At Transmission Shop for 8 MONTHS?? Fixed in 15 MINUTES!! (Mazda 6 Stuck in 3rd P0328) 

About 25 years ago when training as a Bosch techie, heard a story about a Nissan that came in with a problem. This was the early 90s so fuel injection and engine management were still new. Car apparently had an issue when towing a trailer. At certain speeds the car started losing power as if the throttle was being held back. With no trailer it was 100%. And with trailer, it was speed dependant, and not gear dependant (I.e. not engine rev related). To make matters more interesting it turned out to be one specific trailer, as other trailers towed fine. After a little investigation it was discovered that the trailer hitch was for a 2inch ball, but the tow ball on the nissan was 50mm. At certain speeds the .8mm difference was enough for the trailer to oscillate at high enough frequencies on the ball to send a false frequency through the chassis and mounts to the knock sensor.....

You were so worth that 3 hour drive! Nice job Ivan!

I've found that more manufacturers are tying in simple faults that normally wouldn't affect drivability to more critical functions just to get the owner to get the simpler things fixed. My Subaru Forester for example had the P0420 catalytic converter code. This made it lock out the cruise control and traction control. Bells and whistles. The more there are, the more to break.

This is a life lesson for troubleshooting. It's hard to imagine the car was parked for almost a year for an hour's worth of work. GREAT VIDEO!

That connector being previously disconnected means somebody was so close but yet so far. Being able to ohm out the sensor made all the difference.

I've learned that lesson the hard way working in maintenance in a factory. Don't leave any obvious faults behind you, even if they don't seem related. They will sink you every time.

The owner is very lucky. A lot of transmission shops would have tried to sell him a full rebuild.

The sad part is that the guy at autozone could have fixed this car at the parking lot, just to throwing parts and no really knowing how to properly do a diagnostic. Great job Ivan 👍

It shows transmission shops don't always know enough to care or research the issues. Isn't google cool sometimes. It was also sweet that someone was willing to share their problem and eventual solution. The customer must have been ecstatic. Great job Ivan and for not limiting your options.....Pete

I don't have all data but Google is amazing. That is if Ivan hasn't already solved my problem before. Glad to see think tool back in operation.

This in so many ways is absolutely ridiculous. Fair play Ivan for fixing it and getting to the bottom of this, but how in the name of God can a shop keep this car for 8 months and still not fix what is frankly under their nose with a bit of research that is available to everyone. Well done Ivan. Easy one for those of us in the know 😀

...geez...who would'a thunk it....a knock sensor causing the transmission to go into limp mode....Ivan, your diagnostic skills continue to amaze me....this was a very enjoyable and informative video....thanks for posting... 🙂

I have said this for MANY YEARS, Fix what you know is broken. As usual, well done!

There are actually some really smart ingenious people out there, and luckily most of them are willing to share.

I love watching Ivan. I can't wait to get home every night after work to see if he has a new video out.

Your comment about doing a search reveals something - too many people think that you need to be super technical when you are looking for either a part or to help diagnose a problem. Years ago you had to be pretty specific on how you phrased questions, but in our more modern times, you can type it in the same as you'd ask a friend, and often times you'll get some amazing results. We just encountered almost this exact issue with the AC in my RV as it failed, and trying to find a simple expansion valve on the RV sites was a nightmare. Typed in a simple search for RV AC expansion valve and discovered that the local Advance Auto had almost the same exact valve as what I had been looking for days for using more technical terms. In a nutshell, type in your search using the KISS principal and see what it does - it might shock you!!

I bet your neighbors were all impressed by that exhaust!!! 😆

Love your thought process. Great job Ivan!

THIS is why we love your channel Ivan! ALWAYS learning something new!

Another amazing story with a happy ending. Thanks, Ivan!

when it showed the knock sensor code I thought the engine is in limp mode for sure the 3rd gear on the dash thru the customer for a loop for sure and probably made him go the wrong route with the trans shop. thanks for all the good videos

Honest , smart , funny, you are the man.

Sometimes, to diagnose a malfunction, just say OK Google 😎 Thank you Ivan! This car will be like new! If you do not take into account the sagging ceiling 😁

You r a rare real gifted mechanic. Thank God for your gift!

