2013 Clubbie S, 55K Miles with automatic transmission.
2nd owner.
No documentation of any transmission fluid service by PO.

I continue to be impressed by this little 1.6 liter turbocharged engine.

I do have a couple of questions regarding the automatic transmission. The 3->2 downshift can be somewhat rough and periodically the 2->1 downshift is rough. Somewhat of a hard shift with a little shaking of the car. Not too bad but that's the best way to explain it that I can think of. Is this normal?

Also, one time while shifting into reverse it didn't shift right away. I didn't realize this and gave it a little gas. It then shifted hard into reverse with a noticeable thud. It has also done this shifting into drive once, but not as hard. I know it shouldn't do this but is this a characteristic of this transmission?

Is any of this an indication of low and/or old ATF? I do plan to change the ATF at some point.

Thanks!!!

 

For what it’s worth, my wife’s CX-9 had some hard shifting, until I performed a drain and fill on the transmission. Get some new fluid 8n there, and see how it reacts. Maybe the valve body just needs some cleaning up.

 

I plan to do that but with colder weather I'm not sure when I'll get it done. Also, the drain/fill procedure appears to be wonky. I should be used to it since my e39 is a PITA to perform transmission service also. Would be great to have a fill tube.

 

I just refilled thru the drain hole with a hand pump. Homemade hose adapter from concentric hoses pressed together. Wasted a bit of ATF but was not hard to do.

 

So, to ensure I know the process here goes:

Remove drain plug
Remove overflow tube
Once pan has drained replace overflow tube
Fill thru drain plug until fluid drains out indicating level is above overflow tube
Start car and go through all gears to pull fluid into the valve body and to get fluid up to temperature
Fill thru drain plug until fluid drains out indicating level is again above overflow tube indicating proper fluid level
Install drain plug