Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions

mainsail2

Get some less expensive filter media from Home Depot or from an in-house filter, measure and cut to fit. Finding a thickness close enough is the only issue. It will probably cost you less than a dollar.

billmckinley

I've got it--the low-speed brake squeal. It's incredibly high-pitched: piercing in nature. So far, I've only heard it twice, both times holding the car on a downhill grade at a stoplight. If it doesn't get any worse, I can live with it, but from what I've read here and elsewhere, it will. Oh well, I'll deal with it when it becomes truly annoying.

RJ

alexv1n

It will become very annoying. Mine has been worsening for last 10 months now and I now changed the way I brake :-) I try not to brake very slightly. Either stop or go... Fortunately, I got a call from my dealership and they told me that the parts that were on back order for almost two months now are in and this Wednesday I will get it fixed, hopefully. I'm very anxious to ride my otherwise problem-free MPV again without that brake squeal annoyance...

msgjvh

Ok I have made several oil changes on my own now and I still find myself frustrated with the mess it makes when taking off the filter. The biggest thing I forget to do is to ram a screwdriver thru the bottom in the beginning while draining the oil. If I do that the mess isn't so bad. If I forget, the second I get about three turns on the filter, I get a palm full of muck! Do any of our resident genious' have a solution for this?

toyrota

I have not changed the oil in my 2001 MPV yet, but try this next time---as you're turning the filter by hand to remove, cover it with a plastic bag ( a sandwich bag may work/don't know how big the filter is). This may trap most of the oil inside the bag as you remove the filter!

maltb

I use tin foil to make a drip path.

billmckinley

Alex--Since you're currently dealing with it, I'll ask you. Do you know the TSB number for the repair? I guarantee the Wonder Wizards at Rohrich Mazda won't have heard of it, and I might as well go in with it at hand when the time inevitably comes. Might save some time [assuming that they can read it--I have my doubts].

TIA

RJ

alexv1n

I don't have the number of TSB but I just went to the dealership and made them seach through files with TSBs. They denied its existance for quite a while and even when they found the TSB the guy told first that it has nothing to do with my problem. I just glanced at it and it was describing my exact problem. Eventually I managed to convince them that the problem I was experience is exactly how it is described: squeal when going at slow speeds and gentle application of brakes.

templeton12

I am considering buying a new 2001 MPV LX for $20,000. Because there are not a lot of MPVs on the road, I am concerned about the cost and convenience of obtaining parts for repairs after the warranty expires. Has anyone found that service takes longer than other vehicles.

The alternative is to buy a similarly equipped Honda Oddysey LX for $24,600. I like the larger size and the stronger engine, but I'm not willing to pay $4600 more just for that.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

maltb

We had this discussion a few hundred posts back. In the limited comparison that was done, it was pretty much a wash as far as part prices go between MPV and Ody. Sienna tended to be a bit higher. As far as availability goes, I have yet to hear a story that parts aren't available on a national level but rather some spotty dealers.

It sure would be nice if we could search the boards. Hosts, what gives?

scarter7719

when I'm in my MPV, that is! Took it back to the dealer a second time. They checked everything out again, then re-rotated the tires (?). I was not too happy with that since they needed rotated the first time, and now they're are back in their original position. Anyway, before I go plunking down good money on Michelin MXV4's, does anyone have any thoughts on non-tire causes for vibrations with the MPV? Am I expecting too much ...is it just not a smooth driver? I had the chance to drive two different new 626's as loaners recently. I noticed they both vibrated while quickly accelerating from 0-60 during gear changes. These cars had Bridgestones, my MPV has Yoko's (which I know nothing about and have never owned) Is this just a Mazda thing? Does the MPV tranny and it's quirkiness or engine cause this vibration? I've driven everything from Saab to Caddy, currently a '00 Accord (VERY smooth w/ the Mich's) and the only times I've ever had trouble with vibration, beyond what simple tire balancing could resolve, involved something deeper than tires......

billmckinley

It is most definitely NOT a Mazda thing, at least not in the sense of being something you should have to live with. I have a 2001 LX that had a minor vibration when I got it. I solved that particular problem by lowering the tire pressure to specs--they were carrying 48psi, set that way at the factory to keep them from going out of round while the car sat in the dockyard until it could be shipped to the dealer. My dealer never adjusted the pressure. Have you--or your dealer-- checked your tire pressure? Since I got rid of the excess air, my ride is smooth as silk.

