30K mile service performed!

[Raider]

Got the 30K mile service done. Engine and transmission oil, as well coolant replacement. Also put foam in the rear bumper supports to kill the rattle, ordered the new exhaust tips to fix the smoky rear bumper, aligned the driver's front fender to be flush with the driver's door, rotated and balanced (even though not OEM) our tires, and did an inspection.

We even got a 10% off discount, too. The car drives so much smoother now, and even rides quieter.

Anyone else got the 30K service?

[fiddyk]

nope, but i'm due for it. 32k right now... how much they hit ya for the 30k svc?

[Raider]

$489. We also got the cabin air filter replaced, that was $90 alone for labor. $17 filter. Prolly could have done it myself, but it was easier to have them do it.

[astraelraen]

In most newer cars they bury the cabin filters behind the glove box. In my wife's last car it was a pain, you could easily break the glove box where it attaches to the dash if you didn't know what you were doing.

Also, if you look in the manual the coolant doesn't need to be changed until 60k, or like 120k depending on the type used. Also, I doubt the tranny fluid needed to be changed at 30k.

But 489 is a pretty good price for all that. Tranny and coolant change alone would run at least 100 apeice.

[Raider]

We live in a hot area. The coolant was starting to really darken. So I was cool with their recommendation. The transmission fluid on manual transmissions is a 30K mile thing. Well, I can tell you, that was the biggest improvement in performance. Very smooth shifting now. We had no idea how good we had it when new!

[astraelraen]

Hey raider, I was looking up some fluid information regarding our transmission while researching differential oils, etc and I came across this.

http://forum.mazda6club.com/lofiversion/index.php/t24510.html


I have 2007 Mazda6 wagon with 6-speed Aisin ATX.

This trans requires JWS3309-compatible fluid. The following are suitable

Motorcraft XT8QAW
Toyota T-IV
Mazda T-IV
Mobil 3309

the first three are probably just rebranded Mobil 3309.

Here's the scary part: 3 Mazda-trained mechanics, at two different Mazda dealers, told me they put Mercon V in ALL Mazda transmissions. Some Mercon V fluid will rapidly wreck this trans, according to a 2004 Mazda TSB.

I attached a warning tag to my trans dipstick, and will tell the service advisor "don't top off the trans fluid" when I take it in for service.

Mazda really dropped the ball here, 3 ways. a) The mechanics should be better trained. b) The dipstick should have a warning attached, and be stamped "T-IV". c) The trans should be resilient to common ATF's. Shifting problems maybe, but to have the clutch packs and seals self-destruct due to a dribble of incorrect fluid is poor design, too fragile.


The CX7 uses the same transmission/same family of transmissions. You may want to call your dealer and ask what transmission fluid they use :)

[Raider]

Oh, I am not worried. I know the tech who did the work.

[Rick's CX-7]

Guys,

Is there a filter in these transmissions? I'm at 25k miles and I'm thinking about doing a fluid change soon.
Also, do the differential in these cars share the fluid with the tranny or is it separate? Couldn't find anything on the owners manual.

Rick

[Raider]

Not sure, I just had them do it. I think someone here has a service manual.

[MAZOOM]

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/maint_schedules/07_CX7_MS.pdf

[Rick's CX-7]

MAZOOM,

There is nothing there about the transmission.

[astraelraen]

There is nothing about a transmission filter in the owner's manual or maintenance schedule. Pull off the pan and be the guinea pig.

Lubricant Classification
Engine oil Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers on page 8-12.
Automatic transaxle oil JWS3309
Transfer case oil API Service GL-5 (SAE 80W-90)
Rear differential oil API Service GL-5 (SAE 80W-90)

Automatic transaxle fluid 7.0 L (7.4 US qt, 6.2 Imp qt)
Transfer case oil 1.2 L (1.3 US qt, 1.1 Imp qt)
Rear differential oil 1.0 L (1.1 US qt, 0.9 Imp qt)

[astraelraen]

Rick, I don't know if you have looked under the engine but I was checking out the differential bolt and the transmission drain plug this weekend while changing my oil.

As far as I can tell the transmission drain plug is 10mm Hex, its on the bottom of the transmission.

Also, as far as I can tell the transmission "pan" isn't on the bottom as it was in my previous cars. Its actually facing the front of the car. If there is in fact a filter inside of the pan it would be a pretty big pain to remove because of all the other hoses and wires around the general area in front of the pan.

The differential bolts are 24mm for anyone who wants a reference. The front fill bolt is kind of a pain to reach because of the Cat, depending on how big your socket is, because its right beside the bolt.

I was going to do a drain & fill & 5500 miles but the transmission fluid is still bright pink.

[Rick's CX-7]

So, does the tranny and the differential share the same fluid? Sure seems like it!

[astraelraen]

No they don't, there are two separate drain & fill locations. The transmission dipstick is a pain to get to. Its under the brake fluid reservoir and filling it looks pretty hard. You would need a funnel with a flexible neck. I don't see any other location to fill the transmission from.

The tranny is specced for T-IV & the front diff is specced for 80w90.

I got some Mobil1 75w90 as all the 80w90 I could find were conventional oil.

edit: I think I'm actually referring to the front transfer case. Since there is no mention of a front differential in the owners manual I am assuming that they use the word front transfer case and front differential interchangibly.

From what I recall there is one drain plug on the bottom of the transmission and one drain plug on the bottom of the transfer case/differential. There is one fill plug on the transfer case/differential and you fill the transmission through the dipstick. I did not see any other places to drain or fill fluids other than the oil pan.

[Rick's CX-7]

The name "Automatic Trans-Axle" leads me to believe that at least on FWD model, the tranny fluid is shared with the differential.

Anyone out there with a shop manual to prove/disprove this?

[astraelraen]

My observations are from an AWD model. I would assume that the FWD model does not have the transfer case.

I should have taken pictures, but I didn't think about it.

[astraelraen]

Ok, I'm awesome and just took pictures. This is an AWD CX7

I left them fairly large in size just in case you want to download them and zoom in, etc.

The attachments are in this order:
Front View
Behind View
Weird thingy on transmission bottom
Transfer Case

[Rick's CX-7]

No transfer case in FWD models, because there is no power "transfer" to the rear wheels.

[Rick's CX-7]

Where is the link?

EDIT: Nevermind.....got it!

[Rick's CX-7]

The weird thingy is likely an access port to the speed sensor, actuator or valve body component. Auto trannies are way more complicated than most people dream off.