94 mx-3 auto tranny just rebuilt, not shifting properly

[adagre92tsi]

Ok I'm a DSM'er but I am asking about my gf's car. She just acquired a 94 mx-3 DOHC with auto tranny from her brother who left the country. He had the tranny rebuilt about 2 months ago. It doesn't like to shift properly when cold. For instance, sometimes it sounds like it slips before you get moving, jerks into 2nd gear (that hard shift feeling) or sometimes revs up before shifting into 3rd. It also sometimes does not shift back into first when you come to a stop so you take off in 2nd. It also sometimes does not like to downshift unless you pump the gas pedal a couple times to the floor. Once the car has been driven for 5 minutes or so it works perfectly however.

I was thinking could it be the TCU? (does this car even have one?)

Could it be throttle cable or linkage? (seems a bit sticky/does not move as smooth as it should likely)

Lastly could it be anything to do with the battery/alt not being strong? I notice the lights dim alot when any accessories or the brake lights come on.

Thanks

[PATDIESEL]

Well, could be a ground although I doubt it. All MXs lights dim when you hit the brakes, but not alot like you say.
Could be low on fluid, could be a sticky shifter on the trans, could be something else. I suggest taking it back to the rebuilder and asking them. They might not want to work on it for free (depoends on warranty if there was one), but they will have a better idea then we can since they can look at it and drive it.

[adagre92tsi]

Well I think I will be taking it to the rebuilder soon, the diming lights definitely is not related, I think that is a week battery/crappy battery terminals, ground etc. My talon does the same thing.

This is what I did today and it improved the shifting a little bit. Where the throttle cable is adjustable on the throttle body I adjusted the cable that seems to run to the transmission (lower) I took out most but not all of the slack there and it isn't revving then lurching forward anymore in first gear or reverse (rev, lurch backwards) however it occasionally shifts hard into 2nd still ( I read on here that could be the adjustment of the throttle cable once again). Also recently the car sat for about 2 weeks when I fired it back up the gear shifter was almost impossible to move. So in fear of snapping anything I sprayed the linkage on the tranny end with some lube and let the car warm up some (It's ok now but the shifter feels sloppy overall). I also do not think it is going into overdrive anymore as it revs at 4000rpm at 100km/hr and 5600 or so at 140. I don't remember it doing this before, unless its only a 3spd and I just never noticed. I haven't checked the fluid but I will tomorrow, is there any special method to checking it properly or just check it in park while running?

Oh sorry I sort of got rambling there, could the reason the gear shift was so hard to move be a result of a stretching shift cable? I had this happen to me on my dsm but the only difference is that it is a 5spd, the rod that runs through the braided section of the cable snapped on me causing it to stretch couldn't get into gears randomly, eventually caused a roll pin to back out of the 3rd/4th shift fork.

[Bling Bling]

If you don't mind me asking, what did your tranny cost to rebuild?

[Tunes67]

Well I also have a 94 B6 DOHC ATX RS MX-3. And I can tell you I figured out 2 things that were causing a hard shift in my car. One.. the previous owner was using Dextron rather than Mercon tranny fluid (I found this out cause I also made that same mistake ) And second.. the motor mounts in the 92-94 ATX RS models are crap. There is even a TSB (Technical service bulletin) out from mazda about them. They cause rough idle and harder shifts. I started using amsoil tranny fluid after draining my tranny a couple of times and it shifts ALOT smoother now. Still a crappy ATX. But at least it doesnt give me whiplash anymore.

Tunes67

[adagre92tsi]

Ok well we took the car to the guy who rebuilt the transmission. He said it was the battery and it needed a valve kit. I am not sure what a valve kit is but I assume he is talking about the valve body.

Well this didn't fix it.. so he is trying to figure it out.

Just a recap of the symptoms:

Cold (first 2 minutes of driving) - won't upshift unless you really rev it up.

Once warm shifts hard into 2nd, slips into 3 (revs high before going into 3rd) and when it does shift to 4th the rpm's only drop at most 200 rpms so it doesn't even seem like its going into 4th at all. Reving about 4000 rpm at 100 km/hr.

Does this car have a Transmission ECU? if so could the caps be blown?

What solenoids and other electronic pieces are there in this thing?

[fieromx3]

got any pix of ur 1992 talon? what mods u done to it? taken it down the 1/4 mile? id like to see pix and all

[ariesdude]

Sounds like your tranny might be running in limp mode - the tranny controller is located beneath the cigarette lighter area right infront of the shifter. You can check if the tranny controller has any codes by jumping pins GND and TAT in the diagnostic box (under the hood) - if there are any codes the "Hold" light in the dash will flash to indicate the code - look in the online manual (http://mx-3.com/95manual) to see how to interpret the codes and what could be causing it.

[adagre92tsi]

It actually did turn out to be the valve body, all is good now.

Thanks for the replys


To the guy who asked for pics of my talon, sorry I formatted my copmputer and haven't put them back on yet, as for mods the FWD is originally a N/A car which I installed a 90' turbo engine in it, along with CFDF clutch. Its basically stock otherwise. I have 93 Ford Probe rims painted gunmetal (car is black) and I have clear euro style headlights and corner lenses. The car is originally from texas ans is completely rust free.

My AWD I am currently doing a head rebuild and timing belt job then it should be my winter car. The MX-3 is the gf's car and is just sitting here because she got a brand new car inhereted to her. Going to try to sell it I guess as its taking up space in the driveway.

Cheers