The transmission control module is an extremely important part of all vehicles, including the Mazda 3. They are responsible for reaching and maintaining your desired speed as well as getting the best fuel economy for your vehicle. When issues arise you may not notice anything more than some clunky gear changes, but you must act fast to fix these issues before they cause any serious hazards or dangerous conditions on the roads. If you’re wondering how to reset the Mazda 3 transmission control module, it’s easy and only takes a few simple steps.
Vehicles fitted with automatic transmissions will have a TCM component used to choose the ideal gear during motion. If you’re facing issues with your TCM then you may notice the issues spread to cause problems with your vehicle fuel economy and driving performance too.
Common signs of a bad transmission control module include:
Let’s taker a closer look at these issues and how to spot the signs of problems with your transmission control module.
Your TCM sends the signals needed to shift gears in your vehicle, so if you find your vehicle is shifting into the wrong gear or even into neutral without any warning this is a key sign of a fault. You must get this checked out as soon as possible, as it can be dangerous and cause accidents as you won’t have full control of your vehicle.
With automatic vehicles, you will notice the transmission shifts into lower gears as you are gradually slowing, and higher gears when you increase speed on the freeway.
If this doesn’t happen at the right time due to a TCM fault then you may find your vehicle struggling to reach higher speeds with your RPM increasing instead of dropping as you upshift which means you may never reach the higher speed and full potential of the engine of your vehicle.
Alternatively, you may find an issue with downshifting when you lower your speed. This should cause the transmission controls to lower the gear you need until you come to a stop, but in some cases, you may stay in high gear and not be able to take off from the first gear after stopping.
If your vehicle is stuck in first or neutral gear then your transmission may not shift at all causing your vehicle to not move, or even never shift up from the first gear leading to very slow speeds.
All of these issues can lead to poor fuel economy as the optimal gears aren’t being selected leading to poor fuel efficiency and sometimes your check engine light can appear illuminated on your dash. If this happens around the same time as you begin to notice issues with your shifting then it would be advised to seek help from a professional who can use a scan tool to find the root cause of your vehicle issues.
The TCM is a vital part of your car that modern vehicles use in the replacement of hydraulic or mechanical transmission for better performance. Although they do not require replacement, if you are experiencing problems with it then this can require a professional fix.
If you require additional help to replace your TCM you should always seek professional help from a local garage or mechanic. But in case you’re wondering, the transmission control module is located directly on the roof of the transmission, just under the battery tray.
These steps are tailored for the 2010 Mazda 3 model but work for all other models too. You must do this when you have some spare time as these steps can take a few hours to complete from start to finish.
Replacement costs for a Mazda 3 TCM range between $250 to $1250. This is including labor costs and the materials needed.
Some of the common signs your TCM may need looking at are trouble shifting into higher gears, downshifting issues, bad fuel economy, becoming stuck in the same gear, and unpredictable shifting patterns. We have covered all this and more in this handy guide of everything you need to know about the Mazda 3 TCM.
To reset your transmission turn on the ignition, not the motor. Press the gas to the floor for 30 seconds then release and turn on your vehicle. You will now have to reset the transmission on your Mazda.
Some of the top issues reported with the Mazda 3 include transmission problems like we have covered here today and sometimes lighting system issues, brake problems, and excessive vibration.
A Mazda 3 will have a 5-year resale value of $11,500 on average and does hold value reasonably well in such a competitive market. After around 7 years they do take a big dip, with many of its close competition doing better.
The Mazda 3 is a fantastic car and a popular choice amongst many consumers, but resetting the TCM can seem confusing and leave you wondering if you may be better off paying a visit to your local garage. Hopefully, these steps have helped you to solve and diagnose any issues with your Mazda’s transmission control module.
