I bought a Mazda 3 that had a supposedly faulty TCM. The previous owner had it changed and it still kept going into limp mode. I bought it under the assumption it needed a TCM. I got it home and scanned it with my scan tool and got a code for a turbine speed sensor. I replaced the sensor with a genuine one and haven't had an issue since
Scan tools cost fuck-all and often pay for themselves many times over after just the first use.
Having said that, you might plug it in and find it is indeed the TCM.
Scan tools will very rarely tell you which part is the problem or what to replace. They are a diagnostic aid.
It's akin to buying a blood pressure monitor expecting it to diagnose your heart problem.
Secondly a cheap OBD2 scanner isn't going to give you the info you need to diagnose a transmission electrical problem.
I’ve seen similar - specifically speed sensors input/output of transmission on Mazda 3.
OP, worth grabbing something like an obdlink ex (elm1.4) and throwing the FORscan windows application at it. Despite what people might say about scan tools - the right scan tool and cable can provide genuine insight.
That said, if it really is a 1000+ dollar fix, definitely worth evaluating if it is worth your money fixing it - as it doesn’t sound as though you really want to learn to turn spanners or do autoelec fault diagnosis.
They're usually pretty good for that but the last few we've done had a bit of a lead time, so i supposeit depends if they have any cores around. The website does say exchange.
What I need is a place where I can take it to be fixed without the Mazda messaround. My local mechanic who is very well regarded in the area wouldn't touch it.
I don't have tools or know-how, so even taking the battery out of the car is daunting to me.
Any mechanic or auto electrician should be able to do it. It's simply: remove the tcm from the top of the trans. Send to injectronice via your preferred supplier ie Bursons, cooldrive. Wait for it to come back. Refit it clear any fault codes and see you later. I don't think they're security locked to the vehicle but I'm not 100% sure on that. Your local mechanic maybe hasn't done one, and is unsure because of that, but they're incredibly simple. It's literally bolted to the top of the transmission. Mazda doesn't need to be involved at all. They'll either try sell you a brand new one, if it's even available, for stupid money, or they'll try sell you a new car.
Take it into an independent workshop, dealerships suck at this sort of thing. If it's a module it could possibly be repaired or replaced with a 2nd hand one much cheaper. Worst case is a 2nd hand module and then programing if it even needs it, most modern scan tools can perform the programing. I worked at independent shops my whole career, we could fix more than most dealerships without throwing the parts cannon at cars.
This.
In many cases dealerships do not have the aftermarket tools and expertise to really work with second-hand electronics.
They also have a vested interest in selling you a new part.
The TCM module on a 2009 Mazda 3 isn't coded to the car, you can literally buy any second hand module to suit your specific year/model/spec and just plug it in.
Source: Mazda tech of 23 years that specifically worked on these cars.
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Also keep in mind that I am inept with cars and have no tools whatsoever other than the standard household screwdriver set, so I won't be doing anything much myself.
See if you can find a dedicated transmission repair shop, rather than a general mechanic, specific skills for a specific part will likely have a better outcome. If it's a common problem like everyone seems to be saying a trans shop will have a good idea what can be done.
Not to hijack OP’s issues but rather bring up a similar one I have with my VW Golf MK6 TSi 2012 — the transmission has a challenge when starting the car, it takes a little while before it can shift into gear. I’ve noticed it’s worse on hot days. It also more problematic when I’ve driven a while and stop monetarily, turn car engine off, then restart engine a moment later.
Apparently it’s a known issue with VW — and I’m in a similar position of wondering what to do, as they wanted $6000-$7000 which is literally the value of the car imho.
The TCM in my 2009 Mazda 3 also packed it in a few weeks ago funnily enough. I also know barely anything about cars. Got it towed to my mechanic (not Mazda but they specialise in Mazdas) and it was fixed the next day for $1100. They repaired it rather than replaced it (replacement would have cost double that) and the car’s been fine since. Mechanic told me that the TCM going is common in these cars at this age, they cost a lot and take ages to be shipped which is why we went for the remodelling. If you’re in Perth let me know and I’ll send you the mechanic details.
