- #36 of 47
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Re: HESITATION FROM 3RD TO 2ND [athenasius]
by vg33e power
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Nov 18, 2008 (3:02 pm)
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Replying to: athenasius (Nov 18, 2008 12:55 am)
WOW! your response is exactly what I experience and see happen, even the uncoordination of the numbers shifting before the actual transmission does. Thanks for your post, at least I know I am not alone and that it what Mazda calls a "normal" operation of the trans.
I just picked up my MZ5 from a third dealer that I wanted a diagnosis from and they too said the same thing. "everything is working to specs, transmission is working normal"
(sigh) oh well, I guess that is the way it will have to stay and I will have to live with it until I decide to trade it in for a newer with the 5sp auto or just dish the autos all together and pick up a manual trans.
Thanks anyway.
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- #38 of 47
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5 speed automatic vs. 4 speed automatic
by sea_munky
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Apr 19, 2009 (9:02 am)
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Hi. I was wondering if anyone noticed a big difference between the new generation 5 speed automatic and the 4 speed automatic? Has anyone driven both or have information regarding how this affects performance and mileage?
I am debating between a great deal used 2007 and a new 2009. It's just the 5 speed automatic that attracts me to the new model.
Thank you!
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- #39 of 47
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Re: 5 speed automatic vs. 4 speed automatic [sea_munky]
by billm6
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Apr 19, 2009 (12:31 pm)
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Replying to: sea_munky (Apr 19, 2009 9:02 am)
My family has a 2007 with the 4 speed automatic. We love the car but it does seem to need another top gear. I often look down at the number 4 and wish it had 5. I have not driven the 5 speed auto so I cannot speak to the gear ratios.
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- #40 of 47
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Re: 5 speed automatic vs. 4 speed automatic [billm6]
by sea_munky
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Apr 19, 2009 (8:10 pm)
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Replying to: billm6 (Apr 19, 2009 12:31 pm)
Thanks for your reply billm6. None of the 2008 reviews seem to make a big deal out of the 5th tranny gear. They mention it but then mostly go over the cosmetic changes.
Any one driven both?
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- #41 of 47
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Re: 5 speed automatic vs. 4 speed automatic [sea_munky]
by nissmazlover
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Apr 21, 2009 (9:27 am)
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Replying to: sea_munky (Apr 19, 2009 8:10 pm)
Yes, I had a 2006 Mazda 5 Touring automatic, and then later upgraded to a 2008 Mazda 5 Grand Touring automatic. The transmission DOES make a difference. It feels smoother and it helps offer better fuel economy. You also notice a change in the revs. Whereas in my 2006 whenever I was travelling say  75mph the rpms would be at around 3500, now in my 2008 they're at about 3000.
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- #42 of 47
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Re: 5 speed automatic vs. 4 speed automatic [sea_munky]
by netmender
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May 31, 2009 (12:15 pm)
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Replying to: sea_munky (Apr 19, 2009 8:10 pm)
Yes I've driven both. My friend bought an '07 with a 4spd and I bought an '08 with a 5. Definitely a difference. I drove his on some back roads in AL and liked the tranny, but I drive mine on the German Autobahn regularly at 100mph and the 5 spd is much better in that range. It get a little squirrely around 115. My max is 118 and probably won't do that again for long. I am not sure the US spec tranny can handle it.
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- #43 of 47
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"Hole" in Transmission housing
by netmender
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May 31, 2009 (12:22 pm)
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So I am changing my oil the other day and checking out the undercarriage when I notice that there is an opening in the transmission. I can see gears. Hmmm. That doesn't seem cool. Can't find a cover anywhere, it doesn't look cracked. The opening actually looks machined to be there. Not missing any fluid, no performance issues or noises. Just a hole in the bottom of the case. Any one have a clue about this?
I live in Germany and Mazda won't honour my warranty over here, so I can't go to my local dealer. German dealers are silly expensive. Which, by the way is why I won't buy another Mazda. BMW, they'll honour it, Mercedes, Yep. Audi, VW, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda and GM all honour warranties on both sides of the pond. But not Mazda. It's a shame. I like my 5GT. Too bad they don't know what service means anymore.
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- #44 of 47
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Re: HESITATION FROM 3RD TO 2ND [vg33e power]
by athenasius
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Jun 01, 2009 (4:51 am)
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Replying to: vg33e power (Nov 18, 2008 3:02 pm)
The reason the Mazda system says everything working to specs is that this is how they changed the transmission programming. In their hope to limit a potential law suit re fire when you leave a transmission in manual they changed the shifting parameters in the following ways. they lowered the shift up rpms from upshift from gear 2 to 3 therefor is they are in manual mode it will hopefully change up a gear sooner. the second is (and this it part that causes most of the damage to the transmission - but of course mazda can just say it is our fault) they changed the down shifting from gear 3 to gear 2. Their reasoning was the once the transmission was into 3 and if they were in manual mode that it would stay longer in 3rd gear. you can see this in two ways. one if you are in manual mode the gears now hesitate longer before up and down shifting (a side affect of the now added 'hold longer' in gear ) and if you are slowing down when in 3rd gear and then when it would be normal to down shift when you press the gas pedal it will hesitate and then slam into 2nd gear (this causes loads of damage to the transmission - which of course mazda will again say it is out fault) when the transmission figures okay time to change but of course by this time the revs are higher than the transmission is expecting.
In summary there is nothing you can to about it because mazda said that they were not concerned about support for the 5 with the 4 speed tranny because they would be a out of warranty by the time the damage gets to the point of repairs and second they already have you money and will just put up with it like we mostly have for the unacceptable suspension issue which will eventually resolve in that the driving will eventually just get to the point of less 'tight' feel and will finally get to the point that you will notice such things as the car will feel kind of out of control when you go over a bump going around a bend. this is caused by the angle of the wheels on the suspension will change when the weight of the car is taken off for a moment when it hits the bump and then will be at the wrong angle when it then recontacts the road. again mazda will just say it is your driving and just in your mind.
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- #45 of 47
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Re: "Hole" in Transmission housing [netmender]
by robotaz2
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Jul 02, 2009 (6:43 pm)
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Replying to: netmender (May 31, 2009 12:22 pm)
The gear you are seeing is not a transmission gear. Gears in the transmission have very finely machined teeth that are angled as you look at them from the side. I am assuming that you are looking in the bell housing at the flywheel, which has teeth all the way around the outside edge. The starter has a solenoid that pushes a gear against those flywheel teeth. As the starter turns, the flywheel, which is connected to the crankshaft, turns. This causes the engine to turn over. The computer provides gas, air, and spark, and the engine starts. Nothing is wrong with being able to see the flywheel.
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