Miata Mailing List: February 2000, Message #1701

Believe me I am not one to blow things out of proportion.  The fact that I
have around 50 names from this and the other list indicates that this is a
problem that needs to be fixed. With most things I agree.  The glove box,
yellow center caps, even the noise in neutral do not really take away from
the experience when you are driving the car.  When you nail in 4th on a
highway onramp and hear a screaming sound from underneath your car it tends
to kill the fun.  I drive my car hard and expect it to sound semi-normal.  I
have tons of other noises.  I have massive wind noise with the top up due to
bad seals and lots of other rattles.  None of these bother me that much
because they are due to mechanical influences.  A ringing from the
transmission is not good.  I believe Mazda when they say the problem will
not cause mechanical failures.  That is fine but I planned on keeping this
car for 10+ years 100,000+ miles like I did my last car an 85 RX-7.  I beat
on my RX-7 every day and never had noises like I do with my 15 year newer
M2.  The thing that really bothers me the most is the sales brochure say
they spent all this money on insuring the experience is great.  That the
exhaust note is just right.  All that and when the car has a metallic
ringing sound in 4th it does not matter as long as the exhaust sound cool?
Sorry for the rant but cost benefit analyses don't mean much to me right
now.  I just want my car to sound normal.

Steve
 -----Original Message-----
From: 	CHRIS ADAMS [mailto:DMVCXA@dmv.state.va.us] 
Sent:	Monday, February 14, 2000 1:35 PM
To:	Multiple recipients of list
Subject:	Re: Need help (re M2 transmission rattle)

Hi Mike, 

When Steve first posted his problem with the tranny, I thought he might have
been blowing it out of proportion, as well.  Mine was low in level and I had
to actively listen for it to hear it.  That was at 14000 mile.  Now, with
19500 miles it is much louder and easily noticeable.  Another person with
this problem is now able to hear it with the top down.  Mind you, that is
while running at about 60 mph.  So his must be very loud.  It needs to be
fixed somehow.

Chris Adams
99 Red, PEP w/FM sways & strut brace

>>> "Mike Sliger" <msliger@cookeville.total-web.net> 02/14 2:15 PM >>>
I know this noise is somewhat annoying, as I have heard it on my '99.  But
until someone says they heard the noise and *then* they had actual
transmission problems, I would hope this isn't blown out of proportion.

I have heard the rattle (albeit slight) in fourth gear, but the top has to
be up & the radio off.  I have almost 60,000 miles on my '99, and hopefully
the rattle is not indicative of any larger problem.  Unless things change, I
plan to not worry about it or let it affect how much I enjoy driving my car.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "CHRIS ADAMS" <DMVCXA@dmv.state.va.us>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <miata@realbig.com>
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 11:50 AM
Subject: Need help


> Hey Gang,
>
> I was wondering if anybody might have any leads or contacts with in Mazda
that might be able to help us resolve our problem with the tranny.  I really
do enjoy the feel of driving my Miata, but the noise is seriously impinging
on that enjoyment.  My `95 did not have this noise, nor any other car I've
owned.  I had planned on keeping this car until it died.  But now, if Mazda
is not going to do anything about it, I will probably sell it before it gets
too loud to do so.  I hope it won't come to that though.  If anyone can
help, we need it.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris Adams