# Service bulletin 03\-002\-16\-3179

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

- Type: Service bulletin
- NHTSA id: 10090841
- Published by NHTSA: 2017\-02\-08
- Manufacturer's number: 03\-002\-16\-3179
- Manufacturer's date: 2016\-03\-17
- NHTSA component: POWER TRAIN

## NHTSA's summary

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHEN DRIVING.THE CONCERN MAY BE CAUSED BY IMPROPER TOOTH CONTACT PATTERN OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GEAR FROM ABNORMAL WEAR. THIS ABNORMAL WEAR IS CAUSED BY GEAR TOOTH LAPPING COMPOUND \(USED DURING THE PRODUCTION\) BEING LEFT ON BEYOND THE ALLOWABLE AMOUNT. THE PRODUCTION CONTROL HAS BEEN IMPROVED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REMAINING LAPPING COMPOUND.

## The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

## Components

Transmission and driveline

## Vehicles listed

- 2006 to 2013 MAZDA MX\-5

## Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component

- [SA\-029\-26](/bulletins/11032103.md), 2026-05-05, Service bulletin: UNKNOWN OR OTHER; ENGINE; POWER TRAIN; SERVICE BRAKES. This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA\-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle\-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE Refer to the applicable Workshop Manual or Owner's Manual for vehicle \-specific manufacturer scheduled maintenance. Workshop Manual \- Refer to section 00\-00 SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. Owner's Manual \- Refer to section 8 Maintenance and Care. b. Note: Please refer to the information below outlining the services not included in Mazda's Factory Scheduled Maintenance: IMPORTANT: Recommending fluid flushes when not necessary can lead to customer confusion and dissatisfaction. Fluid flushing for preventive maintenance purposes is strongly discouraged, unless otherwise specified in a published procedure \(Owner’s Manual, Workshop Manual, Technical Service Bulletin, etc.\).
- [SA\-052\-24](/bulletins/11007010.md), 2024-09-04, Service bulletin: POWER TRAIN; ENGINE. Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service.
- [SA\-011\-24](/bulletins/10251387.md), 2024-03-06, Service bulletin: STEERING; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; WHEELS; TIRES; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; POWER TRAIN. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle\-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
- [00\-001\-22](/bulletins/10208556.md), 2022-03-04, Service bulletin: POWER TRAIN; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; STEERING. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle\-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
- [05\-002\-21\-3854](/bulletins/10206002.md), 2022-01-06, Service bulletin: POWER TRAIN. Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Cooler and Lines Flushing Procedure: Automatic Transaxle/Transmission \(A/T\) oil cooler and lines must be power flushed completely before an overhauled or replacement A/T is installed \(except SKYACTIV\-DRIVE\). The most common cause of repeat A/T failures is lack of lubrication to the front and rear planetary gears. This is usually caused by an accumulation of metal particles and debris \(from a previous A/T failure\) on the internal mesh type baffle of the oil cooler. Power flushing will remove the restriction by back flushing, followed by forward flushing to dislodge a restriction, then back flushing again. This will in turn ensure full ATF flow for the transmission when it is operating.
- [00\-001\-21\-3768](/bulletins/10186693.md), 2021-02-05, Service bulletin: STEERING; WHEELS; POWER TRAIN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
- [03\-002\-16\-3179](/bulletins/10185949.md), 2021-01-28, Service bulletin: POWER TRAIN. Some vehicles may exhibit a whining noise from the rear differential when driving. The concern may be caused by improper tooth contact pattern of the rear differential gear from abnormal wear. This abnormal wear is caused by gear tooth lapping compound \(used during the production\) being left on beyond the allowable amount. The production control has been improved to reduce the amount of remaining lapping compound.
- [00\-001\-20\-3689](/bulletins/10173097.md), 2020-04-03, Service bulletin: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; POWER TRAIN; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
- [SA\-053\-19](/bulletins/10169509.md), 2019-12-21, Service bulletin: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; POWER TRAIN. GUIDE LINES AND PHOTOS TO DETERMINE IF FLUID/OIL SEEPAGE OR LEAK IS SEVERE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE WARRANTY REPAIR OR TO CLEAN AND MONITOR. Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service.
- [05\-001\-18\-3453](/bulletins/10136777.md), 2018-05-14, Service bulletin: EQUIPMENT; POWER TRAIN. Always be sure to use the correct automatic transmission fluid when replacing ATF. Using the wrong ATF may cause shift quality complaints or may even damage the transmission. NOTE: ATF M\-V \(TYPE M5\) IS NOT THE SAME FLUID AS MERCON®V OR MERCON®LV ATF. ATF M\-V \(TYPE M5\) HAS A GREATER VISCOSITY THAN MERCON®V AND MERCON®LV ATF IN LOW TEMPERATURES. ATF M\-V \(TYPE M5\) HAS A GREATER ANTI\-JUDDER SPECIFICATION THAN MERCON®V AND MERCON®LV ATF. TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHING SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED WHEN INSTRUCTED BY THE WORKSHOP MANUAL OR ANY OTHER MAZDA PUBLICATION.

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