A number of owners with similar problems--more on the 00's than on the 01's--have had their dealer take the car to an independent balancer and had their problems solved that way. Not matter what the solution is, you shouldn't have to pay to for it. If it needs new tires to drive smoothly, the company should pay for them if you're still under warranty.
Don't give up and don't give in!

RJ.

scarter7719

Thanks...I've had the tire pressure at 35 lbs all along. Valvoline oil change tried to set it higher, but I wouldn't let them. I'm not so sure how much leeway I have on a possible tire replacement with the dealer. I did buy the MPV used and it supposedly 'passed' their certification standard. I'm sure they'll give me a hard time if it comes to that. The front tires were fairly worn because they had never been rotated. At 13k miles, under those conditions, I'm not sure how much life that pair has left. The Yoko's are rated at 240 treadwear, so probably not much. If all the tires were that worn, I would replace them, but the back pair have plenty of tread. Trust me, I'm not hell bent on buying new rubber, but since my wife and kids cart around everyday in the MPV (and I thought I read somewhere about Yoko's and tire separation, maybe an earlier tire than the ones I have) it's kind of a safety issue for me too....

dougsey

I too notice some minor vibration in the steering wheel of my 01 LX, 5500 miles, equipped with Dunlops set at 35 psi. It seems to present at speeds over 35 but does not increase with speed, ie. the vibration is the same at 35 or 65. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't feel it but they did check the balance and rotate the tires which didn't help.

I also have a different steering wheel vibration while the vehicle is at a complete stop and in drive (foot on brake). This is more of an ultrasonic vibration rather than the minor shaking I get while moving. I go into neutral and it goes away. Again, this is very minor but it's there. Dealer couldn't feel this either.

Scarter, I would really like to know if going to a different tire helps your situation, should you choose to go that route.

I'm not happy about these vibrations but I'm living with it because I just don't have the motivation to argue with the dealer getting them to fix something they claim they can't detect or is "within spec".

msgjvh

There was a TSB out there regarding the vibration. You may want to go to the alldata page or the MPV community page at http://www.vakcer.com/mpv. That may help your situation some. The biggest change comes from buying different tires.

sandesdriver

Has anyone replaced their original Dunlop H rated tires with any brand S or T rated tires? If so, have you noticed any significant handling problems?

The tire "experts" talk about handling differences which I might take seriously if I was driving a Viper or Corvette rather than a conservatively driven minivan. I am resisting paying $100 to $200 more for a set of H rated tires which get 40 to 50% of the mileage.

bharrell

I replaced my tires on my 2000 MPV LX at 18,000 miles. They were Yokos and totally shot! I ended up with Turanza touring tires and have been pretty pleased overall. I also have the Brake Squeal thing going on, but have had the dealer check them twice and had them checked independently once and everyone says they are working fine, so I don't worry too much about it. My van also pulls to the left, but I went ahead and purchased lifetime alignment at a service center I trust in my area, and I have it re-aligned every time they rotate my tires. It takes some time, but it is worth it not to have that pull constantly! Otherwise, I really love this van!

I do have a question though. I would like to replace the stereo and add a cassette/CD combo unit, but I can't find anyone who knows what dask kit to use for this van. Does anybody know anything about this?

Thanks a lot!

scarter7719

Sorry, I was incorrect on an earlier post. The Yoko's are 200 Treadwear, Traction A, Temp B. I'm unsure of the speed rating (don't have the vehicle with me) though I doubt they're H rated. Maybe somebody else knows.....

dougsey: your vibration sounds exactly like mine. Don't know if I'll get new tires, though I'm definitely leaning that way. I'll give the dealer another shot, but you're right about the hassle.

msgjvh: thanks for the link, but I'm having trouble finding the TSB. If you go to Info, then 2001 under TSB, it says "no TSB info is available". What's weird is that I know I've been on that site and even seen the tie-rod TSB (???)

lpatter1

I have a mpv 2001 and it only has about 9K miles. I had noticed that when the car is first turned on. I went to the dealer and they put the machine on it and could not find any codes, they tested 2 other vehicle and the same problem. The mechanic said the fuel ejectors could cause it. It does it when the car is cold or hot. I am from the school that if black smoke is coming out the exhaust then it is not good,at least it is not blue. Any help would be appreciated.