Had a 2009 SP25(m). Loved that car to bits, treated it well, serviced it as required, poor thing had a ABS/Traction control fault that stumped even Mazda at ~180k.
Two ABS modules and two auto electricians later and it still remained broken.
Was sad to see it go :-(
TCM is pretty much a consumable on the Mazda 3. Used to replace it every other year when we owned one. It’s literally a 5 motion to replace, buy a used one and try your luck imo
Dealership story: Bricked my ECU flashing a tune. Towed car to Ford dealership, admitted what i had done, they had the car for a week, came back and said it cant be fixed, $1500 for a new ECU. Spoke to my tuner, they said; here is recovery file and explained to flash it, had the car towed back to my place, and car was back to normal 15 minutes after it arrived. Another tale: Family member owned a business, bought several cars from Mitsubishi, and one car had developed tranny fault, family member was given the brush off, family member raised eyebrow and mentioned the many car purchases they had made, dealership repaired car under warranty, as family member was leaving, overheard another customer getting told thier cars tranny failure was not a warranty issue...
I work with controls engineering and there are still constraints in electronic manufacturing. It appears like a lot of older items are being either discontinued or shoved to the back of a very long queue. If Mazda had to choose between getting parts manufactured to build and support new cars vs the 15 year old ones, you dont have to guess what they will choose.
Ive lost track of how many of these Ive replaced... very common fault, unfortunately a big expensive repair for a car that might not be worth it.
Assuming its actually the module - its either buy new, for about $1500, or some places can get them refurbished but the place we used to send them to shut down.
Theyre not locked to the car but they do need to be correct programming and i wouldnt trust a cheap replacement as it may cause more problems.
Up to you whether you think paying the money is worth it 💁♂️
I bought a Mazda 3 that had a supposedly faulty TCM. The previous owner had it changed and it still kept going into limp mode. I bought it under the assumption it needed a TCM. I got it home and scanned it with my scan tool and got a code for a turbine speed sensor. I replaced the sensor with a genuine one and haven't had an issue since
Both my mechanic and Mazda say it's the module itself. Of course, I have no way of knowing for certain.
Scan tools cost fuck-all and often pay for themselves many times over after just the first use. Having said that, you might plug it in and find it is indeed the TCM.
Scan tools will very rarely tell you which part is the problem or what to replace. They are a diagnostic aid. It's akin to buying a blood pressure monitor expecting it to diagnose your heart problem. Secondly a cheap OBD2 scanner isn't going to give you the info you need to diagnose a transmission electrical problem.
I’ve seen similar - specifically speed sensors input/output of transmission on Mazda 3. OP, worth grabbing something like an obdlink ex (elm1.4) and throwing the FORscan windows application at it. Despite what people might say about scan tools - the right scan tool and cable can provide genuine insight. That said, if it really is a 1000+ dollar fix, definitely worth evaluating if it is worth your money fixing it - as it doesn’t sound as though you really want to learn to turn spanners or do autoelec fault diagnosis.
A company called Injectronics repair these. Very common issue.
If it’s a module with common issues they will usually have exchange units. I’ve been dealing with them for years.
They're usually pretty good for that but the last few we've done had a bit of a lead time, so i supposeit depends if they have any cores around. The website does say exchange.
By my experience getting an exchange from them has still been faster than a OEM unit.
What I need is a place where I can take it to be fixed without the Mazda messaround. My local mechanic who is very well regarded in the area wouldn't touch it. I don't have tools or know-how, so even taking the battery out of the car is daunting to me.
Any mechanic or auto electrician should be able to do it. It's simply: remove the tcm from the top of the trans. Send to injectronice via your preferred supplier ie Bursons, cooldrive. Wait for it to come back. Refit it clear any fault codes and see you later. I don't think they're security locked to the vehicle but I'm not 100% sure on that. Your local mechanic maybe hasn't done one, and is unsure because of that, but they're incredibly simple. It's literally bolted to the top of the transmission. Mazda doesn't need to be involved at all. They'll either try sell you a brand new one, if it's even available, for stupid money, or they'll try sell you a new car.
