We all know that dashboard warning lights have different meanings and require you to take certain actions to address the indicated issues.
You may see one, multiple, or all dash lights come on while driving. So, what is the case of the Mazda 6 AT light?
The illumination can go on with other symptoms.
One day you may start your car with clanking noise, there’s a slight jerk like you’re struggling with changing gears while driving, or no auto-shifting gear at all.
If you experience one of these scenarios, keep reading right here!
What Does AT Light On Mazda 6 Mean?
The abbreviation AT stands for Automatic Transaxle, which is related to your vehicle’s transmission system.
The AT or the automatic Transaxle is in charge of shifting auto gears without requiring the driver’s input. Its parts include transmission, axles, and differential.
The Mazda 6 AT light will be bright for a few seconds after you switch on the ignition. If you see the illumination keeps flashing, it’s trying to alert a problem with your transmission.
Normally, this Mazda dashboard engine light will disappear when you restart the car. However, it’s likely to appear again soon.
Resetting also can’t make the 2004 and 2007 Mazda 6 AT warning lights go away for good. You may see it again after a period of time.
Thus, you should not ignore its automatic transmission warning since your car can experience extensive engine damage in the long run.
Consult an authorized Mazda dealer or bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop for servicing as soon as possible.
What Makes Mazda 6 Automatic Transaxle Light Come On?
The Automatic Transaxle warning light flashes on the instrument cluster of your Mazda 6 means your automatic transmission is in trouble.
You should first ensure you have enough transmission oil.
Once you refill it to the suggested level, but the problem persists, seek help from the service centers to ensure your car is prevented from further damage.
Low Level Of Transmission Fluid
Your vehicle is built with many sensors to monitor your engine’s status.
When the automatic transmission fluid level is low, the sensor can detect and signal the onboard computer to turn on the AT light on Mazda 6 2004, 2005, and 2006.
You can use the dipstick to check if your car has enough fluid and refill it if needed. If the engine oil dipstick is hard to read, rouging the surface or painting the stick may help.
Other Transmission Problems
Once you identify the fluid level is not the reason that triggers your AT Mazda 6 light on, then your transmission may have other issues.
We’ll go through all the possible problems you may face by looking at the symptoms.
Grinding Or Shaking
When your car can’t offer you a smooth ride and handling, you have a sign of trouble.
In this case, if you feel it shake or transmission jerk with a grinding sound, you’ll likely need to deal with the gear problem.
With my automatic transmission, I have experienced different symptoms, such as unsmooth gear shifting instead of the grinding noise. It took longer than usual for my vehicle to get into gear. The worse the issue, the more jarring and shaking I feel.
Abnormal Sounds
Depending on the model and trim, the sound you hear can be different. It can be clunking, whining, or humming.
If it usually happens when you change the gears, it means the sound possibly comes from the differentials, indicating a problem with these details.
That’s why you see 2005, 2006, and 2007 Mazda 6 AT light.
Bumpy Sound When Car In Neutral Gear
When there’s bumpy noise when you set your car in neutral gear, you need to check your transmission fluid. If it’s not enough, add more to the recommended level.
Once you do so but the sound does not go away, you certainly have dirty transmission fluid, leading to AT light Mazda 6 blinking. I got rid of this problem by draining and replacing the fluid.
Another cause of the bumpy sound is some transmission parts, such as reverse idler gears or bearings, wear out.
Hesitation While Shifting Gear
Normally, the transmission should automatically go to the proper gear when you change to the drive mode, indicating the system is working properly.
However, if your vehicle seems to hesitate to get to a higher or lower gear, you may have transitioning-related issues.
I found that I couldn’t change my auto transmission higher than the 3rd gear to the 4th gear or 5th gear quite often.
Sometimes, it was even impossible to shift down from the third gear to 2nd gear or 1st gear.
Burning Smell
A burning smell is always a terrible sign that no driver wants to ignore. It hints that you have the burning transmission oil.
The transmission oil is used to lubricate parts and prevent wear. However, if its level is low or you use the wrong fluid type, it will increase the system’s temperature.
The transmission area can get hot by accumulated dirt, debris, sludge, corrosion, and increased friction. In this case, the system is badly damaged and requires costly repairs.
How To Fix AT Light On Mazda 6?
Inspect The Fluid Level
Here’s how I did to fix the issue of the 2003 Mazda 6 AT light on the dash.
Start the engine from the park mode and shift through each gear every three to five seconds until you reach the drive gear.
Wait another five seconds, return to park mode, and leave the car running.
Pull out the dipstick and see the level of fluid. It should be within the lower and upper limit marks of the 65 degrees Celsius area.
If it’s lower than that, add more liquid. Check your owner’s manual if you are unsure how to read the result.
Scan For Error Codes
Another way I applied to determine what makes the 2008 Mazda 6 AT light flicker is to use the OBD scanners or code reader to scan for error codes.
Connect it to the vehicle’s system, run the diagnosis, decode the diagnostic codes, and apply corresponding solutions according to repair guides.
Some gear incorrect ratio codes may appear in this case.
Conclusion
Mazda 6 AT light usually appears with transmission-related issues, which can lead to severe damages, such as costly transmission change, to your vehicle if you don’t address it as soon as possible.
You can keep driving with the illumination on but don’t go too far, and remember to decrease the vehicle speed. Seeking help from the service team for a proper diagnosis is highly recommended.