52k, tranmission flush?

[JustMe4]

Hi,

Hoping it's a busy forum day and replies will be fast! My '09 Mazda is currently at the dealer, need to get back to them on flush. Brought it in for engine noise, powertrain warranty expiring on 4/1. They cannot duplicate, did diagnostic and say everything is fine. My transmission oil is dirty, brown-reddish (more brown), never had flush before. Does not smell burned. Dealer is recommending BG transmission flush now or at 60k. Comes with $1000 warranty should transmission fail/have problems w/in 30 miles of flush. Cost is $293! But dx fee is $112, which is waived if I do the flush. So $112 for dx fee, or $293 for transmission (dx fee waived, so only a $180ish difference)

Asked about drain and fill and was told it was a waste of $. Big spiel (I'm not an expert...) on how 2/3 of fluid is encased and won't even drain with a drain and fill. Reading concerning reports about flushes creating problems too, but maybe my mileage isn't high enough yet to cause issues?

SO - would you get this flush, and would you get it now, yes or no?

Thanks so much!

 

[Vasy]

I'd say you are twice overdue for tranny service.
I did mine at 25k miles and it was gross and smelled bad to boot.
I did the flush at home, my material cost was $70, so considering your cost, only $100 for labor and some fluid profit is good price IMHO.

 

[kw_da]

Depends on the flush machine - see http://mdhmotors.com/transmission-flush-when-and-when-not-to-flush-transmission/. He says the Pump inlet flush machine type is the safest - which makes sense. The $1k warranty doesn't cover much and is only for 30 miles.

 

[JustMe4]

Depends on the flush machine - see http://mdhmotors.com/transmission-flush-when-and-when-not-to-flush-transmission/. He says the Pump inlet flush machine type is the safest - which makes sense. The $1k warranty doesn't cover much and is only for 30 miles.

Sorry, typo on my part. Was supposed to be 30k miles, not 30. I am having them to do the flush as we speak. My power train warranty expires on Monday and the warranty gives me a little extra peace of mind esp. with the noises I hear and they cannot duplicate. Asked about synthetic oil, the service manager wasn't sure how to answer me, said they are using Mazda oil... That didn't get me anywhere.

 

[Secondtyme]

I think you made a wise choice. And I can't stand how underhanded, crooked and downright stupid dealership service personnel are. The blessed service manager doesn't know whether they use synthetic or conventional oil?! Really? As an aside I would bet 1,000,000 dollars that if your powertrain warranty had expired last month they would have zero trouble duplicating your mystery noises

 

[kw_da]

Well, if they are using Mazda Oil, I assume they are using M-V oil which is not the same as Mercon V. There are several threads on ATF fluid, what is available. In general, it seems that for our cars, it's good to change it often. Like every 30k or so.

 

[JustMe4]

Thanks all.

So.... drove it away, didn't notice a change, until I turned on the AC. Don't laugh, but when I turn it on, it first makes a burp-like noise, then kicks in (it seems to work fine though). When I turn the AC off the same sound occurs 5 seconds after it stops. Coming from inside the dash, lower. Blower motor? How could they have messed that up? To all you knowledgeable Mazda5 owners: In order to do a transmission flush, do a diagnostic on the power train, etc. is there a way to damage that component of the car? It also looks like the panel around the climate control/cd player area was removed (the climate control knobs look recessed more). Trying not to be paranoid here, but that AC noise upon turning it on and 5 secs after turning it off was DEF not there before drop off. I'm taking it back tomorrow, risking looking like a complete idiot.

As far as engine noise, I am experiencing 2 things. One is a rapid ticking sound when idling (standing in front of traffic light, etc), the other is a gurgling/low diesel car type sounds when I get to about 30-40, especially up hill. It disappears when I let go off the gas, or increase speed rapidly. Service manager drove with me twice, both times it was super windy outside (plains... and we all know the 5's road noise is loud) so hard to hear and Murphy's Law states you won't hear it when you drive with the manager... I did hear it the second time, he did not. The whine of my power steering is also insanely loud and obnoxious, but they dismissed that too.