j2kbarlow

...to a rich fuel mixture. I read some time back that this is normal for Mazda products. My Miata does it too (it's got 115K miles and counting). Nothing to worry about - something about it helps with warm up times or something of that nature. The only way to fix it it to change the computer's programming for the air-to-fuel ratio - not something that's normally done.

bob57

After reading the last few tire posts I ran out and looked at my tire wear (got some funny looks in the parking lot on my knees - they probably thought I was popping hubcaps...).
My 2001 Mazda came with Yoko Radial 376 tires. I wasn't too thrilled when I first saw them but am presently quite pleased. I had the perverbial pulling/wandering problem until I set all the tires at 36PSI (after a long story).
Anyway, I have 16,500 miles and the wear is very slight. I have not rotated tires yet. Both front & back show little difference between them. That could be due to the fact 70~80% of my driving is at 75MPH. The ride is very smooth @ that speed. My wife's Sienna Dunlops (@13K) are not holding up very well but hers is mostly stop & go - and spend money....:))

drrocket

Help, I lost the center cap (the little plastic disc with the Mazda emblem) from one of my '00 ES 16" wheels. Does anyone have a spare they'd be willing to part with, or know of a source for an inexpensive replacement?

Thanks in advance.

javadoc

Well Drr, that smells like a warranty situation, as long as you don't blurt out that your dog ripped it off the van or you lost it while changing tires...etc. I'd go about it with the parts dept. at the dealership and have them order one under warranty. Other than that, I'd hope they're cheap at the dealership if you can't get it under warranty.

/java

drrocket

It never occurred to me that it could be a warranty issue. I only noticed the missing cap this morning; I had taken the MPV through a Touch-Free car wash yesterday evening, so I called over there to see if they found the cap, but they had not.

I called my dealership parts dept. to price one (I mean, how much could a little plastic disc cost?); much to my surprise, they quoted a price >$20! For one!?

I'll try the warranty angle.

Thanks.

drrocket

Yep, it's covered by warranty.

Thanks, you've made my day!

stever

That should be worth 5 bonus Friday Freeway points if you ask me. Thanks Java!

Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

javadoc

a good 15pts to make a difference. Ahhh, the days of yester-year when I had time for Friday trivia...cup o'joe in one hand, google search page at the ready...

I guess I have to make an appearance this week.

/java

stever

Rumor has it that Sneakers is dredging up some old Swedish car trivia for tomorrow....

rutger3

Has anyone else noticed the excessive wind noise when only one of the middle windows is open? I need to open a front window to eliminate it.I have a 2001 LX.

javadoc

I think this is a common issue. If you have just a (or both, from my exp.) rear window rolled down, you get some serious buffeting inside the van, which personally hurts my head. The kids aren't allowed to open ours on the freeway, "It'll suck daddy's hair off," heheh.

I don't know if this was addressed with the 2002my revisions, and it has always struck me as an aerodynamic issue...and I'd don't know how you'd fix it except for maybe putting some of those acrylic window visors on the van and see if that does it. Her it isn't much of a problem since it's not usually warm enough to want to have windows open on the freeway.

Happy motoring!

/java

maltb

I hate that, but it happens in lots of vehicles when the front windows are up. I'm just thankful that the rear windows go down. You won't find an Ody owner complaining about it.

javadoc

They're all lined up for back ordered transmission parts.

/j

mainsail2

I posted this in another section by mistake. I have a "toe-in" problem with my left rear wheel on my 2001 LX which is causing the rear tires to cup. Mazda's toe-in specifications are liberal allowing for a range of -5 degrees to +32 degrees. My problem is the left rear wheel is at +36 degrees and toe-in is not adjustable on either rear wheel. (The left wheel is at +5 degrees).

I have not yet heard back from Mazda about what they might or can do about the problem. The tires that are cupped have about 14,000 miles on them while placed in the rear.Hind site is 20/20, but I'd say I first noticed the problem when they had about 12,000 miles on them. Anyone else out there with this problem? I've been told that having shims installed would correct the problem, but shims are not considered to be an ideal fix.

javadoc

Mainsail2, could that be -5 to +32minutes (fractions of degrees) instead of degrees? I'm trying to visualize 32degs of toe and that's alot, like this much /, and I would think you'd have lots of trouble just keeping on the road with that kind of toe. I'll reserve the right to shove my foot in my mouth tho.

