Hi All,

I apologize if there is a thread here already, i just found the amount of information here almost overwhelming! You guys have a great site here.

My problem:

My girlfriend bought a 2005 RX-8 Automatic with 60k miles on it. Well 2 weeks after we bought it, we got a rough idle/hard start problem. Took it to mazda, and 2 weeks later, we have a new engine! Which is great most of the time! But then the control box went out, then the heater went out yadda yadda. Now we are happy with everything replaced and the car running like a track star. Lately though it seems to be developing a shifting problem. Sometimes when your cruising down the road at 40-50-60 mph and you drop the hammer, it knocks real loud and surges. I have also noticed that the digital display is not accurate. When it does this, (and sometimes even when it does not jerk) the number on the dash is delayed. If I drop from 4th to 3rd, the digital readout does not change for about 5 seconds. Sometimes when it shifts from 3rd to 4th under normal diving conditions, the digital display hangs for 5 seconds again. That does not worry me as much as the knock and the jerking does. It does not do it all the time, but when it does, its enough to make me make my "Oh" face.

Can anyone offer me any advice before I contact the dealer?

Thank you so much in advance!

Brent

 

when was the last time you checked the ATF?

 

Ill have to ask her, but I would have to guess that it has not been checked. The small town dealer we bought this car from has been very difficult and has lied to us. We bought an extended warranty and 2 months went by before he even faxed it to the company. "He" said the car was completely serviced and checked out by a mechanic. Then everything blew up! So I should probably not trust him. Is it easy to check and refill?

 

I am trying to check the fluid according to the manual, but the picture shows it to be passenger side, on the firewall, and it is not there, just the wiper fluid. Im sorry to be such a hassle, im new to all this stuff. But I have to say, i sure love the way that rotary motor runs.

Can someone clue me in to where the reservoir is?

 

Here's how to inspect it and check the level.
I didn't say you were gonna like it!

Oh......and as far as changing it, unless you have a machine(which some think is a waste but others do not). You will have to drop the pan to change it which you should go ahead and get a new filter and you will need a new gasket.

Do some searches using advanced search and use "Changing ATF" as the serach criteria.

 

Thanks so much Maz, I actually found the dip stick in the firewall going down to the tranny. It looked just a little bit low, but it was light pink, lighter than the normal redish color for sure..... Was not brown/black or any dark color.....


I have a problem dont I?