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Hatchbacks Mazda3 Mazda3 Maintenance & Repair
4532 messages, Last post on Nov 16, 2009 at 2:06 PM
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Hi, all. I got a Mazda3 a month ago. It was looking a bit dirty today, not at all gleaming like when I first got it, so I took it in for a basic, automatic wash. This is a basic question, but I am wondering how often one should get the car washed. My last car was 10 years old, so I had pretty much stopped caring about how it looked, but now obviously I am more into it. Apart from aesthetics, how often should I wash? Should I get a basic wax application during the wash? Underside blast in the summer? I live in Chicago and am not in a spot where I can wash it myself, except in a self-service bay. Thanks.
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Replying to: igozoomzoom (Jun 19, 2008 10:06 am)  56K. The symptoms: loud ticking noise. Replacement is easier/cheaper for Mazda and dealer. But no diagnosis and I never could get the reason for the engine failure. Received a 12k warranty, stayed on scheduled maintenance and just after the warranty expired (Jan '08)....same issue began: loud ticking. This time the dealership kept it for about 2 wks, kept taking engine apart and putting it back together, same noise. Flew tech in from different state. Finally, and it seemed almost by accident, they found the noise coming from the intake manifold: defective butterfly valves. So manifold was replaced. But I don't know if a screw passed thru into the engine or anywhere else.... Now I hear that the dealership has had two other Mazda3's w/ same issue. I believe the Protoge had this as a recall. And would it be a big leap to think that Mazda uses the same manufacturer for the 3's intake manifold? How do recalls or class action suits get started??
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Replying to: mazdalemon (Jun 19, 2008 4:18 pm) This is the first I have heard of this. Where did you read this? How do recalls or class action suits get started?? Class action suits are intiated by a representative of the customer (in short, a lawyer). A recall is initiated by the manufacturer.
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Replying to: autonomous (Jun 20, 2008 9:18 am) |
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Replying to: mizzoumazda (Jun 19, 2008 3:42 pm) In my opinion, the spray on wax you get at an automated car wash is useless and not worth paying extra for. It's better to wash by hand. but if you must go through an automated wash, make sure it's brushless. The spinning brush things can scratch your paint if they are not very clean and well maintained. How often to wash is a personal thing. I'm kind of obsessed so I wash it every other weekend, if there's no rain in the forecast. Apply a high quality wax twice a year (by hand). Always wipe off bird droppings with a wet paper towel as soon as you notice them, so they don't sit too long and get a chance to damage your paint. Finally, check the build date on your door jamb sticker and make sure your car is at least six months old before your first wax job. I've been told it takes six months for the paint to cure, and using a buffer before then could damage the clear coat. (Not sure how true that is, but I figure better safe than sorry.)
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Replying to: z71bill (Aug 01, 2006 12:55 pm) |
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Replying to: ahightower (Jun 24, 2008 5:34 pm) |
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Replying to: energyzer8 (Jun 19, 2008 3:04 pm) |
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Replying to: energyzer8 (Jun 19, 2008 3:04 pm) |
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I'm being told I have a unique problem. I bought a brandy dandy new mazda 3s 2.3 4 door in April '08. Car ran like a dream. Fun to drive. Finally found a car whose drivers seat fits me and doesn't make me feel like I've logged a 1000 miles just to get to work. Mileage could be better, but oh well. This June, we had an actually heat wave here in VT. We usually get our week of summer in July. At 4,700 miles, my car started having this long crank slow to start issue. It only did it when it was warm and the car had sat for longer than 1 hr. After it got running and the rough idle smoothed out, it would run fine. Leave it sit again in temps over 65+F, it would happen again. I brought it down to my dealer. Luckily they were able to replicate the problem. Unluckily, they had no idea what was going on. The car does not code for anything, no lights, nothing. 'It' thinks everything is fine. They thought it might be the throttle body. Ordered the part, replaced it, same problem later that very same day. I bring it back to the dealer after the weekend, June 26th. They still have it. They have been referring with the engineers at the regional office. They have taken a bunch of parts off of my car and swapped them out on another 3 to see if they could get that car to do it to. They were even told to remove my cars computer and put it in the fridge for a while and then install it and try again. They have no idea. They have been through all of the electronics in the car. I was told Tuesday when I called, July 8th, that they have now been ordered to replace the motor. The service mgr said they are just guessing and mentioned that maybe I would want to look into the lemmon law. This car has only 5000 miles on it. I am uncomfortable with owning a brand new car that has been repeatedly torn apart and now will have a (hopefully) new motor. I talked with the dealer manager and told him, I want a new car. He's talking with his regional rep. Has anybody else had this issue with the 2008 mazda 3s? I like the car, but I'm just not sure I want this one back.
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