Good morningood, I drive a mazda 626, 1999 model, V6. I bought the car 3 years ago, and I have serviced it regularly with my 'local mechanic'.
The problem started 6 weeks ago when I noticed that the car stalls a bit before changing to a higher gear whenever I'm on the highway. Shortly afterwards I noted that the overdrive light was blinking and only stopped when I park, but resurfaces when I'm on top speed on the highway, between 120 to 140km/hr. Now the issue is whenever I m in traffic and I put the gear on neutral, the engine stops, same thing when I put it in park to open the gate. This doesn't happen when the gear is in drive or reverse.i will need your speedy response.Thanks.

noted that the overdrive light was blinking and only stopped when I park, but resurfaces when I'm on top speed on the highway
- I tend to think the input turbine speed sensor is flaky, intermittent fault

Recently installed a new transmission aka gearbox in Nigerian parlance?

If yes, then I suspect your oil cooler lines have been misdirected. Your transmission is not cooling, and so is cooking the components.

If not, you need to change the input turbine speed sensor.

Do a code read, you have P0715. You could change the sensor from the junkyard.

The transmission was a weak link on that ride.

Try and install an additional oil cooler for it.

lovely ride but the transmission had issues - was all over the internet - years ago - usually because it overheated and it was apparently not rugged enough - anyway those are my opinions - not gospel

whenever I m in traffic and I put the gear on neutral, the engine stops, same thing when I put it in park to open the gate.
- Idle Air Control failing or failed

Thanks....can this be rectified? Hope not much damage has been done?

Dr9ce:
Thanks....can this be rectified? Hope not much damage has been done?

answer his question first.

No new installations

The transmission is the archilles heel in that vehicle , it uses a ford transmission. That explains the affordability of the ride.

You re better off converting it to a manual, its cheaper and less troublesome.

So Chukel what do you have to say?

This car is obd2 compliant I guess. If so, scan it. Is ur abs light on? Is it automatic or manual transmission.? I kn check engine light is on. Scan this ride if u can. For sure ur Idle air control valve will also need cleaning up or changing.

Dr9ce:
Good morningood, I drive a mazda 626, 1999 model, V6. I bought the car 3 years ago, and I have serviced it regularly with my 'local mechanic'.
The problem started 6 weeks ago when I noticed that the car stalls a bit before changing to a higher gear whenever I'm on the highway. Shortly afterwards I noted that the overdrive light was blinking and only stopped when I park, but resurfaces when I'm on top speed on the highway, between 120 to 140km/hr. Now the issue is whenever I m in traffic and I put the gear on neutral, the engine stops, same thing when I put it in park to open the gate. This doesn't happen when the gear is in drive or reverse.i will need your speedy response.Thanks.

You need a tech with capable scanner. Let him look at live data as you select P or N. You need to see what the ECU is seeing at those times. Check for codes.

Thanks all, so I took the car to automedics workshop at Ikeja, unfortunately they couldn't take the car in as it's a 1999 model and they only attend to vehicle models 2000 and above. However, the technician told me the likely possibilities, said I should change the ATM and air filter. I explained what should be done to my road side mechanic and he did. Car has been functioning
well so far, though I haven't travelled afterwards. Lest I forget, the technician also advised that I use dextron VI cause it has a better cooling capacity.

'ATF'

Dr9ce:
Thanks all, so I took the car to automedics workshop at Ikeja, unfortunately they couldn't take the car in as it's a 1999 model and they only attend to vehicle models 2000 and above. However, the technician told me the likely possibilities, said I should change the ATM and air filter. I explained what should be done to my road side mechanic and he did. Car has been functioning
well so far, though I haven't travelled afterwards. Lest I forget, the technician also advised that I use dextron VI cause it has a better cooling capacity.

where did you buy the dextron vi and how much is it. I have a good functioning Mazda 626 auto tranny, though the gear is in perfect condition but the color of the ATF is giving me concern couple with the fact that I haven't changed or service the gear since i acquired the vehicle almost a year now. I plan to do the gear service this week please, kindly tell me about this dextron vi because i have read all sorts of disheartening things about Mazda 626 tyranny.

I was advised to get cam2 which I couldn't get because it is scarce..so I settled for hardex (dextron VI) at 8k. Bought it at the mechanic village in abiding bit close between acme and wempco roads.

I was advised to get cam2 which I couldn't get because it is scarce..so I settled for hardex (dextron VI) at 8k. Bought it at the mechanic village in agidingbi between acme and wempco roads.

Dr9ce:
No new installations

In that case, read this: https://www.dustbury.com/626/trans.html

It suffers from two major issues:

1. Overheating, hence the recommendation to install an oil cooler.

Without proper cooling, ATF quickly degrades, causing internal components to wear prematurely.

Even Mazda told users to install an oil cooler to fix your issue. It is not just about using Dexron VI.

Heat does nasty things to transmissions, but then the transmission for that ride doesn't cost so much so decide between driving it till you junk it and installing an oil cooler to reduce the exposure to heat plus an inline oil filter to dramatically extend its life.

It is also about changing the ATF every 10,000 miles unless you install an oil cooler with its own temperature controlled fans and an inline filter before the oil cooler so it traps particles from ever getting into the transmission

2. The other failure is low line pressure, there is a TransGo shift kit to fix (permanent fix) that as well as a resistor kit (band aid) to mask the problem

Here is some unsolicited advice.

Don't keep flooring the pedal in a hurry, it creates heat and this tranny don't like it. Because of 1 above, unless you have beefed it up. Unless you want to replace the tranny sooner than later.

Don't participate in road races, it could last a bit longer. This is no purpose built race car though the vehicle feels so good to be raced.

Enjoy your 626!