1998 Mazda 626: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Dec 1, 2008 · Transmission · 120,215 miles · PA · fire

Transmission problems with the year of 98's transmissions made by ford. Transmissions have had multiple issues starting from shifting issues, transmission fluid overheating requiring more and more mazda 626's to have aftermarket transmission coolers installed, transmission overheating. This year that ford made this transmission has caused many people to often replace transmissions for this vehicle. You will see many people have replaced their transmissions 2 or 3 times within putting 150k on the vehicle. Please look into as I have had my transmission slip and completely not work, to getting rebuilt and now my o/d is now flashing, which requires me to install an aftermarket oil cooler for my transmissions, which does not come with the vehicle already. Transmission rebuild is costing over 2,000 dollars due to the unavailability of parts from the dealer and aftermarket suppliers. Please recall this transmission!!!!!! A mazda technical service bulletin exists for some 1998-2001 models. Tsb 05-005/02 deals with one specific circumstance: "after extended highway driving, the o/d off light is blinking and code p1783 is set (excessive atf temperature). Occasionally there will be overflow through the dipstick tube and harsh shifting. Mazda's recommended fix is to replace the radiator and to install an auxiliary cooler for the transmission." when the light goes on, it enters a fail-safe mode? (the epc solenoid opens up and brings line pressure up to 'max') ... The only catch is it raises the fluid pressure well beyond normal specs (it goes from 100 to 400 psi). Ford cd4e transmission http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/724066 - issues also with transmission.

Filed Jul 17, 2002 · Transmission · KS

I had started to notice rough shifting at around 90,000 miles. I travel with my work and am gone every week mon-fri and put about 1000 miles a week on my car. Some weeks more than that, all highway miles. I thought the rough shifting was due to the transmission fluid and filter and had the transmission fluid changed. You cannot get to the filter in the cd4 without taking the whole thing apart. I went another 10,000 miles and now the transmission will allow me to travel about 10 miles then quits. After sitting for a few minutes, I can travel another 5-10 minutes then it quits again. I have contacted mazda's customer service department and a lady I spoke with was no help at all. She told me to go to a dealer and the closest is 125 miles away. I asked if they had a tech department I could talk to and she said none existed. I have been told that this ford transmission is nothing but trouble. I cannot complain about the first 100000 miles on this little car. The only repairs were brakes and a battery plus the normal maintenance. I cannot see why my transmission is acting so wierd though. I had one go out years ago and it never would shift again. This runs, then quits, then runs, then quits again. Oh well, I wanted to vent and I have. If there is a recall out there on this I would love to know about it. Thanks for listening. Fred martino.

Filed Aug 8, 2000 · Steering · OK · crash · 1 injury

Steering rack gear broke in two with no warning, car went out of control, crossed highway, down a small embankment and into the trees (narrowly missing an oncoming small truck). My wife was driving and was suffered aggravation to existing back and leg problems. She said she heard a "clunk" and the car took off across the road. At first she thought she hit something in the road to cause the car to go out of control. I checked the car out at the towing companies lot that night and determined that the left front control arm was loose under the rubber boot on the drivers side of the car. I asked the dealer now repairing the car to save any steering parts. They replaced the rack and pinion as a unit and I now have it. I have not disassembled it but it is obviously broke under the boot where the rack exits the rack and pinion housing on the driver's side. Comment: cars shouldn't break like this with only 61,000 miles on them. This car has received regular lubrication maintenance and when I have driven it recently showed no sign of impending steering problems such as clunks, tight steering, road wander, etc. It was just fine until it broke.

Filed Oct 10, 1999 · Transmission · GA

Car jerks in and out of gear very rough shifting. Proceeded with lemon law

Filed Oct 24, 1998 · Engine, Transmission · MD

626 taken to mazda to have transmission checked for rough shifting and clunking noise. Mazda said the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. Once replaced, new transmission acted in the same manner. Mazda then decided to replace all 4 motor mounts. That did not correct the problem either. The service department then told me that rough shifting and clunking sounds are normal for the 98'626. I found that explaination very hard to believe to say the least, so I am meeting with the regional sales rep for mazda in an effort to have the problem rectified.