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please advise! thanks.
My forehead will sure be happy when the visor is fixed!!
On to other issues... Like several people here, I traded in my Protege ('99 ES 5-spd) for a Mazda6 i auto. I wish I could still own a stick, but the Oceanside-San Diego commute was killing me. Anyways, I have had a few (OK, a lot) problems with my 6.
I know Malt addressed this before, and I know it is normal, but it is really ANNOYING! Whether it sounds like a '77 Corolla or a first-generation Neon with 150,000+ miles, the exhaust leak/noise is terrible. I am embarassed to drive this thing, and I have had complaints in my apartment complex because of how loud it is when I start it up at 5:30am! This is something that I will start (very soon) a national effort to get Mazda to fix or buy back the vehicles. This is absolutely unacceptable and I can't recommend a 6i to anyone! A 6s is a different story...
There is something seriously wrong with the drivetrain in my car. Of course, I can't replicate it for the dealership and I can't figure out a pattern. I don't know if it is the transmission, the electronic throttle, or the computers, but it absolutely sucks. Much like Edmunds' concerns with their long-term Audi A4, I never know what to expect from the car. Sometimes, a gentle push on the pedal results in tire-chirping full acceleration (like WOT). Sometimes, a quick, heavy push on the pedal results in very gentle acceleration (like 5% throttle). Sometimes, a quick, heavy push on the pedal results in nothing... it is like the throttle was closed and the car is actually slowing down!
It also seems to upshift into the highest possible gear whenever I take my foot off the accelerator pedal. This happens quite often when I am moving only 15 mph or so. When I reapply my foot, I find that the engine lugs and I look down and the tach is around 1,000rpm. After a couple of seconds, it downshifts... a couple of more seconds and it downshifts again. Now, I can actually start accelerating. Meanwhile, the car is putt-putting like a 20 year old car with a million miles...
Sometimes, especially when upshifting from first to second at medium throttle (shifts at 4,000rpm), the transmission really kicks and it feels like someone hits the floorboard with a hammer accompanied by a clang. It has happened about five times since I have had the car (month and a half) and each time it startles me to the point that I quickly pull my feet off the floor.
Of course, I have the usual Mazda6 problems I have heard so many complaints about with the many interior rattles, tweeters that are nearly nonexistant in sound, and front windows that sound like they are hitting metal when rolled up. Because of the drivetrain problems, I am usually stuck behind semi's in the slow lane on the freeway because I don't know how the car will react if I try to get into the faster moving traffic. I have been in many near accidents when the car has unexpectedly accelerated hard or when the car loses power while trying to merge. I park outside of my apartment complex and walk for twenty minutes to my apartment because of the exhaust noise. I also can't seem to get any better than 18-19mpg with 90% freeway driving (300-315 miles for 16.5 gallons used between fill-ups).
But, I will continue to bring the car in with the hopes that it will act up for the techs or service advisors or service managers. It acts normal 80% of the time... hopefully, it will get fixed or will become a legal lemon. Needless to say, after the problems (much less and severe than this) I also had with my Protege, this might be the very last new Mazda I'll buy.
Regarding the leak, that should be an easy one, no?
u said the 6s is a different story. how so?
I really appreciate your contribution since day one when we met on the Protege forum.
As for the exhaust leak/noise, I don't know what it will take to fix it. The dealership, after keeping the car all day, said it was normal and they all did that. I started up a few brand new 6i autos in the lot, and it was true... they all do it. They say it has to do with the hangers vibrating, but I still think there is a leak. It is no longer a dealership problem... they can't do anything about it. It is now a problem that has to be faced by Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), whether they want to handle it quietly, in the media, or in legal battles.
I said the 6s is a different story because it doesn't have the exhaust leak/noise and I have not heard of any wierd drivetrain problems. There are 6s owners that have complained about the electronic throttle, but mainly because of its slow initial opening. In the stoplight-to-stoplight wars, even the mighty 6s falls flat on its face...
To tell you the truth, I am sure the drivetrain problems do not plague all 6i's, just a very small percentage that happens to include mine. The other problems with the rattles and the loud glass-on-metal clanks from the front windows are, unfortunately, quite common with the Mazda6. These are small problems, but not very good for Mazda considering you can buy a quiet, rattle-free Hyundai or Kia for less than half the price.
Oh, I forgot to mention... my engine also surges slightly when maintaining a steady speed. You can just barely feel it. I haven't decided if this is a problem, or if it is the sometime over-sensitive accelerator pedal sensor detecting very slight pedal movement induced by road vibration and translating it into very slight actions of throttle-increase, throttle-decrease, throttle-increase, throttle-decrease...