Thanks for letting me pick your brains. Got some precious cargo in my car and don't want this thing to stall on me. I am *this* close to selling it, it's costing me fortune (suspension replacements, dented wheel, tires) even though I only drive it less than 8k/yr. I just love the way it drives, the room, gas mileage, etc. and cannot find a good similar alternative.

 

[Vasy]

When I did mine, I did not have to touch a/c at all.
Power steering should be quet, maybe a little whine when you hit the end and a tiny bit of extra noise when you stand next to it with hood open and another person rotates the wheel.
Find a similar car on the lot and see if it makes same noise, if it does not, make them fix yours or file complaint with mazda before you warranty expires.

 

[JustMe4]

When I did mine, I did not have to touch a/c at all.
Power steering should be quet, maybe a little whine when you hit the end and a tiny bit of extra noise when you stand next to it with hood open and another person rotates the wheel.
Find a similar car on the lot and see if it makes same noise, if it does not, make them fix yours or file complaint with mazda before you warranty expires.

The whine is excessive. The high pitch is even present when not turning wheel. I figured since power steering is not part of the power train warranty, they would let me know if it had an issue (and make $$$). I was told by my local mechanic (2 different ones actually) the hose has a tiny hole in it and I am losing a drop a week. Told the service manager and he told me a story about how that cannot be, because it's all encased (?). Seems to be the answer to everything Can't do drain and fill because 2/3 of fluid cannot be drained because it's encased. Can't have leaky power steering, cause that's encased too, blah blah. Do you all trust your dealer service more than a good local mechanic place? Curious.

Thanks!

 

[Vasy]

Well, let your local mechanic show the leak.
Power steering works works at like 700 to 1000 psi and I do belive that at that pressure any small leak would become a catastrophic failure in no time.
Now, you can have a bad bearing in the powers tearing pump and that would be noisy with out any apparent failure.
Search junk yards for a new pump and swap it out.
You can also get similar device at local harbor freight or eBay like doctors use to listen for sound (stethoscope?) . The only difference is it has a metal rod on the end instead of a membrane. You just place it against parts of the engine and trace where the noise is the loudest.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Your car will thank you for the new fluid though I would have advised you use an aftermarket ATF. They are technically correct in that roughly 2/3 of the fluid exist in the TC can't be "drained". That's not to say it can't be extracted, just not drained - via gravity flow.

Don't worry too much about phantom noises but ATF has nothing to do with PS and nothing to do with AC. Make sure you have them document everything they "serviced".

 

[kw_da]

The whine is excessive. The high pitch is even present when not turning wheel. I figured since power steering is not part of the power train warranty, they would let me know if it had an issue (and make $$$). I was told by my local mechanic (2 different ones actually) the hose has a tiny hole in it and I am losing a drop a week. Told the service manager and he told me a story about how that cannot be, because it's all encased (?). Seems to be the answer to everything Can't do drain and fill because 2/3 of fluid cannot be drained because it's encased. Can't have leaky power steering, cause that's encased too, blah blah. Do you all trust your dealer service more than a good local mechanic place? Curious.

Thanks!

Did you know about this? http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1048343_2007-2009-mazda3-mazda5-recalled-for-power-steering-issue

It's affecting your model year - your dealer should know about the recall - however, your dealer doesn't appear to be very good. I'd try another dealer if possible.

 

[JustMe4]

Did you know about this? http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1048343_2007-2009-mazda3-mazda5-recalled-for-power-steering-issue

It's affecting your model year - your dealer should know about the recall - however, your dealer doesn't appear to be very good. I'd try another dealer if possible.

Thanks! I read about that a few weeks ago and called Mazda. They said my car was not affected/no recall message popped up under the VIN. Too bad!

 

[Secondtyme]

I would second the recomendation to seek out another dealership. The one you have been dealing with sounds like a real loser.