Dear Mr. Kilmer: I own a 2009 Mazda 5 with 110K miles. I've had it for three years, and paid $4000 for it, probably putting in another $1500 for brakes, some suspension work and regular maintenance. I like the car, but I'd been noticing some strange acceleration particularly on an incline, like getting on a highway lately.

At the end of June, suddenly the car began to buck as I drove it, and the Check engine light came on. I pulled over and called my mechanic and he said I could drive the car, and then could bring it in. I had a meeting, and the car was ok until after that and then it started up on the way home. I might be wrong, but it seems to be worse when starting out. It's summer, but it starts just as the engine 'warms up.'

The next day, they told me there was nothing wrong; they had reset the check engine light and the transmission was mechanically ok. Well, I drove the car about 2 miles when the same thing happened; I brought it back.

Long story short is its now mid-August and they've sent out a computer component of the transmission to two different vendors. The first time it took almost two weeks, and then didn't work. The second vendor sent it back and it worked (everyone was overjoyed) and then the next day when I picked it up, the owner turned over the engine and boom -- check engine and seizing. They have since sent it back to vendor #2. As I understand it, it's the module of the transmission that communicates with the engine, and I read it can go bad. The shop even tried to buy a new transmission for me, but it's the chip problem. I love my mechanic; he's done so well with this and other cars of mine. I respect him for not giving up, but even if it seems repaired, what do you think? I hate to buy another beater in this market (and that's my budget).

Time for 1-878-Cars-ForKids?