This is like an extreme version of what happens to Toyotas (and maybe other manufacturers): when the knock sensor code prevents engagement for some gears. I've seen a Nissan (1st gen Xterra V6) have consistent misfires (flashing MIL) under medium to high loads while in motion (i.e. Drive) simply because of a bad knock sensor. The misfire didn't happen when revving the engine in Park or Neutral. P.S: Bless Mazda for that knock sensor location on this V6. Most other OEMs hide them in the valley.

Man oh man ,you are super, you can fix anything, I wish all shops had people like you,way to go

I-stop is Mazda's system for stop/start operation. With I-stop the engine stops one cylinder at TDC with an unignited charge of fuel/air so when the cars needs to move again the charge is ignited and the engine starts, its a battery saving method of stop/start control. Its a very sophisticated and intelligent system that relies on a perfect second battery.

Nothing like when they throw the parts cannon at it⁉️💯😂😂😂

Wow unbelievable. You sir have excellent logic skills!

Wow I have had some problems cross between models but never something quite this crazy! Thank you for the video and info!

That gives us all hope! Check that everything else is working right before entering the wrong rabbit hole and lining up the parts cannon.

Another fantastic finish

I work for Fisher Auto Parts here in Michigan and yes we try to get the parts out the door in 4. Great video Ivan as always nice fix.

Unreal. Thanks Ivan!

Thanks, man! Great info! It's really entertaining watching your videos, and the stunningly rich rich source of information, just AMAZING!

Wow the reverb on that exhaust would drive me nuts, Super diagnosis Ivan, fixed for a $70 part, plus Battery and your time of course. I have a feeling you just earned another customer!. Stay safe thank you for the time you put into the videos. The more content the more answers solved and the world gains all this knowledge.

Another great diagnosis! By the way, the colourful material on the top of the dashboard at 4.59 was probably what the owner was thinking when the car went into limp-mode....just a thought....!

Super stuff, really enjoyed that. All of these videos just reinforce my view that manufacturers have made cars so complex they are almost unfixable making them technologically obsolete so we need to buy another one when anything goes wrong. Heard hundreds of tales of cars and bikes taken in to dealerships charging top rates and unable to fix them.

It never fails; customers bring in the car full of gas, if the tank needs to come out, bone dry if you'll need to drive it any distance.

9:38 extremly lucky that the person asking that question actually followed up with how they fixed it instead of generic "nvm i fixed it" or "idk what happened but it fixed itself"

Great thing to see how these things work That actually happened with my 05 Toyota Sienna, it was not releasing OD just because of a faulty KS. Thanks Ivan for helping people with honesty.

That is a killer outcome! Sometimes, it's OK to trust what's in your face. While it is true you never know when for sure, but, your instincts are sharp and your nose for little hints and a fine tuned GUT FEELING, serve you extremely well! Stick a fork in that car, it's DONE! Congrats, Ivan! Keep on making it look sickeningly easy! 👏👏👏👍👍👌

Toyotas had an issue similar to this. If knock sensor faults were set on the 3.3L v6 engine, the transmission would shift through all gears fine the first time but would not shift into overdrive or 4th gear afterwards. Would need to shut the car off and restart it. Replace the knock sensor and sub harness, shifting would return to normal.

Just WOW! Who would have thought it. Unplugged too. Top job Ivan. 🙈👍

When you said it had a knock sensor code I was betting that was it as you have said in the past on newer vehicles anything can cause all sorts of problems to show up on the CAN BUS HIGH/LOW.I bet the customer was pissed .Cheers another good video.

Good problem solving. Thank you. We had an oil pressure sending unit failure send a 2019 Honda Pilot into limp in mode.

Great job, as always!

As always, great job, love your channel

One of our 2003 S-10's would intermittently want to start out in 3rd gear. I noticed the alternator making noise and the scope showed problems with the rectifier bridge. Replaced the alternator and the transmission never acted up again! Great video!

Amazing Ivan!

That's crazy. I never would have dreamed a faulty knock sensor would put a computer in limp mode.

