My 2003 Mazda6 recently started having a 1st gear issue the first drive every day; it takes a few minutes to engage fully. When I start the car, it backs out of the drive in R just fine, but when I put it in D it doesn't engage and slips so I just let it idle and it will start to creep forward, I can give it a little gas and it will gain speed or shift to 2nd. Usually in 2-3 minutes it shifts fine and I can drive it fine for the rest of the day.

The fluid level is fine, but the AT light has come on about 3 times, but goes away if i restart the car. I do have an issue with the transmission range sensor in that it only starts in Park about half the time, and I wonder if that sensor isn't also failing to see that the car is in gear and not electronically doing what it does. I do have a replacement sensor, but am hesitant to replace it as I'm not certain it will clear up the 1st gear issue, as well as the starting issue. I can't live with the 1st gear issue long term though.

The car pretty much runs fine after a couple minutes, and the 1st gear issue never happens again for the rest of the day, but it has 190,000 miles on it and will need tires and shocks soon. I am hesitant to take a 20 year old car to a shop who would charge me more than the car is worth. It's solid transportation and I've had it for 9 years, so I am looking for help to see if the simple new sensor replcement will resolve the issue or if there is something more complex involved.

Thanks!
Andy

 

did you check the transmission fluid ?

 

Yep, it’s fine. That was the first thing I checked.

I actually did a drain and refill with fresh fluid to effect a partial change. Two years ago I dropped the pan and changed the filter too, so the fluid is fresher than most.

 

It sounds like the valvebody may have varnish and the servo are hanging up. Good luck with this as it is the sign the transmission is on its way out. You could do a hail marry and have a shop with a professional transmission equiptment do a flush and cleaning service? This runs about 200+ USD. Or you can have the transmission check from a Transmision specialty shop that can connect the fluid lines and check the operating pressure to determine it basic current state of health.
The last thing is drop the pan and look at the valve body. Wipe it with a clean WHITE rag. This will give you some idea how much varnish has built up.
The last thing you can try is have a sample of the oil analyzed which will tell you the contents in the oil that you may not see in the oil pan or filter.
Transmission | Blackstone Laboratories (blackstone-labs.com)

It does also sound like the TCM may have some issues and that needs to be checked with a professional scan tool. But all in all your transmission has had a good service life and it may simply be time to start shopping for a used transmission with a warranty. Or a auto wrecker transmission that maybe you get a small warranty?
You can tray to rebuild it and a master kit is inexpensive but requires some specialized tools and a little experience rebuilding an automatic transmission.

Good luck!

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Thanks for the help @Callisto, but your suggestions basically reinforced my worst case scenario. I decided to sell the car as we had it for 9 years and I was ready for something different and with more cargo room, so I picked up a 2012 Mazda 3 hatchback w/new tires last week. So far its exceeded my expectations, especially with the gas mileage, and I hope to get another 9 years out of it, just like the Mazda6

We sold the Mazda6 Monday and did shed some tears when it was gone as we thoroughly enjoyed it and it's durability. It just didn't make sense to me to spend the time and money on it for tranny work, tires, shocks and struts with 190,000 miles on it, as that expense would almost certainly exceed the market value of the car.

 

Well congratulation with your new(used) Mazda. Nice to read you stuck with Mazda!

 

Well, the Mazda6 made us a believer! We bought a new 2022 CX5 in March of 2022, and I’ve had my eye on A Mazda3 hatchback for quite a while. We’re retired and over 65, so we quite possibly are set, especially with the CX5.