Mazda Car Help
 

Needing some help here car people (in particular people who know Mazda technicians). So I've checked ad nauseum the message boards for the solution to this problem...

When it's colder outside, and my car hasn't been started up in a while, I'll start the car, start driving and once the car shifts from first to second, it does a HORRIBLE lurch. It's like it slams into second. According to the Mazda forums, this is a common problem with the 3 (I have a 2004 3). I asked a mechanic friend and he said that it's because the transmission fluid hasn't warmed up yet and this seems plausible because once the car warms up it doesn't happen. It also only happens between first and second gear.

Any ideas? This just doesn't seem like it can be GOOD for the freaking transmission.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

Mabye start your car a few minutes early in the morning to ensure that it's warm...

Transmission problems suck... my '90 escort just bit the dust, and before that my '89 volvo's transmission kicked (after 310,000 miles baby!).

I'm looking to buy a civic now.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

I do that, but the fluid doesn't really get warm unless the car is shifting gears. I called Mazda and they're like, "It's common, there's no fix." I'm about to go up and raise some hell telling them to fix it, because normal cars don't operate like that.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

[quote=RobH4413;278738]Mabye start your car a few minutes early in the morning to ensure that it's warm...

Transmission problems suck... my '90 escort just bit the dust, and before that my '89 volvo's transmission kicked (after 310,000 miles baby!).

I'm looking to buy a civic now.[/quote]


new or used civic?

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

[quote=canthetuna;278751]new or used civic?[/quote]
used:

One of my good friends has been working on civics his entire life and is looking for a steal. He was saying he could get me a pretty nice one for only 5,000$.

Plus if anything ever went wrong he'd help me learn about how to fix it (said he could get a new engine if it ever needed one for 400$).

I just want to get a reliable car with good gas mileage that will last me untill I graduate, and I'm pretty set on a civic.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;278743]I do that, but the fluid doesn't really get warm unless the car is shifting gears. I called Mazda and they're like, "It's common, there's no fix." I'm about to go up and raise some hell telling them to fix it, because normal cars don't operate like that.[/QUOTE]

Yeah. From my experience, it takes at least 15 minutes for the tranny fluid to warm up -- and that is when you are driving. Without driving, it could probably take over 30 minutes.

You could look into an engine block heater. It heats the engine block -- not the tranny -- but it may help. I don't know for sure.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;278729]Needing some help here car people (in particular people who know Mazda technicians). So I've checked ad nauseum the message boards for the solution to this problem...

When it's colder outside, and my car hasn't been started up in a while, I'll start the car, start driving and once the car shifts from first to second, it does a HORRIBLE lurch. It's like it slams into second. According to the Mazda forums, this is a common problem with the 3 (I have a 2004 3). I asked a mechanic friend and he said that it's because the transmission fluid hasn't warmed up yet and this seems plausible because once the car warms up it doesn't happen. It also only happens between first and second gear.

Any ideas? This just doesn't seem like it can be GOOD for the freaking transmission.[/QUOTE]

Chuck Norris doesn't need transmission fluid. He uses his own fresh urine. It lasts about 200k miles before replacement. And never cools down.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

Can I just settle for a single tear from Jack Bauer?

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;278775]Can I just settle for a single tear from Jack Bauer?[/QUOTE]

That would destroy your transmission.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

The problem is Mazda is Jap. for FORD

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

Argh, jokes aside, anyone have any suggestions?

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

yeah, buy american:)

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

I work on cars quit a bit and went to school to learn how to as well. Basically it is tranny slipping when the fluid is cold, IF you never feel it when the car has warmed up that is it. Have you ever shifted a manually tranny when it is really cold? Hard to do. The same applys for the auto tranny. I really would not worry about it. How many miles? Please remeber that we have had exterm cold conditions of late.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

[quote=dmek25;278789]yeah, buy american:)[/quote]

Seconded. :)

I have no problems whatsoever with my 2 American cars.

Re: Mazda Car Help
 

:doh:

Argh, said just like the trash down my road! I don't buy cars based on if they're American or not. If Iran made a car that looked as bad ass as my Mazda, I'd buy it. I have a Ford Ranger that we use for 4x4 in the snow and hauling stuff as well.

It's not breaking down or anything, just something I don't want to deal with. Besides the Mustangs, the American companies need to get some design cues from Europe and Japan.