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Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions - READ ONLY

4469 messages,  Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 9:04 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MPV, Van

Messages Page 164 of 448

#1624 of 4469 2001 mpv by loop3

Jan 22, 2002 (6:09 pm)

I purchased a 2001 mpv dx in late December. This is my fourth mazda. I have several questions hope someone may know the answers to.
 
1. How reliable is the 2.5 duratec
2. Why did Mazda decrease the horsepower in the 2001 vs. 2000 model
3. I bought an extended warranty from warranty direct for $760.00 6 years 100000 miles, is this a good idea or not?
4. Why didn't Mazda use one of their own 6 cylinders for this van instead of using one from Ford.
 
Thanks for any help

#1625 of 4469 Loop3 by pjd58

Jan 22, 2002 (6:22 pm)

Sean,
 
Welcome, I'll try to answer your questions. Good luck with your new MPV, most owners have had very few issues and love their van.
 
1) The 2.5 is very reliable, used in the Contour, Cougar and Mystique, with nary a problem.
2) To bring the engine to NLEV( National Low Emission Vehicle) emission standards. 2001 owner's lose 10 horses.
3) It's a personal decision. I've heard good things about Warranty Direct. Although, I have little trust in 3rd party warranty companies, too many fail. Also, some Mazda dealers may not accept your claim
4)It was a way for Mazda to keep the cost down of the new MPV
 
Pjd58

#1626 of 4469 LOOP3 by stone20

Jan 22, 2002 (6:48 pm)

I dont like the idea because when you buy the extended warranty in years, it starts from the day you buy it. Which means your only getting 3 extra years for the cost. The first 3 years are covered by manufacture warranty. If you get a warranty in miles thats a different story vs. years. The idea is to try find a warranty with miles only. The other thing is look at everything that it covers because most of the time its things that don't break in that time period. Remember one thing about this is your betting something is going to go wrong and ther betting it wont. Just like life insurance. These are just my thoughts, go with your gut feeling on this matter.

#1627 of 4469 2001 mazda by loop3

Jan 22, 2002 (7:11 pm)

Thank you for your comments about the Mazda 2001

#1628 of 4469 Reason for Ford Engine by kkcymru

Jan 22, 2002 (7:18 pm)

While the use of the FORD Duratec engine was a cost issue, at least from what I read, it was a cost hedging issue rather than a simple cost savings issue.
 
When the MPV production was being planned there was concern over producing the van entirely in Japan. The yen was much more expensive versus the dollar than it is now and the vehicle might be too expensive in the US, especially if the yen continued to strengthen. The solution: produce a major part of the car in the US. It had to be a high cost item that could either be shipped to Japan or installed later. The obvious choice had to be the engine. It couldn't have hurt that Contour sales weren't so hot and Ford had lots of extra production capacity and Ford owns a big chunk of Mazda.
 
In hindsight, the yen has gone from 90 to the dollar then to more than 130 to the dollar today. In terms of cost, Mazda probably would have been better off building their own engine than shipping Ford engines from the U.S., but of course they didn't know that when they made their plans.

#1629 of 4469 Ford Engine by maltb

Jan 23, 2002 (11:52 am)

Don't forget about the structure of the Ford group now. Mazda is basically out of V-6 development and has been designated to design large I-4 engines. So rather than use the even more aged Mazda 2.5, they went with the current scheme of things.
 
BTW, you'll notice that the new 2.3L Ford motor is the first Mazda engine to be developed under that agreement. So far so good with that one too.

#1630 of 4469 Ford And Mazda Engines by auerbach

Jan 23, 2002 (12:41 pm)

So does that mean that the 6 cylinder in the upcoming Mazda6 will be Ford designed, while the 4 cylinder will be Mazda designed???

#1631 of 4469 Yes by maltb

Jan 23, 2002 (12:44 pm)

but both will be built in the US at ford engine plants.

#1632 of 4469 Front Brake Clunking by dougsey

Jan 29, 2002 (5:49 am)

I'm getting the clunking almost everytime I apply the brakes. Has anyone else had this problem on the 2001? I see there's a TSB on the 2000 but I don't see it on the '01.

#1633 of 4469 Front Brake Clunking by hankrtg

Feb 01, 2002 (9:14 pm)

I just recently bought the 2001 MPV and have also noticed a slight clunk sometimes when releasing the brake pedal. For me, it is not too bothersome. I don't hear it all of the time, and it is not very loud. So far, that is the only real issue with my MPV. I sometimes wonder whether the speedometer is reading high or not because it seems I'm getting passed a lot more often on highways I frequently drive.

Messages Page 164 of 448

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