Mazda Miata Manual Transmission
- Mazda Miata Manual Transmission Problems
- Used Mazda Miata Manual Transmission
- Mazda Miata Manual Transmission Swap
Mazda uses the following transmissions in their cars. 1980–1989 3N17B — 3-speed Jatco longitudinal; 1983–1988 F3A — 3-speed transverse; 1984–1997 L3N71B — 3-speed Jatco longitudinal. Descendants include E4N71B and LN471B; 1986–1991 G4A-EL — 4-speed transverse also sold as the Ford 4EAT-G. 1988–1989 G4A-HL — 4-speed transverse; 1994–2001 GF4A-EL — improved. Mazda Miatas are not just fun to drive - they are also relatively inexpensive to operate and maintain. Regular replacement of the fluid in your five-speed manual transmission helps keep your Miata running dependably. Mazda Miata owners have reported 5 problems related to manual transmission (under the power train category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Mazda Miata based on all problems reported for the Miata. Manual Transmission problem of the 1999 Mazda Miata 1.
| Vehicle Identification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vin Plate | Left dash, seen through windshield | |
| Exterior Colors | Classic Red (SU), Pure White (?), Brilliant Black (PZ), Sunlight Silver Metallic (22V), Midnight Blue Mica (22A), Emerald Mica (18J), Crystal Blue Metallic (23C), British Racing Green (HU) - Special Edition only | Shop Miata Exterior Parts |
| Interior Color | Black, Tan | Shop Miata Interior Parts |
| Factory Options | ||
| Base Model | 15 inch alloy wheels, 195/50R15 V-rated high performance tires, black vinyl top and boot, power mirrors, power antenna, black cloth interior, power windows with driver's one-touch, AM/FM stereo with 1 disc CD player and 2 speaker sound, 3-spoke Nardi leather steering wheel, door 'slam locks', fog lights, engine-immobilizer security system, windblocker | |
| Convenience Package | Includes tweeter speakers, power door locks, cruise control and remote keyless entry | |
| Suspension Package | Includes strut-tower brace, Bilstein shocks, 16-inch alloy wheels with wheel locks, P205/45R16 W-rated high performace tires, Torsen limited-slip differential. (Manual transmission only) | |
| LS Model | Tan interior with tan leather seats, tan vinyl top and boot, Torsen limited slip diff, 16 inch alloy wheels, 195/50R16 W-rated high performace tires, power door locks, remote keyless entry, cruise control, windblocker, carpeted floor mats, Bose music system with 4 speakers, door mounted tweeters | |
| LS Suspension Package | Sport suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers (6 speed Manual transmission only) | |
| Special Edition | All the items of the LS plus British Racing Green paint, 16-inch polished alloy wheels, a Nardi wood steering wheel, shift knob, dash trim and hand brake grip. This car also comes with a 6 speed shifter, unique beige top, boot cover, shifter boot, carpet and seats. In addition there are white gauge faces with chrome trim rings, chrome door handles, stainless steel scuff plates and unique keys. | |
| Torsen limited-slip diff (option) | Manual trans only | |
| Removable Hardtop (option) | Shop Miata Hardtop Accessories | |
| Automatic Trans (option) | 4-speed electronically controlled | Shop Miata Transmission Parts |
| 6-speed Manual Trans (option) | LS only | Shop Miata Transmission Parts |
| Cassette player (option) | ||
| CFC-free air conditioning (option) | ||
| Vehicle | ||
| Length | 155.7 in (3950 mm) | |
| Width | 66.0 in (1680 mm) | |
| Height | 48.4 in (1230 mm) | |
| Wheelbase | 89.2 in (2270 mm) | |
| Curb weight | 2200 lb (1000 kg) | |
| Chassis Type | Unitary steel body, steeland plastic panels | |
| Suspension | Fully independent front and rear, adjustable double-wishbone, coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, front and rear stabilizer bars | Shop Miata Suspension Parts |
| Steering | Rack and pinion, optional engine speed-sensing power steering | Shop Miata Steering Wheels |
| Brakes | Power-assisted discs, dual circuit hydraulics | Shop Miata Brakes |
| Engine | ||
| Engine Type | In-line 4-cylinder, DOHC | Shop Miata Engine Parts |
| Engine Displacement | 1.8L (110 cu in) | Shop Miata Engine Parts |
| Bore | 3.27 in (83 mm) | Shop Miata Engine Parts |
| Stroke | 3.35 in (85 mm) | Shop Miata Engine Parts |
| Compression ratio - Manual | 9.5:1 | Shop Miata Engine Parts |
| Horsepower (SAE net) | 142 | Add More Power |
| Torque (SAE net) | 116 | Add More Power |
| Fuel System | Multi-port electronic fuel injection | Shop Miata Fuel Parts |
| Ignition System | Electronic | Shop Miata Ignition Parts |
| Control System | Full ECU control system | |
| Oil Pressure at 1,000 rpm | 15-28 psi | Shop Miata Oil System Parts |
