Mazda6 Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • jammin1jammin1 Member Posts: 1
    I have to let the car sit for 10-15 minutes for it not to do this. That seems like an excessive amount of time to have to warm a car up.

    If the Tumble Swirl Control Valve is the reason for the erratic acceleration, what is the reason for having this valve?
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    I just changed out my headlights a couple weeks ago to some brighter bulbs made by a company called PIAA. Not the cheapest in the world, but I like that my visibility has improved. Anyway, I put a How-To article on mazda6club including some pics.

    Here's the link:

    link title

    Hope this helps.

    FIY: i don't check this forum regularly so you can PM me off of the mazda6club site if you have other questions.
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    I've been reading a lot of people who have the cloth seats in the 6 prior to the 2006 model where they changed the seat material. I am looking for seat covers but I have the side airbags which deploy from my seat so most covers I've found don't allow for the airbags to work. Also, most covers I've seen just don't look very good. On the mazda6club site, we've started a discussion as to how to best get good quality covers that retain the function of the airbag. Here's the link.

    link title

    I've had my car for a few months now, and find that the lower side of the side bolster on the left side is getting a bit fuzzy...
  • ybmybm Member Posts: 5
    Hello all,

    I have had a few recent instances of my alarm going off for no obvious reason. Once was before dark and twice after dark. While it could be kids attempting to enter the car, it seems a little difficult to accidently set it off. We tried pulling on the doors and rocking the car and were not able to set it off. The car has around 4500 miles on it right now.

    Has anyone else had or heard of any alarm issues? We live in a condo and can't always hear the parking lot noise. I don't see any reason to go to the dealer yet, since it has been so sporatic. Can high winds set off the alarm?

    Any ideas are welcome. TIA!
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    Does your car have the shock alarm upgrade??? If so, that may be the problem. The shock alarm can be adjusted to increase or decrease the sensitivity.
  • jsnewjerseyjsnewjersey Member Posts: 21
    Pat, I have the same issue...only a bit worse. Four throttle body repairs....it's no better.Forget the extended warrantee...try your state's Lemon Law.
    NJ where I live has a good one.Not sure about where you are.Mazda has done nothing to take care of this.....they just keep changing the part. The service managers where I go just shake their heads.This car has not worked right since I got it......Brand New in May 2005..what a joke.
    Can't wait to give them back this lemon and get my money back.
  • jsnewjerseyjsnewjersey Member Posts: 21
    That Mazda knows about this throttle issue...they keep revising the the throttle body and sensor.It's breach of warrantee to not be able to fix a car under warrantee.
    You pay for a car that works,,,,a car that doesn't has no value. If I wanted to sell this car I couldn't...that's not fair..I'm making payments on a working car covered by warrantee repairs thatfix problems....that's not what I'm getting.
  • mazda6iguymazda6iguy Member Posts: 365
    I have a 2003 Mazda 6 with the 4 cyl. engine. Just this morning I noticed the heater was not as hot when at a stoplight than when moving. Is this normal? Shouldn't the heat output be the same when the engine is up to temperature either moving or standing still?
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    there is a kit available made by a company called Metra (sells for about $200) that allows you to put in a new head unit while letting your auto climate system to keep working along with the top lcd that shows temp and time. go to the mazda6club and do a search for "metra" and you'll see a whole lot of systems that members have put together. also if you want an auxilary input (for ipods, mp3 players, etc) check out the aux mod threads.
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    do you have the auto climate control? i do, and sometimes the hvac system is regulating temperature by blowing in hot or cold air depending on what the target temperature is set at.
  • mazda6iguymazda6iguy Member Posts: 365
    No, I have the manual system.
  • vokl99vokl99 Member Posts: 2
    I have a 2003 6s 6cyl. 5 speed and had to replace the clutch after 32,000 miles with the same problem. The dealer fixed mine with no cost to me. They said they had the Mazda engineers involved. I would pressure them to cover the cost of replacing the clutch. They obviously know they have a problem.
  • robs6wagonrobs6wagon Member Posts: 68
    thanks, kaos14! I will try that solution before I head down the the dealership again, to try to convince them that they need to replace the windshield again! -
    Rob
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    i geuss the material in the 6 isn't the greatest, so we've started a group buy on the mazda6club site for seats that don't stop the airbags from working. here's a link if you're interested

