What I do sometimes is go right from 1st gear into 3rd. That is a super creamy shift first thing in the morning. After a few miles then the 1st to 2nd shift feels fine.

I too wonder if one of the MT lubes from Amsoil or Redline would improve the cold shifts?

The manual tranny of the 86 GTS that I drove worked very nicely - no issues at all

So I found a really good article regarding the Aisin transmission development for the FR-S/BRZ/GT86 and thought I should share on this thread, but may be appropriate to start a new thread.

Previously, I stated that the 6MT transmission in the FR-S/BRZ/GT86 was a close relative to the 6MT used in the 06 and later Lexus IS 250. I was wrong. It's a DISTANT relative. It's closest relative is the Aisin AZ6/J160 6 speed used in the S2000,Miata/MX-5/RX-8/IS200 from '97 on. However, the AZ6/J160 was the starting point. The ending point was a new model Aisin TL70 with over 80% new components than it's closest relative, the AZ6/J160.

In any event, there are still some uncanny similarities to the "sound" and "feel" of the 6MT in my FR-S to the 6MT in the 2006 IS250 I drove for two years. I guess it makes sense as both are Aisin trannies.

Article is a very interesting read IMO.

http://kaizenfactor.wordpress.com/20...n-or-is-scion/



Edit: after the fact I saw that this article has been reference previously on this forum.

Im having this issue when going into second gear. I don't down shift 2nd much only when needed, @ 15 mph or 1500 rpm 3rd gear is fine unless you need to take off fast. Going from 1st to 2nd is a bit hard and I'm not abusing the car either. Ive been driving for 14 years and learned on a manual and have only owned MT, and never had gears shift like that unless wore out or broke. I dont down shift in to 1st unless that rare occasion, I always come to stop then go into 1st, so I dont have any issues with 1st, just second gear. Just another thing making me have buyers remorse:mad0259:

My 98 trans am with 92,ooo miles didnt have a single issue and I sold it to buy my FR-S that is having many issues. Im really considering getting into a 2013 Camaro instead.

others are having good luck...try the pentosin in my link

I have this issue as well and warming the car up doesn't help...living in Arizona the car doesn't cool down really especially for the timeframe I have owned it. One of the guys I worked with had this problem and they replaced some linkage because they found it defective. ...ok!?

To the poster who compared experience with the FR-S/BRZ transmission to the Honda: some FWD cars use automatic transmission fluid in their transmissions and it's not a good compartison. Also, I believe that a RWD transmission has a bit more room for gears than a comparable 6-speed FWD trans.

If the FR-S/BRZ transmission is indeed distantly related to the MX5 transmission then I can say the following: Changing to a fully synthetic Redline MT90 or Amsoil trans fluid can be a big help. Also, second gear in the Mazda starts at a very low rpm and can be difficult to "get into". I have driven an MX5 for 10 years and I find that reving the engine up in 1st gear helps to synch the gears better than trying to shift at say 20mph.

Yu are smart to have the dealership start a paper trail, but there might not be anything wrong. I will have to look up "triple cone" as I hadn't heard of the benefits of that.

Yeah I'm pretty shocked how smooth my 2nd gear has become (once the transmission is warmed up). When I first bought the car, it would catch slightly, but after 1000 miles, it's butter.

My new issue is I'm getting a slight crunch going 2-->3 now, even when warm. Hoping that'll go away over time.

Mine did this as well. It went away when I swapped the factory lube for MT-90.

Thanks, I'll try your suggestion if it doesn't get better.

I constantly have an issue if I go directly from 1 - 2 like you are supposed to. It crunches unless you are spinning the engine really high. I've had several miatas, RSX-S, GTO, etc and I've never ever seen anything like this. The dealer is supposed to look at it once they correct the ECU issue.

There's nothing wrong with downshifting a car into 1st gear. Some of you guys are making it sound like it is strictly forbidden and that you'll grenade your tranny if you do it.

First gear is synchronized, so the synchro will do its job and allow you to downshift into 1st gear if you really want to. But other than really low speed driving, why would anyone bother downshifting into 1st gear? The only time I do it is if I'm in heavy traffic or maybe in a parking lot. Other than that, I don't really find any reason to downshift into first gear. If I'm going too slow for 2nd gear, I'll almost always just pop into neutral and coast to a stop.

I do LOTS AND LOTS of AutoX, but like others had said I don't ever even find a need to shift back into first on the street.

If the car didn't have that damn power/tq dip you wouldn't have to go back to 1st at tight AutoX either. I've not taken this car out onto the track yet but with how short first is I can't imagine using it on a full road coarse during a lap.

How do you drive in stop sign every corner areas and stop go traffic? I find in other cars I can get away with rolling around 7 mph in second but this car 7mph in second and it lugs hard. Have to be at ~12mph before second is useable.