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Comments
-juice
But we also had that CEL and they want $366 to change the O2 sensor? $212 for parts? A Bosch sensor for the Miata was about $30, and I had seen one for the 626, a different brand, for about $70. Does that seem a little ridiculous to anyone else besides me?
The tech says there are two sensors in the 626, and this one is "heated", whatever that means.
By the time they add labor for diagnostics and all the other stuff, the bill hit $730. Ouch, ouch.
We've only had one other out-of-warranty repair, for about $500, so $1200 seems reasonable for service in 6 years and 70k miles. But I'm not going back to the dealer for service any more, the parts prices are borderline ridiculous.
-juice
A remanufactured Mazda axle retails for about $120 so I would hope that the dealer could have put one in for less than $300.
As for the O2 sensors, suggested retail on them is $180.
Greedy dealers.
I checked Trussville Mazda on-line, but where did you find that price? I'm picking it up tonight and would like to ask them to match the MSRP. A markup is ridiculous IMO.
Thanks.
-juice
So my whining paid off, a little bit.
The service was pricey but I still think that $1200 total in out-of-pocket repair bills is pretty good for 6 years and 70k miles.
It does tend to justify an extended warranty, though.
Have the ATF flushed at the 60k service. I've heard prices of around $100 or less, while a tranny costs 20 times that amount to fix.
-juice
70k miles on it. It shifted fine until I had it flushed. Now it shifts hard. Every mechanic (other than those with the flushing machines) I've talked to since has told me to never flush - just drop the pan. Any of the transmission shops around here seem to back that up. Evidently, a lot of their business is a result of these flushing machines. One said it can fowl the valve bodies.
I only drive 5 speeds, and the two gear oil changes I've done have only made shifting easier. In both cases I went to synthetic, so on cold mornings the difference is noticeable.
-juice
The CD4E, however, offers no options; the pan literally cannot be dropped. It doesn't work. There is no way to change this fluid other than to flush it. And the filter is completely inaccessible without major disassembly.
Ford's own advice for the CD4E, swiped from a Contour manual, is as follows:
"Under normal vehicle operating conditions, transmission service (transmission model CD4E) is not required unless 5,000 mile fluid inspections reveal either contamination or discoloration of fluid, or transmission exhibits functional concerns."
They're not too worried about it, in other words, but you ought to be eyeballing the ol' Dexron on a regular basis, before you start getting "functional concerns". If it doesn't look like it's the color of Luden's Wild Cherry, you're due for a change. And if you show up at a Lincoln/Mercury dealer, they may be so surprised that you know it's the same tranny bolted into the Mystique that they'll forget to overcharge you. (Well, maybe not, but it's worth a try.)
As a person with a 'lead foot', I decided not to buy a 97 626 4cyl I leased for three years (even though it was an excellent car that never let me down). Instead, I bought a 00lxv6 which looks great, is fun to drive and smooth on the highway, and has also been very reliable.
Good luck.
Actually, in the 13 months I've had the '00 LX, the only times I've felt the need for more ponies have involved really short onramps and really bad blind spots. During my 4500-mile trip this summer, I cruised mostly at 70 to 75 mph and managed a tick over 29 mpg, despite the fact that this was July and the A/C was therefore cranked up to Glacier. Getting past members of the Anti-Destination League is a simple matter of stomping the loud pedal far enough for the CD4E to realize you want second, not third. (Hit it hard enough and you can actually do fourth-to-first, which will scare the hell out of any passengers you may have, especially if they happen to notice the 6000 or so revs on the tach. Reason enough, in my estimation.)
125 hp is really not enough for a car this size, but unless you are personally affronted by being second off the line when the light turns green, it's bearable, especially if you don't flinch at 4000-rpm shift points.
The worst segment of the trip was around 27 (fighting the freeways around Austin in 105-degree heat); the best was nearly 33, over the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I didn't believe it myself. In town, I get right around the predicted 22; I managed under 20 once, but that was in the dead of winter and there was an awful lot of idling in place, which of course scores 0 mpg.
Maybe it's just a sample variation. I can't think of any reason why I should be doing so well and you shouldn't.
clutch the MPG has been upper 20s or lower 30s!
I've not done any preformance upgrades either.
All mods were for comfort. I will admit the higher
MPG was on long hauls,entire tank burned @ 70mph.
Our 130 ponies matched to a left-leg-flexor has
plenty of umph for me! I don't see myself as
one with patience....Zoom/Zoom
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Zoom/Zoom on the mind!!!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
-juice
My symptoms were a hesitation at low rpm. It almost felt like it was going to stall, and made much less power across the range.
I guess my wife slowly got used to it, but after the service it was like the technician had found about 30 hidden horses.
-juice
-von
-juice
engaged in some extra PM to prevent our equestrian
subjects from getting lost?!?
Thumbs Up Bryan
Side note - we had used premium fuel exclusively, but that did nothing to prevent the clogging up of the fuel system.
-juice
How's your '97 doing?
a sweet use of our 16thou and could'nt be happier!
I have some fomoco parts under this Doubleought
hood and I'm keeping on a strict PM program in
hopes of getting to+ pass the 6 digit mark.
Luv My Zoom/Zoom Bryan
I have the wood grain finish, it sure dresses up the interior of my vehicle. It is worth the extra money if you can get it. Good luck with your vehicle.
I have seen wood grain kits before on the net, unfortunately I do not have a site to suggest at the moment. If I see one I will let you know. It really does dress up the vehicle though. Mine has the wood finish around the dash gauge set, around the center air vent area, then all the way down the center console and including around the cup holders, around the door handles, around the power window controls. It should be easy enough to attach, I assume it is a stick on surface and should go on very easily.
Good luck!
With the wood finish it's like having a completely new interior. You won't be wanting to consider selling your car after the modification.
After paying the $120 to have it hooked up to this special cleaning machine for a couple of hours the performance difference to me was incredible. The pickup it had originally was back, and it was certainly more fun to drive. It was running rough even though it had been "tuned" with spark plugs just being replaced last year. This service smoothed it out.
No more tired car. Based on this experience, I really don't believe the gasoline companies who say their gas is all you need to maintain clean and fully functional fuel injectors.