Hello all,

So just a few days ago my TL has been acting up in third gear. I'll try to explain the best I can but might post a video once off work. So to sum it up my TL has been driving funky at High RPM in 3rd gear. for example when i'm pulling pretty hard from 1st to 3rd my car cuts out. it's like I redlined but I only make it to 6k rpm in 3rd then shift to 4th. This also happens when I need to pass other drivers on the highway. Say i'm in 4th then drop it down to 3rd, once 6k rpms come alone it's buck city. what should be the first thing I should check for? I recently changed my trans fluid. maybe not enough fluid? spark plugs and coils maybe?

thanks

 

check oil level.
check trans fluid level.

 

OP, that's weird. You can go beyond 6K in 1st, 2nd and 4th with no issues?

 

- Check Oil
- Assuming no CEL?
- Does it happen in all gears?
- Does it happen if you ease off the gas a bit?
- Is VSA on? Is the light blinking when it happens?

 

That's correct. 1st and 2nd and 4th can hit redline with no issues. only thing I notice is the engine sounds more whiney? I guess is the best way I can put it.

 

surprisingly no CEL or VSA and VSA does not blink . it does not happen in all gears. the only gear that has the issue is 3rd. I'll be getting the oil changed today. was due for one

 

The only thing I can think of is if there is something with the 3rd gear synchros causing this. Is your TL included in the 3rd gear synchro TSB?

You say you changed the trans oil. Did you use the synchromesh fluid? If not, I'd try that first.

 

I'm really having a difficult time wrapping my brain around this issue; to my way of thinking, if the engine can hit redline in 1st, 2nd, and 4th, it seems very counter intuitive 3rd gear is somehow inhibited from hitting redline as well.

Question for the collective; do the computers in the 6MT versions of the 3G TL have awareness of which gear the transmission is in?

 

I do not think the computer is aware of the gear the car is in.

As for synchros...if it is already in gear, the synchros are no longer in play. Bad synchros will keep you from getting into gear...but nothing to do with power delivery. Based on the OP description...this is not transmission based. Nothing in a MT should cause a blip in the engine....it is either engaged or not engaged....and if something is wrong, the clutch is slipping which would be a different symptom than what was described.

This has to be related to VSA or some other engine RPM related item....however it is extremely odd that everything is fine at the same RPM in other gears.

 

Thanks, I asked because my wife's Mazda3 knows which gear the car is in, and not only does a display on the dash tell you your current gear, it also has the audacity to tell you which gear it thinks you should be in. Really annoying for a seasoned stick driver.

Thanks, my thoughts exactly.

 

i read something on automd about the 2004 having a faulty 3rd gear synchro but I'm not sure how to search my vehicle specifically. Unless it's for all 04s? I also did you use the synchromesh fluid when I changed out the trans fluid. Could the synchro be the issue?

 

you and me both haha I'm gonna try the oil change today and see if that does anything with the issue. If not I'll have a video showing what the rpms do

 

what should be checked regarding vsa? This couldn't be an APPS issue would it?

 

No, the synchro cannot in any way be the issue; the synchro only comes into play *while* the gear is being selected; the issue as reported only happens when the gear has long since been selected.

 

I was thinking APP sensor as well...but you state that all is good at the same throttle input and RPM in other gears. That is why this is so odd. Nothing in a MT "should" be gear specific.

Have you tested 3rd without the throttle being to the floor? Ease up a bit on the throttle and see if the RPMs will still climb smoothly or does it hit a wall somewhere on the way up still.

 

Hmm it only happens when I'm flooring it I've noticed. The other day I took it easy and it seemed to hit redline fine

 

What mods have you done to the car?

 

nothing really besides a CAI and a short shifter. Could a dirty air filter cause issues like this? Dirty fuel injectors? I'm about to hit 140k miles

 

I should add too that my mpg have dropped from 17city/27hwy to 15city/25hwy to just go up recently to 16city/26hwy

 

If you've been running Top Tier gas, your injectors should be fine.

Have you had the valve clearance checked?

 

It is beyond highly unlikely dirty air will cause this issue, and dirty fuel injectors are pretty much an urban legend.

I'm wondering if some wiring was messed with during your CAI installation, and there is some idiosyncrasy regarding the movement of the engine in third gear at full throttle which causes a short.

Suggestion, put the factory CAI back on and see if the problem continues.

 

yeah, I always use premium gas. And I have not checked the valve clearance. What/how would this be done? Is there a diy?

 

im not thinking it's wiring because the CAI was installed about three years ago and everything was fine till now. Unless something happened to mess up the wiring, I'm not sure but I chucked the old air box when I installed the new CAI

 

But is it a Top Tier retailer?

There are a few threads on valve adjustment and there's a 2-part video from ETCG that's pretty good. Do a search. It's not a difficult DIY, just time consuming and your body will be sore after contorting yourself trying to reach the bank 1 valves

 

gotta love that bank one location haha awesome thanks for that info I'll look into it.

I use chevron or shell. Today I used exon since it was conveniently next to my work but mostly use chevron

 

Yeah, they're all Top Tier, so your injectors should be fine...

 

Well I guess it's safe to close this thread now. Turns out I have some oil leaking into the manifold which put me a quart low with my oil so with the new change the issue has resolved for now. I'm trying not to push the car too much. Besides the leaks I have a few other maintenance to do but thanks for yalls help!

 

 

why not!? the car is meant to be pushed...they didnt put the 7k redline in there for show.