Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I just got my car back (after 8 weeks and one new engine) and they say every 3,500 miles change the oil and use synthetic oil.
Guess what, after paying the car down for the next year, it's going on the block to sell!
I'know from experience with these cars because I myself am driving a 2007 cx-7 w/ 80,000 miles . Timing chain replaced at 55,000 miles --EGR valve and fuel pump replaced at 70,000 miles. I think all the newer vehicles are failing parts with more frequency due to to manufacturers making the vehicles (and their internal parts) lighter and lighter due to stricter pollution and gas mileage requirements.
Dealership maintained CX-7 experienced major failure while driving. Engine died and major oil leak was noticed. Car had to be towed to the dealership. The dealership first indicated that there was some type of failure regarding the #3 cylinder. Dealership said that the probable cause of failure was due to turbo overheating. Later the dealership stated that the #4 piston failed and caused catastrophic damage to the engine. The cause of failure was never determined. The engine, turbocharger, thermostat, EGR valve, intake manifold, starter and O2 sensor were replaced. Total cost of repairs (labor, parts, and misc charges) prior to tax was $10,557.49. Prior to engine failure we informed the dealership that the check engine light was constantly on but the dealership stated that it was due to the gas cap not being properly put on. They never scanned the computer despite the car being under warranty. Additionally a ticking noise has been previously brought to the dealership's attention but was told that the engine noise was normal for this particular engine.
However, I would stay away; look at all the posts here. Many people had the timing chain snap and ruin the engine within the 60k miles warranty period, but Mazda has refused to cover it, with the excuse that since customer could not come up with all the oil change receipts, it happened due to poor maintenance.
I took my car for oil change and maintenance to a Mazda dealer every single time, but in my case the chain snapped at 64k miles.
Even if I paid for replacement of the engine, warranty on "new" engine would only be 12 months 1200 miles, and a mechanic told me it was likely that it could happen again.
I sold the broken Mazda CX7 for a few thousand dollars, and bought a Toyota Prius; yeah, sacrificed a bit on space, but now it runs for 2 weeks on $27. When I had the Mazda I was putting $60 every week.
I will never buy Mazda again, just because of the failed design, not accepting that it was a bad design, and the warranty issues.
1. Look widely for a water cooled turbo, with "after-run" coolant pump, to install inplace of the OEM one.
2. The other possibility would be to mill the head, leaving the turbo inop, to get the "standard" DFI compression ratio of 12:1.
On the other hand if FE improvement were the desire I would convert the engine to the Atkinson cycle. Mill the head to get a 15:1 compression ratio and then block the throttle plate opening enough to restrict the maximum cylinder fill to ~70%
Has anyone ever tried using the A/C to cool the boost charge? A refrigernat accummulator/reservoir dedicated to that task and only opened to flow when on-boost. Might be able to keep the 15:1 CR AND have boost.
Oh, sorry, senior moment, forgot that an Atkinsonied engine hasn't enough energy in the exhaust to spin a turbine. SuperCharger?
Maybe that's the Ford/Mazda answer, less overall "stress", no F/awd capability, on the Explorer's turbo 4 cylinder drive train to "improve" the reliability.
Question: Should the dealer / warranty company have noticed the timing change issue when they replaced the turbo sensor? I have documentation stating it was bad from an independent, reliable mechanic, Mazda dealer did the warranty work to replace turbo, but said nothing about the timing chain and / or sludge. Also: is it reasonable that sludge would have been found in engine when the turbo sensor was replaced?
Reported to NHTSA also.
Does anyone have any advice on how to best approach This? We have been on the phone many times with the dealer, Mazda, and the factory rep, and they are not moving an inch-
Thanks!
I knew the turbo was burned up, bought a replacement, with the assistance for tech info from Blast Performance in Quebec, we changed the turbo, installed a re-routed oil supply line and the car now lives again.
It can be done alot cheaper, and easier. total cost about $1500 parts and labor, I did some of the engineering.
If you are in the upstate NY area and/or want to contact me I can give you the info to save you the headache and money.
