View Full Version : Auto Transmission Jerking?
She_Prime
05-20-2009, 07:33 PM
I've noticed over the past little while with my 08.5 Mazda 3 Sedan that it almost "jerks" forward (especially between the 1st and 2nd gear changes), I've also noticed it periodically between 2nd and 3rd.
It honestly feels like an inexperienced manual driver jerking the car for improper clutch work.
Now I'm on full automatic mode when this happens. Not triptronic. I haven't tried to see if it gets resolved on triptronic or not as I am on the highway in rush hour traffic or busy city traffic when I notice it the most.
Has anyone had a similar experience or know if this is a serious issue that I should get checked out? On my way home from work today I was actually tempted to pop into the dealership...
Any help from you all would be greatly appreciated!
cwp_sedan
05-20-2009, 07:36 PM
Try being on the gas a little more but not too much during the 1st-2nd shift. That's just how an auto is. Sometimes I can get it to shift smoothly and then the next minute it jerks a little... :S
She_Prime
05-20-2009, 07:38 PM
Try being on the gas a little more but not too much during the 1st-2nd shift. That's just how an auto is. Sometimes I can get it to shift smoothly and then the next minute it jerks a little... :S
Yeah I've noticed that too... but I guess I'm just getting more and more frustrated when I'm in rush hour traffic...
mf5781
05-20-2009, 08:38 PM
For 2004 model, this is called shift shock. It was cured by reflashing the transmission control module of the car. I don't know if this also applys to 2008 model. Check with your dealer to see if there is a TSB for it.
mzkaye729
05-20-2009, 09:10 PM
Had that too, She_Prime... but I mostly get it when I run the car with a cold engine (without even a little bit of a warm up).
She_Prime
05-20-2009, 09:17 PM
Had that too, She_Prime... but I mostly get it when I run the car with a cold engine (without even a little bit of a warm up).
Well I'm getting it a lot when I've been on the road for a while (like I said when sitting in rush hour traffic on the highway)
Maybe I should see if the dealer can do a "transmission flash" and solve the problem
Cozwell
05-20-2009, 09:42 PM
i had that happen to me - but when i did a transmission flush when i was required too - it went away - i have nice smooth shifts now...
When was the last time you checked your fluids? but yes i also agree with bringing to the dealer..
K
She_Prime
05-20-2009, 09:50 PM
i had that happen to me - but when i did a transmission flush when i was required too - it went away - i have nice smooth shifts now...
When was the last time you checked your fluids? but yes i also agree with bringing to the dealer..
K
Well my car is only 16,000kms old. So I don't think I would need a transmission flush already.
Cozwell
05-20-2009, 09:57 PM
oh - lol - i guess not!
i would just bring it to the dealer ;)
She_Prime
05-20-2009, 10:01 PM
Maybe I'll stop it by tomorrow on my way home from work...
mazdabetty
05-20-2009, 10:11 PM
I had the same thing... got a trans fluid flush and the firmware upgrade, now it's all fixed!
She_Prime
05-20-2009, 10:16 PM
I had the same thing... got a trans fluid flush and the firmware upgrade, now it's all fixed!
I checked the TSBs and it only relates to 06 and under cars for the "update"... it's weird that you say Cozwell and you both solved the issue with tranny flushes but at 16,000 I wouldn't think that'd be necessary!
mazdabetty
05-20-2009, 11:33 PM
Yeah I dunno, I wouldn't think it'd be an issue so early on either... did you check the fluid anyway just to be sure? I think similar threads were posted with the same issue but I can't remember what the solution was.... when I posted about mine I was told to get the upgrade, so if it doesn't apply to later models then I'm not sure what it could be... I'll try to find the thread I'm thinking of.
Edit:
The last couple of posts in this thread talk about a PCM update but it was never confirmed if it was actually for the later models...
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=9374&highlight=hard+shift
This one doesn't have much info either, but it does talk about reflashing the tranny...
