Virtually every manufacturer is offering its own version of an automatic/manual gearshift system, and Mazda is no exception. The Mazda system is called the Active Adapt Shift (AAS). In this system, the computer controls the shift points to provide the best driving results, based on the road conditions and driver input.
This system should improve drive feel, cornering, performance at high elevations, and help control vehicle operation if you accidentally step on the gas pedal too quickly with the selector in drive.
One thing to remember about Mazda’s AAS: Depending on road or driving conditions, the computer could delay or even prevent shifts. That could make you think you’re dealing with a transmission problem when there aren’t any. The computer has just taken control of the system to maintain the optimum performance and engine power.
Shift Lock System
As with many other new vehicles, the shift lock solenoid will lock the shift selector from shifting out of park unless you’re pressing the brake pedal. To shift out of park you must:
- Apply the brake pedal.
- Start the engine.
- Press and hold the lock release button.
- Move the selector.
You can’t move the selector out of park with the ignition switch turned off or to accessory, and you can’t turn the ignition off unless you have the selector in park. Notice that the selector looks like the shifter on a manual transmission (figure 1); not an automatic.
If you can’t shift the lever from P to D, continue to hold the brake pedal down and access the shift lock override cover. Use a flat head screwdriver to remove the cover and push the release down (figure 2).
Understanding Shift Operation
Shifting to manual mode while the vehicle’s moving won’t damage the transmission; think of it like a slap shifter, allowing you to shift back and forth from drive to manual, and back to drive. If you shift to manual mode while stopped, the transmission will shift to first gear. If you’re in 5th or 6th gear in drive mode and you shift the lever to manual mode, the transmission will shift to 4M or 5M.
Suppose you’re driving at high speed and decide to switch to manual operation. The transmission may not shift into the gear you wanted and the selector may start to flash. No, you didn’t do anything wrong and the transmission isn’t broken: The computer is just letting you know that it’s
taking control and preventing you from shifting into the gear range you wanted, to protect the transmission.
Some of these vehicles have paddle shifters. Some of those paddle shifters are mounted in front of the steering wheel, where they’re visible and operational with your thumb and fingers. Others are behind the steering wheel; they aren’t visible but are very easy to operate and more comfortable than the front ones.
Those back-mounted paddles can lead to some interesting situations: A customer comes in and complains that the transmission shifts randomly and won’t remain in gear. Turns out he was holding the steering wheel and accidentally touched the paddle, never realizing it was there. Yes, it’s actually happened!
In that case, remind the customer to keep his or her hands on the steering wheel rim, to avoid accidentally touching the paddle shifter. But that could lead to another problem: a collision severe enough to cause the airbag to deploy could cause severe injuries to your hands!
The shift system also protects the engine: If you tend to drive with the engine RPM in the red zone, the transmission computer may take over and force an upshift, even though you have the system in manual mode.
If you’re driving at high speed and you decide to downshift, the system may not let you; if you’re decelerating, the transmission may downshift automatically. These situations depend on the vehicle speed and throttle position, but none of it occurs if you have the Driving Stability Mode (DSM) system turned off.
You can also use the steering shift functions while the selector is in Drive mode. The system will return to automatic shift when you pull the up position switch (+/off) long enough.
The system has a second gear fixed mode at 6.5 MPH (10 km/h) or less, to help provide additional control on slippery roads. If you have the transmission set in 2nd gear fixed mode, it’ll remain in 2nd gear for easy acceleration. To cancel this feature, just move the selector in either direction: + or –. If the vehicle comes to a stop while in 2nd gear fixed mode, it’ll stay in manual 2nd.
The system has two basic modes: direct shift and manual shift. While in direct shift mode, you can shift gears with the paddle shifters, even if the shifter is in the D position. While in the direct shift mode, the D and M lights will be on, along with the gear range.
You can cancel direct mode by pulling the up switch (+/off) for a certain amount of time (the actual amount isn’t specified). Direct mode will also cancel automatically after driving the vehicle for a certain amount of time; but that depends on driving conditions and whether you come to a stop or drive at slow speeds.
Here’s an interesting function of the Mazda system: Suppose you’re stopped on a hill with the transmission shift selector in drive or reverse. Never let the vehicle roll in the opposite direction! If you do, the engine will shut off. And, with the engine off, you’ll lose steering and braking capabilities.
When driving up or down steep grades, the computer will decide the gear you should use, so, if the transmission downshifts or upshifts by itself, without you commanding any gear change, don’t worry: this is completely normal.
For normal acceleration and cruising, Mazda recommends these shift points:
M1 to M2 — 15mph (24km/h)
M2 to M3 — 25mph (40km/h)
M3 to M4 — 40mph (65km/h)
M4 to M5 — 45mph (73km/h)
M5 to M6 — 50mph (51km/h)
An important consideration with these vehicles is that other system codes may prevent the adapts to reset. In this vehicle, after rebuilding the transmission, we cleared the codes but the adapts wouldn’t reset. Further examination revealed that there was an airbag code in memory.
In part two, we’ll look at what happened on this vehicle and how to correct the situation.
