ATF was/is actually used by Mazda in early FWD 5MT applications for 323.

 

I'm familiar with what ATF does relative to gear oil, It just seem like more of a "fix" for a car with 250K miles on it rather than one with under 10K (at the time). Why Ghetto fix something that's under warranty when you can do the job correctly without pissing of the customer or potentially causing more issues since it's not fixed properly (*cough like now). I also wonder where they got the idea to do this since it was under warranty and they were communicating with MNAO, maybe MNAO is the one who told them to do this in the first place.? It's all just odd to me and seems shady.

I grew up woring at an indie for years... so I have natural distrust for dealerships becasue I got to often fix their mistakes and hear the horror stories of my new customers that got taken advantage of by dealerships. It created many loyal customers for me, but it's just unfortunate for the customer.

Still no news from the dealership, and they have had my car since April 29th. Keeping my fingers crossed that the new solution won't be more ATF and maybe some Lucas additive or marvels mystery oil.

 

it doesn't fix anything, chalk it up to either ignorance or intentional deception

be assured, Mazda does not approve the use of ATF in that transmission. If you can prove that's what they did then you can pretty much hold their feet to the fire for a factory replacement

 

I'm going to go with intentional deception and willful ignorance both.

Mazda knows the dealership put ATF in there and I was assured that Mazda Corporate was involved from every step, so yeah, Mazda Corporate isn't standing behind their product, so much for holding anyone's feet to any fire.

I also asked them to replace the recaro seat bezels that keep falling out under the 3/36K warranty and was told they're not covering that either since apparently the bumper to bumper warranty does not cover that, and the warranty on those is only 12 months and 12K miles (still under the mileage of that too, just obviously not the time). Several people on this board have had them covered under the 3/36K warranty, but apparently my dealership doesn't think it's covered, so I'm screwed yet again.

This is the email that I just received from the dealership.....

"... As far as the transmission goes, my tech took the entire transmission apart and inspected all of the items. He consulted with the technician line and Mazda corporate. We are going to be replacing all of the pieces that are worn in the transmission and rebuilding it. I have a list of at least 15 items or so that we are replacing. We are waiting on one gasket that was not in the shipment. He should be beginning the rebuild tomorrow or Monday. I will let you know if I hear anymore. Hope all is well."

I find it hard to believe that Mazda is being so incredibly shitty about this. It's been a problem ever since the car was in there, they know about every detail of every issue and in the end, I'm getting screwed. I love how this RX-8 handles, it's simply amazing, but I refuse to be screwed over by a brand that won't stand up and do what's right.

 

just called dealership and asked why the bezels weren't covered, mentioned several people have had them replaced under the 3/36K warranty from message boards and that I wanted an explanation as to why they were not covered. He emailed me back half an hour later and said they're going to cover them. Why I have to hold their hand in order to get them to do their job correctly is beyond me. I'm starting to HATE this brand and the network they created.

 

You need to go to a different dealer if you want better service.
The problem isn't Mazda, it's your dealer.

BC.

 

except that it's a major problem for Mazda's image in general because here in the USDM it's more the norm than the exception

my '05 only went to the dealer once for something minor just after I bought it. Never took it back, never had a single update or anything else done by them. Did everything myself out of pocket because it wasn't worth the aggravation or hassle.


.

 

Mazda told the dealership to add ATF to the transmission (still confirming this, but it was all done under warranty so far, so why would the dealership go rogue with this).

Mazda told me they are working with the dealership on this and they fully support the dealerships decision even after knowing they added ATF to my manual gearbox. I was told the entire service history would also be reviewed by Mazda corporate

I have informed Mazda corporate of everything the dealership has done and hasn't done to fix this issue and they will not do anything other than the "rebuild it again" plan that's currently in motion.

While I agree my dealership is seriously lacking in their ability to remedy this issue and have been difficult to work with every step of the way, Please explain to me how the full burden of the douche baggery doesn't lie squarely on the shoulders of Mazda North America?

 

So take the car to a proper repair shop. As I said before, never trust someone to fix your old product if they really want to sell you a new product.

It's not Mazda's fault that American culture rewards people for being douchebags and then gives them nowhere to work except marketing firms (if they have social skills), investment banks (if they're good at math), and car dealerships (if they have neither of the above). They want to sell cars here, and they don't have a lot of control over who the dealers hire. All they can do is keep stats on sales and complaints per dealership, and revoke their partnership agreements with dealerships that are significantly worse than most.

In any event, if the second rebuild doesn't fix the transmission, try the synchro-burnishing procedure I suggested. It solved my problem handily.