    link title
  • evelinaevelina Member Posts: 2
    Hello! I am wondering what answers you got on your question. I am debating between M6, M3 and Corolla. I love Mazda's body style (M6), but there is a lot of complaints about the quality of Mazda (of critics, etc). I drive a lot and I need a reliable car with a reasonable gas milage. Mzzda users on this website love this car,this car has better reviews than toyota or honda. so why it is rated so poorly by critics?
    Evelina
  • cary6cary6 Member Posts: 2
    I'm contemplating buying a new loaded 2005 leftover 6 wagon with 6 spd transmission. the test drive was great. what type of problems have you had with the tranny? the dealer is also offering an extended 7yr/100k warranty for $1400.
  • mz6greyghostmz6greyghost Member Posts: 1,230
    Hello! I am wondering what answers you got on your question. I am debating between M6, M3 and Corolla. I love Mazda's body style (M6), but there is a lot of complaints about the quality of Mazda (of critics, etc). I drive a lot and I need a reliable car with a reasonable gas milage. Mzzda users on this website love this car,this car has better reviews than toyota or honda. so why it is rated so poorly by critics?

    That's funny, because Mazda has won over 100 different awards for the Mazda 6 alone, from critics, journalists, and other automotive organizations.

    I can't give you an answer as to why the critics pan Mazda, but in general, Mazdas are built for people that LOVE to drive, not just to get from A to B. For my $$$, the Mazda 3 and 6 are the BEST cars in their class, not because of passenger room, or the quantity of airbags or cupholders, but because they are drivers cars. You actually feel connected to the road, with excellent handling, great steering feel, and a set of brakes that are second to none.

    IMO, you can't go wrong with either the 3 or 6, and in 20 months and close to 28K miles, My 6 has NEVER left me stranded or stuck. :)
  • uffdaoleuffdaole Member Posts: 37
    Just in from changing air filter @ cabin filter. What a snap that cabin filter is, dealer should feel guilty charging $30. Simply disconnect elastic cable on right side and drop glove box door to maximum ( no need to remove door) ,snap off approx 2"by 8" cover and slide filter out. Mine was VERY DIRTY-only 18k. BTW 18k and no problems whatsover, am extremely happy with my 04 wagon. I am in Minn and true gas mileage could be better in winter, but in summer months always 20 mpg normal driving, and 24-25 hiway at 70 75. ZOOM ZOOM :)
  • joeyk11joeyk11 Member Posts: 2
    I have a 06 mazda6 ,Took car to dealership for first oil change and asked service manager to also deactivate seat belt chime. He said he could not due this because he does not know how and has made no attempt to find out how. He said if he knew he would be obligated to tell all who asked and this was against company policy. Would any owners that know how to do this please relay the info to me.
  • xplorx4xplorx4 Member Posts: 621
    To deactivate the seat belt warning, latch the seat belt.
  • markk1markk1 Member Posts: 30
    I think the recent Consumer Reports rated the Mazda 6 highly for reliability.
  • cards_200cards_200 Member Posts: 44
    My dealer also said he did not know how to deactivate. I pushed issue with Mazda cust serv (since the '05 owners manual clearly stated it could be deactivated). Finally my dealer did check into it. The answer I got was that they would have to hook up some device to reprogram and this would cost me about $100 labor charge to do it. So ended up not doing.
  • pats1pats1 Member Posts: 36
    I have a 2005 6 with the six-speed automatic. I have had a lot of trouble with hesitation, improper down- and up-shifting etc. They've replaced parts and reflashed the computer several times. It's still not right, with 22K miles on the odometer. The dealer gets lousy support from Mazda. Otherwise, we like the car, but had I known about this tranny problem, I'd have bought the Accord.
  • ericzoomericzoom Member Posts: 213
    I thought the 6 spd.ATX was supposed to be much improved over my 5 spd.,but apparently not. I have an 04 with 13k miles and have also had several flashes done to my car. I didn't seem to notice any change after each one. I've basically learned to deal with my trans. and try to adjust my driving style to compensate for it's shortcomings. I've installed a trans. cooler and switched to Redline syn. fluid to try to deal with the heat problems of the Jatco. It's too late for regrets at this point. There are still plenty of things I still like about this car. :)
  • scottnjscottnj Member Posts: 6
    I've got a 2006 mazda 6s, when I originally got the car there were a couple spots on the bumper that had the clear coat taken off by the dealer using some solvent, so I brought it back and they repainted the bumper for me. Now I'm not sure if the paint was like this all along but I ran my hand over it last week and it felt kind of rough, like pollen had built up on it. I figured it was just dirty so I'd wash it and it would go away. I washed it yesterday and the paint still has a rough texture to it, the car is still shiny but I was wondering is it supposed to feel like this? This isn't just the bumper, it's the whole car. I was under the impression that it should be slick and glossy but I don't know if it was like this before I brought it back to the dealer to get fixed, I've got the Tungsten Gray, go run your hand over your paint job and let me know please! Also if it's not supposed to be like that what do I do now?
  • slickdogslickdog Member Posts: 225
    Not sure if this is possible because I don't paint cars, but I wonder if maybe whoever painted the bumper had some clearcoat overspray floating around in the paint booth and it settled on the rest of the finish? In that case I suppose your window glass might have the same problem, but maybe it was masked or cleaned off. I've accidentally gotten very small amounts of spray can paint on things several feet away from where I was painting in my garage before, and it produces a similar effect (difficult to nearly impossible to see, but makes a smooth surface feel rough).

