Auto 4spd Transmission Jerk - Hills and occasional starts from red light

[zmz3]

Hello everyone,

I am fully aware that there are several threads regarding transmission jerk with our Mazda 3, especially the 1st generation (04-09) equipped with auto transmission.

I currently have a 2.0L 4spd auto transmission, and I have been monitoring the behavior for a total of 4 months now. I have noticed the following:

The transmission is not nearly as smooth as I think it should be. Sometimes the shift from 1st to 2nd is TOO jerky, and by jerky I mean you notice a hard shift and very very small loss in power as it's changing to 2nd gear.

The annoying part is that this happens some of the time, and I can replicate it easier when I am leaving a shop area and it happens to be on a hill then I need to accelerate to merge with traffic, nothing major, all under 3k rpm. When I try to accelerate [on hills], most of the time I get a noticeable hard shift... if I try to accelerate very slowly then the shift will be okay.

It's not just the 1st to 2nd shift, sometimes (not always and less than the before mentioned issue) the shift from 2nd to 3rd is also hard, not as bad as the first issue.


I have been monitoring it for months and I have noticed that it comes and goes on regular flat land, but its much more visible during hills and slightly harder starts...

I live in Hamilton, and living in the west area means I see more hills then often, maybe that's why I am noticing it more often?

Toronto is not as hilly, so i'd like some of your opinion.

Car mileage is 88,500km, 2.0L auto 4spd (GX), model 2007.

Transmission services related:
1) drain and fill at 75,000km
2) Mazda dealer transmission flush at 87,500. Type M5 fluid.

MODS - I know this is another transmission thread, but please consider the difference.


Thank you

[Mazdy]

My 06 hatch 5spd auto tranny just hit 119000km and is still smooth...most of the time i use tiptronic...either way gearing from 1st to 2nd is smooth np...

Ive heard about this problem on the first gen autos...maybe this occurs just on badluck selected 3s? But i really have no clue why some does that...

[zmz3]

My 06 hatch 5spd auto tranny just hit 119000km and is still smooth...most of the time i use tiptronic...either way gearing from 1st to 2nd is smooth np...

Ive heard about this problem on the first gen autos...maybe this occurs just on badluck selected 3s? But i really have no clue why some does that...

I see... Maybe it could be my bad luck, or the 4spd auto is different than 5spd.

I have taken it to a mazda dealership, and they claim it's normal, yet I drove an 07 hatch and I didn't notice the problem. They look at me like i'm some idiot...

aghh, its frustrating

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Odd. Hard to diagnose without driving your car and seeing if it is indeed out of the ordinary.

I'm assuming you know of the PCM flash/recalibration that needed to be done on the earlier models. TSB attached. Might be prudent to see if you are on the latest and greatest.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/mazda3/bulletin/05-010-05-1543.pdf

Lastly, a silly question, but what setting do you normally use for the climate/vent system?

[zmz3]

"Odd. Hard to diagnose without driving your car and seeing if it is indeed out of the ordinary.

I'm assuming you know of the PCM flash/recalibration that needed to be done on the earlier models. TSB attached. Might be prudent to see if you are on the latest and greatest.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...10-05-1543.pdf

Lastly, a silly question, but what setting do you normally use for the climate/vent system?"

Hey Tim,

Thanks for your quick reply.

I have actually taken it to a Mazda dealership for a test drive, and they said that it's normal, even though the problem was replicated... I think it's easier to say normal than to actually spend more effort diagnosing, which is a really upsetting thing.

I have done the latest PCM update..

I think I get your question, and I use the window/leg vent, or just face vent. I dont have AC so no additional things to diagnose.


Im going to mr transmission tomorrow and figuring things out with them then taking it to Mazda because I am near my warranty expiration...


thanks again

[black and blue]

i have a 4speed gs, do u guys ever have a grinding soind from the teanny when u go from 3rd to 2nd in drive not tip??

[zmz3]

i have a 4speed gs, do u guys ever have a grinding soind from the teanny when u go from 3rd to 2nd in drive not tip??

a RESOUNDING YES!

Thank you for reminding me.