Whichever the case, it does seem out of spec, and the only way I've known to manipulate toe on most rear wheels is with shims as you've said, or suspension replacement. Fwiw, I've never had an issue with a shim-adjusted rear toe correction, it's not like the shim will fall out or anything :-)

A few automobiles actually have suspensions with adjustable rear toe (aside from shim adjustment), possibly Honda w/ their very nice double-wishbone rear suspensions may be one and lots of cars that run on race tracks have adjustable rear toe settings. All the street cars I've ever adjusted rear toe on, you placed a shim in the hub area that adjuste the alignment of the rear wheel, toeing in or out depending which way you placed the shim.

Keep us posted on what Mazda says,

/Java

mainsail2

Thanks for the reply. The printout that I got on the alignment uses the degree symbol, so I really don't know if they're talking about degrees or fractions of degrees. I had the same thought, though, as I pictured the geometrical ramifications of such a large discrepancy. The service manager spoke in terms of degrees, but maybe minutes are implied in the language of alignment specialists.

It's good to hear that shims are probably OK, so I won't have to go through the ceiling at the Mazda dealership if that's the only fix they have. At least it sounds like a better alternative than looking at tires that have nearly all of their tread remaining, but go woowoowoowoo down the road!

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted about Mazda's answer.

tboner1965

Call the shop and ask. Maybe it is 3.2 degrees which is possible.

TB

javadoc

Why didn't I think of 3.2degs? That's entirely possible. I always ran my GTI with a few degrees of toe-in built into the front and a few degrees of toe-out in the rear to help the car rotate on corner entry. Tho...not what you want with a minivan, lol.

/j

j2kbarlow

Mainsail,

If Mazda's specs are between 5 and 32 (or 3.2) and your toe is at 36 (or 3.6), and your van is within warranty and hasn't been in an accident, then I would be screaming Facory Defect and demanding the rear suspension be changed out under warranty to factory spec. Shims may "fix" the problem, but it skirts the issue that the van left the factory (or at least arrived in your driveway) with a defective rear suspension. Make them fix it correctly.

maltb

...and the dealer could scream back and say a pothole knocked it out of wack.

It's always a good idea to be rational and be sure that you know the facts before you go somewhere screaming and come back with crow on your breath.

scarter7719

Well, now I have it too, and yes, it's pretty annoying! When I called the dealer last week to set an appointment, the service manager said it was "just brake dust". When I mentioned the TSB, she said the TSB solution was to have the brake dust blown out to the tune of $38. I was also told that brakes are not covered under warranty after 12K miles (the reasoning behind the charge I suppose).

I have searched the web to no avail for details on this TSB. On the vakcer site, I see mention of a real brake squeal, but not a solution. I also searched the NHTA site, but found that you have to pay a fee to see TSB detail. I couldn't find anything about a brake problem on that site anyway.

I know several of you have had this problem and I'm curious to see what your resolutions were, if any. I just can't believe it's caused simply by brake dust. Am I going to have to go to the dealer every time my brakes squeal and have them blown out? Sounds pretty ridiculous!

alexv1n

I have had my squeal problem fixed awhile back and you can find my report on it here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mpv2000/message/1167

I saw the TSB but unfortunately couldn't convince the dealer to make a copy of it for me. The fix involves replacing pretty much everything in the rear brake assembly. I had mine done at 37,000 km at no charge and they even replaced the shoes (for free). I suggest you to go back to the dealer (or to another dealer) and ask them to show you the description of the TSB No. 0102R. They are either lying to you, or looking into a wrong source (I'm not aware of any other TSB for MPV addressing squeal problem).

I'm happy to say that over 6 weeks later, there's still no squeal. That is such a joy driving a quiet van :-)

As soon as the details on this TSB will become available, they will appear on the MPV web site in the Info section. BTW, there are some more TSBs/Recall info posted there recently: http://www.vakcer.com/mpv

I hope this helps.

msgjvh

Sheeesh you can buy a nice Air Compressor for about 200 bucks. Thats only about five visits.

javadoc

Scarter7719, it sounds like your dealer is not being very helpful. When I was in for a LOF last month, I had them check out the rear brake squeal and gave them the TSB number that alex lists (0102R) and they ordered the laundry list of parts. Of course, I'm waiting for the parts (takes six weeks?), but they didn't give me any trouble and said they'd "give it a try."

Good Luck!

