2002 mazda millenia reverse goes forward

When it’s in reverse, it wants to go forward? That seems more than a little weird, now, doesn’t it? To answer my own question, it certainly does. On looking into your question, there are a couple of conditions that can cause this. The first is the first/reverse assembly. It may be locked up and if it is then your Mazda won’t go into reverse, but will go forward. In first or second, it will also go forward. Of that assembly, either the first/reverse brake may be gone or the first/reverse clutch may be gone. In other words, the whole assembly has to be checked.

The second problem is a problem with the valve body. Since the valve body directs the fluid to the right gear, there could be a problem with a check valve. If, for example, the valve that directs the fluid to reverse is blocked, your reverse gear won’t receive any fluid and your Mazda will remain in forward. This is a rare problem, but it does occur.

Another area to have checked is the front planetary gear assembly. It’s possible that the transmission isn’t seeing reverse, even though the indicator slips into reverse because there’s a problem with the gearing. Given what you have said about your Mazda, even though this is not the most common condition that happens in a transmission, I’d still advise you to have it checked.

Finally, have the transmission fluid checked. It it is blackened and smells burnt, the chances are that it has gone bad. When tranny fluid goes bad, among the first things to go are the clutches. It is possible, then, that your Mazda’s clutches are shot — at least reverse — and your Mazda will only go forward because it is not going into reverse at all.