That's another thing I have also noticed, when I am making a turn after a stop sign, and I don't fully stop, as I finish the turn, I find my self in third gear doing 20km/h so I accelerate moderately and it down shifts with a nice grind, if I am more persistent (harder) with my pedal, then the sound is shorter and sometimes I don't even hear it.

Do you have the occasional hard shift from 1st to 2nd as mentioned in OP?

[mazdachris]

I would be interested to know if Mr Transmission came up with anything. I have the same issue. Turning right at a stop sign (rolling stop) Car is still in third gear and grinds with slight throttle. Been having this issue since my return trip from Flordia a couple of years ago. Changed trans fluid/filter numerous times. To no avail. I notice it will not "slip" in manual mode. Forcing second gear. Seems in auto mode, it does not want to be in second. (Going around turns) If I go slow enough it drops to 1'st, but then there is no slippage.

[mazdachris]

I have had the same issue for 45000 kms. When coming to a stop sign, turning right. Or, going slow enough around a corner. Car stays in 3rd gear. Step on the gas slightly and I gear a grinding/slipping noise. Then hard shift into second. One way is to force second with tipronic. Won't slip then. Car does not want to downshift to second even a very low speeds. Did not see this with the car the first 60,000 kms. I've changed filter/fluid many times. Does not effect anything really. I suspect one of the shift solenoids is faulty. Could be the throttle pos sensor.
If I tap the gas going around corner, it will go into second. But I shouldn't have too.
Interested to know if Mr Transmission had a good answer for it.

Thanks.
2007 2.0 Sedan. Auto.

[zmz3]

Hello Chris,

I have the exact issue that you have, at the exact conditions and environments. I assume you have the 4spd auto? because I did not notice that with the 5spd auto.

I went to MR TRANSMISSION not long ago, and they said that the car shifts 'fine' and the grind is the transmission down-shifting, or it could be the muffler noise.. lol... I am not sure how much of experts these guys are, but even if you know a little about cars, you can tell the difference between a muffler and transmission down shift issue.

They did mention that the 5spd auto is almost an entirely different design, and the 4spd is a bit lower-end. Not sure how correct they are, but the 5spd auto was a definite upgrade in my experience when I test drove one with it.

I am not sure what else to do, as Mazda says its normal, and the transmission should be 'crispy' lol really? Not sure that's a good thing, such a poor design if that's the case. A private transmission shop says it's fine, and lastly a franchise Mr Transmission shop says its also fine.

I think all of them are wrong. No offense to any. I can understand the grind when it's trying to down-shift, cause my 2007 Civic did that all the time, however, the JERK when it shifts from 1st to 2nd, is not really normal.

Now with regards to OP, I have noticed a new behavior... If the car is still cold, then the jerk from 1st to 2nd wont actually happen as much... almost as if the car likes thicker (non warm) tranny oil (?)... Not sure if that makes sense, but its really interesting. When the car is fully warmed up, the jerk happens every other time (on average) from a red light/stop sign. The feeling can be described almost as if the car goes over a thin deep bump, hard to explain.

Something is not right, and I hope some of the members here can give their experience with 4spd auto, or help :(




I have had the same issue for 45000 kms. When coming to a stop sign, turning right. Or, going slow enough around a corner. Car stays in 3rd gear. Step on the gas slightly and I gear a grinding/slipping noise. Then hard shift into second. One way is to force second with tipronic. Won't slip then. Car does not want to downshift to second even a very low speeds. Did not see this with the car the first 60,000 kms. I've changed filter/fluid many times. Does not effect anything really. I suspect one of the shift solenoids is faulty. Could be the throttle pos sensor.
If I tap the gas going around corner, it will go into second. But I shouldn't have too.
Interested to know if Mr Transmission had a good answer for it.

Thanks.
2007 2.0 Sedan. Auto.

[rab33]

My 2005 GT Sedan has a similar problem... 1st to 2nd is jerky and makes a clunk sound, but ONLY when accelerating slowly. When I hit the gas harder, 3k+ RPM it is much smoother. Mechanic told me today that my lower transmission mount is done and needs to be replaced. He claimed the cheapest he could find the part was $175... I called partsource and they quoted me $80! Mechanics always trying to gouge.