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=23430&highlight=hard+shift
Sooooo all in all, a trip to the dealer might be good I guess... :\
Go to the dealer and see what they say. Maybe they'll try the reflash, maybe they'll try something else. Did you check your tranny fluid?
S.F.W.
05-21-2009, 03:00 PM
I think if they do a PCM flash, and it relearns your driving habits, it should be fine.
mazdabetty
05-21-2009, 03:04 PM
I think if they do a PCM flash, and it relearns your driving habits, it should be fine.
This blows me away.... lol it actually learns your driving habits???
Yup. my tranny is wonky sometime it won't shift after a hard drive because it wants to keep the gears for me. lol.
cosmin
04-27-2010, 01:58 PM
I have the same problem as you She_Prime. This issue ocure especially between the 1st and 2nd gear changes, always noticed in the morning. After 20-30 min seems to be better ,sometime the problem is coming back. I did a lot of research on line and a PCM reflash reprogramming looks like is the solution. I asked a Mazda dealer (Oakville) and it cost $99+taxes. Mine is 2005 auto. ATF is fine, has been changed, throttle is clean, air filter new, MAF clean. i don't know what else to check. I have also a flat spot in the acceleration where the acc drops suddenly from 2000 rpm to 1500 (in uphill mostly). If you have any idea how to fix your problem let ne know, I'll do the same if I solve mine.
htc***
04-27-2010, 03:58 PM
Try to reset the ECU which disconnect the battery for a few minutes or more. I think it might resolve the problem which had happened to my car.
bunchi
04-27-2010, 08:43 PM
I get the jerking always on 3rd going to 4th, on harder accelerations and when i don't ease off on the gas. Normal driving it's ok. Also tried resetting the ECU. The jerking disappeared but came back, maybe because of the stupid stop and go traffic in the GTA, makes your computer forget abt 4th gear lol
bunchi
04-27-2010, 11:57 PM
ok just because this thread came back to life, and me having a similar issue, i just reset my ECU, again. idled for 5 mins, and drove around. cruised on major mac since it's like a highway at tihs time of day. shifting feels very smooth through all the gears. even had a chance to gun it for a little bit, still had smooth shifting. it's all good for now... but tomorrow i'm 100% sure it's going to be back to what it was before the ECU reset when I go back to driving in the traffic in T.O.
htc***
04-28-2010, 11:44 AM
ok just because this thread came back to life, and me having a similar issue, i just reset my ECU, again. idled for 5 mins, and drove around. cruised on major mac since it's like a highway at tihs time of day. shifting feels very smooth through all the gears. even had a chance to gun it for a little bit, still had smooth shifting. it's all good for now... but tomorrow i'm 100% sure it's going to be back to what it was before the ECU reset when I go back to driving in the traffic in T.O.
Try to drive like old guys and easy on gas for a few days then see what happen.
Alfredson007
10-11-2011, 05:17 PM
Hi. I'd like to re-heat this topic.
I have a 2007 Mazda 3 activematic. This is my first automatic, and i have very limited experience on automatics altogether. I have started to wonder does my transaxle work as it should:
When right after cold starts, the jerks between shifts, especially from 1->2 might be pretty noticeable. Nothing HARD or uncomfortable, but not particulary mild nor smooth. The higher the gear, the less jerking. It seems that if i idle the engine before driving, or when the engine has warmed up while driving, transmission starts to work much better. Still, the lower the gears, the harder the jerk, but the jerks, if you can call them jerks, are very faint. they are there, but aren't strong in any way. From 3rd to 4th usually is so smooth i can't even tell.
So should Mazda3 _always_ change gears without you feeling _anything_ or is it normal to feel _something_? For me, these situations vary. It almost feels that with very very light acceleration OR with moderate acceleration would give me the smoothest shfits, while regular acceleration would be a tad more harsh? Is this a learning type transmission, used to be driven by previous owner?
Lastly, the manual states that you shouldn't engage drive or reverse with engine reving anything another than idle. When i cold start my engine, it revs briefly 1500rpm+, should i wait the engine to drop its rpms?
