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Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions
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Comments
Why?
I have Dunlops on our 02 LX. Smooth as silk.
Mark.
customer with good results especially in the winter weather. Will give Sunoco a try and let you know how it works. I wonder how wide spread this problem is with the MPV? After doing some checking on different web sites and some history on some postings, it seems to get a lot of attention. I plan on calling Mazda to let them about their stinky van... Thanks about the advice on the flaps, I have been checking out some flaps at Pep Boys. I'll need lots of brandy!
After this week I have noticed two things that Seem to be common amongst MPV owners:
1. The sulphur smell
2. Some form of vibration/shimmering on the steering wheel.
The sulphur smell:
Although this is annoying I am not too concerned since I had it worse in a 1998 Nissan Altima. My research has told me the different brands do matter, and that in Canada, Sunoco or Shell have less sulphur content than others..I will use Sunoco and see if it helps.
Here is my description of the second issue: When I drive at varying speeds I notice the steering wheel really reflects the road surface. It vibrates and shimmers but not in a very excessive manner, rather varying from road to road. Thus it sometimes is worse than other times and all I can deduce is that the surface has changed and not really the speed.
I have a tendency to believe the vibration/ shimmering my infact be a "charcateristic" of this van and not a defect. Sure maybe the Dunlops are the cause for this and maybe they are not, but what I have read from various posts on this matter; no real solution has been found.
I know this is not a balancing issue nor a tire pressure issue.
What do others feel when driving? Does your steering wheel not emit any road feel or vibration at all?
Thanks for your feedback.
rj
I just wanted to know if what I felt could be normal and, that it is something that others have noticed compared to driving a sedan..like a protege for example.
Mike
The fix is to drill two small drain holes in the rear underbody panel, which should not allow the water to be trapped anymore.
Hope that helps!
I would very much like to know more about that Dealer Note that points out a flaw in the Dunlop tires that cause a shake/vibration at slow speeds.
Is the note created by the dealer, for you to take to a Dunlop Tire dealer for warranty?
I believe I may have the same problem on my 2002 MPV..this steering wheel does shake/vibrate at low speeds but NOT all the time? Did yours?
If I could even get a copy of that note or dealer reference for that note It may help me out.
Thanks
Smell is bad, but having bad tranny's, door problems, hardware issues, and many other things that the so called KING OF THE MINI's has is much worse. I can't believe the list of problems that even late model DC's are having compared to smells and long shifter levers, they have really MAJOR DEALS over there! I have had a DC for 8 years and have an MPV coming soon from Japan. I've had the tranny replaced as well as other hardware issues. The quality in workmanship in the MPV is definitely a plus over the Dodges I've seen and test driven...and I did MANY drives in many vans....and why I went with the 'smaller' but sportier MPV. Of course, I hope 8 years down the road I will not be eating crow on this decision.
http://web2.airmail.net/emann/protegefaq/tsb/01-029-02.html
Hope this helps,
-Hari
Steve, Host
01: Engine group
29: Bulletin number in that group
02: Calendar year of release
This makes it the 29th engine related bulletin that Mazda released in 2002 for all models.
Actual issue date of the bulletin is 11/22/02.
Steve, Host
Is this smell deal happening in the upper midwest? I don't hear a lot of talk around the TC's about it.
I have mine coming in a couple weeks and want to understand this thing more. It's been talked about for a year or more here.
60 degrees out of wack? Whoaa....
Better pull the heads and take a peek. The belt was replaced correctly - right?
It's been a while since I posted here. I'm a proud owner of a '01 MPV LX that my wife mainly drives, which keeps the miles low (13k since July 01). We love our van, and mechanically, have had a flawless record with it -- until tonight.
I took my 6-year-old shopping for T-ball gear, at a shopping center about 10 minutes from home. When I started up the van to come home, the Battery charging light came on, and I'd lost power steering. I decided to drive home rather than wait for the tow truck, and noticed that console lights were dimming. At this point, I was guessing failed alternator.
