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Again, the water seems to be coming from underneath the carpet. I am very concerned.
You could get inside the car and have someone else spray the hose around the windows as you look for and feel for the leak.
I have a few questions for you:
1. I am thinking about installing an aftermarket remote starter on my car (2003 Mazda6 2.3 automatic). Any good, cheap, reliable brand that you recommmend? Currently, I already have a good aftermarket alarm installed in my car, and I have no wish to get rid of it. Is it possible to add another moodule on top of an existing alarm system? I don't mind having to have two remotes with me.
2. I am also thinking about trying to change the mazda6 oil myself. I was told by the service manager at Don Miller Mazda (in Madison, WI) that the process is a lot more complicated than any other Japanese car (e.g. Toyota Camry). Is it ture?
3. How many quarts of oil do you put in?
4. What is the grade of oil do you use? I am planning on either using a Mobil One Synthetic oil 0W20 or a Valvoline Durablend 5W30.
5.What is your interval between oil changes? Does using a synthetic or semi-synthetic oil warrant you not to change your oil as often as conventional oil? I have seen BMW and Benz being required to change their synthetic oil every 12,000 miles.
6. Does anyone know the extra advantage on buying a K&N air filter? I am unable to decide whether to buy a $60 dollars K&N air filter or a $15 Fram Air Filter.
7. Last of all, What is exactly a brake moan? My car's brakes are always making noises whenever I try to make an ordinary complete stop.
Please number your responses according to the questions. I would like to thank you guys in advance and wish everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year! Cheers!!!
I have a few questions for you:
1. I am thinking about installing an aftermarket remote starter on my car (2003 Mazda6 2.3 automatic). Any good, cheap, reliable brand that you recommmend? Currently, I already have a good aftermarket alarm installed in my car, and I have no wish to get rid of it. Is it possible to add another moodule on top of an existing alarm system? I don't mind having to have two remotes with me.
2. I am also thinking about trying to change the mazda6 oil myself. I was told by the service manager at Don Miller Mazda (in Madison, WI) that the process is a lot more complicated than any other Japanese car (e.g. Toyota Camry). Is it ture?
3. How many quarts of oil do you put in?
4. What is the grade of oil do you use? I am planning on either using a Mobil One Synthetic oil 0W20 or a Valvoline Durablend 5W30.
5.What is your interval between oil changes? Does using a synthetic or semi-synthetic oil warrant you not to change your oil as often as conventional oil? I have seen BMW and Benz being required to change their synthetic oil every 12,000 miles.
6. Does anyone know the extra advantage on buying a K&N air filter? I am unable to decide whether to buy a $60 dollars K&N air filter or a $15 Fram Air Filter.
7. Last of all, What is exactly a brake moan? My car's brakes are always making noises whenever I try to make an ordinary complete stop.
8. Does anyone ever install a Pioneer GPS AVEC-N1 or similar kind of built in motorized navigation system with touch screen? A local shop is asking for $2200 to custom installed a Pioneer AVEC-N1 on my car. Basically, they are going to take out the curent face plate on my mazda6 and get rid of the existing radio system. Then, they will cover all the holes from the radio/CD button and repaint the whole face plate, while making sure that the opening on the center console is just big enough for the pioneer system. Does anybody else have a better suggestion/recommendation?
Please number your responses according to the questions. I would like to thank you guys in advance and wish everyone a merry christmas and a happy new year! Cheers!!!
vs. paper filters on this website: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
I will probably stay with the paper element for my M6 and just change it more frequently.
Also, if you guys can check your cars and tell me if you are concerned with this as well. The dealer told me that no one else has mentioned this problem.
Can you check the inside of the rear passenger tire and see if there is any wear on the tire.
I live in NH and am concerned with the snow that gets stuck in the wheel well after it snows. Usually the snow hardens and this can also wear the tire down.
I also hear the squealing while turning into a parking spot and applying the brake. This happens under hot and cold conditions.
This happens because the main circuit board for the lcd is integrated as part of the head unit. The only really successful install that i've seen involved relocating the mazda head unit to the trunk, and running the proper wires from it to the LCD.
Installer probably does not know about this, so it may wind up being more expensive, or just done incorrectly.
There is a kit in the works that will make all of this easier, but it's release date keeps getting pushed back. It was supposed to come out this week, but was pushed back to early next year.
good luck.
