97 Protege Auto Transmission Problem
 

I have a 97 protege with 75 K miles. After the car warms up, about 20 minutes, the auto transmission shifts very hard ( jerks from 1st to 2nd gear). This is more prevelant in stop and go traffic when there is low acceleration. I read where 626 owners have had a similar problem. Is anyone else having this problem and has anyone found a cure? Thanks for any information,
Bill from MA

I know what you are talking about. It is at about 10 mph, when the tranny shifts from 1st into 2nd with a jerk. I do not know what to do about it though. I am planning on doing a tranny flush when I hit 60K miles, I am at 56K now, and the car has been doing this ever since we got almost brand new.

transmission
 

i've had this problem for a while
sometimes wen the auto shifts from first to second it tugs hastily
i think its just the finicky mazda transmissions

have u ever noticed how late the transmission responds when slowing down? the down shifts are terrible and it seems as the the transmisssion is late in accomodating the change in speed.
especially when goign around winding roads.

ive heard the mazda transmissions are most problematic from many ppl, that many $$ is spenton them is this a rumour or can they taske a licking?


1996 mazda lantis (japanese name) 4spd auto

I moved this to this section
Bruce

There is a mechanics service bulletin about some electrical component in the tranny, a wire that eventually comes dislodged and causes erratic shifting. I remember it from when I looked up the 96-98 platform in 'AllData'. It's a relatively simple repair, I remember the proceedure was to drop the pan, look around the throttlebody for a corroded 'clip' with a wire and replace it.

From what I remember it was a ground wire for electronics. This probably doesn't help much but its a start to solving the problem, especially if you can track down a copy of AllData on cdrom or a AllData manual (many good mechanics own one so they can background check a cars symptoms with a recall or known problem)

Jess, and don't remind me about 626's, my friend's having his trans rebuilt for the second time (I think he'll probably have a 'new' built trans installed instead of rebuilding his again.)

Also, not to get on TheMAN's case, and considering changing trans fluid varies (some cars specifically states not to change the trans fluid for the life of the car, such as the GM 4T40E used in cav's and daewoo's) but changing fluid can be done every 60,000 without a problem, even at 100,000. People tell you the seals are ganna leak and the bands are ganna slip if you expose the trans to new fluid, but I've changed 50 automatic trans's and not one has ever failed or acted up, and this includes a 96 protege dx and 2000 ex. It's just preventative maintenence incase your engine outlives the trans (say 200,000 miles, about the time the bands are depleted in most import automatics.) Then again, it is obviously safer to follow the manufactures specifications, that way if it doesn fail, you know who to go back to and bitch at :rolleyes:

Hi,
Any solution for the jerking on gear 1 to gear 2 ?
I am facing the same problem.

Thanks

Any updates to this? Same problem.