1999 Mazda B2500 issues - clutch/tranny and coolant loss

Hey all,

Just bought a 99 Mazda B2500, 5 speed. It has 145k miles, clean as a whistle inside and out. I drove it, ran great. Drove straight as an arrow, shifted through all the gears great. And now...

When it's still cold/it hasn't warmed up yet, it shifts like it just came off the factory floor. Very smooth. However, when it warms up a little bit, it doesn't shift QUITE as smooth. It'll still find the gear without grinding, just not nearly as smooth. It can be a little more difficult downshifting into second, but not always. Am I over-thinking this one? Complaining all though it still shifts? Low fluid in tranny (I'm going to check this tomorrow)? Worn synchros?

The other thing I've noticed is that if I coast in neutral up a stop light or sign and come to a complete stop on a flat surface (where I'm not rolling in either direction) and I push the clutch in to get back into first, it can be a real bitch to get back in. Is this just a worn pressure plate? First gear synchro starting to go out? Now, if I'm on a slight incline and I push the clutch in and I start to roll, it'll find first fine. It's just when I'm on a level surface. Also worth noting, I've been checking the clutch master cylinder reservoir for any fluid loss, still at the same level (hasn't lost any of the course of the week).

Lastly, it's losing a small amount of coolant. I went and checked it (I've owned it a week now) and it has lost about 1/4" in the reservoir. It's not leaking any coolant externally (none dripping on the ground). I've been checking the oil religiously, looking for any graying, snot-like consistency to make sure it's not a head gasket, oil looks great (nice and clean). Maybe a small pinhole leak in a hose? I'm going to replace those soon regardless. Maybe a small crack in the radiator cap? I've got one I'm going to put on tomorrow. I'm not thinking heater core, as the carpet is not wet at all on the inside. I crawled underneath, and absolutely dry as a bone, I can't see any trace of a leak. Maybe it was just crappy coolant and it's evaporating? I really don't know, I'd just like to know where this coolant is going...

Any help/insight would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post. Thanks!

Same Here

I've got a 1998 B2500 manual too with 145Km on it.
It is what I learned stick on and I've always assumed that it wasn't letting me shift down because it was 'speed regulated.' (So I couldn't jam it into first when I was going to fast)

I had that same problem in my B2500 try bleeding your slave cylinder on your tranny or maybe it needs to be replaced. mine worked great after bleeding it.

When my truck is hot (more in the summer) it can be a bitch to get back into first like that. I read that the pilot bearings have a tendency to stick or something (I don't know too much about trans's) and I just deal with it and I'll replace when I need a clutch. Could be the same in your case.

Hello, I'm new here. Have a bit of a problem hope you can help with. Have a 1999 mazda b2500 5 speed replaced the clutch. Fly wheel. Throw out bearing. Slave cylinder. and bleed the system. And we cannot get the clutch to engage; no clutch pressure. What could cause this? What else could have happened during the process?

if the trans wont go into 1st. at a dead stop, most likely the sycros for 1st. are worn, or u need to bleed the system to get full extension on the slave cylinder. mine doesnt like to go into 1st. either at 250k miles. so just put it into 2nd. then go to 1st.

krad....sounds like u still have air in the clutch system or u put the clutch disc in backwards. check that u have pressure at your slave cylinder first, and if that checks out then proceed to pulling the trans back out.