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pingwin77
Guest
Can the valve body on a 2004 3 hatch ATX be cleaned? I know it can be removed but I can't find a cleaning walk through. Would it be easier to just replace it?
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DrWebster
Guest
I think a better question is, why do you think you need to clean/replace it?
cosmicspd3
New Member
upgrade it with a performance one.....
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pingwin77
Guest
This is part of the whole "AT Light" post I had before. There is a bunch of crap in the fluid that randomly affects the solenoids. I am going to drain the fluid, pull the pan again, clean the magnet and anything else on it, drop the valve body, pull the solenoids, clean them (not sure how yet) and try and clean the valve body.
What is the price on a performance body vs. a new stock body? What are the pros and cons of the performance one over the standard?
What is the price on a performance body vs. a new stock body? What are the pros and cons of the performance one over the standard?
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DrWebster
Guest
Sounds like your problem is more with the fluid than with the solenoid. I don't remember the details from the other thread, but when was the last time you got your transmission fluid flushed (not just drained and refilled)? When you drain the tranny pan, you're only taking out 1/3 of the fluid...the whole ATX holds about 9 quarts; the pan only holds 3. The ATX in the 3 kills fluid pretty quickly, so a flush every 30,000 is a good idea.
If you haven't yet, the first thing I'd try would be a fluid flush; if you have a set of ramps, it's something you can do yourself (I've done it):
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=66369.0
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pingwin77
Guest
The flush as never been done and there is 111,000 on it. I have never owned a car this long or looked into tranny maintenance. Once I started finding out how bad the 3 transmission are on the fluid I panicked! I have talked with a couple of car guys at my work, one of which has a dad that owns a tranny shop, and they all said that if the tranny has not been flushed on a regular basis, it is pretty much a bad idea because it will flush all the crap into the valve body and possibly wreck the body and solenoids.
I think I am going flush it anyway and hope that everything works when I am done. After the flush I want to drain the pan, clean it, check the valve body and solenoids to make sure both are clean and refill with a good synthetic ATF. Is there any recommendation for fluid, adding the Lucas additive or thoughts about my plan of attack?
I think I am going flush it anyway and hope that everything works when I am done. After the flush I want to drain the pan, clean it, check the valve body and solenoids to make sure both are clean and refill with a good synthetic ATF. Is there any recommendation for fluid, adding the Lucas additive or thoughts about my plan of attack?
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DrWebster
Guest
111k on it with only drain-and-fills every 40-something K? Yeah, that's your problem. You still got a ton of junk in your old fluid, you gotta get ALL new stuff in there.
A lot of folks find that Mobil 1 ATF works great in the ATX (myself included); if you're gonna do the flush yourself, you'll want to buy 9 quarts. Wal-Mart used to carry it, but stopped for some reason (which is a bummer, because they were the cheapest). I wouldn't use any addons.
If you read through the walkthrough I linked to, you can get an idea as to how the fluid circulates through the ATX in the 3. Just draining the pan won't get all of it out, not by a long shot. To flush ALL of the ATF, you have to do it in 3 steps (but it WILL get all the old junk out -- don't worry, you won't be mixing old ATF with new). Based on what you want to do, here's the plan for attack:
1. Drain the tranny pan.
2. Drop the tranny pan, clean it and the magnet.
3. Clean whatever other stuff you wanna clean in there.
4. Reinstall tranny pan (don't forget you gotta use fresh gasket paste goo).
5. Add 3 quarts of fresh fluid.
6. Flush out 3 quarts of bad fluid; add 3 more quarts of fresh fluid.
7. Flush out final 3 quarts of bad fluid, add last 3 quarts of fresh fluid.
8. Wipe hands on pants.
A lot of folks find that Mobil 1 ATF works great in the ATX (myself included); if you're gonna do the flush yourself, you'll want to buy 9 quarts. Wal-Mart used to carry it, but stopped for some reason (which is a bummer, because they were the cheapest). I wouldn't use any addons.
If you read through the walkthrough I linked to, you can get an idea as to how the fluid circulates through the ATX in the 3. Just draining the pan won't get all of it out, not by a long shot. To flush ALL of the ATF, you have to do it in 3 steps (but it WILL get all the old junk out -- don't worry, you won't be mixing old ATF with new). Based on what you want to do, here's the plan for attack:
1. Drain the tranny pan.
2. Drop the tranny pan, clean it and the magnet.
3. Clean whatever other stuff you wanna clean in there.
4. Reinstall tranny pan (don't forget you gotta use fresh gasket paste goo).
5. Add 3 quarts of fresh fluid.
6. Flush out 3 quarts of bad fluid; add 3 more quarts of fresh fluid.
7. Flush out final 3 quarts of bad fluid, add last 3 quarts of fresh fluid.
8. Wipe hands on pants.
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pingwin77
Guest
There have been no drain and fills at all. 111,000 with the same fluid. I have really neglected the transmission in this thing and I pray that it still loves me enough after this to be in decent shape.
I like the steps and will give that a shot. I read your walk through a few weeks ago and really liked it. I was going to have a buddy from Jiffy Lube do the flush but they said they could not find the spot to hook up the connectors. That obviously can't be the case. His manager is kind of a d!ck. Would I be better just doing this at home or having them do it for about $90?
I like the steps and will give that a shot. I read your walk through a few weeks ago and really liked it. I was going to have a buddy from Jiffy Lube do the flush but they said they could not find the spot to hook up the connectors. That obviously can't be the case. His manager is kind of a d!ck. Would I be better just doing this at home or having them do it for about $90?
VTEC8YA
The Story Teller....
:crap:
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DrWebster
Guest
Holy hell dude, over 110k on the same ATF? Wow. That's EXACTLY why you're having all the ATX problems you're having.
If Jiffy Lube is too stupid to even figure out how to hook up their machine, they DO NOT deserve your money. $50 in Mobil 1 ATF, $10 in tools and parts, a set of ramps and about 2 hours of your time is all you gotta spend. When you understand why you do what you do with the flush (because the steps are very specific), it makes perfect sense. If you want I'd be happy to help ya. Pete or AJ might even let us use one of their bigass garages.
ZoomZoom Diva
New Member
I wouldn't trust them if they can't find the connectors. A good tranny flush these days goes for $150 +/- if you don't want to do it yourself (I priced a flush on a 2005 Focus for a friend recently).
Keep in mind Ford ATX units are hard on fluid. You'll want to do a full flush at LEAST every 25K.
Keep in mind Ford ATX units are hard on fluid. You'll want to do a full flush at LEAST every 25K.
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pingwin77
Guest
yeah. it is getting done today along with an oil change, front rotors and if i can get my hands on one, a Baro sensor to get rid of my stupid CEL.