Hard/Rough Shift (Automatic)
 

I have a 2004 Automatic RX8.

I have searched everywhere to find info on this issue and I have read it all including the service manuals etc :Eyecrazy:


When casually accelerating it feels like the RPMs keep going up then it just dumps me into 2nd. Its not a clunk or a slam, more of a slight ZZZoom sound if that makes sense lol. I does push me back in the seat with little force. The same thing happens from 2nd-3rd and 3rd-4th but you dont feel it as much at all because there is less torque. I dont think there is much if any loss in power.

This could be a different issue all together but it may help. It shifts a little rough (again not a clunk or slam) from PARK to DRIVE... NEUTRAL to Drive... NEUTRAL to REVERSE.

The dash lights DO match with the gear its in, so that adjustment should be fine.

This week I have done the following:
- Replaced the MAF sensor.
- Transmission fully flushed/refilled.
- Replaced 1 of 2 engine mounts (the common one that goes out, it didnt look bad at all though).
- new air filter
- oil change


Thanks to everyone to that helps me out. This is driving me nuts!

:fingersx:

I would have thought this was a common problem.

Not too many of us with autos, particularly 4 ports, have the huevos to share our manumatic experiences out of fear of being flamed for simply having an auto.

I don't experience any of the problems you've reported. It will certainly downshift automagically in auto mode with casual acceleration as load increases, but it does so fairly smoothly.

However, at 60,000 miles with my first flush under my belt at 30k (RP MAX ATF) I'm starting to experience some rough jumps from 1st to 2nd prior to ATF warm up.

I ordered some "fresh" RP MAX ATF last night and plan to do a new flush in the next couple weeks.

These engines don't typically put out enough torque to be of much stress on the auto transmission. The one I pulled from my car was working flawlessly at 111k miles... just as smooth as it was the day it left the factory.

Troubleshooting the auto transmission is kind of a pain, it involves line pressures, checking the timing with a stopwatch while shifting from P or N to D or R when warm and cold, etc. The procedure is outlined in the factory service manual, page 39 of chapter (section) 5 "Transmissions".

On page 44-45 there's a "shift point table" that outlines when the transmission should shift under various throttle conditions.

Starting on page 67 there's a quick diagnosis chart. Find your symptom on the left, follow it to the right until you hit an "X" then go down to the bottom of the chart and it'll tell you where to start. Looks like you're dealing perhaps with a line-pressure issue but the only way to try and diagnose it is to test the line pressure, which requires a special tool.

Finally, page 70 is the start of another troubleshooting chart.

Read up on these to try and narrow down what your issue is. The RX8 FSM can be found here:

http://foxed.ca/index.php?page=rx7manual#rx8

It is 2nd from the right. I'd open it in google docs. Section / chapter 5 is where you'll want to be at, starting like I said at page 39.

Sorry I can't be of more help, as I've never had the problem you're describing and I haven't really heard of anyone else on this board experiencing similar issues.

AmericaJR, I know this thread is outdated, however I was experiencing the same issue a few weeks ago and thought i'd share. My '10 AT was doing the exact same thing - I figured like others have said here, the torque is so low it wouldn't do much damage, and decided i'd take it in later. In the meantime, I needed to clean battery terminals, and after doing so and reconnecting the battery, my problem was gone. Moral of the story - try a 10 min batt disconnect if you're having this issue; certainly can't hurt anything!