Great Insight, You Video has impacted a whole lot to me

Wow, well, all the trouble codes can be interrelated to everything. Damn knock sensor knocking out the transmission! Damn good fix Ivan! Great job fixing an hour of diagnosis! Wow unreal. I can't believe it lol

Wow thinking outside the box, that is your forte Ivan! Cool beans!!

Honest man . wish more PPL like you

That was awesome! I never would have thought it would limp the transmission.

I faced similar in a 2013 Toyota Venza... Knock sensor codes and transmission goes gaga... However not exactly in limp mode, but give a violent jolt between 2 and 3. Nice job as always

Crazy how the knock sensor can cause the transmission to go into Limp mode. Great detective work and fix!

Thanks for preaching.

Thank you Chrysler for making it easy to read codes on 96 and and newer vehicles. Cycle ignition key 3 times on and off and on the 3rd time, leaving it in the ON position, the dtc codes pop up on the odometer. That's how i keep my my 20+ year old Durango and Dakota running and my previous 4 Grand Cherokees.

wow .. thanks for sharing Amigo

I got to admit I wouldn’t have thought it would have been a knock sensor good video

Zoom Zoom! You're awesome Ivan!

Made me smile Ivan.....You said "as good as new" and the head lining was flapping around like a main sail on an ocean going yacht lol.....Great video again matey....Saludos desde Esaña mi amigo....

8:12 "I guess anything is possible" is the ultimate wisdom in this field and every other field. I remember I was diagnosing a car that had shift problems, maybe even had the same symptoms, and the code that was set in TCM was a) unheard of b) had no information about it on the internet c) there were codes stored in the PCM that has no relation whatsoever with the transmission or how should it shift. After almost 3 days of trying to figure out the problem it turns out that one of the codes in the PCM that was caused by a MAP sensor that lost a ground wire causing the transmission to go in some sort of limp mode and make hard to shift gears, exactly like this car with different sensor and error causing the problem. The car was a Renault, a french car and I will NEVER forget this car ever.

It is a good idea to check the alternator first. My 2005 Mazda 6 went into limp mode a few years ago and it turned out that the alternator was bad. I had the alternator replaced with one from O'Reilly's and it fixed the issue for about a month--until the car went into limp mode again. The alternator ended up still being the culprit. The problem is that at places like O'Reilly's or AutoZone sometimes the remanufactured alternators are not rebuilt properly. I learned that it is a good idea to have alternators and car batteries always bench tested at the store before buying them to spare yourself from future headaches. Hopefully this tip will help someone.

Ivan, your are the man

Nice job! This video reminds me of one ScannerDanner did of an Audi that had no power. It had a code for a faulty electronically controlled engine mount that everyone ignored thinking that couldn't possibly be the problem... But it was setting the engine into limp mode without any indication it was being derated. Btw, the slamming into gear is normal. When transmissions go into limp mode they default to maximum line pressure. This causes VERY aggressive gear shifts. These transmissions are some of the most uncomfortable for that. Good job at keeping an open mind!

Thanks for the video Ivan great job 👍❤️❤️ it. My Subaru outback had a Abs code and O2 bank 1 and Temp sensor. Fixed the Abs code and all good.😅. Take care of yourself and family and be Blessed ❤️❤️❤️.

Great job!!!

Awsome job as usual!

Great lesson. Fix what you know is wrong and see what happens.

Lesson of the day is ; Mazda engeneers build in a safety feature if knock sensor fails or noticed an abnormalty, the drive train should go into limp mode. Anyway excellent find Ivan.

Good stuff Ivan.

Great video and that is right never rule out anything

Great stuff Dude!

I'm Dan, Martha's my wife. Great diagnosis Ivan. Funny how complicated vehicles are today and how something you'd think would nothing to do with the problem would be the cause of the problem. Knock sensor/trans. problem, who'd have thunk it.

Ivan, I think all that car needed was a nice day. Great to see you enjoying the weather while doing what you do. Makes us all feel good! Thanks for Sharing!

I use the internet on a regular basis in my shop, it has saved me so many times.

