Mazda

Mazda from 1998 to 2021: when the breadth of the range makes finding the right part more complex

A Mazda 3 used daily in town places very different demands on its gearbox than a loaded CX-5 on the motorway or a BT-50 in pickup use. Yet it is at the point of replacement that the diversity of the Mazda range reveals its true complexity: over twenty-three years of production, the same engine capacities were paired with very different engine families and transmissions depending on the year, the generation and the market. The 3, the 6 and the CX-5 account for the bulk of enquiries; the MX-5, the RX-8 and the B2500 and BT-50 pickups represent far more specific cases.

MZR-CD and Skyactiv-D diesels: two distinct technical eras, two distinct sets of engine codes

The most significant break in the Mazda diesel range comes with the introduction of the Skyactiv-D. The 1.6 MZR-CD (codes Y6, Y601, Y650, Y655) and the 2.0 MZR-CD (code RF7J) were fitted to earlier generations of the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6; the 2.2 MZR-CD (codes R2AA, SH, SHY1, SHY4) marks the transition. The 2.2 Skyactiv-D found on the CX-5, recent Mazda 6 and recent Mazda 3 encompasses several variants in its own right: codes SHY1, SHY4, SHY6 and SHY8 cover the 150 hp and 175 hp versions, while SH01 appears on certain Skyactiv-D derivatives. Confusing an MZR-CD family code with a Skyactiv-D code will invariably result in the wrong part being ordered. The turbo is particularly affected: seven turbo references are available in the range, and the correct match is established solely by the engine code stamped on the unit — not by the stated power output.

Transmissions and engines: what the range covers

Gearboxes account for the vast majority of available parts, in 5- or 6-speed manual depending on the generation. The 2.5 MZR-CD units fitted to the B2500 and BT-50 pickups (codes WL, WL-C, WLAA, WLT) use heavy-duty transmissions designed for intensive commercial use, which are structurally different from those found in saloons and SUVs. The 2.3 DISI turbo from the CX-7 (code L3-VDT) is a special case: this turbocharged petrol unit places considerable strain on the gearbox in SUV use. The five bare engines available are offered in reconditioned form; turbos are sold new. Three purchasing options coexist within the range — exchange, new sale and rebuild of the customer's own unit — depending on the reference: please check which applies to the part you need before placing any order.