    I've got the "Steel Gray Metallic" color on my '04 6s wagon and the finish is very smooth. I think it's the same color as yours, they just changed the name for '05 and '06. Seems to me that the painted surfaces of a recent model car should never feel rough unless it was damaged, especially if it has a clearcoat finish.
  • scottnjscottnj Member Posts: 6
    Thanks for the reply, I went out and took a look and it's on the windows, the trim, everything. I can tell now that it was something they did because the paint inside the doors and under the spoiler is still very smooth. It looks like the jackasses didn't cover the car at all when they repainted the bumper. It seems to rub off of the trim and windows, I'm hoping maybe a little wax on it will do the same for the actual paint, if not I'm going to have to go back to the dealer again...Love the car, the dealer on the other hand, has been nothing but a nightmare since the start. Any other responses would definitely be appreciated
  • mz6greyghostmz6greyghost Member Posts: 1,230
    I suggest rubbing down the car with a clay bar, then waxing/polishing it. That should be able to remove the overspray and restore the smooth-as-glass finish.

    Run a search on "detailing bar" or "clay bar" on the 'net to get more information. I've never tried them myself, but I've seen many cars both before and afterward, and the difference is amazing.
  • xplorx4xplorx4 Member Posts: 621
    I second the clay bar advice. A couple of years ago, I clay-barred my wife's 93 Accord, whose paint had been severely neglected, and that car shined up near brand-new! Made the entire paint surface slippery smooth.

    Since your car's paint surface seems to have a lot of overspray, I would get 2 clay bars. If you get only one, it may get too dirty before you're able to finish the whole car.

    After clay barring, be sure to apply a good wax/sealer such as Zaino, Mothers, Meguiars, etc. on the paint surface.

    Do NOT wax without clay barring first. Waxing alone will not effectively restore the smooth paint surface.
  • scottnjscottnj Member Posts: 6
    I did try to wax a small area and as I thought it didn't do anything. There is a very noticeable sound when you run your hand across the paint. I think what I'm going to do is bring it to an autobody shop, get their advice on what was done/what needs to be done to fix it, and take it back to the dealer and make them fix it, I just got the car literally 3 weeks ago and I don't think I should have to fix it myself, but knowing this dealer they'll probably say there's nothing they can do about it...if all else fails it sounds like claying may be the way to go, I got a little nervous reading the procedure though, sounds as though one small slip up and you could ruin your paint by not having enough lubrication..
  • xplorx4xplorx4 Member Posts: 621
    Once you get going with the clay bar and a lubricant (usually some kind of soap solution and water), it's really not that difficult. The water/soap shouldn't dry out if you clay the car in the shade.

    The only dangerous thing about clay barring is if you accidentally drop the clay bar on the ground. It will pick up dust, dirt, sand, debris that will ruin the clay bar.