THANKS!!!
I knew this wasn't normal either! I realized this issue recently and it only happens when my car shifts from gear 1 to 2. All other gears are fine. I'll check my fluid tonight
Prima Tech Aaron
10-12-2011, 12:20 AM
check transmission fluid first. try to find someplace that will do a flush not just drain and fill (transmission contains 12-14L onl 3-3.5 get changed on a drain and fill). 1-2 shift shock update only applies to early model 3's. if problem remains futher diagnoses is needed. shifts will never be un-noticable but they shouldn't be neck breaking.
check transmission fluid first. try to find someplace that will do a flush not just drain and fill (transmission contains 12-14L onl 3-3.5 get changed on a drain and fill). 1-2 shift shock update only applies to early model 3's. if problem remains futher diagnoses is needed. shifts will never be un-noticable but they shouldn't be neck breaking.
1) Out of curioustiy, is everyone here running 4spd or 5spd automatic transmissions? (post 2007, I think there is no more 4spd)
2) This issue happens to me almost daily, and annoys the living crap out of me... Aaron, you seem like a sound mechanic, any chance YOU can look at the issue? ie book an appointment and have you look at it. Someone mentioned the erratic shift, and yes in Hills it can be super annoying, and really feels like the tranny is going to fall apart.
Anyone here thinks the tranny mount sucks? cause on a REALLY bad day, it feels like the transmission is going to fall apart and the mount is broken - that's the worst shift I see on a bad day.
Most mechanics are 'I dont know, let it break' kind of attitude, and I hate that.
Your help/assistance is much appreciated.
Alfredson007
10-12-2011, 09:42 AM
check transmission fluid first. try to find someplace that will do a flush not just drain and fill (transmission contains 12-14L onl 3-3.5 get changed on a drain and fill). 1-2 shift shock update only applies to early model 3's. if problem remains futher diagnoses is needed. shifts will never be un-noticable but they shouldn't be neck breaking.
Thanks for your reply. Have to check the fluid. Although, now that i've driven it, the changes have been very nice. some changes are basicly unnoticeable, some i can feel but they are far away from neck breaking. If shifts are supposed to feel in 4spd tranny, then i am sure those changes are 100% normal, since they are barely noticeable. Now, i haven't got the jerk-ish 1-2 change for a while. I wonder why? Programs has learnt my way of driving? Is this possible? Maybe I have learnt instinctively to use throttle in a jerk-free way? Is this possible? The jerk was never BAD but it was strong enough me to pay attention to it.
greaves82
10-12-2011, 04:46 PM
My transmission was a bit jerking about a month or so ago, but you could only feel it when the transmission was down shifting. When I finally had time, I took it to a dealership and they reflashed it and since then nothing
TheMAN
10-12-2011, 04:48 PM
next time, try harder searching
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?46900-Transmission-Jerk-Reflashing-ECU
so I have reflashed ECU, did tranny flush (~45k km ago) and recently did a fill and drain (pan was dropped to clean filter and remove excess metal shavings) BUT the 4spd auto still exhibits erratic shifting quite often...
Depending on how hard you accelerate, the jerk/erratic shfit can be very minor to something more major where it feels I am shifting like a Manual car (closest thing to describe)...
any ideas?
Transmission has been exhibiting this behvaiour since I bought it used at 74,000km, and now I have 127,000km on car and the issue seems to have gotten slightly worse...
any owners exhibiting same erratic/jerky shifts on their 4spd autos?
Thanks
TheAnswer_03
02-17-2012, 12:53 PM
so I have reflashed ECU, did tranny flush (~45k km ago) and recently did a fill and drain (pan was dropped to clean filter and remove excess metal shavings) BUT the 4spd auto still exhibits erratic shifting quite often...
Depending on how hard you accelerate, the jerk/erratic shfit can be very minor to something more major where it feels I am shifting like a Manual car (closest thing to describe)...
any ideas?
