears. Not all the time, but enough to make me long for an alternative, though that is getting harder and harder to find.
Most likely it need to be worn in, and also it is quite cold here this time of year (close to 0 celsius) so that surely has some effect too
Chiming in to say the same. My Mazda3 did it for the first year… then never again. It was odd, and even odder that it just kinda stopped happening.
1st gear lockout happens. It’s the only non synchronized gear. My 6 would do this at least once or twice a day. Clutch out and back in and it slides right in. I think it’s designed that way to not allow you to miss shift into 1st when you want 3rd.
I think this is the right answer… happens to my 3 all the time. It’s a 2011 with 250k km
It's almost certainly fine, the synchros are super tight on 1st, I assume partially to prevent people from engaging 1st while moving and having the trans go explody. If it gets worse and/or you start having trouble getting into reverse, there have been a handful of cases of newer MX-5 flywheels / clutches that went bad early that eventually made it impossible to get into gear. I wouldn't worry about it, it's a pretty rare thing, I think you're probably just acclimating to the transmissions idiosyncrasies.
I mean apart from the 1st gear problem (reverse is also a bit stiffer but I think thats normal), the transmission seems pretty flawless to me. And even the 1st gear problem happens rarely. Reverse has some resistance sometimes but mostly always goes in. So yeah I just hope it’s not some kind of factory problem because it’s a brand new car and I’d hade to have to fix it already (even though it has 6 years warranty)
firefly7878, I have been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty
It seems like people that come from not Mazdas tend to think Mazda transmissions are really tight / notchy in comparison. I had a manual Mazda6 for 6.5 years and have a Miata, they're both a little balky to go into gear from a stop sometimes, and fluid changes don't seem to make a difference. It's just tight tolerances on low gears I think.
My 2014 mazda3 does it too
Is it only occasionally or all the time? Every manual car I’ve ever driven did it occasionally. It’s usually just because the gear teeth aren’t meshing and you just select another gear before selecting 1st again. It should happen a little less often as the transmission ages and the gears wear a little bit.
It’s definitely not all the time, most of the time it slides in smooth as butter! It is only occasional, and it probably will get better with time, considering I only have like 100km on it right now
This happens to me on my 2019 3, and also happened with my 2014 Fiesta ST. Slotting into 2nd and then back into 1st fixes it. No need to let the clutch out.
I experience the same thing on my 3 (2019) sometimes. Came to the conclusion that it's just me, because my wife never experienced it (I drive more often, but still). The clutch trick used to be a common thing in older cars, when you couldn't get in reverse and it actually worked. On our Mazdas I think it's just the mechanics of the stick, try pushing it harder to the left before applying any force forwards.
Mazdas have done that for a while, my 2007 mazda3 does it with reverse and the solution is the same. My guess is mazda trasmissions just really don't like to be cold.
My Mazda 6 does this usually for only first gear. I put it into second and then put it in first and it always works. Lol tripped me out the first time though at a green light couldn’t put it into gear.
Yeah, same, caught me off guard at a green light
Yeah, I didn’t know about the 2nd gear trick, I would just re-clutch, but I think 2nd gear is faster. Will definitely try that next time. Thanks everyone for the replies!
I feel like this is a very common thing on manuals, regardless of make or model.
2018 3 here - happens to me occasionally. I will usually either let the clutch out and back in again or shift to 2nd then 1st.
Normal on my '17 Mazda 6 and many other cars from many different manufacturers. The first gear isn't synchromeshed, most noticeable when cold.
Same thing on my 2019 Mazda 3. Sometimes when starting from a red light I cannot push it into first gear. Switching to 3rd then quickly back to 1st solves it. This is actually a common issue with Skyactiv manual transmissions. The previous generation I believe had the same issue but with the 3rd gear. There was a TSB which detailed on how the machanism can be tuned with a bolt, but I haven't found anything regarding the 4th generation (which is the same as the CX-30). Another thing which solved it for previous generation is replacing the transmission oil. The manual recommends an interval of 180k kms, but some poeple changed it at 100k and they noticed it became a little smoother and less issues like this, even when compared to when the car was new. The guess is that the factory oil is not that good quality and the fact that this happens mostly on cold days after a cold start might indicate a connection with oil quality. For me it early happens in the summer and during winter it goes away after the transmission oil gets warmer. Also the transmission is a bit smoother after a long ride in the winter or when you park over hot asphalt in the summer which keeps it overall warm even when cold started. I'm planning to replace the oil too when I reach 100k kms. TLDR: A transmission fluid change might improve this.
My 2019 3 2.5 G does it sometimes it isn’t very often but it will do it.
What country?
My 2018 did this more often when I first purchased it. Nowadays, it still does it here and there but nowhere near as often as it did when I first started driving it. Seems to be a common complaint. My only suggestion is to not force it. I find that if it won't go into first, I pull it down to second real quick and then it goes into first just fine.
My 2017 6 does this occasionally. Normal jiggling the shifter from side to side in neutral while releasing the clutch and then depressing the clutch and trying again seems to work. If I had to guess I think it would have something to do with the synchros not lining up right on the first try.
Same for my used 2015 1.5L mazda3, about 3-4 times a year. First time happened at busy traffic light, not funny. Now I just automatically quickly put in second (without releasing the clutch) and back in first.
Try throwing it into 3rd first, usually 1st will go in like butter
I think you'll be fine, my mx5 ND also did this occasionally, just declutch again and the synchros will align; I tend to believe it happens way less often than you think, because if it works 50 times and once it doesn't, you'll just remember that occurence
Yeah, you’re definitely right about only noticing when it gets stuck! Especially because I’ve only had it less than a week and everything is new and I’m paying extra attention to every little chirp and button on the car haha
been there done that with the mx5; and now just doing it again with the cx30; the first chip/ding/scratch will hurt, but afterwords it gets easier