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2005 Mazda3 won't start out of Park
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jfischer1
Anonymous Poster
prn34mqX4xKn@meltmail.com
Jun 27, 2009, 12:30 PM
Post #1 of 5
(5699 views)
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2005 Mazda3 won't start out of Park
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Hi,
So about two weeks ago the city of Chicago towed my car, and since then it has been having an issue starting while in Park. It's not like it's revving and it doesn't go; I think that it simply doesn't try. When you put the shifter to P it feels like nothing has changed, so my guess is that it isn't actually placing it in Park, and therefore the car is refusing to start. It does occasionally start, but not very often - maybe about 1/3rd of the time. It does start just fine if I put it in neutral first.
I was thinking about selling the car anyway, and today I took it to Carmax and they told me it needs a new transmission. My car is pretty new (31k miles), so I am a little unhappy at that idea. There seems to be no problems whatsoever driving or shifting the car other than engaging Park. Luckily, Chicago is flat so the e-brake seems to be sufficient for now.
I have two questions if anyone could help me out:
1) What could be the likely cause of this problem? I have been reading online and some suggested a broken pawl in the transmission. Unfortunately, that means nothing to me.
2) Anyone have a rough estimate on how much the repairs might be? I feel like Carmax really low-balled me with their estimate (5k and the car is otherwise in great shape), but obviously new transmissions are not cheap.
Thanks very much in advance!
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jfischer1
Anonymous Poster
prn34mqX4xKn@meltmail.com
Jun 27, 2009, 12:37 PM
Post #2 of 5
(5695 views)
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Re: 2005 Mazda3 won't start out of Park
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I should add, the "P" on the dashboard does not light up when I place it into park (although very rarely it seems to work).
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 27, 2009, 1:22 PM
Post #3 of 5
(5688 views)
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Re: 2005 Mazda3 won't start out of Park
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That car uses a cable between the shift handle and the trans selector. When they towed it, it was likely in Park so there is a good chance that they disconnected that cable to get it out of Park or they may have just pried it out. Either way, you might be able to adfjust the cable to get it corrected. I would thing the tow company should be responsible for that damage.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 27, 2009, 1:25 PM)
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jun 27, 2009, 1:25 PM
Post #4 of 5
(5684 views)
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Re: 2005 Mazda3 won't start out of Park
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I would be looking at the adjustment of the shifter cable. A broken parking pawl will keep if from being in park mechanically but won't cause a no start, that would be electrical....
If you want to try it youself you could disconnect the cable & see if you can manually get it into park by moving the shift lever. Just make sure the park brk is on & wheels blocked before disconnecting anything or trying to start it....
If you take it in to have it looked at, if you can talk to the tech who will be working on it & tell him what you wrote here.....Lot of good info & sometimes that doesn't make it from the service desk to the tech..... After that great description my WO would of said
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"Intermitten start, won't go into park".....If I even got that much......
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jfischer1
Anonymous Poster
prn34mqX4xKn@meltmail.com
Jun 28, 2009, 3:00 PM
Post #5 of 5
(5675 views)
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Re: 2005 Mazda3 won't start out of Park
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Thanks for the replies. I'll be pretty relieved if it's just something like a disconnected shifter cable.
Thanks again
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