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Comments
Of course, one difference is my '99 has a manual lever to adjust the amount of fresh air versus recirculated air entering the cabin instead of an electronically-actuated vent. It might be less restrictive.
If you garage your P5, try cracking one of the windows a little bit. It makes shutting doors much easier.
So in your opinion, the P5 is just about the worst vehicle you have ever been in as far as squeaks and rattles are concerned? Which vehicles in specific have you found to be better, and what is your long term experience with each of these cars?
I am bringing my P5 into the dealership for the 1st time (car is about 1yr2mths old). I have a squeaking problem when I turn the steering wheel clockwise. It also has a knocking sound when the steering wheel is turned clockwise, then released. This sound tends to be alot louder when Im making a U-turn. Anyone have any ideas about this? Im hoping the dealer figures out what it is.
I have had absolutely zero maintenance done other than the normal scheduled maintenance (i.e., oil changes). And when I say zero problems, I mean zero...not one single switch that doesn't work or one single thing go wrong. I have been very very pleased with the quality of this car, and I still like the way it drives/handles, and still love the looks of the car.
I guess my biggest complaint is the normal one -- I wish it had more power. But, in all honesty, I knew the power it had when I bought it. If you are looking for a fast car, don't buy it. If you want a great looking car that doesn't look like everything else on the road, gets good gas mileage, and has been very reliable (for me, knock on wood), then this is the car. I bought it looking for a sporty, reliable car to drive back and forth to work -- no complaints, as that is what I got.
-Alt
85 Monte Carlo (super quiet, although my memory is fading on that one!)
86 Volvo 740 (no squeaks, but tons of other problems! This is the worst car I have ever owned.)
93 Civic hatchback (drove it for 8 years, one dash rattle that I fixed. Other than that, great car.)
93 Civic sedan (wife's car, no squeaks in 5 years)
96 Honda Accord (2nd wife's car, quiet as a library, not counting road noise)
99 Camry (close to as many squeaks, but still fewer. What an overrated car. I only kept it 4 painful months.)
01 Honda Accord (2nd wife's current car, couple of minor squeaks but not mine so I don't care)
The only thing I've heard that squeaked more was a cargo van full of mice. Just kidding.
I would say there are at least 5-6 rattles or squeaks at once on anything but the smoothest roads, and there aren't many of those in Memphis. I currently have the ashtray removed because it squeaked so bad.
Don't get me wrong. I like this car with the exception of the two problems I listed. I just won't repeat the experience.
As far as the clutch chatter, this is a hopping sensation like it is in a bind. It only happens starting out in first, and it has only started since it began getting cold. I don't consider that "normal" behavior, especially since there is a TSB about it.
Purchased Sept. 1, 2001 for a bit less then sticker.
Total miles to date: right around 28,000
Current MPG: 27-32 in mixed driving
Maintenance to date: Just regular oil changes and required services done at my trusty independent mechanic. The nearest Mazda dealership is almost 2 hours away.
Mods: None really, Weathertech front mats for winter, XSPORT box for the roof when I need the extra room. I run a set of 15" steelies with 195/55-15 Michelin Arctic Alpins in the winter and it's fabulous in the snow.
Only one noise, a cold weather rattle in the pass.-side door. Other then that, the car has been perfect, not one single problem.
Pros: Handling, handling, handling, looks, cargo capacity, reliability
Cons: Could use another 20 HP, but it's steers, shifts, and handles so great that I really don't miss the ponies that much at all.
pciskowski,
Did you ever have the door panels pulled off and other stuff taken apart while you were searching for the offending culprit? I'm wondering if you made your situation worse by disassembling things. From my experience with other cars, once you start taking things apart, they never fit together tight again (especially those stupid door panel clips).
MPG varies... I'm an aggressive fast driver. Usually in low 20's for city... 28-31 for freeway (80mph).
Mods: tinted windows and magnetic bra.
Only reason I'm lookin at other cars is that I'd like something bigger with more power and more amenities (heated seats and stuff). Haven't found anything that I've fallen in "love" with yet (that is under 30k... love the IS300 but a little too much for what it is - at 28k would be great).
