HELP!!!
I have a problem that renders my 95 Mazda Protege useless for periods. No mechanic seems willing to fix it -- and Mazda doesn't have a clue as to what the problem is. I've been surfing the web for answers for a week, and though almost every Mazda forum lists this problem SOMEWHERE (Most of 2000 models actually) - none of the posts have been replied to! I can't find ANY answers - and I am at the end of my rope!
I have a 95 Mazda Protege, 120,000 miles, automatic transmission, one owner (me) and for no apparent reason (its happening in the extreme cold weather now - but has no pattern of happening in any specific conditions) the car gets locked in PARK. Superman could not get the button on the side of the gear knob to go in to let you shift to N, R, D,....
However, sometimes after considerable time and effort, one can get the rascal to slip out of park by rocking the car out of the range that its stuck in, in combination with hitting the brake at the right time with the right amount of pressure AND giggling the gear shift knob. (My mechanic explained that the problem is with the safety locking mechanism that prevents the car from getting knocked into D by a child -- and that by getting the car out of the range the transmission is locked into- you can sort of get the car free from the defunct locking mechanism. But, he also says there is nothing you can do to fix it -- which just doesn't sit well with me. He says it will eventually stop on its own. And it HAS in the past. but I have to DRIVE the car!)
The local Mazda dealership doesn't know what safety feature my mechanic may be referring to - and says they could replace the transmission - but it probably wouldn't do much of anything (except cost an arm and a leg). They "just don't know". I;ve driven two hours to another dealership to get a similar answer.
ANY ANY ANY suggestions are welcome! Please reply if you even have an IDEA. Thank you!
margaret@sunflower.com
I have a problem that renders my 95 Mazda Protege useless for periods. No mechanic seems willing to fix it -- and Mazda doesn't have a clue as to what the problem is. I've been surfing the web for answers for a week, and though almost every Mazda forum lists this problem SOMEWHERE (Most of 2000 models actually) - none of the posts have been replied to! I can't find ANY answers - and I am at the end of my rope!
I have a 95 Mazda Protege, 120,000 miles, automatic transmission, one owner (me) and for no apparent reason (its happening in the extreme cold weather now - but has no pattern of happening in any specific conditions) the car gets locked in PARK. Superman could not get the button on the side of the gear knob to go in to let you shift to N, R, D,....
However, sometimes after considerable time and effort, one can get the rascal to slip out of park by rocking the car out of the range that its stuck in, in combination with hitting the brake at the right time with the right amount of pressure AND giggling the gear shift knob. (My mechanic explained that the problem is with the safety locking mechanism that prevents the car from getting knocked into D by a child -- and that by getting the car out of the range the transmission is locked into- you can sort of get the car free from the defunct locking mechanism. But, he also says there is nothing you can do to fix it -- which just doesn't sit well with me. He says it will eventually stop on its own. And it HAS in the past. but I have to DRIVE the car!)
The local Mazda dealership doesn't know what safety feature my mechanic may be referring to - and says they could replace the transmission - but it probably wouldn't do much of anything (except cost an arm and a leg). They "just don't know". I;ve driven two hours to another dealership to get a similar answer.
ANY ANY ANY suggestions are welcome! Please reply if you even have an IDEA. Thank you!
margaret@sunflower.com
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