    Nevertheless, your time is worth something. Since the dealer messed up, they should be the ones to correct the problem. Let them pay an auto detailer to wash, clay, and wax the car.
  • mimazda6mimazda6 Member Posts: 9
    Don't waste your time with Ralph Thayer, Livonia, MI - Went there today to have brake rotors turned for third time brake pulsation (front rotors turned at 700 miles, replaced at 13K) at 25K miles. On showing up they had no record of my appointment made the day before ("Yeah, sure, we can fit you in, bring it by at 7:30"), wanted to charge me an $89 "diagnostic fee" that service scheduler had failed to mention. Service writer then goes to see his manager, who doesn't even come out to talk to me, says the manager offered to look at the car for "brake inspection" fee of $25. Nothing done, they couldn't have cared less, total waste of my time. Don't waste yours. Go somewhere else for Mazda service in SE Michigan.
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    If you want to learn a lot about detailing your car (and perhaps address the issues you are dealing with) check out the autopia site linked below:

    link title

    Get a plastic sandwich bag, put your hand in it, and gently feel the paint...you'll be amazed at how bumpy it is. that's all the stuff in the air that is imbedded in your paint and can cause problems later. after using a clay bar, do the same thing...HUGE difference.

    one tip that i've heard before using a clay bar is to use dishwashing soap to remove the wax that's on your car. then clay bar. then rewax. takes a while, but if you're going to do it, may as well do it right. give yourself about 4 or 5 hours for the whole job and your car will reflect like a mirror!!!
  • isseyvooisseyvoo Member Posts: 121
    Is this TSB for clutch chatter just for the 6 cyl. or for the 4 cyl. as well? Do they use the same mechanism? I just bought a 4 cyl. 5 sp. (it has less than 500 miles on it) and have on several occasions noticed a chatter when engaging 2nd gear. I dismissed it as a fluke, but from what I'm reading, it sounds like it's perhaps more than that. Should I bring it to dealer's attention?
  • georgeseageorgesea Member Posts: 3
    I bought a Mazda6 in Jan. Now it is only 3K mile. I got the noise problem about 10 days after buying.
    When I turn right on a slope, the back of the car squeaks. The noise is from the left side of the car. However, when I turn left, there is no problem at all.
    I sent it in the Mazda delear last week. I called today, they still do not fix it. I was told that the suspension is OK. They will try sth else tomorrow. The dealer said they never had the same problem before. Anyone here has the same experience?
    Thanks.
  • slickdogslickdog Member Posts: 225
    The dealer should do something to help you out if they caused the damage. The trouble will be getting them to admit it! It would take you a long time to go over the entire car with a clay bar, but it might work. If the overspray is too fine for the clay bar to remove, you may have to use something more aggressive like a polishing compound. If you do this yourself be careful, you could cause more damage to the finish.

    Last summer I drifted over a newly painted white line on the main road outside my neighborhood while going 45mph, and the damage ranged from a thick layer of the stuff covering a large area behind each of my passenger side wheel wells, to small flecks spattered on that entire side of the car and the whole liftgate. The road crew responsible never put cones or signs out and I could not see them painting just a few hundred yards ahead of me around a bend. I was furious!!! Fortunately I had time to pull into a bay at a local car wash and spray most of the thick stuff off before it dried, but the small spatters and flecks were much more difficult to remove. I used a clay bar which did the trick, but it took me 3 hours to remove all traces of the paint. I called to complain, but it probably would have taken me 3 months to get the highway department to pay for a detailer to do the job!

    Good luck.
  • lefthandmanlefthandman Member Posts: 47
    Is this TSB for clutch chatter just for the 6 cyl. or for the 4 cyl. as well? Do they use the same mechanism? I just bought a 4 cyl. 5 sp. (it has less than 500 miles on it) and have on several occasions noticed a chatter when engaging 2nd gear. I dismissed it as a fluke, but from what I'm reading, it sounds like it's perhaps more than that. Should I bring it to dealer's attention?

    I'm not sure, but I suspect the 4 and 6 cylinder engines use different clutches due to the additional torque and horsepower of the V6 (I know on older model Saab 900s the turbo models have a beefier clutch than the non-turbo engines for this very reason). Maybe someone else here knows if the TSB applies to clutches on both the 4 and 6 cylinder engines, or just the V6. A more detailed search here on Edmunds or on the Internet should give you some answers. Good luck!
  • isseyvooisseyvoo Member Posts: 121
    Just googled it -- the tech service bulletin is reprinted at http://www.finishlineperformance.com/mazda6/docs/0001.pdf and I guess the problem is common to both the 4 and the 6 cyl., but the replacement part is different. I read somewhere else though that perhaps one should live with it, as it is a common issue with "strong" clutches, and that fixing the shudder may in effect weaken the clutch. Does this sound right???
  • lmp2lmp2 Member Posts: 2
    We're hopeful we have the problem taken care of. Dealer was able to briefly replicate the problem and replaced the "transmission control module". Dealer was working with a Mazda engineer as well. My daughter says it hasn't happened since; we think this may have done it. We waited a month to post a response to make sure it is working. She loves the car. If it is still happening to your transmission, tell them to try replacing this part. Good luck, it is very difficult to get it to replicate.
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    i found this site extremely helpful in learning about TSB's, recalls, and general issues about our car.

