Hi all,

First post to the forum and new owner of a 2004 Mazda 3 and am having a pretty serious issue.

Car details:
2004 Mazda 3
2.3 litre engine
4-speed auto transmission with manual sport shift.

I bought the car from a dealership about three and a half weks ago have put about 4000kms on it, I took it on holidays to British Columbia, and am having some transmission issues.

Basically, when you move the shift option over to manual sport shift it will not shift the transmission up regardless of RPM's. I have read that there is shift protection that will not let you shift down a gear if your revs are too high or shift up a gear if your revs are too low. The manual downshift functions correctly and as it should, but as I mentioned the manual upshift will not work at all.

The car is currently covered for another 1000kms under the GM used car extended warranty, I bought it from a Saturn Dealer here in Calgary, but the service department is saying the issue/fix will not likely be covered and it will probably cost me a few hundered just for them to try to diagnose the problem, nevermind the cost of the repairs.

In short, I am just wondering if any Mazda 3 owners have experienced any issue like this and what it came down to to fix.

Thanks for any assistance
Michael

 

Just to confirm your problem you're saying that when in manual mode and you push the shifter forward to upshift it doesn't, right?

Assuming everything shifts normally in automatic mode I'm wondering if the problem is that something has just become disconnected in the manual upshift part of the shifter (i.e. the micro switch that tells it you're pushing "up"). Have you looked under the shifter to make sure everything is connected properly?

 

Hi icspots and thanks for the reply.

Yes it will not upshift at all when in manual mode, except that to shift up you pull back on the shifter

Everything functions normally when in automatic mode. I have not looked under the shifter, but I will tonight so long as I can do so without it appearing as I have done so. I am hoping/praying that any issues will be covered by the warranty and I don't want to give the dealership any reason to reject the claim.

The idea of something being disconnected does sound very plausible as absolutely nothing occurs, like the car (transmission) has no idea that you just tried to manual shift the gear up.

When stopped, the owner's manual states that the manual shift option will allow shifting from M1 to M2. M2 to M3 must be done over 20km/h and M3 to M4 must be done over 40km/h. I have tried all these shifts well above the listed speeds and nothing happens. I have even tried leaving it in automatic mode to start driving and then swith to manual after travelling more than 40km/h and it will not shift up.

The car/transmission does detect the shift to manual mode as the "M" on the dash lights up and I can downshift.

Thanks again for the reply
Michael

 

You should have gotten a warranty paper that has everything that it covers printed on it. If so, you should be covered. Since it is technically part of the transmission, and let me stress TECHNICALLY.

 

Hi 04Mazda3Sport and thanks for the reply.

According to the service tech at the dealership where I bought the car, first they need to diagnose the problem and then submit the diagnosis to GM where they will decide if the issue is covered or not. If it is, all costs are covered, if it isn't, all costs, including the diagnosis, is all my cost.

I do understand that I bought a used car that is out of manufacturers warranty, but the car supposedly went through all its service checks before being put out on the lot and beyond that, I only bought it from them 3 1/2 weeks ago.

From icspots comments and further research, am pretty, I stress pretty, sure it is microswitch failure. I am going to usk the service tech about that specifically and get him to check that for coverage.

Thanks again for your comments
Michael

 

What the tech said to you sounds like a load of crap. I bought my 3 from a Honda dealership and they were able to diagnose what my problems were without sending it to the local Mazda dealership.. To me, this sounds like the dealership is trying to make a little bit more money off of you. Saturn is a GM product, and Saturn has sport shift cars out, and I'm pretty sure the mechanics of their sport shifting cars isn't too different from Mazda's. Have them send it to the local Mazda dealership (if you have one), or the closest one to you. I mean come on, if a Honda tech can diagnose my problems AND fix the problem, I'm sure a much better company, i.e. GM can as well.

 

I totally agree with you.

I am going to be calling the service tech today to let him know what I have found out through my research and this forum and also to tell them to send it to mazda. If there is a chance I am going to be paying to get it fixed i want to to go "home" to be diagnosed and fixed as Mazda will no doubt be able to figure it out faster, less diagnbosis time means cheaper bill, than a GM tech (nothing against GM techs, but my car is a mazda)

Thanks
Michael

 

What type of warranty did you get? I'm betting it's a Service Contract with a deductible. That's what I got and I have to pay $50 every time I go to get it fixed. Plus, their trying to tell me that it's $50 for every part they fix.......So Bob Rohrman Honda!

 

Yup, that was pretty much the warranty. Standard GM Used Car Extended Warranty with a $100 deductable. They offered an upgrade to it, but it was $2000CDN for two years.

I may be giving my dealership the same sign by Tuesday

Cheers
Michael

 

Holy crap, 2k for 1 year? I got a 3year/36000mile warranty for $1,500. You can pretty much go ahead and call any dealership, a Stealership.

 

No doubt.

I went the dealership route to hopefully avoid the private sale crap. I knew I would pay a little more but I thought I would get better service.

If all goes well on Monday I will be happy and spread the good word. If not, I will be pissed and everyone will here about it, and I mean everyone!!

Cheers and have a great weekend
Michael

 

it depends on whether or not you have a bumper-bumper warranty or a powertrain...... if it's PT only then I doubt it will be covered as that's only things internal to the engine and tranny, and the shifter isn't "internal".

I still think it's likely a microswitch that's wonky.

 

Yeah, I figured the same thing. If it is a microswitch it probably won't be covered. I just hope, and to save face and reputation, they will replace it free of charge as the car was purchased only 3.5 weeks ago.

Hopeful, but not holding my breath.

I agree on the wonky microswitch as the only thing it does not do it shift up, no other tranny issues.

Thanks again
Michael

 

how long after you bought the car did it start?

 

About two weeks after. I tried when test driving and then the next time I tried it two weeks later it did not work. I was on holidays at the time and called it in as soon as I got home.