Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I have a auto bt-50 the box will not drop down from 4th gear unless I put my foot flat to the floor from a rolling start at 20kph this happens every time I exit round about, giveway sign or even when the light turns green just as I get to a traffic light. So in the interest of saving fuel I change gears manually so I don't rev the motor as much and cause the torque convertor to slip excessive amounts to make up for lack of down changing. Also when I take my foot of the accelrator it goes back to idle at anything under 70kph.

I will not buy another mazda if they don't come up with a fix for the box I am simply requesting anyone not happy with there box to send a email at this link telling them what you don't like thanks because I get the impression even though I have seen may people complain on sites not that many complaints are getting back to mazda oz after I spoke to them.
http://www.mazda.com.au/About-Mazda/Contact-Us.aspx

thanks Peter

Have there been any other documented examples in other peoples vehicles of this issue?

Start with this first....Could you go to a dealership, get a dealer to drive a new vehicle, and then drive yours for comparison? If there is an issue with your auto box then it should be clear to the dealer, who should then be able to get something done (assuming you haven't burnt your bridges with them, which from your tone you may have).

Contact NRMA for an independent assessment, and Consumer Affairs/Fair Trading/Licensed motor car dealer organisation for an idea of where to go legally from here.

Spouting here isn't going to do sh!t if it is a "one off" fault. If you haven't gone through and sought independent opinions of the situation, Mazda have every right to not bother listening to BS from a dissatisfied customer. Irrefutable evidence of a fault with a vehicle while still under warranty with other third parties looking on IS going to get action.

I have reported problems with my box since the first service 1000km after 30000km they let me take the head mechanic for a drive he then did further driving and tests after I left on picking up my truck form the 30000km service the guy told me it is the worst auto gearbox he has ever driven and that he has recommended me get a new one. I then have to wait until mazda oz send out a rep he takes it for a drive and agrees it seems to slip to much and notes it dosen't change down gears easy. I get a new box and guess what not one thing different I send a message to mazda letting them know at the above link how dissappointed I am in there engineering I get a call back with in 2 days. Same guy from mazda oz comes out and drives car again this time he says that he drove another one since mine and there all the same and mine appears as good as the rest and reports back to mazda oz that there is nothing worng with my box. I have requested mazda oz keep me up dated if there is any computer upgrades and if nothing is done about it I won't be buying another mazda. All I am saying here is if you have a bt50 auto and don't like anything about it report it to the above link and maybe with numbers it will force them to do something. I haven't burnt any bridges but have decided to get my truck serviced else where now to save some money and at least get a known tradesman working on it.

Go to a dealer and test drive another one?

What if they are right and it is normal?

I drove a diesel Triton (new - <30,000km) the other day and it pretty much did what you describe - it would go straight to 4th and it took a floored throttle to make it kickdown.

Steve.

That sounds llike it drives the same as my wifes Ranger company car. The autos are not set up very well at all.

I have a friend who runs a Mazda workshop and has said the autos are c r a p!!!! The manuals suit the motor far better!!

I think you are stuck with it though. Unfortunatley if thats how they set it up Mazda won't change it just because you and

probably others think its wrong.

yeah thanks guys, they will only fix it if everyone who drives one lets them know it is crap and then the best they will do is a computer upgrade. At the end of the day my main plan is to get around oz in it pulling a van and thank goodness it is better when crusing over 70+