    link title

    there's also a lot of info on how to do stuff yourself...but be warned, reading all this stuff may lead to your being a bit paranoid and thinking every little thing may make you think you have something wrong with your car.
  • kaos14kaos14 Member Posts: 3
    I have an '04 Mazda 6S.............when standing anywhere near/around the engine compartment I can always smell antifreeze. However, there is no evidence of leakage under the car, the level of antifreeze doesn't drop, and the car does not overheat.

    I've had it in to 2 Mazda dealers on 4-5 different occasions and they have yet to identify and resolve the problem.

    Thoughts??
  • zzzoom6zzzoom6 Member Posts: 425
    don't know if this fully addresses what you're dealing with, but if you're getting coolant smell in the cabin, here's a fix. i would imagine if you're smelling it around the engine bay, this may be a way to redirect the coolant venting.

    link title
  • kaos14kaos14 Member Posts: 3
    zzzoom6.........thx for the fix, I'll give it a try and see what happens!!
  • christanchristan Member Posts: 10
    I'm not sure I fully understood what the dealer offered me when I purchased my new Mazda 6i last week. When I mentioned my concern about staining the light-tan interior, I was told the dealer would Scotchguard the interior (the name brand wasn't used, but it's the same concept) AND the exterior, for something like $600. Sounded outrageous, but I wonder about the benefits. Is this something I can do on my own, at little expense? If so, is there a recommended product? I'm not familiar with applying these products to the interior, much less the exterior, of my car.
  • cpmazda6cpmazda6 Member Posts: 1
    Using the dealer's Scothguard is a waste of money!! You can pick up a couple of cans of 3M Scotchguard at most hardware stores for about $6 each. All you gotta do is spray all the upholestry in the car (also the carpets). And let the it dry for about 6 - 12 hours. Make sure you don't get any on the dashboard or other plastic/vinyl surfaces as it is hard to wipe off.

    Scotchguarding the interior is a good way to ensure that your seats do not get stained easily. You can do it yourself for $12 rather than $600, all you gotta do is spray and then walk away.

    I'm not sure what the dealer meant about Scotchguarding the exterior. I've never heard of that concept before!!
  • 1eagle1eagle Member Posts: 2
    :mad: I am sick of this! The rattles on my 2004 6 from somewhere around the moon roof and back door panels are driving me nuts! Any comments on this would be appreciated Thanks!
  • tminchewtminchew Member Posts: 5
    Hey everyone...I need some help. Someone decided to bash out the driver side left portion of the brake light assembly (the part that does not connect to the trunk) on my 5 day old Mazda 6 5-door hatch. The dealer quoted me $86 for the assembly and $90+ to install. I was hoping I could just figure out how to install the assembly myself and save the $90. I removed the panel that gives you access to the bulbs and it looks like there are some bolts back there. Does anyone know if that is how I would remove the brake light assembly to install the new one? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
  • mz6greyghostmz6greyghost Member Posts: 1,230
    Does anyone know if that is how I would remove the brake light assembly to install the new one?

    There are indeed two bolts on either side of the bulbs. Unscrew the bolts from the threads, and slowly pull out the taillight housing from the body, making sure to remove the bulb sockets from the housing first.

    It's a VERY simple process, and take > 5 minutes to remove the old one and install the new one. Can I also suggest checking out a few Mazda parts websites for the new housing. Even with shipping, it's MUCH cheaper than the $86 the dealer will charge you. Due to forum guidelines, I can't recommend a specific site, but shop around.

    Good luck. :)
  • ccwinslowccwinslow Member Posts: 29
    My 6 wagon has them too, but only occasionally. I can't pinpoint why or exactly where they're located, but it seems to be in the back seat at the roof above the right (passenger side) rear door.
  • tminchewtminchew Member Posts: 5
    Thanks mz6greyghost! It was just as easy to fix as you said. I had a $20 coupon to my local Mazda dealer so I ended up paying $66 for the tail light, but saved the $90 the dealer wanted for the 5 minute job of replacing the assembly. The new assembly even came with some spare bulbs so I've got extras when the original ones burn out. Thanks very much for the help!
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