Anyone know if the tranny mount is an easy DYI?

[mazdachris]

My 2005 GT Sedan has a similar problem... 1st to 2nd is jerky and makes a clunk sound, but ONLY when accelerating slowly. When I hit the gas harder, 3k+ RPM it is much smoother. Mechanic told me today that my lower transmission mount is done and needs to be replaced. He claimed the cheapest he could find the part was $175... I called partsource and they quoted me $80! Mechanics always trying to gouge.

Anyone know if the tranny mount is an easy DYI?

It's easy enough. I have never done it. I don't think the trans mount is our issue though.
One thing we forgot to mention is that when going into a turn, car stays in 3rd, on light throttle it seems to slip. (With no power at throttle for a second or so) then hard shifts into 2nd.
Last weekend I called Mr. Trans and the guy says this is a common problem with the 3 in the year range of 2007. He says that a seal may be leaking in "a" pump causing fluid to leak back and get on some drum of some sort and friction material, causing slippage. All that is a matter of "his" oppinion. He certainly sounded legit. Says they would need to drop the trans, take it apart, install a sleeve at some shaft and that would fix it. Dropping at transmission starts at 2 + grand. Here is my problem with that. Once they drop it, I owe them money. If it did not fix the problem, I still owe them money. Transmissions are a (&(*

So, I dropped some fluid out. Added Lucas transmssion fix. (Takes forever cause it is thick) Drove for a while. A little change. But I am trying not to get it to slip. I am hoping the Lucas swells any seals inside the transmission.

I will update as the weeks go by.

BTW. Trans does grab more. But I am not pushing it. I don't care if the car beside me just saw Fast five and wants to race. LOL>

[rab33]

Anyone resolve the 1st to 2nd jerk on the 4spd autos? Nothing seems to be working for me:

- Replaced lower tranny mount
- Mazda dealer says firmware is up to date and suggested tranny flush
- Did tranny flush and car still jerks from 1st to 2nd (mostly on cold starts, but still present when warm)

Jimmy is looking into it for me, but it's becoming a real pain...

[zmz3]

I have closed the case because I have tried almost everything within my budget.

- tranny fluid fill and drain drove for 8,000km and NO change
- tranny fluid flush by mazda dealer, 12,000km and NO change
- flashed the PCM couple times and NO change
- reset the ECU and NO change

I however, have realized an interesting habit in a ford focus model 2005. It apparently carries the same 4spd auto, and when my co-worker accelerated kinda hard, I noticed the *exact* same 'jerk' on my mazda 3. The shift quality and timing was strikingly similar.

For now, I will just call it bad engineering on Ford, and bad decision on Mazda to carry it. However, after 2008, the tranny is FULLY gone apparently. Driving the 2010+ model was butter-like shifting.

I'd like to be wrong but after trying many things, I really do not feel like replacing parts in my tranny because usually that means north of $2000.

For now, I am driving it as I like and sometimes the jerk happens and sometimes it doesn't. One moody B*tc*. lol

Anyway, I am hoping that flushing the tranny fluid at 84,000 will prolong the life of the transmission.

Time will tell.

PS driving the 5spd auto, the jerk doesnt exist, however, a jerk similar to when you reset your PCM exists. At least with the models I tried.

Other notes:

- hitting the gas pretty hard, the jerk doesnt happen
- accelerating very lightly, the jerk is almost non-existent
- accelerating while on a hill from a red light: the issue has never been worse, feels like the tranny is gonna fall apart O.o

It sucks to be very anal and meticulous... Life is much harder lol

Hope this helps!


rab33, where do you live? Perhaps we meet and evaluate the situation...

I'm currently residing on Markham (48th) and 14th avenue





Anyone resolve the 1st to 2nd jerk on the 4spd autos? Nothing seems to be working for me:

- Replaced lower tranny mount
- Mazda dealer says firmware is up to date and suggested tranny flush
- Did tranny flush and car still jerks from 1st to 2nd (mostly on cold starts, but still present when warm)

Jimmy is looking into it for me, but it's becoming a real pain...