 

I not sure where the old thread is about this, but many early S2 trannys had issues and MOST dealers just replaced them under warranty. It was a design and build quality issue from Mazda's tranny manufacturer. Remember the tranny was changed from the 04-08 S1 model. They should just replace it and stop trying for a fix. Go all the way up the Mazda ladder and get them to stop farting around and give you a new tranny. After all this, that is the only way it is going to ever work right. My Mazda dealer just gave new trannys to their early S2 owners that had problems. They really aren't trained to do internal tranny fixes.

 

My car is in a million pieces at a dealership, kinda hard to take it to another dealership at this point. Warranty dictates that I'm taking the car to a dealership unless I want to pay out of pocket for their negligence and there are no dealers within a logical distance except for this one.

It's Mazda responsibility to stand behind their products, culture or not, and so far, I'm extremely unimpressed. I have no choice but to wait and see if the dealership manages to get it right this time. I was reassured that my car still carries Mazda Roadside assistance to tow it to the local dealership free of charge too, so that put my mind at ease seeing as how the car has under 12K miles and has been a pampered garage queen so far in its life.

I mentioned my concern about the metal flowing through the transmission and asked how much was too much before they decided to replace it. The guy at corporate actually asked me how I knew there was any metal flowing through the transmission and asked me if I took anything apart. I mentioned that constant grinding of gears is usually a pretty good indicator that there may be some metal shavings floating around in the gear oil ATF soup they made and I didn't have to take it apart to know that. I asked why the service history didn't warrant a new replacement and was simply told "Because that's not how it's done." That's really all I need to know.

 

Last week I was called and informed that my car was finished. Went to pick it up and did my usual walk around to make sure everything was ok, good thing too, because the guy at the dealership had run my car into a curb and damaged the front bumper. I was told that's the way it was when it was dropped off and assured they had it recorded on the inspection sheet of when it was dropped off. I knew for a fact it wasn't like that, so I spoke with the manager lady there and asked her to investigate. I explained the issues I have had over the last three weeks with their dealership and she took it on to figure out what was going on. Long story short, the guy who I was working with apparently was driving my car to "find the issue" and drove the car into a curb. He then went back to the inspection paperwork and wrote in that the car had the damage when it was dropped off!!!

I have been working with the manager there exclusively now and they fixed the damage and inspected my car for free as well for all the grief. I picked my car up today, and so far the transmission seems better in the 15 miles I have driven it so far, which means very little. Looking forward to dry weather so I can take it out and drive it properly and see how it feels.

Three weeks without my car, deception on every front from one guy at the dealership that was bent on being as crooked as he knew how, and a hopefully correctly rebuilt transmission. Worst experience with a dealership in my life, at least the manager took it upon her to help me and has continually gone the extra mile since hearing of all these issues!

Will post more on transmission as I put some miles on the car. Odometer turned over 12K miles on the way home from the dealership... keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Be sure to post this dealer's name on the bad dealer thread, so everyone can stay away from them.
Thanks and good luck with your tranny.

 

OMG...What a crap Dealer....this dealer should have made the decision to renew trans.

Yes accidents do happen, however, given the high unemployment level in US one would think car dealers (retail) would have a large source of highly qualified personnel to choose from?

Plus the "quality" of management from the very top is just appalling in the USA.

I have it on good authority from USA Mazda Parts Dealers (including Service) (more than one) that anything they suggest or want falls on deaf hears 9 times out of 10.

From a Distribution point of view MNAO staffing levels were the highest in the Mazda world, 3 times the ratio to vehicle park (market share).

Yes, recently they sacked some staff but they are still have very high staffing ratios.

So what do they do?

IF you have lost Dealer respect then what is next.??

The sooner the very highest US Management retires or leaves the better, perhaps they can start repairing the damage and get the brand out of the gutter.

 

I really don't think it's a Mazda problem, it's a USA problem. I've heard the same complaints about several brands of cars here. There's just a culture of shadiness and deceptiveness in the car-dealer industry in the USA, because they know it's impossible to live most places in the USA without a car, so you have to buy one eventually, and they would much rather sell you a new car instead of repairing your current car. There may be several brands of cars to buy in the USA, but there is no alternative to having a car in the USA, and the car-dealer industry abuses that monopoly.

 

I have driven the car a few times now and the transmission grinding appears to be gone... for now. Of course now it has a new issue. Driving at 4K rpms in 4th gear at around 45mph it pops out of gear and into neutral, so far it's done it to me half a dozen times, usually when the engine is not hot.

The drivers side seat bezels that the dealership "replaced" fell out again, and the passengers side seat bezels that they supposedly checked and were fine have also broken, so I had to run back and forth to the dealer several times last week getting that "fixed".

