Possible transmission woes

[lockdev]

Hey guys, have a 2016 ST with a hair over 1100 miles on it.

Everything from 0-500 miles was great.

500-1100 miles has been a bit odd.

Aside from 3 different interior rattles that have developed, I'm having some transmission/clutch issues.

At a stop and with the engine running, the transmission shifts perfectly. Butter smooth.
When driving, it shifts "notchy" and definitely on the rough side. It almost feels like the clutch isn't fully disengaging.

Doesn't happen all the time, just most of the time. Temperature doesn't seem to matter.

Also, when letting the clutch out in second at speed, there's some moderate clutch/transmission "rattle" noise. Hard to explain. I tried to catch it on video, but the engine noise drowns it out. Almost sounds like an exhaust shield rattle. I can only hear it with the windows down, but it's pretty loud with the windows down.

Anyone experience issues like these? I'm basically just getting prepped to go to the dealer. I'm waiting for the "it seems normal" response that is ever so popular now.

 

[me32]

Havent had that issue. But id contact ford service.

 

[Chris G]

The rattle you are hearing could be the dual mass flywheel. I know mine is noisy as heck.

 

[lockdev]

The rattle you are hearing could be the dual mass flywheel. I know mine is noisy as heck.

Just looked into that, and it sounds like that's the culprit for the noisy gear change from 1st to second. Thanks for that.

Will probably take it in for the hard shifting.

I can live with the rattles. It's a $14k car with a $10 engine/brake/wheels/suspension upgrade. Can't expect the world out of it.

 

[Chris G]

^^ That's a good way to look at it.

 

[Rhinopolis]

I recommend the RMM upgrade as a way to protect your transmission from the engine torquing back in to it. My car before the FiST was a 2010 mx5 sport, which had the 5 speed manual.

I developed a "weird feeling" 2cd to 3rd upshift and 4th to 5th upshift over the 1st 2 years that I had it, and the consensus among other mx5 owners via Miata.net was that the stock motor mounts were too weak and that the engine would torque back in to the tranny and mess with the syncros. I replaced my motors mounts at 14k miles (there were two on that car) and it shifted better but never like it did when new.

With my FiST and after reading how the stock RMM was a known weak link, I had a Cobb RMM on it within the 1st week of owning. The flywheel is a tad noisy (nothing extreme IMO), and my transmission shifts fen as long as I am not ham fisting it. The mx5 liked a rougher touch, and I've notced the opposite with the FiST.

 

[lockdev]

I recommend the RMM upgrade as a way to protect your transmission from the engine torquing back in to it. My car before the FiST was a 2010 mx5 sport, which had the 5 speed manual.

I developed a "weird feeling" 2cd to 3rd upshift and 4th to 5th upshift over the 1st 2 years that I had it, and the consensus among other mx5 owners via Miata.net was that the stock motor mounts were too weak and that the engine would torque back in to the tranny and mess with the syncros. I replaced my motors mounts at 14k miles (there were two on that car) and it shifted better but never like it did when new.

With my FiST and after reading how the stock RMM was a known weak link, I had a Cobb RMM on it within the 1st week of owning. The flywheel is a tad noisy (nothing extreme IMO), and my transmission shifts fen as long as I am not ham fisting it. The mx5 liked a rougher touch, and I've notced the opposite with the FiST.

Just went ahead and put an order in for an RMM.

Hope that helps a bit.

I'm an ex mx5/miata owner myself. Owned a 99. That thing was the smoothest shifting car I'd ever owned next to a Saturn SL. Not sure if a bulletproof economy car should be compared with sports cars though.
Also owned an s2000. That thing was a bit of a rough shifter itself.

 

[Rhinopolis]

I hope that it helps as well, and of course keep in mind that a stiffer motor mount will transfer more engine vibrations at ideal in to the cabin. It's not extreme at all in my opinion, but just be mindful of it since you mentioned inside cabin vibrations as a negative that you already concerned with. Good luck! Thumbs up

 

[FordService]

Havent had that issue. But id contact ford service.

Thanks for pointing lockdev my way, me32!

Just went ahead and put an order in for an RMM.

Hope that helps a bit.

I'm an ex mx5/miata owner myself. Owned a 99. That thing was the smoothest shifting car I'd ever owned next to a Saturn SL. Not sure if a bulletproof economy car should be compared with sports cars though.
Also owned an s2000. That thing was a bit of a rough shifter itself.

Hey lockdev,

Thanks for posting about your concern. I'll look over some resources on my end to see how I can help. Please send over a PM with your name, VIN, mileage, dealer, and best daytime phone number.

Nick