Finding fifth gear, it’s like finding Carmen San Diego.

On the ‘97 miata, finding 5th is hard. Once found, it goes into gear like butter. Every car I’ve had before this (new to miatas) had a fifth gear that was accessed with an almost diagonal arm motion from fourth. Of note, 1-4 are totally fine. The Miata 4-5 shift is a robotic “up, right, but not too far right, up again into 5th”, is there supposed to be space past 5th gear to the right? 

This car came with a “short shifter”, I pulled the assembly apart, change turret oil and cleaned things up. I couldn’t find any standings or marks to identify. What I did notice was the plastic cap that goes on the end of the shift lever ball at the bottom doesn’t “snick” into place. I had to apply a dab of grease to make it stick so I could put the lever back in. 

Im wondering if that’s the issue. Or if I just need to adapt? 

Kinda sounds like the reverse lock-out isn't there. Should have to push the shifter down to disengage reverse lockout to shift to reverse which is over just a bit from 5th and down.

No reverse lockout on a Miata. Could just be that the plastic cup that goes on the end of the shifter is too worn. You can buy a new one or a replacement made from brass (I think) to replace it. 

In reply to EvanB :

Technically there is a reverse lockout. You are blocked from shifting from 5th to Reverse on all smoothcase shift mechanisms.  There's a springloaded pin that you won't be able to shift past unless you jog back to Neutral.

I usually have the opposite transmission issue with my Miata. I find 5th gear when I don't want it. Say, when I'm bangshifting from 2nd to 3rd and hit 5th instead.

I plan on replacing the cup. So I should have to push down on the shifter in order to go into reverse? I’ve not had to do that ever in this car.

5x racing makes a super nice shifter rebuild kit with a brass bushing. I highly recommend it. Dont forget to change the turet fluid. 

_ said:

So I should have to push down on the shifter in order to go into reverse?

No, you shouldn't in a Miata.  It's just hard right and back.  But you shouldn't be able to shift directly from 5th to "oh E36 M3" without stepping back to neutral center.

In reply to Duke :

Thank you for clarifying. Are there known crap short shifters? I saw a “Megan racing” short shifter for like 50$. That’s gotta be el cheapo right?

The Cobalt short-throw shifter is polarizing, some like it some don't. I know the MiataRoadster short-throw kit is considered the best, but it's also quite pricey and the shift position isn't for everyone. I'm leery of anything Megan Racing.

Maybe consider scooping up a stock shifter? 

I ran a short throw shifter for a while on a miata too. But I did prefer the stock shifter and knob and did go back to it after a year or so. Mazda nailed it. 

Short shifters make almost everything worse.

It feels so great from 1-4, but 5th is a disaster. Welp... off to eBay, this miata is adding up!

The Miataroadster shift kits are the cat's ass, so much better than stock.

You probably just have some worn parts in there, as suggested above.

Shifter rebuild FTW.

I don’t know why anyone would want shorter shifting than the stock Miata gearbox.  It’s darned near perfect right from the factory.

NickD said:

I usually have the opposite transmission issue with my Miata. I find 5th gear when I don't want it. Say, when I'm bangshifting from 2nd to 3rd and hit 5th instead.

This. Even after owning multiple miata for multiple years, driving in anger usually went 1-2-5-berkeley-3. Happened a bunch the first week i owned my first one, but longer autocross courses and idiot drivers at red lights still brought it out.

My favorite time it happened I was doing a burnout. Everything was great, still spinning tire at the top of second, bang shift into 5th instead of 3rd and it bogged and rolled away all sad like. When it kept spinning tire in second I wanted to see how far it would go. 

AnthonyGS said:

2-3 is easy to hit on every car if you do one thing.....  on some transmissions it’s fast (miata) and others slower, but the technique is the same.  If you shift using this technique, missed shifts become almost as rare as lightning strikes.  

I know one of you can reveal the right technique.  If not, I will chime in.  4-5 can be wonky on a lot of cars but 4-5 isn’t a shift you do often when driving fast, however this technique makes it way better.

this technique even works on a corvette ZF 6 speed which shifts like a dump truck (way slower than a Miata trans).

 

 

 

Yes, it's called push it out of 2nd with the heel of your hand and then push it forward into 3rd with the heel of your hand (and without the death grip on the shifter) the death grip on the shifter and panic in your heart is what keeps 3rd out of reach. The transmissions for Nissan 240sx, Mazda Miata / RX8, and the Honda S2000 are basically the same unit.

It’s Miata Motor mounts that are to blame for the 2-5 shift.  The mounts are low on the blocks and soft (for NVH purposes) allowing the block to twist over when you accelerate hard.  Stiffer mounts help a whole lot.

In reply to AnthonyGS :

I don’t know if you’ve driven an NA/NB Miata but the problem is that the entire engine and trans moves (pretty dramatically) and the quick shift to third one needs to make a Miata stay on the power ends up in 5th.  When chasing hundredths of a second, you don’t want to wait for the 2-3 shift but going to 5th ruins the run.  It’s one of the more frustrating features of the cars.

For sale- one short shifter of no name brand. Will trade for stock miata shifter. Lol. I’ll see myself to the marketplace...