Menu
Cancel

Browse over 9,000 car reviews

    Sorry, there are no models that match your search

  • guides

    adventureguide

    familyguide

    tradieguide

    urbanguide

    • 0 Manage My Ad Logout

    Browse over 9,000 car reviews

    Sorry, there are no cars that match your search

    Why does the transmission in my 2017 Mazda BT-50 take so long to engage?

    Asked by Mal

    I have a 2017 automatic Mazda BT-50 3.2l, when left to sit for a few days, the transmission, when Drive is selected, can take anywhere from three to 10 seconds to engage. The dealer has said this is characteristic of this model and it had all the updates but this does not sound right to me. Could you please give you take on this?

    Answered by CarsGuide

    28 Oct 2020 David Morley

    My take on it is that dealers should stop telling lies to their customers. Take your problem straight to Mazda Australia’s customer service division and side-step what is clearly a smoke-screen from your dealer. It is ridiculous to suggest that a relatively new vehicle needs ten seconds to engage a gear after it’s been sitting for a few days.

    As for the problem itself, start with the basics. Check for a blocked filter in the transmission (which can slow down the flow of fluid) and make sure that the fluid itself is not just the correct grade and type, but also the proper brand. These modern transmissions are complex and intricate, and even something as simple as the incorrect fluid can create chaos. Beyond those simple fixes, the problem could also be caused by a few other faults. For starters, it could be an accumulator inside the transmission that is failing. The accumulator’s job is to store some hydraulic pressure (created by the transmission’s pump) so that the transmission always has enough pressure and fluid volume available to effect gearshifts. If this accumulator is bleeding off pressure when the car sits, it will need time to refill (again, from the pump) before the unit will be able to select Drive. The other possibility is that the pump itself is slacking off and taking too long to build up pressure within the gearbox. You could also be looking at a pressure valve that has lost the plot and supplying the part of the gearbox it’s responsible for with an incorrect line pressure. Either way, a gearbox that is slow to select gears is often headed for the scrap-bin.

    Given that it’s possibly a fairly major problem, it isn’t going to get any better. Your problem is that Mazda didn’t introduce its five-year warranty until August 1, 2018, and vehicles sold before that date were covered only for three years. That said, you’re BT-50 might squeak in, particularly if you pointed this problem out to the dealer some time ago (within the first three years). At that point, it’s a pre-existing condition, and it will be covered by the factory warranty as it occurred within the warranty period, even if the dealer – as it appears in this case – elected to spin you a yarn and do nothing about it.

    Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

    Other Mazda BT-50 problems

    SEE ALL MAZDA BT-50 PROBLEMS

    How can we help?

    Please note: Questions cannot be answered privately. All answers will be published on CarsGuide.com.au

    By clicking on the 'Submit' button you acknowledge you have read and agree to abide by the CarsGuide Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Carsguide reserves the right to not answer any questions for any reason. You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice.
    View cars for sale

    Over 8,000 questions answered by CarsGuide

    Search

    Complete Guide to Mazda
    BT-50

    Reviews, price, specs and more

    Most viewed in advice

    1. 10 best hybrid vehicles in Australia

    2. 10 cheapest new cars for sale in Australia

    3. Best 10 Vehicles for Towing

    4. 10 of the most reliable used cars in Australia

    5. 12 best EVs available in Australia

    6. Vehicle weights explained | tare, kerb, GVM, payload and trailer figures

    7. Best small cars under $20,000

    8. What's the difference between diesel and petrol cars?

    9. How to find the owner of a car in Australia?

    10. Who invented the first car and when was it made?

    Comments