Forum:
My wife has a YRV turbo 130 and today (Sunday 28/10/12) has lost drive from auto box in postions 3 & 4. Drives ok up to 2nd gear then when it hits third the drive goes: it drops back to first. If you drive it in 2nd position it drives ok up to second, as it should. The oil looks and smells clean and level is ok. Any relation to a 'hiss' for about two seconds on initial engagement of drive - forward or back.
Sounds like the box has malfunctioned
Sorry to read this. Unfortunately an achilies heal on these cars I'm afraid.
I take it the autobox fluid hasnt been changed through the time of ownership?
If you do a search on here you will see the amount of posts in relation to the autobox and issues members have had. The most common one we have seen is the flashing 'D' when trying to set off from startup.
Unfortunately in the handbook the service schedule makes no comment on having the Autobox oil and filter replaced. In the owners manual right at the back somewhere there is a mention that this needs changing every 6 years. Others will tell you to do it every 3 years.
Take it from me the dipstick will show a cherry red colour of Autobox fluid, but when I had mine replaced this year the colour of the old oil was going to a black colour. So I wouldnt take this as the oil being clean.
The other thing to bare in mind is that the auotbox has its own ECU, called the Transmission Control Unit, which talks to the ECU about what is going on with the autobox, it could be as a long shot a failing Transmission unit.
How does the car drive in Steershift mode? Will the car shift up from 2nd to 3rd manually?
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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP
Yup. It's knackered. Will
Yup. Sorry to say it's knackered. Will need another gearbox, To rebuild will probably cost more than sourcing a second hand box.
Auto box
Had the thing eight months, Ive not changed the fluid. Never thought to try it in steershift. Do that tomorrow. Thanks.
Unfortunate Sounds like the
Unfortunate
Sounds like the last owner has been caining this car, which understandably its built for, but also sounds that due to a lack of oil Changes on the autobox that this may have been a acatalyst to the issue you are facing. I suppose if you bought this car from a car sales company you could always try the sales of goods act and try and get your money back. If that fails then its a new Autobox/re-con one 
Where did you buy the car from? Not the place that was advertising one in Liverpool as the car that can beat Subaru Imprezas was it?
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'12' Plate Mazda MX-5 2.0 litre NC 3.5 Venture Roadster 160BHP
'15' Plate SEAT LEON 184 FR TDI. 240BHP/500nm Torque.
Past: '53' Plate Yellow YRV Turbo Approx. 150BHP
Unfortunatly they are not
Unfortunatly they are not built for abuse. But rather put together with as many parts that were already available, to keep costs down.
The auto gearbox, was originally designed for the 90bhp 1.3 "F-speed" versions of YRV/Sirion, there is no difference to the Turbo box.
Whilst it is stronger option than the manual K3-VE gearbox (and clutch), It seems not man enough for the job to last a cars lifetime, especially once the oil starts breaking down after 5 or 6 years.