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Comments
Manual or automatic?
Mazda roadside is a dispatch service that pays the tow truck directly, just like AAA. I'm sure Mazda has a list of area shops that accept their money.
I have never heard of a tow truck driver actually driving out and saying "I don't accept Mazda Roadside Assistance" because you call Mazda and then a truck comes. You don't call a tow truck and hand him your Mazda Roadside card.
I am now doubting your claim since your statement about Mazda's roadside is completely inacurate. It goes against your credibility, sorry.
I wonder if it could be the EGR valve which is a well known problem with Mazda Proteges of 2002 / 2003? The Mazda Protege is the predecessor to the Mazda3.
Steven--
It could be something as simple as a faulty neutral safety switch, which would be considerably less trouble and expense--and more likely--than a bad transmission at 20K miles. Still, anything is possible...
Gogiboy
Let me know if anybody else is having problems with gears and transmission.
Yes in the state of Massachusetts the Interstate 90 toll road only allow contracted towing companies to remove cars from the highways.
Just to send an update. Indeed my transmission was blown on arrival at the dealership. The transmission control module failed without any warning. The transmission was totally destroyed internally according the diagnostics done by thier Engineers. I was well taken care of by the dealership with a loaner car and compensation for not having my new car for a couple of weeks while they replaced the TCM and the Transmission. They say they have never had this happen before.
I am sure it will be traded in before I run out of the 3yr 36K
I hope no one else has the misfortune I have had. The new transmission has 500 miles on it and it working fine again. *fingers crossed*
Has anyone else run into this issue?
Anyway, while it is unfortunate to have an unfair $300 repair bill, swearing off the brand seems like an over-reaction to me. If it were $5000 for an engine or transmission or something, I could understand...but $300 is a pretty small repair bill these days.
Agreed.
I can spend almost $300 on just routine maintenance at times. There are people here with several thousands dollars in repairs that aren't being covered fairly by Mazda. These are the people that should be swearing off this brand. $300 is nothing.
Overall I like this car. However, it does look nicer externally than the internal quality in some regards. I think some of the Ford shows up in these Mazda's. To make a car this cheap now days means using cheaper parts. I haven't had any major issues, but I've had more issues than I had with new Honda's ten years ago.
On a side note, any one replace the clutch on a 2004-2009 Mazda3 that can post the cost they paid (and whether it was at the dealer or an independent shop?). My clutch will need to be replaced in the upcoming months. (result of teaching wife to drive manual = short clutch life). Thanks.
I'm thinking you need to think again; in many/most cases Fords of late have had nicer interiors (material wise) than Mazdas of the same vintage. When I bought my Mazda3 I test drove the Focus and the Civic; from a material perspective the Mazda had the worst of the three interiors (by a pretty wide margin, geez, even the Cobalt had nicer materials), but the best of the three in function.
As if that isn't enough, next year when the new Focus comes out it will absolutely smoke the Mazda3 from pretty much every perspective. Said another way, I don't think you can lay blame for Mazdas corner cutting at Ford's doorstep.
I wonder how your son's learning compared to my wife's? I taught my wife to drive manual on our 2008 Mazda3. She was very abusive on the clutch. The car is at 32,000 miles and just recently began showing clutch wear as clutch shudder when slipping in 1st, 2nd gear. The technical says the clutch still bites ok, but it will shudder like this until replaced. I expected a shorter life due to teaching my wife on it, but I'm not sure I expected it to be this short. Although its hard to tell right now whether the clutch is going to go out totally very soon, or I'll get another 6-12 months out of it. I was originally hoping for 40,000 miles with it, given the abuse it had.
I've owned Honda, Subaru and VW manuals and ironically this is the only one that has ever needed clutch replacement. Its also the only one some one learned on though
Then I had a used Contour, that I presume had the original clutch when I bought in in 2000 with 70-80K mi. Taught my daughter to drive manual with it and later it became her car and she drove it until 150K mi and then sold it, never had a clutch problem.
It seems like a common denominator in your posting is a problem involving sub-zero weather. This problem would be compounded if your car was not driven regularly; it would literally freeze being left out in severe weather over several days. The severe weather would cause the cold engine to fail to "turn over" (rev properly) and the remote-start would appear to not be working. I wonder, therefore, if a possible solution is to get a block heater (a device to keep the engine block warm during the winter). It is a relatively inexpensive device that can be attached to the car by any reputable mechanic. Alternatively, you may want to consider indoor parking.
My 98 Mazda Protege now has 174,000 miles on original clutch. My wife drove it for 2 years, then I, my son drives it now.
My Civic had 160,000 miles when I crashed it but clutch was good.
In 1999 I bought 89 240SX with 88K miles and bad clutch. Replaced the clutch myself with the part from dealer. Drove for close to 100K with no clutch issues and sold it in 2006.
Had 1987 Nissan Stanza and @ 113K miles traded in for Protege above with clutch perfectly intact.
I believe that bad clutches happen because material could be bad on it from part supplier. But 99% of the time it is the way people drive the car what kills the clutch.
Metzfr
Is this a manual?
my Mazda sits for long periods during the summer.
Please clarify. For example, do you drive it in the summer about once a week or once a month or once during the summer?
Do you tend to drive it short distances (e.g. under 10 miles) when you do take it out?
Let us know how you make out.
I'll have to pay out of my pocket now: $3,300
There are too many people with this problem for it NOT to be recalled! But the service rep said Highway Admin issues recalls not them. If enough people report it to Highway safety, hopefully this will get attention! I just filed a report this morning. I encourage you to do the same! They have an 888 number and a website:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800) 424-9153
There are too many people with this problem for it NOT to be recalled! But the service rep said Highway Admin issues recalls not them. If enough people report it to Highway safety, hopefully this will get attention! I just filed a report this morning. I encourage you to do the same! They have an 888 number and a website:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800) 424-9153
Clutch Disk
Pressure Plate
Throw-out Bearing
Alignment Tool
Pilot Bushing
Installation Guide
Some vendors show the price as low as $163, but the only one I can comment on from personal experience is 1A-Auto. 1A sells it for $193.85 plus free shipping. I ordered it on a Tuesday morning and it arrived on Thursday before noon...and that wasn't expedited shipping, just the free shipping they include. So they're on the ball when it comes to getting orders out the door!
My mechanic said the kit from Exedy and the OEM clutch he removed from my car were literally identical! He used the analogy of Advil vs. Store-brand Ibuprofen- same medicine, same quality, but one has a brand name and costs twice as much!
The best way to find the best pricing is by using Google, click on the Shopping link and search for "Mazda3 Exedy Clutch Kit". FYI- Exedy warranites the product for 12 monhts or 20,000 miles. I've put over 15k miles on mine and it still feels like brand new...I hope it remains that way for a long time!
I have since traded the car in for a non-mazda.