My '02 Mazdarati

[HAIGHIE]

yer i know it sucks ay, i go in to depressed mode when i don't have my car for a day lol break box one day new one then next other wise i go insane

[TheMAN]

Originally Posted by giba

Further development.
Turns our the second hand gearbox the mechanic got to replace mine was for the 1.8L engine, not the 2.0L. Great....
Upon the "gearbox man" taking a look, TheMAN you were right. Part of that selector fork has broken off and jammed in the syncro.
New plan is repair/recondition/re-build (whatever you want to call it) my gearbox and re-install. Guess having that done and having warranty on the gearbox as well as a brand new clutch are good selling points!

now is the perfect opportunity to upgrade to an M-Factory LSD, along with a Mazdaspeed clutch, Mazdaspeed release bearing, and Mazdaspeed pivot fork assembly

they are all heavy duty components designed for the turbo model... the release bearing is a part meant for the FC RX-7 that can be adapted to work in our gearbox

all these parts costs money, but you can save on labour now!

the clutch related parts can be had for about $330, then another $700 or so for the M-Factory diff.... you'll have a pretty stout setup when you're through!

[TheMAN]

also, this maybe relevant information for your repair:
http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/mt000003959.html
http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/mt000005739.html

if your mechanic has the mazda G25M-R shop manual, he may notice what is shown in the manual is different than your actual gearbox, this is because Mazda changed the design in February 2002... it has some design characteristics from the G35M-R

[giba]

Originally Posted by TheMAN

now is the perfect opportunity to upgrade to an M-Factory LSD, along with a Mazdaspeed clutch, Mazdaspeed release bearing, and Mazdaspeed pivot fork assembly

they are all heavy duty components designed for the turbo model... the release bearing is a part meant for the FC RX-7 that can be adapted to work in our gearbox

all these parts costs money, but you can save on labour now!

the clutch related parts can be had for about $330, then another $700 or so for the M-Factory diff.... you'll have a pretty stout setup when you're through!

I think if i was wanting to keep this car I would seriously be considering boosting it and hence, all this would be applicable, but selling it is whats on my mind more so, so I just want a properly functioning car that someone will want to buy.
That said, thanks for the advice, and all other advice you've given me recently, I do appreciate the though in your input. =]

[giba]

Well been driving the car for about 2 weeks with the second hand gearbox that ended up being fitted. Turns out the gear box repairer couldn't get the replacement shift fork in Aus and was going to take 4 weeks from Japan.. =/
Anyway, much to my disgust, I've been having problems with the replacement. Sticking in 3rd and 4th, sometimes wont move across to go into second, and this afternoon, for about 10 mins it wouldn't let me access 2nd and 4th. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is going back to mechanics on Monday...
Anyway, I was able to pick up my disassembled box this afternoon.
This is the bad boy that broke...



And the rest of the parts... Does anyone know where i'd find an exploded view of the assembly of the box? I just wanna have a play around with things and learn how it all works =]

[giba]

Got a couple rolling shots done up in Brisbane last week. Quite a bit of fun =]

[TheMAN]

sticking?
I really think there is an operator issue at this point... it's been years since I heard of this problem... anything that broke already did, anything that hasn't, people have been driving properly

if you had such trouble getting the parts, why didn't you ask someone to get it from the US?

[maz sp20]

Some good looking photos there mate

[z100]

4th photo is awesome! Unlucky with the gearbox.

[giba]

Originally Posted by maz sp20

Some good looking photos there mate

Originally Posted by z100

4th photo is awesome! Unlucky with the gearbox.

Thanks guys.
It's kinda sad I can't drive it without worrying if i'll be able to get it in the gear properly. In hind sight I prob shouldn't have driven up to QLD with it like this, but sometimes the attraction of a woman is just too strong ;-)
It'll definitely be going back to the mechanic when i get home to get it finally sorted.

Originally Posted by TheMAN

sticking?
I really think there is an operator issue at this point... it's been years since I heard of this problem... anything that broke already did, anything that hasn't, people have been driving properly

if you had such trouble getting the parts, why didn't you ask someone to get it from the US?

I do see what you mean about it being odd, but what's more odd, is that i've been driving it for 22 months, and only the last month or 2 its happened. My driving style has been the same all along. Perhaps a new shift fork and a rebuild of my gearbox is in order....
Is there any possibility that perhaps everything is not connected up perfectly right, as in the clutch or the gearbox etc? Dont know how it all works, but if something is not aligned correctly this could cause shifts not to go in properly?

