Thanks for the tip, I noticed shift shock goes away when temp gauge is above 2nd notch from the bottom reading cold. usually within 10 mins of driving, 15 on real bitter cold days.
How to avoid "shift shock" on automatic transmissions
Since this comes up monthly it seams, here's how I got around the 1-2 shift shock with my 04 Auto. I would say this is a workaround, and my understanding is that the dealership can apply a PCM update to help with this as well. I'd also recommend looking at your transmission fluid, as it can make this problem much worse.
1. Anytime you stop while the engine is still cold, put the transmission into manual mode (push the shift selector to side into the manual gates.)
2. Select 2nd gear BEFORE you start moving.
3. Once you get up to a reasonable speed, continue manually shifting or put the selector back into automatic/D.
At least in my case, once my transmission was up to temperature the shift shock went away, so I only did this for a few stops here and there till I got to the highway. I DO NOT recommend you really push on the engine hard (lots of throttle) doing this for two reasons.
A. It's harder on the engine and trans lugging it like this.
B. There's the possibility that the transmission will take over control from you and down shift you into 1st, which is what we're trying to avoid.
I also do not know how much this will bog down the 2.0's, but in my 2.3 the extra torque let me get away with this. Hope that helps the new guys.
1. Anytime you stop while the engine is still cold, put the transmission into manual mode (push the shift selector to side into the manual gates.)
2. Select 2nd gear BEFORE you start moving.
3. Once you get up to a reasonable speed, continue manually shifting or put the selector back into automatic/D.
At least in my case, once my transmission was up to temperature the shift shock went away, so I only did this for a few stops here and there till I got to the highway. I DO NOT recommend you really push on the engine hard (lots of throttle) doing this for two reasons.
A. It's harder on the engine and trans lugging it like this.
B. There's the possibility that the transmission will take over control from you and down shift you into 1st, which is what we're trying to avoid.
I also do not know how much this will bog down the 2.0's, but in my 2.3 the extra torque let me get away with this. Hope that helps the new guys.
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That was my experience as well. Just passing this along cause it seams to pop up as a frequent question.Thanks for the tip, I noticed shift shock goes away when temp gauge is above 2nd notch from the bottom reading cold. usually within 10 mins of driving, 15 on real bitter cold days.
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My trans isn't exactly the same but I think some of the lessons learned are applicable. The 2012 Skyactivs weren't the smoothest shifters, so one way to hide the shock was to basically drive it like a manual. Use manual mode, and lift the gas a bit around the same time as you tap the lever. There's lag in both the pedal and the lever, time it so that the revs drop at the same time the transmission actually shifts.
By shift shock, do you mean a jerky shifting, or just a louder shift sound? I've noticed on my 2008 Mazda 3 that I will sometimes hear a weird clicking sound when the automatic transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd. The sound is alarming to me but it does not cause any jerky motion at all. Is this shift shock as well?
Thanks,
Dre
Thanks,
Dre
Depends, is it present only when the trans is cold, or when it's up to working temperature?By shift shock, do you mean a jerky shifting, or just a louder shift sound? I've noticed on my 2008 Mazda 3 that I will sometimes hear a weird clicking sound when the automatic transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd. The sound is alarming to me but it does not cause any jerky motion at all. Is this shift shock as well?
Thanks,
Dre
The 'shift shock' I'm referring to is a very hard, jerking shift from 1st to 2nd when the transmission is cold. Seams to be fairly prevalent among earlier 1st gen 2.3 cars. Haven't heard of it in the 2.0's, nor in the later cars as much, but some do get it.
Amsoil ATF fixed that for me in my 07 Mazda6. It had the FNR5-based transmission though. The Amsoil stuff reduced the shock to only the FIRST shift from 1 to 2 on a cold day and drastically improved cold weather behavior.
And if anyone hasn't replaced their trans fluid in 60k, you're due anyway. My extended warranty from Mazda stated I had to flush every 30k for my Mazda6... but not a peep in the manual. Makes you wonder.
And if anyone hasn't replaced their trans fluid in 60k, you're due anyway. My extended warranty from Mazda stated I had to flush every 30k for my Mazda6... but not a peep in the manual. Makes you wonder.
Oddly enough, my wife's 2008 2.0 is at 130K, and her transmission always shifted fine even when cold.:huh:Amsoil ATF fixed that for me in my 07 Mazda6. It had the FNR5-based transmission though. The Amsoil stuff reduced the shock to only the FIRST shift from 1 to 2 on a cold day and drastically improved cold weather behavior.
And if anyone hasn't replaced their trans fluid in 60k, you're due anyway. My extended warranty from Mazda stated I had to flush every 30k for my Mazda6... but not a peep in the manual. Makes you wonder.
You're in Louisiana!
It's much colder up here.
It's much colder up here.
True, but at the same temps my 2004 2.3 auto used to have shift shock, her 08 never did. That's some of the benefit I have at least, I have/had the opportunity to test 2004, 2007, and 2008, 2.3 and 2.0, manual and auto side by side since I have two in my garage (my 04 was totalled beginning of this year.)You're in Louisiana!
It's much colder up here.
Yea the 04 had a 4-speed or just an older 5-speed? I forget.
04 had the 4 speed as I recall.
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Sent from my iPhone with Tapatalk.
sorry to resurrect an old thread, but can having too much transmission fluid cause the shift shock to be worse?
That's hard to say, but it certainly can't be good in any case.sorry to resurrect an old thread, but can having too much transmission fluid cause the shift shock to be worse?
On an automatic yessorry to resurrect an old thread, but can having too much transmission fluid cause the shift shock to be worse?
ah, thanks!On an automatic yes
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