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Comments
2004 Mazda6s - Sepang Green
Sports package w/ spoiler
Luxury package
Black leather
Bose upgrade
Moonroof
Side airbags and curtains
Apparently, there aren't too many '04 Mazda6ses with the Homelink/compass/autodimming mirror so the dealer will install it.
Anyway, can't wait. I was one of the RX-8 owners with the MPG issues (16 MPG w/ 80/20 highway/city driving.) The dealer must love me! 2nd car I've bought from him in approx 2 months.
I don't know how I forgot that very important little detail.
Other than the issue we all know about my 6s has been flawless from a mechanical standpoint. No CEL, clunks, or rough shifting in my AT.
My only regret is that I should have waited for the 04's. No one to blame except myself.
Mark. : )
CL
In Japan, streets have no name
Cue the Irish bard
Owners manual states that to replace bulb, go to a dealer.
Will the dealer charge labor for that?
or is it covered by mazda warranty?
That's because of their depth and the amount of stuff that's crammed into the engine bay. The way the fender wraps over the top (if it does, like on the 6 and RX-8) also impedes access to the back of the headlamp.
Anyway, the owner's manual states to take it to the dealer for the replacement, but if you're mechanically inclined, you can do it yourself. Just make sure to properly replace the headlamp so it's properly aimed.
Mazda's 6 isn't the first (I recall the Lexus SC400 being like that...it was one of the first with really raked headlamps, and of course, the glass headlamps were a big pain to replace; my dad broke the retaining frame around one on my mother's Cutlass Supreme...she was quite unhappy). The RX-8 is similar. I don't know about the 3 yet.
Not sure if you had to take out the whole headlight just to replace the bulbs. That seems to be a bit of a pain on a car that you should be able to perform minor maintenance items yourself.
The owners manual in my Protege said that you needed a special tool to change the oil filter and that you should bring it to the dealer. Yeah right.
It might be more difficult to do because they are projector beam headlights. I don't know, I've never changed bulbs on projector beams.
Remember the Porsche 328, the whole front end had to be lifted off of the engine and frame to change the spark plugs. Or the first Toyota minivan that had the engine midship, between the front and back seats, that was so difficult to get to. Don't you know the owners loved oil spots on the carpet?
Things could be worse.
Headlamp alinement: Why is it they no longer have to adjust the headlights when cars are inspected? And if Xenons are self-leveling what happens when you drive over a long, bumpy road? Do they ever get out of alinement?
fowler3
They're H1 bulbs. And from the "other mazda6 forum" people have posted pictures and instructions. At first everyone just followed the manual instructions, then more and more people replaced their lowbeam H1s without removing much. People seem to have no trouble on the passenger side, just remove rear cap (turn counter-clockwise 1/8 turn, then pull back), stick a finger or two in there and push forward and left to loosen the clip (it's hinged on the top), lift clip up to take out the bulb holder, replace bulb (do not touch the bulb glass with your fingers) and put things back the way you opened them. As for accessing the driver's side, try removing the fuse box cover, which gives you a bit of extra room. Good luck.
I might do this soon as well - just can't decide if I want to switch out my brighter yellow lights for 90% as bright, but sweet looking white lights. For $30-ish a pair it mikght be worth it to get cooler light, that's MUCH easier on the eyes. I'd do low and high beams. And parking light with white LEDs to match - otherwise (if you leave yellow parking bulbs in) it looks gross!.
"They explained to me that the problem was with the "soap solution" not being fully washed off the metal components during the cleaning prior to priming."
This sounds more like the cleaning solution used to wash off the die lubricant after the door stampings come off of the stamping line. Where I work, we usually get stampings that have some residual washing fluid left on the parts, but I'm sure they're supposed to do a more thorough job if the parts need to be welded/primed/painted. I'd bet they have it under control.
The fix? I was told to bring the car in for a treatment with epoxy sealant. I was advised that this would be a 100% solution. When I asked about extending my corrosion warranty "just in case" I was not met with a favourable response.
Comments?
ON JUNE 10, 2003, THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) CONTACTED THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO REPORT A FUEL TANK LEAK INCIDENT INVOLVING THE FDM SEAL IN A 2003 MAZDA 6 PASSENGER CAR. THE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED DURING VEHICLE PREPARATION FOR AN IIHS CRASH TEST. SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS BY MAZDA TRACED THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR BORING THE FDM HOLE. ACCORDING TO MAZDA, A MINOR SURFACE DEFECT COULD BE CREATED DURING THE CUTTING PROCESS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LEAKAGE FROM THE FDM LOCKNUT SEAL. MAZDA IMPLEMENTED CHANGES IN THE TANK MANUFACTURING AND INSPECTION PROCESSES TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE DURING THE CUTTING PROCESS AND ENSURE THAT DAMAGED TANKS WERE DETECTED PRIOR TO RELEASE. MAZDA DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE FIELD. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER ASSESS THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
Mark.
Well, it's not a 100% solution if you already have rust. The "epoxy sealant" will not remove rust.
I would feel a LOT better if they would agree to extend the corrosion warranty as well. Bottom line, if they're confident that this will fix the problem, they should be willing to back it up with extending the warranty. If it's a real fix, this will not cost them anything but will give me peace of mind.
Kinda makes me wonder if they are holding the '04s for any reason? Like trying to sell the last of those rusty '03s maybe.
I really can't believe that I am still considering buying this car. Someone reassure me please (and my guess is that it won't be Mazda).
I don't like the sound of this epoxy sealant... but, this is yet another story from Mazda. Each one differs, so I guess we'll just have to wait until Friday to see what is really going to be done. So far, I am highly unimpressed with Mazda's response. They still have not responded to or even acknowledged the e-mail I sent from 4DoorZoom for an official response. Not even a "we're working on it" response, which I invited if they had nothing else.
... from someone who lives only 5 miles from the day job and has replaced a number of mufflers over the years
Yeah - it is. However, I don't like the idea of anyone having to SETTLE for an Altima, if they like the 6
I again asked the salesman about the rust issue and he continued to plead ignorance. I gave him the specific date of the email from Mazda and asked him to check with his service dept. He called me back and sure enough they had it. He told me that service had not informed anyone else since no "action" was required. I said what about all the rusting '03s left on their lot they were hoping to sell? He replied they would catch them during the PDI. Yeah right.
The only incentive available now on '04s with 1SE is a $500 rebate, NO financing. Isn't life grand!
Thanks for the suggestions. I drive a '98 Altima SE now. Looking for a change.