I live in New Zealand and have recently purchased a 2011 Mazda 3 'Mazdaspeed' 1.5L  automatic sedan (not the "axela" version, with 113 000 kms (just over 70,000 miles.) I am the second owner and the car runs fine. However, upon start up the gears seem to 'stick' or won't go from park to reverse or drive. It started doing this recently. At first, if I took off the handbrake then it would transition fine, or transition then take off the handbrake to get it into the appropriate gear. Is the gearbox going out? - Note the car is kept unsheltered and outside. I live in a temperate climate so it's equally sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy. And once the car is running transitions are fine. Even if the engine is warm, it tends to happen as well, but mainly upon start up. 

From some basic research I was thinking it also could be the solenoid going out. The car has recently had it WOF/COF and they couldn't see any problems. Will a scan tool pick up this issue? I apologise if Im not being clear, I am just trying to extend my knowledge of cars. 

 

Has anyone encountered this before?

Any help would be appreciated.