[familiagtx]

Hopefully you resolve your gearbox dramas.

I still had the original high km box in my car and last 2 years of its life being turbocharged, only symptoms I had after driving an hour of really hot weather 4th gear was a little whiney.

I blame the 150+ runs that my car has had in 4th gear loaded up on the dyno plus my abuse on the street

Keep all your old gearbox parts, you never know what you can mix and match if you have any further dramas.

[sikwitit]

your car is one of my favourite sp20 sedans simple and clean keep up the good work
also go back and tell them you don't want the car back till its fixed

[giba]

Originally Posted by sikwitit

your car is one of my favourite sp20 sedans simple and clean keep up the good work
also go back and tell them you don't want the car back till its fixed

Thanks man, appreciate it.

So i tried out plasti dip today. Pretty easy like everyone says.
Dont know if i should have let it dry a little longer before peeling off the bits around the badges (left it about 45 mins after the last coat, but wasn't a hot day by any means..) but i'm happy with the results.









(trying to get a cool shadow, this is as good as it got...)


Also thanks for Andy for organising the meet on saturday, was a great one and had a lot of fun. Didn't really take any pictures, but this was when we moved onto bondi and hung around until we froze...

[HAIGHIE]

love it man and love the rolling shots there so clean car looks immaculate.

and throw that's pic up on the cruise thread be the first to post a pic so we can give the others ****

[giba]

Originally Posted by HAIGHIE

love it man and love the rolling shots there so clean car looks immaculate.

and throw that's pic up on the cruise thread be the first to post a pic so we can give the others ****

Thanks, i LOVE those rolling shots. Got the first one printed 20x24 and hung it on my wall. lol

[giba]

So as many (perhaps) of you might know, this car will be up for sale shortly, ie ~2months.
I've loved it as a first car, couldn't think of many cars that are better for a first car when it comes to bang for buck. Great handling, improved by wider wheels and lowered, great looks (imo) again improved by the wheels and bit of lowering and quite good on fuel and other running costs.
For a first car, (though it certainly is not a huge power house), it has plenty of go in it, all that someone who just got their licence will need.

I have just hit 209,000kms, so don't expect it to be easy to sell (i may be surprised fingers crossed), but it goes perfectly well. Recently had 3 trips to and from brisbane, and a trip down to sydney for the meet and cannot fault a THING! Go Car!!
I guess this is a bit of an EOI post, if anyone is thinking of buying one of these cars, or you know someone else who is looking to buy, i'd say mine is a pretty good example of an SP20 (or better, SE20!!). Just pass on the word!

I decided many months ago, (around November or so) last year that I wanted to upgrade to a Mazda 3 MPS Gen 1, and have had my sights set firmly on, and am currently on the look out for, a Red 2008 Sports pack Gen 1 MPS 3.
Because I knew I would be moving in that direction I have been keeping an eye out on for sale threads over at OzMPS.com, and as a result, I now have a MPS mod list much longer than the mod list on this car

It currently stands at:

Engine Bay
Corksport State II Intake
*Short Ram Intake
*Turbo Inlet Hose
Corksport AirBox
CP-E Rear Motor Mount
2XS Front Mount Intercooler
2XS Short Shift Plate
Forge V1 Bypass Valve
Cobb Tuning AccessPort

Handling
DGR Coilovers
Whiteline Rear Sway Bar

Styling and Interior
Slimline weather shields (grandpa spec ftw!)
CP-E Triple Gauge Pod
Prosport Boost Gauge
Prosport Oil Temp Gauge

This sadly means that mods are well and truly finished on my current car.
I was hoping to do more, mainly styling because of the whole "p'plater no engine mods thing" but prefer to spend the money on the car i'm moving onto instead.
I definitely won't be leaving AstinaGT however, especially after the great meet last week, I'll still be attending when I can (if allowed and can keep up )

Thanks everyone for making me feel really welcome, this is an awesome place, and its really great to be able to meet up and chill with really cool people because of a shared passion of cars.

Thanks all *group hug*

Cheers,
Alex.

[z100]

Good luck with the sale!

[Hammo]

Hmmmmm......

[giba]

Originally Posted by z100

Good luck with the sale!

Thanks mate.

Originally Posted by Hammo

Hmmmmm......

Thanks for the useful post... :P

[familiagtx]

It's like dominos pieces, one person states that their selling up and all the chips fall and everyone is jumping on the same wagon

Shame shame shame