Wayde
I'm chalking it up to crappy streets in Memphis and the stiff suspension (34 lbs pressure in the tire, by the way). I did not notice these problems the first 3-4 months, and they seem to be getting worse, so I think the roads are just shaking everything loose. I can't imagine what else it could be since nobody else seems to have these problems.
I would like to tow a small utility trailer.
Any info/experience would be great.
Thanks.
I think it's barely noticable, expecially with the black cover on my dark blue car.
I use it for a bike rack and not towing so I can't give you any experience on the towing side or wiring for lights since I didn't get that done either.
Huh, so why did I even reply since it doesn't look like I actually give you any help?
-Alt
Thanks for the response. Evry little bit helps. Nice to know it is not very noticeable.
Anybody Else? Wiring info would be great as well.
Never seen one in the states.
Meade
http://www.edmunds.com/media/adunit/chrysler/pacifica/spotlight/p_exterior.html?id=lin9153
Meade
Memorized settings:
memorized settings for 1 driver
memorized settings includes driver seat
memorized includes rear view mirror
memorized settings includes exterior mirror
WOW!
Thanks!
Revka
Hatchbacks & Wagons Host
If your headlight switch cluster dies... I doubt you'll qualify for warranty replacement (if the dealer knows about the HIDs that is)... if your rear shock blows out, no they wouldn't be able to void your warranty due to your HIDs. There's actually laws against that (doesn't stop some dealers from trying to screw you tho).
-Alt
This is just like your HMO...if the insurance company won't pay for a procedure then the doctor can't do it for free....auto warranty claims has become just like health insurance, leaving the dealer in the middle to deal with the unhappy customer.
As for what a dealer should do if Mazda doesn't approve - I think the dealer should fight for the customer (assuming the dealer believes that it should be a warranty repair). Thus, if capn_krotch decides to replace the standard bulbs with HID bulbs and his a/c goes out and Mazda says "nope, not under warranty because of the bulbs," I'd want (and expect) my dealer to fight for me.
FWIW - I don't believe that one can just replace the normal bulbs with HID lights. IIRC, xenon lights require an entirely new encasement, and to my knowledge (which, admittedly, is rather limited) no such "upgrade" exists.
This year alone we have had a few issues where outside companies did damage to customer cars and then they tried to make a warranty claim. But they were very clear cut.
1. a quick lube biz put too much oil in a 2002 F-150 and it caused engine damage. They wrote a check to the customer for a new engine.
2. a large electronics department store installed a remote starter on a vehicle and it blew out a bunch of electronics on the car. They paid for the $1800 service bill to repair the problem.
These were very clear cases. The real problem stems from what seems to be an unrelated problem. But, often what may seem unrelated is very much related when you look at the eletrical path to the item....we have some cars that tie turn signals, wipers and heater to the same fuses. odd huh.
what about a performance engine control chip? i know for a fact that installing one does void the warranty but does the dealer know that one of these was once installed even if i take it out when i take it to the dealer?
how 'bout a performance intake? i cant imagine this having any effect on the warranty.
thx -alex
Ever driven a car with HID lighting? No comparison, not even close.
how 'bout a performance intake? i cant imagine this having any effect on the warranty.
When your check engine light comes on and it turns out you have an emission problem, your shiny chrome/bright red cold air intake will give them cause to not want to fix it under warranty. There is a reason that it takes many engineers many hours to design engine management systems. It takes Joe Tuner about 20 hours to design an intake that fits and shows some top end dyno improvement.
I was simply stating the possiblity of an occurrence. And a possiblity that does actually exist in reality. it does happen to some people unfairly. In most cases I feel that the refusal of service is warranted (lol)... but like I said, there are some cases where it's just a horror story.
-Alt
My parent's I35 has real HIDs and they are far better than any HID lookalike bulbs you could buy.
from the front door back and the windows down, the silver car looks very much the same (might even be the same). The rest of the car looks quite different.
The blue car doesn't really look right at all.
I don't care much about that D-pillar on the silver version though. I'd have to see it in person to be sure.