Ok folks tell me I'm not crazy. I'm thinking of buying a high mileage ~100k cx5 20178 or 2018 years and noted the same transmission problem. I have test driven 3 cars and gave them a minute or two to warm up but noticed that the transmission i guess hesitates when engine is still cold. It seems to do this just for the first instance of like pulling out of the dealer lot or noticed it getting on a freeway right next to dealership. The weather is not cold it's just the engine from sitting on a lot. When the car warms up it seem fine no hesitation. Could this be old tranny fluid? I know Mazda calls their fluid lifetime so could these cars all have old tranny fluid which takes a while to warm up? I really like the cars want to buy one but this is strange. I'm 65 so I'm not new to driving different cars.

 

Did you drive any lower mileage CX-5s to compare it to? Sometimes my 2021 jerks on the initial start of my drive in my morning commute due to it being cold, but it's very rare and only happens 1 time when I leave my house. These transmissions do sometimes jerk stop & go traffic sometimes as well, but that's just how they behave.

 

Check the service hisrtory #1 - Then Check the transmission fluid - level / condition and odor -check for codes and recent cleared codes
---If the history yields no transmission service --- perform a pan drop , filer change , reseal w/rtv and new fluid -- retest and check for codes - should be under $200 service w/ fluid / filter --CVIs ( clutch value Index;s ) should be good unless you see a tow hitch on that pup---if so --be cautious

 

Thanks for the reply. I haven't drove a newer one out of my price range. It's like the car briefly loses power/hesitates then runs fine it happened on two test drives. I've asked the salesperson to look into otherwise I will move on. I'm dealing with a Mazda dealership but not sure they want to put more resources into a car that has 100k miles and is sold as is. They car was reconditioned by them so other than that it's a great car. If I end up purchasing a Mazda look forward to using this forum.

 

I would still try to drive a less used one they have on the lot, just to compare it. If the behavior is the same, then I would lean towards the car just being adjusted to the previous owner's driving style.

 

What you are describing is the valve body having a varnish from lack off or no transmission service. A varnish will form and eventually will cause transmission issues one is what you describe.

miles and date
when was the first basics transmission service done?

when was the last basic transmission service done?

Because it is on a used car lot unless you want to invest in having the basic service done as mentioned to at least drop the pan then I am sorry but I would recommend to pass on that Mazda.

 

Another possible cause is the sevo seals getting hard and loosing fluid presure. I'd first try a transmission reset. I know it's only designed to be done when fitting a new transmission but from my own experience it worked for me on my Hyundai. A dealer or good scantool should have the capability to do it.

 

That will not work on a Mazda Skyactiv transmission.
Because Mazda claims thease to be a lifetime no service transmission is the first clue to future problems. Everyone if you had oil analysis done you would see the indicators at even less the 40 k miles

 

My 2020 CX-5 automatic transmission works more smoothly if allowed it to warm up.
You can also get the fluid and filter change with a pan drop.
Mazda says lifetime transmission fluid (lifetime translates to 100K).
Despite what Mazda says, many here on the website recommend a fluid/filter change every 40K.
Fluid testing can show contaminants, but do they actually impact the lifetime of the transmission?
Truthfully there has never been any definitive testing done on how long these transmissions will actually last without doing any service on them at all.
So, while doing the maintenance and getting a glowing fluid test report sounds like a great idea, it doesn't tell you if it actually helps the life of the transmission.
Much like the guy who doesn't smoke, drink, eats right and exercises daily but dies of a heart attack at 40.

 

Wow we seldom even disagree//// lol

There are test and published and have been for decades.
Yes they do shorten the transmission life cause drivability issues and will cause long term issues most assuredly past 150k mark of service use. $$$$$$$$$$$
You forget that the transmissions are no operated at the coolant levels which any transmission manufacture will tell you is just to hot. The basic Mazda transmission will run during warmer and summer months 195-200F degrees and up to 220F when the AC is run. That temperature is also what the transmission fluid runs. Ask yourself this why don't auto manufactures let consumers view with automatic transmission their operating temperatures?
We all or most all of us which not only includes mechanic but DIY and even an ordinary owner knows that heat kills automatic transmission. What are and is do most of you all get when you are planning to tow a heavy trailer or load..... auxiliary transmission coolers. LOL
Not doing and following up on a service of transmission fluid changes will cause a varnish that forms as soon as a few hundred miles and always at more the 3k miles of a new transmission is constantly building up and will eventually cause operational issues. $$$$$$

My posting about automatic transmissions service, problem solving, preventative maintenance etc., comes first and foremost from my trained cortication as an ASE, servicing hundreds of automatic transmissions, engineering and building upgraded and performance parts for automatic transmissions. reading countless technical articles from qualified authors, keeping updated on the latest technologies regarding many automatic transmissions etc., etc., etc.
Some but not anywhere near the empirical data information available about automatic transmission including servicing them and preventive serving along with the whys and tested results of regular serving vs not sources/

Counterman periodical
B&M Transmissions
Monster transmission
Advance Automatic Transmissions
AMMCCO
Better Bilt Transmissions
there are so many I cant think of at the moment.


BUT READ THIS, you can take the exact MAZDA you are driving today.... contact your local Mazda dealerships service department or better yet contact MAZDA crop and tell them you have a fleet Mazda for your business and want the service scheduling for it.
Then come back and post less supportive of my transmission service recommending and cautions about not doing the simple and basic pan and filter changes.
Hmmm I wonder what happen to that lifetime no service required from Mazda when the invoice on the sales indicates a fleet sale.

You can also randomly contact a busy auto service shop and ask them an estimate of how many failed automatic transmissions they get per year approx. and some may even tell you the major causes of issues.

Heart disease (N01 cause of heart attacks from otherwise healthy individuals with a healthy lifestyle) like not changing your transmission fluid are both silent killers if not detected early