Earlier this year I removed the console and shift lever to replace a torn shift lever boot, and to remount the bushing on the bottom end of the shift lever (incorporating a washer to prevent the bushing from detaching itself again - I was happy to see today that the washer has done its job well). While I was in there that earlier day, the ball at the bottom end of the shift lever got cleaned of its grease; while a little bit remained, it has probably been lacking some smoothness ever since. So today I took it all apart again, and lubed up the ball and bushing with a spray can of white lithium grease. Much faster disassembly and reassembly this time, after having done it once before. And the shifting seems to be smoother and more accurate! :)
(odometer 23,265)
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4 comments:
Hi! I just made a deposit on an '04 MSM which I am picking up tomorrow. Reading your 'automotive diary' is getting me even more excited than I already was!
Fantastic! Miles on the car? Color? Mods or stock? I bought mine unmolested, but you can save some expense buying one someone else did the work on.
Have you found the MSM forum? It's mazda-speed.com, join up, go to the welcome page, and introduce yourself and your car! You'll learn a LOT about the car. On the forum, my username is Traveler. I'm not one of the experts, mostly I ask questions. :)
Enjoy your car!
I picked it up yesterday, and I haven't stopped smiling since! It is the titanium grey with the red and black cloth interior. The only mods are aftermarket wheels and a boost gauge in one of the air vents.
I will certainly check out the MSM forum; this is my first real performance vehicle, and I am sure I will have questions...
Glad you're liking it! Who wouldn't?? :) It's my first performance car too.
The boost gauge will come in handy if/when you install a manual boost controller under the hood so you can raise the boost level. You may have noticed I put my gauge on the A-pillar, but a lot of the guys on the forum put it in an air vent like yours.
In fact measuring your boost to raise it accurately is the only practical reason I know of to install a boost gauge (admittedly there is a fun factor), which makes me wonder if maybe you have some other mods after all: MBC, intake kit, etc.
Then again, if my car were sold right now, it would be like you described yours: boost gauge, but no other power mods. I put the gauge in last summer, planning to add the Flyin Miata intake kit (with MBC) soon after, but then had to wait for better financial conditions! I think I may finally be close to making the purchase. :)
On the forum, be sure to check out the sections "FAQ Completed" and "FAQ and How To (In Progress)", where you'll find all kinds of information on various things you may want to do to the car. It's really helpful, especially to non-mechanics like me. Hey, I'd never even heard of a Manual Boost Controller before I got this car!
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