/Java

scarter7719

FYI to the group--I'm sure most of you already know--but for those who don't, I've found the most info regarding TSB's at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. However, they only list the TSB titles and a brief summary, no detailed info on the resolution. To get research and details, they charge ~$35/hour and it takes up to two weeks to receive via snail mail. So much for instant knowledge gratification on the web! :-(

Question to Alex and Java: is the squeal TSB 0101R or 0102R? On nhtsa, it's listed as Service Bulletin #0400101R, Bulletin Sequence #620, NHTSA Item # SB620006, Date 06/01, and there is no 0102R. The description is the same as the one on the vakcer site, so I'm sure it's the one.

BTW, my squeal is not constant, but what is predictable is when it occurs: not when I first apply the brakes, but just that moment prior to the vehicle coming to a complete stop.

SC

scarter7719

OK, I've been holding out on you guys - sorry. I previously posted problems with my MPV having a vibration problem. Thanks to all who responded! I purchased a set of Michelin X-Ones a couple weeks ago....WOW, what a difference! Very smooth, no vibration (at least from the tires) and a very confident feeling drive.

It was a toss up between the MXV4+ and the X-Ones. I have a set of MXV4+ on my Accord and I'm very pleased with them, but I've noticed that they are not the greatest in the rain (lots of summer rain in FLA) and they wear down fast. The X-Ones are supposed to be excellent rain tires and their tread depth looks to be about 4 miles deep! I'll probably trade-in the MPV (for a new MPV, of course!) before the tires are worn out....

SC

stone20

My 2000 Mazda MPV is not doing so great. 1st the front end makes cracking noises when appling the brakes, more so in reverse. 2nd the tires went bad at 20000 miles. 3rd the paint chipped on the bottom of drivers door and passengers door identical chips. 4th all the vinyl on the exterior on the van had to be replaced. The dealer did replace all the vinyl at no cost to me. The paint on the front bumper and hood are chipping.

Any response?

alexv1n

Even though NHTSA contain useful information I can't call it accurate. Just note that there are three different TSBs listed under #401. When I was doing my rear brake fix I asked for TSB number and I was told that it was 0102R. That's what I listed on the web site even though NHTSA shows it as 0101R. There could be a difference though because I got my information from a Canadian dealership and generally US and Canadian TSBs are not necessary the same. So, there is a chance that in US the TSB is called 0101R. But until I can find proof of that (either to confirm 0101R or 0102R) I'll leave it as 0102R as this is something I know might be closer to truth :-)

alexv1n

Sorry to hear you have those problems. However I have some questions on that:

1. What kind of cracking noise is that? Could it be related to front disc brake pads shifting around? While that particular noise is more clung than crack, there is a TSB on that to deaden the sound (it is still normal for brakes to emit that noise)... However I doubt that this is the problem you are having based on your description. Could you provide more info on this particular issue?

2. Well, premature tire wear seems to be a common problem nowadays, and not only with MPV. However I'm happy to report that mine at 25,000 miles are sill good.

3. Is there any sign of impact (dent/scratch)? Some moron hit my van with a door or shopping cart and scratched the paint from the passenger door handle and put a dent in the middle of the door. I'd definitely cut her/his tires for that :-). I also have some paint chips, especially after I got under "stone rain" on highway one day. Some truck must have lost half the cargo load of gravel and when a bunch of cars got in the area, rocks were flying as hail. I got my share of chips that day :-( Is your van white by any chance? I heard that white was somewhat "weak" for 2000 model year. At least white and silver was changed for 2001. (I have 2000 Silver, BTW)

4. What was wrong with the vinyl? Just curious.

brmuda

My '00 ES has "clunking" noise that comes from fr brakes. It's most noticebale when applying brakes in reverse (like backing out of parking spots, garage, etc.). I've read others on this board w/similar prob.

My dealer told me there's a TSB out on this problem. It has something to do with them installing/replacing shims in front brake pads. Dealer is going to apply TSB this week. I will advise this board on the outcome.

What exactly are you referring to when you mention probs with your exterior vinyl that your dealer replaced?

nick47

Just took car in for 30,000 mile service. I reported a brake squeal (rear) that begins just about the time I stop. I previously mentioned this to dealer and was advised that $65.00 would solve all my problems. I declined. In view of above postings it appears that I may be able to have this fixed gratis. Any one know exactly how to go about it. About two or three weeks ago air bag light began coming on while driving. It is intermittent.

Overall very happy with MPV ES 2000. Biggest problem is wife complaining about brake noise.