2. I wouldn't say changing the oil is a lot more complicated, just different. The Mazda6 engines have a cartridge type oil filter, instead of a self contained spin-on type filter. Apparently Mazda has a special tool for removing the filter housing, but I see mention on other Mazda6 forums of using socket or strap filter wrenches successfully. It looks like there is also a cover on the underside of the engine compartment which needs to be removed to gain access to the filter and drain plug. No big deal, just an extra step. Some other makes have this as well.
3. You can find this in the back of your owner's manual, you need 4.5Q when you replace the oil and filter in a 2.3L engine.
4. Haven't changed my oil yet, but I'll probably stick with the Motorcraft 5W20 for now, and perhaps go to the Mobil1 synthetic in the future if I feel like spending the extra $$$. The Motorcraft (apparently what Mazda uses) seems to be highly regarded by users on other Mazda6 forums, and of course there are always a lot of Mobil1 fans about.
5. Both my cars get their oil changed at about 6K miles, which works out to twice a year, spring and fall. Depending on the conditions you operate your vehicle in, Mazda specifies either a 5K or 7.5K oil change interval. Personally, I'm not comfortable straying outside of that range no matter what type of oil I use, but others may feel differently.
6. Many who use K&N filters swear by them, but I have never invested in one. I'm not convinced the horsepower and acceleration they supposedly add would be all that noticeable, but they do have the advantage of being reusable for something like 10 years.
7. I haven't experienced brake moan on my car, but others seem to be having problems with it. I don't recall if anyone has posted the diagnosis or cure for their brake moan problem here.
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The next day, I called up my dealer and said "I want another one just like it." This time, I'm getting the side air bags too.
I was glad that they made the side airbags standard for '05. My dealer took an extra week to find my 6S, specifically because I wanted the side airbags. With all the idiots on the road these days, any extra protection is worth it!
I did not take any sharp objects inside the car and certainly not my nails. I think the scratch was there when I bought the car (can't prove it!).
If it was my nail, then I suppose the leather will be all shreds in a year.
When I first spoke to the salesperson she said its under warranty we will fix it, but when I took it for service, the service manager said there was no defect in the vehicle, well, that is the claim they are going to make. He said, he can have an expert look at it and will be at my expense.
Is there anything that I can do in this regard or should I just let it go.
Winter time it gets dark too early and so did not notice it when I took the delivery. Also when you buy a new car I think its difficult to examine every inch of the vehicle. It is just a surface scratch with a thread out and its not deep, but just did not want to see it on a week old car.
GK
Right before my accident, the Mazda 6's ABS worked beautifully and stopped me on a sheet of ice. Unfortunately, the SUV behind me didn't stop. The SUV went completely over my Mazada6's rear bumper and totally crushed the trunk and the whole area around the gas cap. My back seat was completely intact (fortunately, there was no one else in my car).
The SUV driver drove off, but had the name of his contracting company written across the back of his vehicle. The police and my insurance company are about to nail him.
MZ6Greyghost:
A minor correction to your post. The side air bags are an option in 2005, but are in many more vehicles than in 2004. In 2004, you had to buy all kinds of other options in order to get side air bags. ABS was made standard for 2005 -- without increasing the invoice price from 2004.
Still glad to hear everything was okay. I myself witnessed a similar "Domino effect" rear-ender accident yesterday. That was due to ignorance, not the weather.
Good luck with your new 6, jpzenger, and Happy Holidays to all!
You are absolutely right. I live in Minnesota where icy and snowy roads are common. A week back we had icy conditions (terrible road condition)and there were around 280 accidents in the twin cities, my MZ6 wagon did a good job, not once did I feel that wheels were slipping/sliding. I have been here for a long time now and driven in snow even with not so great tires, never had any accidents in snow. I think the Michelins are doing a good job. I did notice the difference going from Firestone tires on my camry to Michelins on MZ6, especially when moving from a stop light.
I have a noisy fan motor, tick, tick tick....sounds like blades are hitting something, getting worse. You say you have a recall letter on the fan motor for a Mazda 6?
Anybody else experience this?
1st thing, about my gears well they call the a different dealer ship and got me appointment to see them.. what they did is (i will type what the wrote down for me) removed battery and tray, disconnect shift cables, try shifter inside vehicle good, lube shift cable and transmission shift mechaiism gk2c-46-500e, ko503 arx 1.1 sc 24dc 9w note: if reoccurs may require transmission to be removed...
