RPM Question?????????

[FestYboy]

likely you have the E series trans and not the oddball 4spd. the oddball unit would have been from production dates of 05/87 - 08/87 (ish)

[N8NQU]

I got mine from the original owner and the sticker on the drivers door frame says built date 07/13/88.

Someone here has to be able to tell us how to ID these 'rare birds' (non-overdrive final gear ratio MTX 4 speeds). If you currently only have 4 forward gears that is already a start and if your's is an 89 (they were all OEM 5 speeds by that time, I think) then likely as not you have a tranny out of a salvage or wrecked car, and that might well originate from a late 1987 (1988 model) vintage that might also have gotten off the boat in California. Dunno; let's see what the wizards here have to say.

[bhazard]

They still sold 4-speeds in 89.

[Bert]

how can I tell if it's a early California????????I had many metro's and I sure miss my XFI metro,I use to get in the highway close to 60 mpg.

Someone here has to be able to tell us how to ID these 'rare birds' (non-overdrive final gear ratio MTX 4 speeds). If you currently only have 4 forward gears that is already a start and if your's is an 89 (they were all OEM 5 speeds by that time, I think) then likely as not you have a tranny out of a salvage or wrecked car, and that might well originate from a late 1987 (1988 model) vintage that might also have gotten off the boat in California. Dunno; let's see what the wizards here have to say.

[N8NQU]

how can I tell if it's a early California????????I had many metro's and I sure miss my XFI metro,I use to get in the highway close to 60 mpg.

If your's is not the California early-intro 4 speed then you can already count your blessings. Auto trannys are busy buzzing away at 60mph (only 3 speeds and no overdrive) and yet they still get decent mileage and if you can get your hands on a 5 speed, and somebody's dead Aspire (so as to take advantage of universal-size rims and tires (and brakes)), then you too can easily invest in 'low rolling resistance' tires of the 13/14/15 inch sort. I mothballed my ATX Festy once I got hold of a 5 speed MTX despite the fact that it too seemed to run forever on a gallon of gas. It does work and is cheap and a mid to late 80s Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift/Pontiac Firefly will get you 'instant' 13 inch rims that can be outfitted with infinitely better quality 155/80-13s. At this time my 5 speed is spinning at 2700 at 70mph with 14 inch tires (22 inch diameter) and I love it! Power is still there and fuel economy at 55 is unbeatable.

[Bert]

If your's is not the California early-intro 4 speed then you can already count your blessings. Auto trannys are busy buzzing away at 60mph (only 3 speeds and no overdrive) and yet they still get decent mileage and if you can get your hands on a 5 speed, and somebody's dead Aspire (so as to take advantage of universal-size rims and tires (and brakes)), then you too can easily invest in 'low rolling resistance' tires of the 13/14/15 inch sort. I mothballed my ATX Festy once I got hold of a 5 speed MTX despite the fact that it too seemed to run forever on a gallon of gas. It does work and is cheap and a mid to late 80s Geo Metro/Suzuki Swift/Pontiac Firefly will get you 'instant' 13 inch rims that can be outfitted with infinitely better quality 155/80-13s. At this time my 5 speed is spinning at 2700 at 70mph with 14 inch tires (22 inch diameter) and I love it! Power is still there and fuel economy at 55 is unbeatable.

[N8NQU]

[BThe tach is working like a dream and thank you again for the great transaction and help.I guess I'll have to go 55mph to get the mileage that the 5speeds do,or change the trans.[/B]

Good to hear the tach is in and working. I just looked this weekend and at 60 in my 5speed I'm running at right about 2500rpms. At 70 it was just shy of 3000rpm. 2950 maybe!

Also at one point I was traveling at like 60 or so and realized my rpms were a little over 3000. I was quite confused until I realized I was still in 4th gear...and had been for several miles! Whoops!

[Prafeston]

Good to hear the tach is in and working. I just looked this weekend and at 60 in my 5speed I'm running at right about 2500rpms. At 70 it was just shy of 3000rpm. 2950 maybe!

Also at one point I was traveling at like 60 or so and realized my rpms were a little over 3000. I was quite confused until I realized I was still in 4th gear...and had been for several miles! Whoops!

[N8NQU]

Now that I got a tach in the car at 55mph is turning 2700rpm and at 60mph is turning 3000rpm.

I am wondering if somebody can tell me what RPM your 4speed is turning at 60mph and what your 5speed is turning at 60mph.I have a 4speed and just curious how much gas mileage difference I am going to see.I am new to the festiva but I did have over the years several geo metros.

[bhazard]

No FWD manual trans has a 1:1 gear. Its not just a Mazda thing.

[Tommychu]

Wait... Our 4th gear isn't 1:1? Seems strange since locking input to output is basically a "free gear", in that you get an extra shifter position and gear ratio with 2 less actual gears in the box. Man, Mazda did some weird stuff in their drivelines.

[N8NQU]

I guess I should have known that,I have got them for my Honda's and Subaru's through the forums.

no link, the FSM is still copyrighted.... cant post copyrighted material

[FestYboy]

no link, the FSM is still copyrighted.... cant post copyrighted material

[N8NQU]

Anybody has a link to download a shop manual for the 89L???????I am still looking.Thank you.Bill.

[blueoval]

with stock alloy rims and tires and 4speed my 89 sits at 3000rpm's at 60mph and 3250 at 65mph, do not know about the 5speed had one in my car that i got at junkyard and didn't have oem tach at the time but liked the 5speed better just has bad bearings gotta get it fixed