Mazda Repair: Mazda Mellina S, mazda dealer, mellina

Question
I have a 99 Mellina S. The transmission will not shift into high gear until the enngine has reached normal operating temperature. The transmission has been checked am I am told there is nothing wrong with the transmission. Is there a sensor that may have gone bad that could cause this problem? Thanks

Answer
Hi Joe Regan
thanks for asking.
Transmissions are a delicate subject, Any problem can me caused by hundreds of reasons, of coarse some more common then others. Normally it is OK to have a little bit of a hard shit when the engine is cold, but to be missing a gear all together ? that is different, there is a possibly of a blockage in the valve body in the transmission, but when the fluid id warm enough it is able to get throught the passage. It could also be a faulty shift solenoid, or as something as easy as a PCM (power control module) update done by a Mazda dealer. Normally a transmission will operate at its best when it is warm so i would drive it for a bit untill the problem worsens just a little, the it will be easier for a technician to find the problem. or you can leave the vehicle with the tech overnight so they can look at it first thing in the morning so the engine is cold.
Good luck
Chris P