I had a 2002 VW beetle. It was throwing ABS error codes. Car under warranty. The dealership replaced ABS sensors 2 or 3 times. It was 20 miles round trip to the dealer. Driving me nuts. I called VW customer service, gee the multi-pin connector from the engine compartment to get wiring through firewall, had been sprayed inside with insulating foam only meant to keep water out of the inside of the car. Factory error created a short for the ABS system. It is nice to see that we have dedicated techs that can actually diagnose a problem. VW bought the car back from me under the California Lemon Law.

I'm surprised the shop didn't replace the transmission ;-)

What a crazy diagnosis. What was the transmission shop folks thinking ! Not transmission related but it fixed the issue. Thanks for sharing !!

I can see how someone can decide that the knock sensor is not related to the trans issue. It doesn't make much sense really. Great job. thanks!!!

Well done mate

Scandalous! All of it. Except the 15 min. repair and placing a new battery. Well done!

cool stuff, never thought a knock sensor would cause that , great diag Ivan , good job

This comfirms that in auto diagnostics, every day is a school day. No matter how experienced you are. Great job . Look forward to the next one!

This one didn't surprise me at all---anything that puts the car into limp-home mode can impact other systems. Parts required, but not expensive ones = win

Wow nice Ivan does it again!!!

Mazda 6 Wagon....unicorn. Google search to the rescue of a limp mode Mazda. ~10 ago not knowing better about going OEM, installed a BWD/Intermotor (div SMP) camshaft position TDC sensor form Advance on Civic, Still working like a champ. I think they make decent parts (sensors at least) for Asian vehicles. This one time, scan code alone was spot on solving trans limp mode issue. Who'd a thunk it. I'm sure owner happy to have his unicorn back in action. Nice job Ivan.....again. 👍

WOW!!! Just WOW!!!!

That's the way to think. Usually someone out in there has had the same problem. I research the same way. It's all in how you use those key words.

Thank you very much. My neighbors car had the EXACT same problem. Just ordered the sensor. Wish me luck.

A few years back my W140 S-Class Mercedes would jump out of cruise control on the motorway, ABS light would come on and power reduced..... FIX.... a new brake light switch on the brake peddle. Go figure. So you are right, fix what is broken on modern cars, the faults may all be interlinked. Good troubleshoot👍🏻👍🏻

I HATE transmission shops. NEVER had a good experience with them. I learned though- when my 76 GranTorino's tranny quit- I went to the junk yard and got one for $100 (back in 79) - took me and my buddy a week to do the swap- worked perfect. Learned a ton. Had to rent a transmission jack- but that thing was amazing. Anyway- Ivan, you are amazing. I hope that customer didn't pay those other guys anything. A whole year down because nobody wanted to THINK... other than Ivan of course. What baffles me, why NOT replace the knock sensor?? The code came up on the scanner- the part is south of $100 and it's pretty much in front of your face after you remove the BAD battery. Even if it's a "no way it's the knock sensor" thing- you've eliminated a 'possible'. Again Ivan- just awesome. I'd DEFINITELY travel 3 hours to have Ivan look at a problem.

I seriously wish I could shadow you for a few weeks and watch you work. Its extremely impressive the way your brain works through some of these issues. Hell, i'd glady work for free the entire time. I legit have 26 years experience as a paid professional automotive tech but i couldn't hold a candle to what you do and am pretty envious of the level you're at in this field. Definitely one of my idols. No bs. And I don't have too many. Staten Island Keith is one. Mr Danner is another. Mr and Mrs O, Perkins, Brin Klein, Cody, Super Mario. Cuba, Mech Mindset. Steckler, Pete Meier, Jerry Truglia, Mike Becker, Bernie Thompson, and plenty more but its late and my brains slowing down so I apologize for leaving a few out. What I'd give to be a fly on the wall.

Watched this before leaving for work this morning. I told Gloria it was the knock sensor as soon as You said it had that code! How did I get so good? (Lucky for once) There is nothing wrong with a quickly once in a while! 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

Thats crazy.... good Diag and fix.....

isnt the simplest fix often the correct one. Just cant fix what you don't understand how it works. Great work! That is how my apprentices are taught to think.

An old electronics tech of mine taught me this many decades ago: start by fixing what is obvious, and probably 9 times out of 10, the rest of the stuff will fix itself. Unfortunately, with the diag business, if that doesn't fix it, then the customer might be getting some unrelated simpler things for free.