2008 Mazda 5 transmission failure

S

spacerat

Member
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2008 Mazda 5 Touring
Hello all, first time posting here but I have been a Mazda owner for years (10 or so RX-7s) and the 2008 Mazda5.

My question:

We were traveling to Salt Lake City for a concert when all of a sudden the transmission just stopped holding and the engine went to the rev limiter. Not soon after i went into what I surmise is Limp Mode and enabled us to get it to a transmission shop where I left it and grabbed a rental.

I got a call from the shop and they informed me the transmission was mechanically unable to hold torque in all but 2 gears (wtf?), so I called a buddy and towed it back to Las Vegas.

My question: Since I didnt hear ANYTHING that sounded like catastrophic trans failure, is it possible this is just a solenoid in the valve body failing or some other electrical part? I dont have any problem replacing the transmission there are several here available but I would think if the failure was that massive it would have had some cool noises associated with it.

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
It's possible. This sounds just like a problem I had with a 1964 Ford Country Sedan. In my experience with automatics, none of the failures I've had or heard about were ever associated with a good gear-gnashing "crunch." More often than not, they just slip and fail to propel the car forward, and it usually has to do with one or more of the hydrolic or electronic components failing, and not the gears themselves. That said, it doesn't mean that it would be a cheap fix... the failed component(s) could be deep within the transmission. I would take it to an experienced transmission specialist to find out for sure.
 
I may try to get the codes scanned again. If I cant come up with anything there I will just swap it out with a used one. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this issue. The transmission place the car ended up stated that the Mazda5 transmission was a huge problem.
 
Go to the dealer shop and get your Mazda checked. It needs a check up I guess. May be transmission wires have got loose and asking to be fitted tightly. This is my first time experience and I am scared if I am not on loss.
 
My Mazda5 '08 with 96,000 miles on it is sitting at the dealer awaiting a transmission diagnosis today. The "AT" light came on Saturday night - I avoided driving until Monday morning to my trusted garage and they picked up P0744 - Torque Converter Coupling Circuit Intermittent and P0841 - Transmission Sensor/Switch/A Circuit Range/Performance. The only symptoms - that were pretty much at the same time as the warning light coming on was that it was shifting late between 2nd/3rd and 3rd/4th - over-revving somewhat. I tried to search the web for Mazda's with similar symptoms - and I haven't found much of anything.

Also I should note that I've been having my mechanic regularly empty the AT fluid as much as it will go - and then refilling it with genuine Mazda AT fluid that I provide. So the fluid is pretty reddish - not dirty or burnt.

I'll post more as I learn more, but if anyone has any insight - please share.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
spacerat said:
Hello all, first time posting here but I have been a Mazda owner for years (10 or so RX-7s) and the 2008 Mazda5.

My question:

We were traveling to Salt Lake City for a concert when all of a sudden the transmission just stopped holding and the engine went to the rev limiter. Not soon after i went into what I surmise is Limp Mode and enabled us to get it to a transmission shop where I left it and grabbed a rental.

I got a call from the shop and they informed me the transmission was mechanically unable to hold torque in all but 2 gears (wtf?), so I called a buddy and towed it back to Las Vegas.

My question: Since I didnt hear ANYTHING that sounded like catastrophic trans failure, is it possible this is just a solenoid in the valve body failing or some other electrical part? I dont have any problem replacing the transmission there are several here available but I would think if the failure was that massive it would have had some cool noises associated with it.

Any help is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

spacerat-
I was wondering how many miles are on the vehicle? And if you had any further information on the diagnosis. You can see my posting from a few minutes ago on my Mazda5 that's in the shop with a transmission problem too.
 
reMarkable,

I am going to scan it again today and get the codes. The car only has about 64,000 miles.
 
