# I have a 97 Mazda 626, 4-cylinder automatic with transmission light problems

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-97-mazda-626-4-cylinder-automatic-with-transmission-light-problems/16606>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** transmissions\
**Created:** [July 12, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-97-mazda-626-4-cylinder-automatic-with-transmission-light-problems/16606 "2008-07-12T21:10:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![turboherbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@turboherbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/turboherbo)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/i-have-a-97-mazda-626-4-cylinder-automatic-with-transmission-light-problems/16606/1 "2008-07-12T21:10:41Z")

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 My overdrive on/off dashboard warning light flashes after 15 to 20 minutes of driving regular highway speed. A local

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Mazda dealership ran the transmission codes and told me that my transmission was overheating. They didn’t tell me what caused the overheating. They weakly suggested that I put on a new transmission cooler. Therefore I installed a new transmission cooler, nearly twice the size of the old one. This has made no difference at all.  
  
 This probelm has occurred over the last 4 years but with more frequency lately. It seems to me that if the transmission has been overheating the last 4 years, it would have been ruined by  
  
 now. I don’t think overheating is the problem. I think it could be a sensor or a wiring problem.  
  
 Usually when the light comes on, I pull over and turn off the car. I wait 20 seconds, restart the car, and the light is off. I continue to drive. I’ve experimented lately by driving the car when the light is flashing for 5 to 25 minutes. The car seems to be okay when driving with the light flashing. The only difference is, when the car shifts from first to second gear, there is a slight bump in the transmission (like a hard shift).  
  
 Does anyone have any suggestions? My car has 259,000 miles on it and this is the second transmission (it was installed about 5 years ago). I would like to drive this car 1 more year.