My wife and I bought out her mortgage on the CX-7 because she didn't have the money to fix it, and gave her our TDI.
KWD
KWD
The best thing you can do to alleviate this is to let the engine idle for up to three to four minutes when you pull in to park, you can do this by sitting in the car or by installing a "turbo timer", all the tech kids racing and tuning these do it to extend the life of their equipment.
You also must use the best synthetic oil you can find, Valvoline, Red Line, Amsoil are some of the best, 5 or 10W-40.
My problem with Mazda is the lying and selling high tech cars and not informing the purchasers of the need for specialized handling for their equipment.
KWD
When my turbo sensor was replaced at 62,000 miles by an extended warranty company, would the timing chain / oil sludge issue be obvious?
I received a diagnosis of complete engine failure just 7 months after the turbo sensor was replaced, however, I feel like the warranty company may have just done a cheap fix last year, instead of replacing the engine.
Of course, the extended warranty company won't replace my engine now...citing "sludge", nor will they release the photos or report from their adjustor.
Fighting everything now. I'm amazed by the "it's not my problem now" attitude of the extended warranty company. My car was well maintained and everything documented.
Also in the envelope was a happy little letter telling me they are extending warranty coverage for "heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust due solely to overheating which leads to leaking of oil onto the turbocharger and turbo failure." If you have white smoke and the turbo hasn't failed (which is their way of doing a cheap fix right before everything breaks) they'll add on a ventilation system. If you have white smoke and your turbo is cooked, they will replace the turbo, as long as you're under 70,000 miles and 7 years. I had to replace my turbo back in July, so now I get to fight with them for reimbursement; I am hoping that since they partially covered me as I was 100 MILES outside of warranty this won't be too hard, but I think I'd rather have a colonoscopy without anesthetic.
For all who are still having problems, the warranty extension cover CX-7s made between 2/14/06 and 7/1/08, Speed3s 6/28/06-6/30/08 and Speed6s 8/4/05-6/30/07. Good luck, we're all in this together. :shades:
Cut your losses, trade it in now. Crossing my fingers that mine will make it till the end of the year as I need to pay off a few thousand off my loan as it's not worth crap right now.
vvt , and turbo sensor, however, no luck with Mazda or the Extended Warranty company. It is obvious the engine is "cooking" the oil by faulty design and the dozen or so
Technical Service Bulletins published document this as far back as 2009.
I will continue my campaign to hold Mazda responsible for "complete" engine failure, and believe this problem could have been avoided if they stood behind their product and their limited mileage special warranty. Letters, calls and a BBB report have been made.
Even if the oil was low, an engine simply doesn't work and sound perfectly normal one moment, and then simply destroy itself. While this car has been sitting at John Kennedy Ford for the past three weeks while we are figuring out if a lawsuit is our best shot, we received TWO more RECALL NOTICES from Mazda North American Operations- Disgraceful!
By reading the post above, I'm a little hesitant about the performance (technical) of this SUV. Now, I would like to have some advices from anyone about the Mazda CX-7, 2011.
Wuld you please recommend me to go for it?
Thanks
If you lost to much "go" as a result you could have the head milled to raise the compression ratio to the DFI standard of 12:1.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
Not knowing what your engine issue is I will only emphasize that if the engine runs but has lost most of it's power then it can be repaired much cheaper and doesn't need a replacement.
My daughter's engine ran very well, but the turbo was fried. And they told her she needed a new engine. It was a lie.
Good Luck!
I still have not sent in my paperwork to get reimbursed for labor and expenses put into replacing my engine because there's something just not right about the wording of exactly WHAT they are covering. It almost appears they will pick apart the invoice I have and take out parts that don't apply to this "engine noise" that they say they'll cover. It's just not sitting right with me. So, I guess I'll call a lawyer friend and see what he thinks. AND, if you don't sign the general release at the bottom releasing Mazda from all claims I'm sure they'll just shot it back and say "sorry, incomplete paperwork".