Engine lost gear control on an automatic?!?!

[leecheefoto]

Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan 2010
Automatic Trans
Synthetic oil, 1000km until oil change
Engine is at 53000km
Engine idled for 2 minutes before driving.


Was going on the highway at 110km/h steady when randomly I was hearing the engine revving higher than normal. I thought the gear changed but I let go of the gas and steady but the RPM was still in it's mid 4000s.

Things I noticed:
Engine RPM 4000-5000RPM
The "D" in the dash disappeared

Things I did:
Put it in Manual mode no "M" on display
While in Manual mode I tried shifting gears up and down, no response


Thank god I went to a stop at the lights, put it in park and turned it off then turned back on and it was fine. Does anybody know what the problem is? I almost shat my pants.

[nguy3nha]

Could just be a glitch. My parent's 2002 grand vitara that did that as well. It never happened again for years.

[loosecannon]

It may have went into limp mode. That's what happened to me - THREE TIMES. Car was not responsive and the "D" disappeared. Manual mode didn't work and cruise control also didn't work. This is definitely related to the ECU.

Did you get a CEL when your car entered that state?

[leecheefoto]

It may have went into limp mode. That's what happened to me - THREE TIMES. Car was not responsive and the "D" disappeared. Manual mode didn't work and cruise control also didn't work. This is definitely related to the ECU.

Did you get a CEL when your car entered that state?

Hey Calvin

No CEL. Only CEL I had was when weather was warm then really cold so the maf acted up I'm assuming. (System too lean)

Other than that I wasn't ripping or anything. How often did it do that within the 3 times? And did a car shut off resolve it ?

[thirdgen3]

weird...I notice my car revs oddly at times and seems to shift late and feels like it becomes unresponsive..

[Booter22]

Maybe take it into the dealer and see if a software update might be available.

[loosecannon]

Hey Calvin

No CEL. Only CEL I had was when weather was warm then really cold so the maf acted up I'm assuming. (System too lean)

Other than that I wasn't ripping or anything. How often did it do that within the 3 times? And did a car shut off resolve it ?

First two times, it happened in two consecutive days. I left it off for several hours and it went back to normal. Third time, it happened a few days after the first two incidents and turning off the car and turning it back on wouldn't do anything. I drove it home (I was only able to go a maximum of 40km/h), hard parked it in the garage for 3 days with the battery disconnected. Now it hasn't returned since then... *knocks on wood*

[leecheefoto]

Maybe take it into the dealer and see if a software update might be available.

I don't have warranty, would a software check be at any charge?


First two times, it happened in two consecutive days. I left it off for several hours and it went back to normal. Third time, it happened a few days after the first two incidents and turning off the car and turning it back on wouldn't do anything. I drove it home (I was only able to go a maximum of 40km/h), hard parked it in the garage for 3 days with the battery disconnected. Now it hasn't returned since then... *knocks on wood*

Omg sounds scary. Another question is if you were on the highway when this has happened?

I'm guessing it could be either the throttle position sensor or the fuel pump from some common limp mode threads. No jerking or knocking really.

[paulabreu]

Something like this happened to me a few times.
I was driving at around 85km/h and the DCS, AT and Power Steering light came on and I lost power steering for a while. I managed to pull on the shoulder and had to turn the car off and on a few times before it disappeared.
Took it to the dealership and they couldn't find anything since it didn't show a CEL.

Mine is a 2011 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan

[cwp_sedan]

I don't have warranty, would a software check be at any charge?

Powertrain is 100k or 5/yr

This should still apply to you.

[loosecannon]

This didn't happen while I was driving. It only happened when I started the car and it immediately went into that mode.

[leecheefoto]

Powertrain is 100k or 5/yr

This should still apply to you.

Not if it's a salvage title no?

[cwp_sedan]

Not if it's a salvage title no?

Nope you are right. :(

[loosecannon]

Not if it's a salvage title no?

Ouch. Well hopefully it doesn't return.

If you do end up going for a software update, keep us posted. I may need one as well...

[Booter22]

Not if it's a salvage title no?

Feel like driving to oakville? I can get the check / update done if there is a pcm and or tcm updates if you will make the drive my way. If its a weekend im there again on the 2nd of march, and only tuesday and wednesday of this week.