Please help: 93 GS Automatic Transmission

A forum for discussions regarding the MX-3' transmission. Swap, technical, and troubleshooting info should be placed here.
Post Reply
Strife
Junior Member
Posts: 25
Joined: January 19th, 2003, 2:01 am
Location: Toronto

Please help: 93 GS Automatic Transmission

Post by Strife »

Hey guys... first off, thanks for looking.

It looks like my AutoX is about to go :(

Last night, I started the car (cold) and put the car into reverse to back out of my driveway. Instead of pulling out right away and switching to drive like I normally do, I put the brake on (while still in reverse - dumb move :( ) and waited for about 5 minutes while I was waiting for my passenger to meet me outside. When I shifted to drive and gave it some gas, it didn't want to go... the rpms just went up. I put the car back into P and then to D again and that seemed to fix the problem (at least for tonight)

I've read some posts in the auto-transmission forum and I think this is a sign that my transmission is going... here are the vitals on my car:

1993 GS Auto
about 181,000 kms

My questions are:

1) Is this a sign that my tranmission is about to go? Or could this be a one-time incident?

2) If I choose to repair my AutoX (i.e. rebuild), how much would that cost in the GTA? What shop (for those that have gone through this headache) do you recommend?

3) If I choose to swap to a Manual transmission (my other cars are manuals so this isn't a problem), would this cost less? Again, what shop do you recommend?

Thanks so much for your help... I really appreciate it. I don't want to sell my car yet because of sentimental value (my first car and I need a good looking, sporty daily driver) and the body and engine are in mint shape :(

-one sad Mx-3 owner

<small>[ November 29, 2004, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: Strife ]</small>
Strife
Junior Member
Posts: 25
Joined: January 19th, 2003, 2:01 am
Location: Toronto

Re: Please help: 93 GS Automatic Transmission

Post by Strife »

bump... please help :(

i don't want my mx3 to rip :(
perhapsadingo8yerbaby
Regular Member
Posts: 764
Joined: June 16th, 2002, 2:01 am

Re: Please help: 93 GS Automatic Transmission

Post by perhapsadingo8yerbaby »

Might be getting ahead of yourself. Could it be a sign of an impending tranny death rattle...? Sure it could but first check for the correct level and condition/color/odor of your trans fluid.
User avatar
de_sjiem
Regular Member
Posts: 36
Joined: January 29th, 2004, 2:01 am
Location: Grand Rapids Michigan
Contact:

Re: Please help: 93 GS Automatic Transmission

Post by de_sjiem »

"2) If I choose to repair my AutoX (i.e. rebuild), how much would that cost in the GTA? What shop (for those that have gone through this headache) do you recommend?"

when my tranny(s) were about to go in the GTA i was quoted $1500 (at Mister Transmission in Rexdale) and about $1650 at Aamco (Aimco?) plus the cost of hardparts that need to be replaced. Both included gaskets and other soft parts... Both were willing to refund the money i paid to have my transmission checked out.. but since i had no money at the time i didn't get either one to rebuild my tranny.. am now working on manual swap... hope this helps...
stepchyld
Regular Member
Posts: 225
Joined: December 28th, 2004, 1:38 am
Location: E OK

Post by stepchyld »

I would not recommend aamco, at all.
My mother has an 89 Probe, 2.2 auto. Tranny gave out, completely. Off to aamco it went, against my advice. and well, I'll say the car did drive after that. But the shifting problems it had before had gotten worse after the 'rebuild', they renig'ed on their warranty (24 month became 12), they reinstalled the driveshafts, but did not torque the hub lock nut on the passenger side ( it fell out when I removed the wheel to find the 'noise and wierd feeling' she had) and I could go on. But I don't wanna rant anymore. The experience, of both workmanship and service, that aamco provided a single mother with one vehicle was truly that appalling.

Definately check your fluid condition and level, if questionable, filter and fluid change, and consider a fluid cooler to make what you got last longer.
User avatar
masonholmes
Supporting Member
Posts: 279
Joined: November 26th, 2000, 2:01 am
Location: Beverly WV, USA
Contact:

Post by masonholmes »

Could be a sensor going, could be a dirty valve body, could be a cable out of adjustment. Check what they've told you already and get a fluid cooler on it ASAP. As for the MTX swap, if you can find somebody willing to do it, it's usually cheaper than rebuilding the ATX. Good luck!
1993 MX-3 ~ SE * 2.5L Swap'd
1993 RX-7 ~ Rotary Performance Built
1996 MX-5 ~ M-Edition * Topless, Daily Driver


masonholmes@hotmail.com
Juans_93_MX3
Senior Member
Posts: 2220
Joined: October 17th, 2004, 2:01 am
Location: SLC, Utah

Post by Juans_93_MX3 »

I dont want to steal this thread but what would be cheaper?
Having to pay for a MTX and having someone swap out the bad ATX for the MTX? Or getting the engine rebuilt?
2008 Mazda 3
1993 MX3 GS
KLZE, Fidanza flywheel, KL31 CAMs, South Bend Stage I Clutch, Pacesetter STS, SS AutoChromes, Magnaflow muffler, 2.25' Exhaust, CAI, Blaster Coil HEI, KLDE Valvetrain, 5 Speed Swap
hgallegos915
Senior Member
Posts: 6451
Joined: June 19th, 2004, 2:01 am
Location: El Paso Tx U.S
Contact:

Post by hgallegos915 »

get another mtx at a scrap yard....sometimes they wont work. Sometimes its cheaper just bgetting another mx3.
-hec

MX-3 w/ curved neck millenia klde, boosted @ 5 psi. /bov and wastegate are good!/ nitto drag radial/ gutted interior/ millenia red top injectors, vortech fmu/aem wideband/ all bolts ons/ Car put together 100% by me. Mechanic? who needs a mechanic? ew.. real men work on their own cars!
User avatar
mxmaz
Regular Member
Posts: 1116
Joined: May 4th, 2004, 2:01 am
Location: Canada

Post by mxmaz »

Juans_93_MX3 wrote:I dont want to steal this thread but what would be cheaper?
Having to pay for a MTX and having someone swap out the bad ATX for the MTX? Or getting the engine rebuilt?
Well in the faq, the parts alone for the tranny swap cost the guy $1300. Unless you do the work yourself, it will probably be pretty costly. So i would guess that the tranny swap would cost more.
hgallegos915
Senior Member
Posts: 6451
Joined: June 19th, 2004, 2:01 am
Location: El Paso Tx U.S
Contact:

Post by hgallegos915 »

my old car did that..it was the brushing under the shifter..i have no idea how this affects the d gear o.0 but i fixed it and it started working fine..also it can be u have a dirty tranny filter (if tranny has high miles wopuldnt recommend changing) also check fluid levels.
-hec

MX-3 w/ curved neck millenia klde, boosted @ 5 psi. /bov and wastegate are good!/ nitto drag radial/ gutted interior/ millenia red top injectors, vortech fmu/aem wideband/ all bolts ons/ Car put together 100% by me. Mechanic? who needs a mechanic? ew.. real men work on their own cars!
Post Reply

Return to “Transmissions”