Transmission has been exhibiting this behvaiour since I bought it used at 74,000km, and now I have 127,000km on car and the issue seems to have gotten slightly worse...
any owners exhibiting same erratic/jerky shifts on their 4spd autos?
Thanks
what type of ATF did you use? was the flush done at a dealer or local shop?
yeah I get a noticeable jerky shift from 1st to 2nd just like how OP described. And I can feel the car shift (more subtle) from 2nd to 3rd if I accelerate hard and can also feel the downshift from 5th to 4th sometimes. Pretty annoying. Got the 5-speed auto. I'm going a get a flush soon also, bought my car with 99,000km and it's on the same old ATF.
what type of ATF did you use? was the flush done at a dealer or local shop?
yeah I get a noticeable jerky shift from 1st to 2nd just like how OP described. And I can feel the car shift (more subtle) from 2nd to 3rd if I accelerate hard and can also feel the downshift from 5th to 4th sometimes. Pretty annoying. Got the 5-speed auto. I'm going a get a flush soon also, bought my car with 99,000km and it's on the same old ATF.
The power flush that was done a bit ago was done with Mazda ATF Type M5 at Mazda dealership.
The fill and drains were done at Halton Transmission in Oakville, who was QEW Mazda certified shop for transmission issues. They also used Mazda Type M5.
I really am not sure how to exactly describe the jerk because it can vary depending on acceleration. Sometimes it's not a jerk, but rather a hard shift, and sometimes its a jerk, a very noticeable one and other times it is very minor...
can be annoying if you monitor it... but then again, hard to not notice...
TheAnswer_03
02-17-2012, 02:28 PM
The power flush that was done a bit ago was done with Mazda ATF Type M5 at Mazda dealership.
The fill and drains were done at Halton Transmission in Oakville, who was QEW Mazda certified shop for transmission issues. They also used Mazda Type M5.
I really am not sure how to exactly describe the jerk because it can vary depending on acceleration. Sometimes it's not a jerk, but rather a hard shift, and sometimes its a jerk, a very noticeable one and other times it is very minor...
can be annoying if you monitor it... but then again, hard to not notice...
I see. I'm bringing in Royal Purple Synthetic ATF (compatible with Mazda ATF-MV), I figure anything is better than the old stock ATF.
Wish me luck!
TheMAN
02-17-2012, 03:49 PM
see
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?47122-Auto-Transmission-Advice-Needed
see
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?47122-Auto-Transmission-Advice-Needed
This is the EXACT issue I am having between 1st and 2nd gear shift.
The shift error is best described as a 'Jolt' and mine does happen not only at high rpm, low rpm too (ie 2-3k)....
And it seems solenoids need a replacement!
Ill consult my usual transmission shop and update.
I see. I'm bringing in Royal Purple Synthetic ATF (compatible with Mazda ATF-MV), I figure anything is better than the old stock ATF.
Wish me luck!
I'd recommend you check that link from theMAN.... read it all and see if you can relate to that jolt.....
mrjun18
10-19-2012, 12:24 PM
Sorry to bring up this old thread, but I'm also having the jerking issue with my Mazda3 going into the next gear (I just got a 2007 GS, auto).
So what I should be doing is getting a tranny flush?
mazdabetty
10-19-2012, 12:28 PM
Sorry to bring up this old thread, but I'm also having the jerking issue with my Mazda3 going into the next gear (I just got a 2007 GS, auto).
So what I should be doing is getting a tranny flush?
You can try it. It seemed to work for me at first but it's back again. I've just learned to adjust my driving habits accordingly, I really don't think there's a "fix" for it unfortunately.
On a side note, I just saw this post I made 3 years ago in this thread and laughed my ass off at my blondeness..... most drastic learning curve ever :chuckle
This blows me away.... lol it actually learns your driving habits???
highlineMotors
10-19-2012, 01:57 PM
Sorry to bring up this old thread, but I'm also having the jerking issue with my Mazda3 going into the next gear (I just got a 2007 GS, auto).
So what I should be doing is getting a tranny flush?
Is it a 2.3L?
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