This morning, the engine stumbled and died after the transmission was place into drive from reverse (it had been cold-started, but running for about five minutes; coolant temp gauge showed 1/3 into normal temp).
I'd be amazed if they didn't do something to address these issues to your satisfaction. Please keep us posted, and good luck.
<edit> No rattles at all, no overly loud startup exhaust sounds, consistent acceleration (except for normal day-to day load and temperature based variations), windows don't seem too loud when they reach the top of the run - but I'd just let warranty worry about any damage etc. Mine is a 5-speed 6i, though.
Sounds like some major issues with the AT controller or some sensor going bad. Perhaps a bad ground connection?
Re: surging and unpredictable acceleration, have they checked all the usual suspects? ECM, MAF, PCV etc.?
Sorry to hear about Jerry's problems though, he might've gotten a lemon considering all the problems in one car.
Didn't yours make these noises when u test drove and picked it up?
I have a 6i, w/ 4800 miles on it. First time CEL came on around 2800 miles--reprogrammed and came on again around 4200 miles. Reprogrammed and now on for third time at 4800. Getting very old. Also, car seems to hesitate slightly when "cruising" btw 40-5-mph, almost feels like it's running on 3-1/2 cylinders (exactly like jstandefer).
kdbli--if you're out there, did you finally get your CEL issue resolved?
Anybody else still working CEL issues after 3rd or 4th time?
I've been reading these forums (and others) since December. There are a few problems, as with any other new car, but I don't think it is at all correct to say that these are "quite common." My 6s -- only 6 weeks and 1200 miles -- has no rattles and clanks at all.
Sorry about your problems, tho, and I hope you can get 'em fixed soon.
Didn't yours make these noises when u test drove and picked it up? " -chikoo
Well, I am sure mine did. However, it is not a sound you hear when you are inside the car with the windows up. In fact, even with the windows down you probably won't notice it until you hear it reflected off a nearby wall or other sound-reflecting obstruction. However, once you know what to listen for, you can hear it pretty easily. The sound comes from just behind the engine, perhaps in the area directly below the ashtray. It sounds like it is coming from the union of the exhaust manifold/header and the exhaust pipe/catalytic converter. To hear it at the noisy dealership (just off the freeway), I started the car from outside the window (reaching into the car) and immediately placed my head on the ground just behind the front tire. They all make the noise... confirmed by a Mazda master tech at the dealership.
"I've been reading these forums (and others) since December. There are a few problems, as with any other new car, but I don't think it is at all correct to say that these are "quite common." My 6s -- only 6 weeks and 1200 miles -- has no rattles and clanks at all." -r2s2
Well, this is but one of many boards and groups out there dealing with the Mazda6. In fact, I had totally forgotton about Edmunds until Mazda6club.com went down and I ran a search. Much like the rattle problems with the 3rd-gen Protege's, some people had them, some people didn't. And, some rattles magically appeared after a few thousand miles, and some rattles disappear after a while. Strange, but seems to be normal for Mazda (this is my 4th). As for the window clanking, even the dealership acknowledged they've had a lot of repairs on this problem.
I dropped my car off at the dealership yesterday afternoon. It is getting too unpredictable to drive safely, so I just handed them the keys and told them to keep it until everything is fixed. My estimate paperwork listing the complaints and problems was three pages long! However, after digging through the vehicle's history on their computers, it seems the vehicle's PCM had been attempted to be reflashed before, but they realized that they didn't have the proper upgrades in their reflashing machine. So, perhaps that screwed it up and that is the problem with the drivetrain. Whatever it is, it needs to get fixed. I do really like the car.
kc10pro- According to the dealership and from what I have seen on the other Mazda6 boards, this CEL problem is common. It has something to do with the evaporative loss pump and the power door locks... it seems the pump continues to run for a while after the engine is turned off, but the power door locks draw enough power from the system that the emissions control registers it as a malfunction in the pump and activates the CEL. Don't quote me on this exactly, but this is what I have heard. The recall to reflash the PCM is supposed to fix this. Good luck!
My dealer replaced both front coil springs on 8/20/03. I have not heard the problem since. The dealer got the idea for the fix from "The Mazda Hotline". Does anybody know about how we might get access to this? Something like the General Motors service.gm.com site.
One of the reasons I bought a Mazda was for relability. I hope this is the last of my problems.
kannon- It sounds like you have a problem with your car if the defrost won't clear the glass. You may want to try cleaning the inside of your windows with a good ammonia-based window cleaner (regular Windex should work). This is a problem with new cars, particularly Mazda's. The oils from the plastics evaporate and collect on the inside of the windows. This will haunt you for the first few months... just keep cleaning whenever you wash the car and it should go away once the excess oils have evaporated. If this is not the problem, take the car into the dealership and have them check it out.
