Hello,

I have a 2004 automatic rx8 with 98k miles. Whenever it changes gears it makes a jerking motion (back and forth). It only happens when the engine is cold (before temperature needle gets to the middle) and going about 20-35mph. Once it warms up it doesn't do it anymore.

I took it to the stealership yesterday and they said the transmission needs to be replaced and it would cost about $3500.

Any suggestions??? Should I believe the dealership??

Thank you so much for any advice!

 

Before accepting that "diagnosis", I would take it to an Mazda independent shop and have them check the transmission fluid and the motor / transmission mounts. And, considering the mileage, it should have the transmission fluid changed.

There have been very few issues reported for the automatic transmissions, so yours may be basically OK. Let us know what happens.

 

Hey it's Gerhard17 (had to change my username).
The motor mounts were changed in November when I bought the car (from a Mazda dealership) and I am assuming that they changed the transmission fluid since it looks pretty clean.
I took the car with this jerking problem right after I bought it and they told me that it was the coils and they needed to be changed. I changed them and the problem stayed the same. The car was under a 60 day warranty when I took it to the dealership and now (yesterday) a different dealership is saying the transmission needs to be replaced.

Thanks for your help!