2nd thing.. when did this recall come about brakes? i may have to call my dealer and find out more...
3rd thing mazda canada told me to NOT put in Synthetic motor oil in my car because it brakes the seals on your pistons and some other problems for long term use.. he told me only put Synthetic in it if you are going for long drives but in the city driving leave their oil in it because its HIGH end oil already... they told me to remove my Synthetic oil next oil change...
go call or go to your dealer and ask them, and can you please reply back to this website and tell me what they are saying about the oil because my OLD dealer told me not to say anything to mazda canada..... also they told me something about their oil filters that they cant handle 12,000km without being changed.. they recommend only 8000km for the next oil change..
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1) Sulfur smell. Last time they said they would replace the Cat Converter this time. But this time they claim I don't have enough mileage yet (6000) and Mazda will only replace it after "enough miles for break-in". They did not know what the number was.
2) Shift Shock. Dealer updated TCM, I have not confirmed this fix.
3) Display gear # while in Drive (like in Manual). Dealer said this cannot be done - although some M6's have this feature.
4) A/C always on with ACC. Dealer claims this is normal operation. Even when it is 10 degrees outside the A/C is running (while using ACC). This is STUPID! Is it really designed that way? Isn't the gas mileage bad enough without it?
5) Driver's side seat-heater doesn't always work. Dealer repositioned harness so it wouldn't get pinched by the seat. It still shuts off after a couple of minutes and will not start again (by toggling switch). Is there a sensor there?
6) Rattle in moonroof when shade is open. Dealer claims they could not reproduce. They must have had the radio blaring! It did it at drop-off and after pick-up. Guess I'll stop by and make them get in next time I'm out there.
7) Peeling tape under rear spoiler. HEY, they fixed this!!!
Sounds like it's time to find another dealer! Thanks in advance for any replies or comments.
(1) I too had the sulfur smell, at 6,100 miles it seems to be happening much less and is less noticeable, might happen once every two weeks.
(2) My build date was 2/2004, I don't know if I am affected, but I have not noticed a problem.
(3)My 6S displays the gear number in Drive, I'd like to turn this feature off, but my dealer told me that it cannot be turned off.
(4)I agree, a bad design.
(5)Be glad you got the leather, my beige cloth is wearing very poorly. This is my only complaint on this car, otherwise I am very happy.
(6) & (7) no moonroof or spoiler so I cannot comment.
I have 6800 miles and never had the sulfur smell at all.
Are you saying the A/C is on all the time? I can shut mine off at any time.
There are times when this is handy, like defrosting the front windshield, but once it switches the vent to feet (or face) it should turn the A/C off.
My green light and "auto" indication go off, when pressing the A/C button in my sedan. Same thing happens if you switch the fan speed or vent direction manually. You must then press "auto" again to get it back to automatic mode, but this turns A/C back on.
Considering I'm only getting 19 MPG (mostly city driving) I would like the A/C off in the winter :-)
Can't say for sure if it's on all the time but you can hear it cycling on and off at stoplights.
I expected this system to work like the ACC in my dad's '96 Sable and his '87 Taurus before that. You hit the button for auto mode and plug in a reasonable temperature. That's it. The cabin stays that temp at all times and the A/C only comes on when needed and indicates when it does.
The one in the 6, at least mine anyway, has to be cranked up to about 75F before any reasonable amount of heat comes out. When it's 40F outside, the inside temp is set to 72F, and cool air is blowing through the dash vents things tend to get a little ugly when the wife and kid are onboard.
Another thing I don't like about it is how the system defaults to the fresh air A/C mode in the summer. I can switch it to recirc mode without shutting the ACC function off (just like the manual says) but it changes it back the next time I start up. I sit in city traffic twice a day and don't like smelling exhaust all the time.
It's kind of a "my way or the highway" type of system and I don't think I'd ever opt for it again in a Mazda unless some changes are made.
I have the same issue with cabin temp. I have to crank it up to 80 to get warm air to come out. Otherwise it's blowing cold air on my feet. My wife HATES it and I thought it would be easier to use (than manual control) - WRONG.
With computer controls these days, there is no excuse for a 1980's vintage ACC. It should be MUCH smarter. Problem is, it's hard to override as you've mentioned. It still wants to do it's own thing...
I must admit it does cool the car in the summer.