Bad Auto-Tranny

[IUstats]

For starters, my car is 2003 Protege LX with 37K mi. The only mods I've got are an upper front strut bar and an air intake both nameless brands from Ebay.

So, I drove my car from Chicago to Bloomington, IN and the tranny started acting up. For example, say I would be going about 70mph and wanted to speed up to pass a truck or go up a hill, then the revs would go up to 5-6K but my speed would not change at all. Finally, after letting off the gas and stepping on it again, then it may jerk into gear or it may just rev up again the same as before.

Since the car is still under warranty I took it to the dealer here in Bloomington, IN. The first time they could not find anything wrong with it but went ahead and flushed the ATF since it hadn't been done since I bought it.

I was heading home last Fri and didn't get more than 25mi when it started acting up again.

I took it back to the same dealer. This time they said they got it to fail in fourth like I had and now they're going to put a whole new tranny in.

Has anyone else had similar problems? It just seems like sort of a drastic measure to me to switch out the whole tranny when the problem was only with 4th gear. Since it's covered under warranty though it doesn't really make such a big difference to me, but I was just curious if this is standard practice or what.

[DiS]

Auto trans. in Protege is a bit weak, or should I say, its even weaker than manual trans. I know few people who had same problem. One of them had the transmission replaced 3 times and then he called in a lemon law. I'd say that its good that they are replacing the whole trans. Never know what exactly is causing the problem. Might be a factory defect. Maybe the reason why they are replacing the whole trans. is because they are not certain for sure that only the 4th gear is acting up and they are being on the safe side

[martinmzfan]

Great... at 67K I have a bad Pressure Control Solenoid on my '01 Protege ES ATX. I got a DTC (P0745) thrown twice in the past couple weeks. [Dreaded blinking O/D light flashed] Solenoid is on order and I'll try to tackle install. Arhggg... not a good sign for our ATX trannys. Anyone ever change one of these bad solenoids out?

[Charlie Moua]

Great... at 67K I have a bad Pressure Control Solenoid on my '01 Protege ES ATX. I got a DTC (P0745) thrown twice in the past couple weeks. [Dreaded blinking O/D light flashed] Solenoid is on order and I'll try to tackle install. Arhggg... not a good sign for our ATX trannys. Anyone ever change one of these bad solenoids out?


do they really have weak auto tranny?
I'm really planning to get a 2002 ES loaded Auto one with 56,000 miles on it. I don't drive hard at all & this will basically be the wifes car.....
Should I reconcider on the auto tranny?

[DiS]

do they really have weak auto tranny?
I'm really planning to get a 2002 ES loaded Auto one with 56,000 miles on it. I don't drive hard at all & this will basically be the wifes car.....
Should I reconcider on the auto tranny?
just to drive around normally it shouldn't be a problem. What Im referring to is if you are doing mods to the car...performance-wise that creates alot of great stress on the transmission and unlike manual, auto trans. cant handle that much.

[InFeXIoN]

yea, i had some problem with mine it had a f-ed up solenoid so they just replaced the tranny under warrenty, which is good becuase you get a new tranny.

[martinmzfan]

My wife has been driving the car, primarily on the freeway, for a few years now. This is the first issue that almost left her stranded 45 miles away. The ATX did allow her to "limp home," but I deem it unreliable because of a premature electrical part failure. I am replacing the solenoid this week. It should be "relatively easy." Wish me luck.

Based on my experience, sadly, I would not buy another Protege (ATX or MTX). Too many parts have failed (3 major) in just 5 years. Have the PCM and TCM scanned for codes thoroughly and get a professional mechanic to check car out -- use an independant one. Many Proteges are reliable, but some have a high number of premature failures.

[martinmzfan]

Okay, I have to give Mazda "some" credit here. They made our ATXs very easy to service! The trans pan, solenoids and valve body are extremely easy to access and service. I spent about $130 repairing the bad solenoid myself. The fluid was very deteriorated after only 10K miles. I believe the EPC solenoid went bad slowly and caused rough shifts over time -- not so noticebale when you drive the car everyday. This possibly strained the ATX and deteriorated the fluid quickly.

I suggest checking the EPC solenoid electrical resistance first if anybody is experiencing rougher than new shifts -- almost jerking. Very simple. Follow my thread in the "How to" section.

[NOTSPCY]

I havent really noticed alot with my tranny when it comes to problems but the one problem i have noticed that happens on occasion is when i try and switch it in to reverse or park sometimes it doesnt want to move . so i have to put my foot on the brake a few times to get it to finally register and let me shift .

[patmaz]

well i must be the lucky guy,i have a 2003 es-gt,with the tiptronic tranny,and never had any trouble,none...i did change the tranny oil at 35000km for synthetic mobil 1 atf,and now i am at 72000km,no trouble at all,shifts smoot,no hesitation,and the sport mode work great,but i have an extended warranty if ever problems would appear....i hope not....

i had my other protege for 9 years,manual,with sinthetic fluid to,and never had any trouble either...you know the tranny is like the engine,good fluids,frequent maintenance,and you give yourself a chance.....

[LX_StreetGlow]

hey i'm about to change fluid in my tranny (Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF) but I was just wondering how much of it goes in ..... is it 3qts and also is there any specific way to do it.
thx guys


peace

[LX_StreetGlow]

oh and are proteges A/T really that weak and easy breakable,, since I have been pushin mine to the limit few times (well more than few :) )


peace out

[zentrandi]

i've replaced mine three time since i got the car...

[LX_StreetGlow]

damn that sucks, did u have to pay for it?? .... i've been planing to take mine in to get looked at, my warrenty runs out this month,,, better safe than sorry

peace

[zentrandi]

i had the extended warranty till 75K and i got them all replaced for free. Now im tredding through open water being past 82K... Oh well...

[martinmzfan]

Our ATXs are not that bad! Mine has been relatively reliable for 5 years. Regular servicing keeps it in good shape. The pan and filter is a cinch to drop. The shift solenoids are easy to access and replace. A basic mechanic can troubleshoot the unit. Replace the exact amount of fluid that you drain... can't go wrong. Check fluid level when hot only.

[patmaz]

hey i'm about to change fluid in my tranny (Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF) but I was just wondering how much of it goes in ..... is it 3qts and also is there any specific way to do it.
thx guys


peace

well if you do the job as it should be done,its 7.1 ltres that goes in,you remove the transmission plug,the coolant hose in the front of the tranny,and you let it empty itself,when nothing is coming out anymore,put the key to ON,do not start the car,play with the shifter a few times,and leave it in neutral....then it should empty the right way,after,well simply fill her up...and for those who wants to change the filter,i asked the dealer about it,there is none,there is only a small strainer,wich you can reach by opening the oil pan,and simply clean it...i was the first surprised,but after looking in the shop manual,well,its the truth,no filter in thoses transmissions.....(omg)

[martinmzfan]

The "strainer" actually has a small filter inside. I replaced the whole thing when changing out a bad EPC solenoid -- the pan was already down. It is a 6-inch semi-rectangular box with a pipe on top. There is felt filter material inside which strains out particle debris. Yeah, you can clean it out by flushing new ATX fluid through it a few times. I was lazy and just replaced it... it's a cinch. I got his hideous noise when I started up my car with a 1/2 qt low of fluid! Needless to say, it's difficult to get the right level by using the dipstick! Always replace the drain washer. I reused mine and found it leaking a tad bit.