Okay, wife's 1999 Mazda 323 1.8 (with 41K miles) gearbox is slightly notchy/stiff.
I did took the easy option and changed the gearbox oil with a good quality synthetic but no joy.
Hoping someone can diagnose the problem exactly, here's the symtoms:
- *Occasionally* stiff shifting from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 1st.
- Doesn't make any difference whether the gearbox is cold or not.
- Doesn't make any difference whether the car is in motion or not.
- I think it still does it even if double-clutching, although will have to look into this one more as it only occurs *occasionally*.
Just wondered if it could be something like the clutch (which is original) isn't disengaging fully? Although I'd expect it to cause problems changing in other gears and not just between 1st & 2nd ?
Does the problem sound like the gear selector fork or collar? If so, is this a gearbox rebuild? Which I've heard can cost almost as much as a new gearbox!
As I say, it's only happens occasionally, well it's a bit stiff/notchy a little bit most of the time, but about once in a while it'll 'catch you out' in your gear shifting and you'll end up bringing the clutch up without the gear being properly selected!!! This is what I want to avoid - breaking the gearbox.