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Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions
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Comments
Doesn't make me feel much better.
Again, when I go over bumps, speed bumps in parking lots or onto a street from a ramp at an angle, I hear a creaking in the front end...more of a moan on the 'upward' motion of the front end of the vehicle.
Any one else??
Eureka!
No more loud creaking when pulling out of the ramp each day! Gee, I'm going to miss all the pedestrians looking at my MPV when they don't hear the noise any more....NOT!
First thought the transmission might be slipping or problems with spark plugs. Once connected to computer, getting fuel trim readings of +2000% to 50% negative but this doesn't make sense - how would it run if readings were accurate. Problem with computer? Any thoughts out there?
-Brian
Yes PVC recall has been completed. Forgot to mention that in orginal posting.
As advised by Subearu, I put in 17in Michellin Hydrohedge T rated tires. The ride has very much improved & we will keep this Van for another 2-3 years. It also improved the MPV's ride in curvy & winding roads, it has much better grip on the road with very little head spinning. If you don;t like your MPV ride, change the Dunlop tires & you will love them.
Do i love this site or what ?
BTW, i installed a DVD video as well.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Just switched back to the OEM 17"s from the 15" AA's for the winter. The 17"s are firm no doubt.
-Brian
The Coolest function i like is two things:
1. This system has lights which lights up the distance between 1st & 2nd row seats well.
2. Now, the light button on this system is hooked to all lights in the Van, which MPOV doesn't have this feature. to turn on all lights with one switch.
They did this without my request, it appears this is normail part of DVD installation.
Good luck!
But I digress. The whole fluid discussion got me on edge at the dealer's, and 400 bucks later, they called me to tell me my rear exhaust manifold was cracked and needed to be replaced (extremely common in these MPVs), and would I like to hand over $900 so they could do it? I declined and figured me and my good friend JB Weld or Pyro Putty could climb under the van and take care of business. (My 8th grade English teacher is screaming right now! I meant "I figured JB Weld and I could climb under the van...")
The problem is...I've never met JB Weld and Pyro Putty nor my exhaust manifold! They apparently don't post pics of where your rear exhaust manifolds are (I HAVE figured out I have two of them, and it's the rear one with the crack) on the internet free of charge, and minivan engine compartments are notoriously cramped, so it's going to be hard to just poke around in there.
I first have to figure out: How do I find the crack the dealer found? After I figure out the relative location of the rear exhaust manifold and presumably crawl under the van, will I have to have the vehicle running and then I'll see hot fumes escaping from the crack (at which point I'll become light-headed and require medical treatment? )?
Maybe JB Weld will work after all, or will it melt? Or I've heard of something called exhaust cement. Would that be better than Pyro Putty?
I really don't have to remove the exhaust manifold to put the putty on, do I? The husband is pretty good about taking apart his garden tractor and getting it back together properly, but this is the man I had to show how to change the oil and the spark plugs 20 years ago when we got married! (Shame on his father! ) I figure he will come in handy if anything has to be unbolted. (But the bolts on these manifolds are problematic and may need to be drilled then replaced. Makes me wary!)
So you can see I need about as much advice as I can get!
- Where is the rear exhaust manifold on an '00 MPV?
- How would I locate a crack the dealer says is there?
- Could I repair it myself using a putty or cement?
- Would I have to remove the exhaust manifold to repair it?
- Would I need to clean the exhaust manifold to repair it? (If so, HOW?)
- If putty or cement will work, do you have a recommendation on a specific brand of putty or cement?
THANKS!!!!
MacNerd
(Windows Programmer by day, but Macintosh Nerd by night!)
I am so disgusted with Mazda and the lack of customer service. Any suggestions or comments?
My only recommendation is for people not to buy a Mazda or get rid of it before the warranty is up.
Sincerely,
Davehenry
Also, does anyone know how to remove the center cup holder in the dash for cleaning?
Any info will be appreciated. Thanks.
ANYONE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS?
I doubt you will have any luck with Mazda covering the cost of the repair since K&N is an aftermarket part not within OEM specs. BTW, what does the Mass air sensor do?
Truth be told, this wasn't the only problem we had. We slid into a curb at under 5MPH and did $2k of damage. When we took it in for service the tech asked whether we had hit a pothole. He frequently sees this amount of damage to the MPV from something as common as a pothole! We can't live with the fear that any random pothole will cost us 2k.
While looking at Toyotas we met another couple that was trading in their '03 MPV because it was, in their words, literally falling apart already!
We loved many aspects of the vehicle, especially its small width verses other available minivans, but will now try our luck with a Ford Freestyle.
My advice ... stay away from the Mazda MPV.
I'll echo - what is the "mass air sensor"? I wonder if they mean the air intake control valve.
I ran without an air filter for two days once on my '01 (me bad) and I never had any misfirings - it did sound really cool tho.... )
Worse yet, if I lock the car, (alarm is then armed), and then use the key to open the driver side door, this will set off the alarm.
Anyone have this problem? any insight? Thanks.
Jason
K&N site does say that their filter should not void warranty but when I asked them if they had any experience similar to above, no reply was received. I still have the old sensor and offered it to K&N for analysis - again no response. Unfortunately K&N does not make the decision about the warranty, Mazda does. My advice is if you have a K&N filter installed, change it out with a standard filter before visiting your Mazda dealer with similar types of problems.
My only issue is tire wear. After 30K, not much is left.
John
The last one I purchased from a local auto supply was not a Mazda brand but it looked and felt just like the original and I haven't noticed any problems except for the bruised knuckles putting that thing in...
I normally buy what they have in stock at my local auto parts store. I figure I change it every 15k miles so evena cheap brand won't do too much damage.
We had 40k on the Dunlops and they were almost bald. The Dunlop's on the MPV were lousy!
The Michelin Hydro Edge are a "S" rated tire and are perfect for the MPV.....have a 140k warranty and are rated one of the best tires in rain and snow, quiet handling and smooth.
Hope that hleps!
The "T' rated Michelin Hydro Edge is highly recommended for the vehicle by many tire specialists...they claim the manufacturer's alway go above an beyond what is actually needed.
We have the Hydro Edge on our 2001 MPV ES and they are amazing tires.
Obviously I didn't flush the coolent last May (3 year mark) as I only had 33k on the vehicle - why would I do this service when it is recommended at 72k.
Mazda Canada claims I voided the warranty by not doing so at the 3 year mark - regardless of the mileage!!?
Has anyone had similiar problems with the water pump at such low mileage? ">
Who did you get to put them on since they are a different heat rating?
Mazda Canada is trying to pull a fast one. You don't have to prove anything, the water pump broke and they need to fix it under warranty. The burden of proof should be on Mazda Canada. If your antifreeze is still in good condition you should prevail.
Thanks for the feedback on the water pump - will push it further with.
Ask the service manager to go for a ride with you in another MPV...then take a ride in yours. If he doesn't investigate further, file a complaint with Mazda or take it to another dealer.
Has anyone dealt with this? The dealer admitted it was a poor design as road salts, etc get kicked up in the mechanism and jam the works. Does Mazda corporation have any policy on this?
so, it is OK. yes, some dealers will not install T because Mazda recommends H.