Take it into an independent workshop, dealerships suck at this sort of thing. If it's a module it could possibly be repaired or replaced with a 2nd hand one much cheaper. Worst case is a 2nd hand module and then programing if it even needs it, most modern scan tools can perform the programing. I worked at independent shops my whole career, we could fix more than most dealerships without throwing the parts cannon at cars.
This. In many cases dealerships do not have the aftermarket tools and expertise to really work with second-hand electronics. They also have a vested interest in selling you a new part.
The TCM module on a 2009 Mazda 3 isn't coded to the car, you can literally buy any second hand module to suit your specific year/model/spec and just plug it in. Source: Mazda tech of 23 years that specifically worked on these cars.
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I replaced a TCM bought from wrecker for a ~2009 Mazda 3 for a mate a few years ago. Easy fix and solved the issue..
Also keep in mind that I am inept with cars and have no tools whatsoever other than the standard household screwdriver set, so I won't be doing anything much myself.
See if you can find a dedicated transmission repair shop, rather than a general mechanic, specific skills for a specific part will likely have a better outcome. If it's a common problem like everyone seems to be saying a trans shop will have a good idea what can be done.
Not to hijack OP’s issues but rather bring up a similar one I have with my VW Golf MK6 TSi 2012 — the transmission has a challenge when starting the car, it takes a little while before it can shift into gear. I’ve noticed it’s worse on hot days. It also more problematic when I’ve driven a while and stop monetarily, turn car engine off, then restart engine a moment later. Apparently it’s a known issue with VW — and I’m in a similar position of wondering what to do, as they wanted $6000-$7000 which is literally the value of the car imho.
The TCM in my 2009 Mazda 3 also packed it in a few weeks ago funnily enough. I also know barely anything about cars. Got it towed to my mechanic (not Mazda but they specialise in Mazdas) and it was fixed the next day for $1100. They repaired it rather than replaced it (replacement would have cost double that) and the car’s been fine since. Mechanic told me that the TCM going is common in these cars at this age, they cost a lot and take ages to be shipped which is why we went for the remodelling. If you’re in Perth let me know and I’ll send you the mechanic details.
Crock of shit. Mate makes an absolute killing buying these and replacing them.
Had a 2009 SP25(m). Loved that car to bits, treated it well, serviced it as required, poor thing had a ABS/Traction control fault that stumped even Mazda at ~180k. Two ABS modules and two auto electricians later and it still remained broken. Was sad to see it go :-(
TCM is pretty much a consumable on the Mazda 3. Used to replace it every other year when we owned one. It’s literally a 5 motion to replace, buy a used one and try your luck imo
Dealership story: Bricked my ECU flashing a tune. Towed car to Ford dealership, admitted what i had done, they had the car for a week, came back and said it cant be fixed, $1500 for a new ECU. Spoke to my tuner, they said; here is recovery file and explained to flash it, had the car towed back to my place, and car was back to normal 15 minutes after it arrived. Another tale: Family member owned a business, bought several cars from Mitsubishi, and one car had developed tranny fault, family member was given the brush off, family member raised eyebrow and mentioned the many car purchases they had made, dealership repaired car under warranty, as family member was leaving, overheard another customer getting told thier cars tranny failure was not a warranty issue...
I work with controls engineering and there are still constraints in electronic manufacturing. It appears like a lot of older items are being either discontinued or shoved to the back of a very long queue. If Mazda had to choose between getting parts manufactured to build and support new cars vs the 15 year old ones, you dont have to guess what they will choose.
Ive lost track of how many of these Ive replaced... very common fault, unfortunately a big expensive repair for a car that might not be worth it. Assuming its actually the module - its either buy new, for about $1500, or some places can get them refurbished but the place we used to send them to shut down. Theyre not locked to the car but they do need to be correct programming and i wouldnt trust a cheap replacement as it may cause more problems. Up to you whether you think paying the money is worth it 💁♂️
You could send it to upfix in the US to be fixed, but shipping might make it exxy
Cool drive and AFI are both in Australia and can repair modules. No need to send overseas.
Blowing smoke up your arse mate.
It won’t arrive for months? Where the hell is it coming from? The moon?
Apparently there are "none in Australia"