Disconnected the battery to clear the codes and went out again. Now I get the AT limp light but no CEL. Not sure if the scanner will pick up any codes....
 
reMarkable said:
My Mazda5 '08 with 96,000 miles on it is sitting at the dealer awaiting a transmission diagnosis today. The "AT" light came on Saturday night - I avoided driving until Monday morning to my trusted garage and they picked up P0744 - Torque Converter Coupling Circuit Intermittent and P0841 - Transmission Sensor/Switch/A Circuit Range/Performance. The only symptoms - that were pretty much at the same time as the warning light coming on was that it was shifting late between 2nd/3rd and 3rd/4th - over-revving somewhat. I tried to search the web for Mazda's with similar symptoms - and I haven't found much of anything.

Also I should note that I've been having my mechanic regularly empty the AT fluid as much as it will go - and then refilling it with genuine Mazda AT fluid that I provide. So the fluid is pretty reddish - not dirty or burnt.

I'll post more as I learn more, but if anyone has any insight - please share.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

So I'll get more detail when I get the full write up from the dealer - but that won't be for days - but basically it's some kind of torque converter failure- and the transmission is officially shot.(sad1)

My extended warranty offered a used transmission with 46k on it for no cost (of course I still have my deductible) or pay the difference between that and what the dealer was offering for a remanufactured transmission - but that's $900 more than the cost of the used transmission - and I don't have an extra $900 - so the used one will have to do. They do warrant it for 13,000k or 13 months - for what it's worth. So that's the basics on my situation.

Now I'm disappointed that the original Mazda transmission didn't live a particularly long life - and I went out of my way to maintain it as best possible with Mazda AT fluid and I think I have pretty gentle driving habits as well. So it goes. (unamused)
 
Just a word of advice... if you can, go get a second opinion. My experiences of late with Mazda dealerships hasn't been too favorable. I expect that just like with their engines, the dealership doesn't like to crack the case of a transmission to work with the bits inside. An independent shop or a transmission specialist like AAMCO might be able to offer more insight and a possible fix that's not as expensive.
 
Unless the torque converter failed and put bits/pieces in the transmission, why not just replace the converter?
 
Code that was thrown was P0757 Shift solenoid B circuit stuck on. Can be remedied (Maybe) by dropping the pan and cleaning the valve body/unsticking the solenoid. Or possible TCM reflash.

Are there any known reflash issues for the Mazda 5 anyone is aware of?
 
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So I downloaded the FSM (thanks Mazdas 247), and ran the FIP. This involves dropping the pan and inspecting the fluid (which was SEVERELY burned and smelled like A$$). I also click checked the B circuit solenoid and it was good. Going to click check all the remaining solenoids, change the filter, service the transmission and PRAY....
 
I haven't pulled the transmission pan but have seen pictures of the bottom end of an Mz3 transmission. What wasn't clear was whether it was the FNR5 transmission (same as our Mz5) or FN4A. But, the shift solenoids were right above the filter and readily accessible. From my experience with my other Japanese vehicle (Mitsubishi), that was the case as well.

Here is what my diagnosis procedure consisted of:
  1. Pull the pan
  2. Unplug the solenoids (make note of or picture of each)
  3. Remove the retainer clip (solenoids are held in 2 sets - similar to Mazda transmission picture I found)
  4. Remove solenoids individually
  5. Check their actuation with the vehicle's 12v battery - all of mine checked (cycled, clicked) fine
  6. Swap them around if you feel so inclined
  7. Reassemble
My issue turned out to be fretting corrosion on the harness connection to the transmission housing for the solenoids. Grease solved the issue.

I would venture to say a stuck open solenoid to be a faulty solenoid. The problem is we don't have a service manual for the FNR5, so diagrams are unavailable to show where solenoid B circuit is located.
 
From my experience, solenoids don't get stuck cause they're dirty. If its stuck, replace it. My buddies dad has been rebuilding transmissions for over 30 years. He always recommends replacing the solenoids. In my wife's old Protege, a code came up when we were 100 miles from home leaving us with only 2nd gear. We limped home and it ended up being a shift solenoid we ended up replacing all the solenoids, about $40 each, and never had another problem. Good luck with your trans.
 
Well, I was able to remedy the shift solenoid but apparently there is more damage. Waiting for MANA to decide if they will give us special consideration.
 
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