Mazda BT-50 2012 Problems

You should be guided by your mechanic’s quote for either outcome. In some cases, solenoids are relatively cheap to buy and don’t require too much labour to replace. But, depending on the vehicle, they can also be very expensive and require more or less a full transmission strip-down to remove and replace.

You also need to assess the condition of the whole transmission as putting new parts into a worn gearbox will only delay the inevitable.

This sounds like another one of pesky electrical problems which occur but don't really create havoc beyond making you wonder why it's happening. In many cases, this sort of problem can be caused by a poor earth somewhere on the car or even a chafed wire that is short-circuiting and turning random lights on and off.

But it could also be a symptom of something more serious with the car's electrical systems, so an electronic scan of the vehicle should be your next move. That will rule out a lot of things and also possibly pin-point the problem.

This is indeed a known problem on these transmissions and one for which Mazda issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB; like a recall but not safety related) back in 2014. Apparently, a problem with the valve-body (that controls the gearbox’s shifts) caused a scraping or buzzing noise usually when shifting form Park to Drive or Reverse. That’s not exactly what you’re reporting, but it’s almost too similar not to be related. Depending on the build date of the vehicle, Mazda either replaced part of the entire valve-body assembly.

The other problem you’ve alluded to; that of a faulty output speed sensor is a different issue to the one that sounds like it’s causing your problem. In the case of the dud sensor, the gearbox could suddenly decide to shift back to first gear unannounced. If that happened at speed, it could cause the vehicle’s wheels to lock up with some very interesting consequences.

I’ve had a flick through the BT-50 owner’s manual (and I suggest you do the same) and all I can find relating to a transmission warning light is a single 'powertrain warning lamp' which suggests something is not right somewhere along the length of the powertrain. Sometimes this light will come on in conjunction with the 'check-engine' light and it indicates that either a sensor has failed or there’s an actual problem with the hardware. Beyond that, the light doesn’t offer any suggestions on what might be wrong, but bear in mind that the four-wheel-drive system in this vehicle is electronically operated, so there’s lot of scope for errors.

A scan at a workshop should offer up some answers, but before you do that, just check that you haven’t bumped the rotary four-wheel-drive selector dial and have triggered the system into a mode it doesn’t like being in right now.

The range of values for your vehicle is $29,000 to $32,000 as a private sale. As a trade-in it’s worth $24,000 to $28,000. With its low kays, plus the towbar and bullbar yours is probably at the top end of that range. You don’t tell us anything about your needs and wants for the car you are looking to buy, but the Kia Sportage is a good car and worth you looking at it.

Just above the exhaust manifold.

Mazda spokeswoman Karla Leach has good news: "After reviewing the customer's case, we have refunded the cost of the driveshaft."

You shouldn’t need to be draining water out of the system every couple of weeks; that says there is something wrong. Your mechanic is right; the dealer should have flushed the fuel system out to make sure there was no water in the system when you drove the car away. I would go back to the dealer and talk to him about some sort of compensation. They haven’t been as diligent as they should have been.

The MU-X is rated to tow 3000 kg, which is well above the 2100 kg you say your caravan weighs. On that basis it would seem to be well suited to your towing needs.

It's a grey area. Mazda is clearly playing hardball with you and it has a way out in that you fitted a non-approved part. The best approach is to go direct to Mazda and plead your case for compensation.