I got home, and discovered the alternator belt (it used to be called a v-belt in older cars, though it's not really v-shaped) had come off -- this prevented the alternator, power steering and water pump from working properly.
It seems to me to be one of those fluke things that happened, rather than a problem with the Duratec engine or something of that sort. But I thought I'd float this out to the list to see if anyone else had a similar occurrence.
I think I'll just bring it in Monday A.M. and have my local mechanic (rather than the closest Mazda dealer) take a look at it first, and tell me what he thinks caused the belt to come off. If it's just a matter of putting the belt back on, then I'll just ask him to do it. He can usually get things turned around by lunchtime. If it seems more serious, then I'll have the Mazda dealership (who I haven't seen but have been told to avoid) look at it and insist that it be covered by warranty.
This episode does not sour me on the MPV -- it's still a great van and perfect family vehicle for us.
So at the very least, you may have taxed your battery.
I would have your mechanic check the belt tensioner. I find it hard to believe the belt would just come off unless the tensioner was marginal or faulty. Hopefully if it is a tensioner, it is still under warranty.
I'd have them put a new belt on (at your cost of course) in any case, while they are doing the work, you might as well get a new belt instead of paying the labor again later to replace the belt.
TB
Unrepairable Foul Emission Oder In New Camry
Steve, Host
Thanks for the tip -- I was worried about the overheating issue. It looks like I'll just go to the dealer after all -- and yes, I was already thinking about asking them to go ahead and put on a new belt. I'd rather not have to go through this again, if the current belt is stretched.
Then again, I could get lucky and they'll replace the belt under warranty . . .
Gary
My questions still stands on the Ford engine; I had not seen the stink issue with the Tributes....has anyone else heard if this engine is causing problems in the other vehicles that use it? Tributes use this same engine and have been notorious for OTHER problems...but not a smell to my knowledge. Or is the stench nothing to do with the engine, but the emission system...?
I am going to do more investigating locally to see if this problem is widespread in the Twin City area. Maybe our gas is processed different here.
Steve, Host
Still wanting to hear of folks related to this problem and parts of the country. I still have not heard much on it locally here in the upper midwest. Sounds like it's out east, southeast and maybe west coast. Refineries/gas providers, etc. may have impact on this issue the way it sounds...I may get a bunch of those 'evergreen' air freshners for the new machine when it arrives or buy a gas mask;-)
Seriously, how can such a wide spread issue be kept under wraps by so many auto makers?? There must be a solution besides buying certain gas. Cars had smell/rotten egg problems back in the 70's when the catalytic converters first came out...but nothing is that new on the machines now to cause this 30 years later.
Steve, Host
The service at the dealer was superb -- I was the second vehicle in queue, and they had the work done in less than 2 hours -- all covered under warranty. So much for the rumors!!
So all's well with my MPV again, just in time for T-ball season!!!
G
Went to my 'home' dealer tonight to check on my ever so closer yet elusive, MPV (to delivery that is). ETA is now 2/11! The slow boat only took 2 weeks. Oct.20 - Feb.11. That's how long MINE took to get to MN. from Japan.
I asked him about the smell and he shriveled has nose up and looked at me like I was crazy. Never heard of it, he cried. He told me to call the techs during the day and ask them about the smell. This should be fun...not!
Aw, what the heck. I guess I'll just get use to it.
You can fix it with a $0.10 1/2" copper cap with a hole in it.
TB
Well, I did but the message got deleted.
Anyway, there is a repair notice MT000003553 from Mazda addressing "Moaning or humming noise from top of engine". Too bad I can't post the details. For some reason Edmunds people consider it "Unauthorized Commercial Activity". :-(
FWIW, I had a very similar noise on my 2000 and Tboner's fix did fix the trick for me. I think it cost me less than $0.25 at the local Ace Hardware. I'd post a link... which would actually be helpful but don't want it deleted...
Steve, I know you're just doing your job
It's all in the Member Agreement.
Steve, Host
Steve, I'm not a member over there, but I know Alex has put some serious time into providing MPV info and I really doubt he's benefiting from it other than a wealth of info he know carries from contributors.