| Oil Pressure at 3,000 rpm | 43-56 psi | Shop Miata Oil System Parts |
| Ignition Timing | 10? +/- 1? | Shop Miata Ignition Parts |
| Fuel Pressure Regulator Pressure | 38-46 psi | |
| Spark Plugs | NGK BKR5E-11 | Shop Miata Spark Plugs |
| Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 | |
| Coil Order | 4-1-2-3 | Shop Miata Coil Packs |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission | 6-speed manual 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic | |
| Gear Ratios (6-speed Manual) | 1st - 3.76:1 2nd - 2.27:1 3rd - 1.65:1 4th - 1.26:1 5th - 1.00:1 6th - 0.84:1 | |
| Gear Ratios (5-speed Manual) | 1st - 3.136:1 2nd - 1.888:1 3rd - 1.330:1 4th - 1.000:1 5th - 0.814:1 | |
| Gear Ratios (Auto) | 1st - 2.841:1 2nd - 1.458:1 3rd - 1.000:1 4th - 0.730:1 | |
| Capacities | ||
| Engine Oil | 3.8 US quart (3.6L); with filter 4.0 US quart (3.75 L) | Shop Miata Engine Oil |
| Engine Oil Weight | 10W-30 | Shop Miata Engine Oil |
| Manual Trans. Fluid | 2.1 US quart (2.0 L) | Shop Miata Transmission Fluid |
| Trans. Fluid Weight | 80W-90 | Shop Miata Transmission Fluid |
| Auto Trans. Fluid (pan) | 4.2 US quart (4.0L) | |
| Auto Trans. Fluid Weight | Dexron II or M-III | |
| Rear Diff. Fluid | 1.06 US quart (1.0L) | Shop Miata Rear Differential Fluid |
| Coolant | 6.3 US quart (6.0 L) | Shop Miata Cooling Parts |
| Brake Fluid and Clutch Fluid | DOT-3 or DOT-4 | Shop Miata Brake Fluid |
| Fuel Tank | 12.7 gal | Shop Miata Fuel Parts |
As much as us driving enthusiasts would love to “save the manuals” and beg automakers to keep making cars with sticks, the truth of the matter is that we can’t. With the increasing number so millennials not learning how to drive stick – and not caring – we can’t expect that the do-it-yourself transmission is going to hang around much longer.
Although, I can think of one car that will probably always be offered with a manual transmission: The MazdaMX-5. Because there’s no way that Mazda would be so sadistic as to take that away from us. But in case they do, is the automatic version of Mazda MX-5 worth buying?
2020 Mazda MX-5 with a manual transmission
I had the pleasure of driving the 2020 Mazda MX-5 a couple of months ago, and thankfully, that one was outfitted with a manual transmission. Needless to say, as a Honda S2000 owner, I really enjoyed it. The shifts were smooth and precise and the clutch feels matched the shift mechanism perfectly by not feeling too heavy or too light in addition to having a gradual and forgiving engagement point. To be clear, it’s no S2000, but it’s close enough.
RELATED: How Safe Is the 2020 Mazda Miata?
But the main part of the driving experience is the car itself. When driving the new MX-5, you can tell that Mazda not only poured countless hours into building a well-tuned car but also learned from whatever mistakes they made in the previous generations and improved upon them.
Mazda Miata Manual Transmission Problems
There’s a great sense of refinement when you sit in the driver’s seat and that feeling is further complemented by the car’s agility in the corners, precise point-and-shoot steering, and glorious engine sounds. Yes, being able to downshift and put in work before each turn is a fun part of the experience, but it’s not everything.
RELATED: 5 Annoying Features on the 2020 Mazda MX-5 RF
Six-speed automatic transmission
Truth be told, I’ve only driven an ND Miata in automatic guise once, but it was enough to get a feel for the car. My main takeaway is that although the six-speed automatic transmission did make the car feel slower when accelerating, it didn’t hinder the overall driving experience too much.
Used Mazda Miata Manual Transmission
Putting the car in “sport” mode did help make the MX-5 feel quicker, but it didn’t do much as far as bringing back the excitement of rocking a stick. Neither did the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. If anything, those made me want a manual transmission even more.
Mazda Miata Manual Transmission Swap
However, I will say that the car was still fun to drive as it’s nimble handling and responsive engine made every corner fun. Additionally, everything else in the car is exactly the same, as you would expect, and the car was easier to drive in low-speed situations.
Is an automatic Mazda MX-5 worth buying?
In my experience and opinion, a Mazda MX-5 with an automatic transmission is worth buying. And before anyone starts throwing negative vibes my way, just remember, not everyone cares about driving a car with a manual transmission and some people could be too lazy to learn. That doesn’t mean that those people need to miss out on the joys of driving a car like the Mazda MX-5. If anything, they’ll have much as those of us that like to shift our own gears.