I'll let you know what the CEL problem is and if it occurs again.
1) the "clunking" noise that seems to emanate from the right front suspension when making a low-speed 90 degree right turn....
2) the weird resonant vibration that SEEMS to come from somewhere in the dash on the passenger side when accelerating in 1st gear from a full stop. it seems hard to believe that that rumbling sound is actually the sunglasses holder in the headliner! but i'll check that out, and see if that eliminates the sound.
getting really frustrating to have these possibly widespread problems with a brand-new car.....
Reiterating - 5K miles now (900mile road trip this past wekeend, fully loaded with gear and friends) in barely over 2 months. Flawless. Engine sound improves. Mileage improves (as much as 32-33 on a couple of tankfuls). Response improves. Continuously. I'm H-A-P-P-Y.
It sucks that some cars have problems - but realistically, unless you have 'real' problems like Jerry is unfortunately experiencing, its well below par for a first year car. Even the Altima and Accord have/had more issues int heir first year. And some serious ones. Look through the boards.
Other than that, I have had no problems other than a droopy visor that I'm still waiting for the part on.
i guess it's just that for my 6i i traded in a '95 Avalon XLS with 90000 miles that didn't had a SINGLE problem/issue in the years that i owned it.
but even the likes of toyota and honda are not spared from the teething issues of new cars.
sometimes I think....Toyota makes such highly insulated cars that the owners might not even be able to hear some of the noises that emanate from under the hood and hence experience a peaceful and satisified ownership. No?
My problem is with the appearance package I have on my car. The plastic add-on pieces have a fairly low profile. I am thinking about removing the plastic piece at the front of the car and leaving the rest of the package in place. Would this ruin the look of the car do you think? I have found it awkward parking in places where the car's front overhangs the curb. On occasion, the plastic piece has grated against the concrete and I fear further damage may follow.
thanks.
i have no idea to what extent Mazda USA is aware of it, though.
Fixes have included simple fixes like new strut tops or tightening the bolts in the suspension and subframe. Other fixes have included entire suspension and subframe replacements. My dealership has said that many cars are coming back in for steering and alignment problems and they have found that the factory is not tightening the suspension and subframe bolts to factory specs and everything is coming loose. Scary, isn't it?
I'm sure Mazda will find a fix, but who knows when. The Protege5's had a really bad problem with very loud vibrations coming from the engine when the tumble swirl control vanes were activated. It took Mazda about six months to come up with a fix. I know some people who traded in their cars and suffered a huge financial loss in the process.
FYI-6i MT/sport with just under 10K. When accelerating from a stop with the revs somewhat up (4-5) I get what is best described as a "studder" as if I'm crossing over rumble strips. 25 years ago I had a much different car that did what felt exactly like this and that was always tire "hop" (1969 Pontiac GTO)-really dating myself here.
Does my 6 have the power to make the 17 inchers hop like that like my beloved muscle car, or am I in the early stages of transmission/clutch woes?
It doesn't do it all the time, but enough to be concerned. Anyone else...
Then again it could be tire hop.
I wonder if the dealership performs the recall services on new cars sitting in their lot for a while before customers buy them?
try with the TCS off.
You may have something with the glazed plates theory. I can't seem to duplicate this at any certain time. I guess I'll just wait to see if it gets worse, or try to figure out exactly under what condition it does it. Sometimes it will go days without doing it, then it may do it several times in a single day. I'm not all that concerned as the warranty has years and tens of thousands of miles left on it, but I don't want to be stranded somewhere, or worse, left sitting in the middle of a busy intersection.
chikoo-no TCS, but that is somewhat like the sound-vibration that I'm getting.
FYI-Back to the dealer this week-a seam in the middle of the drivers seat came unraveled. Rather than restitch it, they ordered a whole new seat bottom. They say about three hours to install.
Here's a link to that TSB:
http://web2.airmail.net/theman/protegefaq/tsb/mt000003848.html
Clunk, clunk goes the suspension. Despite a PCM reflash, the transmission is still utterly confused but has now taken to shifting down and up and down and up repeatedly and quickly. The throttle still can't figure out the difference between feathering the pedal and flooring it. My door panels now vibrate and buzz like crazy (probably the window repair). There is a new high-pitched squeaking from below the floor boards which I think is caused by the exhaust hangers, and it is present whenever that annoying exhaust noise is present.
But hey, at least they fixed my windows. The window clanking problem was caused by loose window-mounting bolts. The cause and fix, according to the repair order, was found on "M-Tips," which I am assuming is a Mazda repair/tip hotline for dealerships.
So, next month I will relinquish the car again for a couple of weeks, and the following month and the following month. After the car is declared a lemon, I will go buy a nice, reliable, but boring Toyota. Screw Mazda!