2nd Gen. Shifter Leak

Over the years no matter what I do it always seems that I get some leakage out of the shifter mechanism. Runs down the tunnel and looks like crap. Anyone have a permanent solution?

:shrug:

Hey Bill I feel your pain we always had this happen with our first gen....I think their is a special bushing kit for this that you can get from Mazdatrix.....my Dad might have that info for you. Our second gen doesn't leak and we have had that tranny out more times than I can count.....(I'm a little harsh on them) :rolleyes:...

Sell the car quietly before you tell any more about the leaks.:p It is using the shifter as a vent if it leaks. There is no fluid up that high. See if the normal venting is plugged.

here is link to the Kit http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm and as Steve says check the vent.

Thanks, Tom.

Steve, you're not saying that you put no oil in there are you?

Probably needs a rod cover. M502-17-490A. Be careful to install the two notches into the transmission side.

Estus White

There goes the neighborhood. Somebody let Estus in.:D

In the trans yes, in the shifter section-no. Just synthetic grease on the shifter parts.

Hey they'll let anybody in here! This is great!

When the rod cover ages out it will allow oil to travel down the tube and collect in the shifter housing. It will eventually fill up completely and over flow. You can replace the bushings (and probably need to) but if you don't stop the oil from collecting in the first place you won't be able to solve the problem.
I don't put oil in the shifter housing either. Just some good grease on anything that moves.

Estus White

Well, I think I've found 2 solutions here:
1. I don't recall ever having the lower bushing;
2. I've always understood and in fact added enough oil to cover the moving parts in there.
Moral of story: use lower bushing - don't use oil.

Thanks, guys. :026:

No problem. Now that you are selling the car we will tell you everything. Before that we treat you like a mushroom!!:o

Pauly D once told me there was a TSB on this and that at some point there was a seal added to the rod housing so that as E-3 says the oil travels up the rod out of the main case and overflows. E-3's part number is correct as far as I can tell for the S5 trans shifter rod tube. Guess it has the seals as part of it?

Mazda did have a TSB way back when. Basically at the front of the shift rod housing, you cut the seal flush with the end of the forward end of the tube. This way the oil can drain back to the main case but the outer seal ridges keep the oil from leaking out of the case.

This procedure obviously requires some disassembly of the shifter housing etc.