Now I have to take to to the dealer AGAIN so they can drive it and see if they can replicate the popping out of gear thing. I have driven this car back and forth to the dealership more than I have driven it everywhere else. It's all becoming comical at this point. After doing a bit of research here, I told them they need to adjust the 3rd-->4th throw adjustment, but of course they can't do anything until I get the car back to the dealership. I asked them to come get the car rather than me taking ANOTHER trip back to the dealership... so sick of this ****.

 

It is critical that they get the 3 to 4th gear lever adjustment 'even' between 3 and 4 gates.

The Star Adjuster and Locking Nut to do so is external on side of trans.

 

thank you very much, I have passed the information on to the dealership and hopefully they can manage to get it right this time.

 

Hi guys

Sorry to hijack this thread but the board won't let me make my own thread for some reason

A couple of months ago I bought a 2010 RX-8, 25k miles under factory warranty

been running great

I took it to a dealership and had a full bumper to bumper inspection and compression test on the engine, all came back great

In the last few weeks I've noticed that my transmission has not been shifting as smoothly as when I bought it

I am not getting any noise or anything, but for example from 2nd to 3rd is not as buttery smooth as it was when I got it

Also, on a few rare occasions, when stationary, the car has not wanted to go into a gear. For example, one time I could not put it in reverse without first shifting into some other gear and then back to reverse. And then once at a light it wouldn't go from third to first without having to jiggle things around

It may be two separate issues... I have a month or two left on my factory warranty and am looking for advice... I think maybe it could just be old transmission fluid that needs to be changed... but does this sound like something more serious that could be a time bomb?

Thanks

 

Try this https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-di...change-217642/

The Ford Stuff is supposed to be the best in these transmissions (can't believe I'm recommending anything from Ford, but whatever).

Transmissions in these things seem a bit notchy(not in a good way like the 6sp in my 04 STi) with a strong affinity for very precise and purposeful shifting. Trans doesn't appear to be super strong component of the car IMO, which is prolly fine given the weak torque output.

I'd say find out if it's had any trans work so far and maybe check the trans to see what the fluid looks/ smells like.

 

stopped not wanting to go in gear. you should check your clutch pedal. its a clear case that the clutch is not disengaging completely. its a recall too so if it is broken you can get it fixed.

 

Clutch Pedal Brackets are not and have never have been a RECALL! ()..

There is an extended warranty and repair for those vehicles which qualify (North America Only)..the majority are Series 1's 2004-2008MY, not Series 2's, only early 2009MY's, certainly does not apply to a 2010...and the majority of owners with broken CPB's previously installed heavier duty clutches which strained Clutch Pedal Bracket which was not and never has been engineered for 'a stronger' replacement clutch kit.

This car has only done 25,000K..

jasconius, I suggest you have your Transmission Fluid changed, while there is no mechanic in a bottle for ANY fluid including Ford product, a fluid change may help.

You are the second owner, so who knows how this Trans was treated?, you already have the latest and greatest iteration being again a 2010.

I seriously suggest you look at your 'style' of gear changing and rev range of changing, 'if' there is any damage well naturally changing 'style' wont do a lot.

Clutch Pedal push must be on the floor when shifting.

So many of these issues are owner operator...usually from owners who believe they are driving an F1 (or racing sedan) where the trans gets abuse...I am not suggesting you are abusing yours....basically if you are shifting faster than a number count you are almost changing/shifting too fast...I mean like a count in your head, 1 and 2 ( in seconds to gear change)...if you slam change/too fast change you are asking for trouble.

Whether owners want to believe it or not this is the best Manual Trans Mazda has ever used to date for a RWD car.

Edit:, Trans Temps also helps when at 'normal' operating temperature...like anything mechanical.

 

ASH8, thanks for your insight.

When occasionally vigorously accelerating, I have shifted fast a couple of times, and this was also my first manual car so the first 3-5 days of ownership were... interesting, but nothing of the grinding nature. Just some bad starts and some stalls, some lurching



So I can believe it was me who has caused the pathology... my impression is the car was babied by the previous owner, so this may well be the first time the transmission has been pushed, putting some metal flakes in the fluid


It's not always bad, the last few days it's felt fine. I do have the clutch fully pressed when changing gears in normal driving.

My plan is to have the fluid changed during my next oil change (1k miles from now) and hopefully that smoothes things out.

 

I get an occasional notch in 2nd and 3rd gear and 4th gear has a humming constantly when engage (slithly noticable but still, probably a bearing inside) but as ASH said I dont trust my local dealers either to open up the transmission and replacer syncros ect. I'm at 90 000km and the notchness and humming as been there since ~30 000km and havent gotten worst, I change my fluid often and will cross fingers that it stays in one piece.

so from my point of view just endure the shifting issues. they are there to stay.

 

Update: 13,750 miles on the car now, transmission has been flawless, I guess they finally got it done properly this time around.