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Mazda3 Lighting & Electrical Questions

83 messages,  Last post on Mar 14, 2013 at 8:26 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA3, Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA3, Lights, Electrical, Hatchback

Messages Page 4 of 9

#29 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? [fee3] by autonomous

Apr 21, 2009 (2:31 pm)

Replying to: fee3 (Apr 21, 2009 11:45 am)
brand-new 2008 Mazda3 four months ago ... been in the shop three times regarding a battery drain that leaves the car deader than dead after it sits for a few days. ... tests show there's nothing "unusual.")
 
What does the Mazda dealer suggest you do? Have you thought of taking it to another Mazda dealer?
 
Won't even take a jump. The shop has no clue. Battery has been replaced
If it won't take a jump, does that mean you need a new battery each time it gets drained?!

#30 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? by redmazda3

Apr 22, 2009 (7:00 am)

My parents bought a 2008 Avalon which the battery was constantly drained and the car would not start. The first dealer said nothing was wrong according to their instruments and my parents just were not driving the car enough to keep the battery charged. The second dealer said he didn't believe the first dealer and kept on looking at all aspects of the car. They finally determined the auto dimming mirror had been put on at the port when the car was delivered to America. After taking the mirror off, they found it had been wired backwards. After correctly wiring the mirror, the battery has no gone dead since and my parents drive the same miles they have always done. Your problem may be somewhere along this line. Hope this helps.

#31 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? [fee3] by mariong

Jun 02, 2009 (4:23 pm)

Replying to: fee3 (Apr 21, 2009 11:45 am)
We left our brand new Mazda 3 at an airport parking lot for two weeks and the battery was dead when we got back. Our dealer's explanation is that the 3 computers are talking to each other and you can expect a dead battery after leaving it just a week. Not what you want to hear about a new car.
mariong

#32 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? [mariong] by autonomous

Jun 03, 2009 (2:52 pm)

Replying to: mariong (Jun 02, 2009 4:23 pm)
brand new Mazda 3 at an airport parking lot for two weeks and the battery was dead when we got back. Our dealer's explanation is that the 3 computers are talking to each other and you can expect a dead battery after leaving it just a week.
 
I find that that statement by the dealer representative not only surprising but disturbing. You may want to write to MazdaUSA and inform them of the situation and see what they say. How old was the battery and in what condition was it? Also, it may be difficult to prove that the battery did not discharge for another reason (e.g. accidentally leaving on the overhead light switch).

#33 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? [autonomous] by jeffyscott

Jun 04, 2009 (7:06 am)

Replying to: autonomous (Jun 03, 2009 2:52 pm)
Yeah, that sounds nuts. I've left an old minvan with an old battery sit for two weeks in winter and had no problem with the battery having enough power to start the car. If it is true that Mazda designed this car to have a dead battery if it is not used for a week that is pretty pathetic.

#34 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? {marlong} by redmazda3

Jun 04, 2009 (7:21 am)

My parents had purchased a 2008 Toyota Avalon that would go dead after a couple of days of non use. The first dealer told them they just were not driving it enough to keep the battery charged. They were told the story of the multiple computers always draining the battery. We didn't buy that story. The second dealer took the time to get all the paper work on the car and found that the auto dimming mirror was put on at the port of entrance. He took it apart and found that it was wired backwards which caused a short and a serious power drain. After correcting the wiring their car works now as expected. They sometimes do not drive the car for four or five days and it always cranks now. Hope this helps.

#35 of 83 Practicing Hari Kari [jeffyscott] by autonomous

Jun 04, 2009 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Jun 04, 2009 7:06 am)
If it is true that Mazda designed this car to have a dead battery if it is not used for a week that is pretty pathetic.
 
I don't think Mazda or any other car company would try that, it would qualify as a form of hari kari. Batteries are one of those items in the car that you know you have to replace; but not after two weeks sitting around. The dealer representative was being disingenous and not offering a helpful answer. There are lots of reasons for a battery draining. The good news is that a battery is cheap to replace.

#36 of 83 Re: Practicing Hari Kari [autonomous] by jeffyscott

Jun 04, 2009 (7:51 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Jun 04, 2009 12:41 pm)
I've never understood what a dealers motivation would be for doing that sort of thing. Why tell someone that a problem is not a problem, rather than charge them (or Mazda) to fix the problem.

#37 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? [autonomous] by roadburner

Jun 04, 2009 (9:07 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Jun 03, 2009 2:52 pm)
I find that that statement by the dealer representative not only surprising but disturbing.
 
I agree; I leave my Mazdaspeed 3 in the garage for weeks at a time and when I finally have to drive it it has never failed to start.

#38 of 83 Re: Battery drain on Mazda3? [roadburner] by dudehau

Jun 15, 2009 (8:01 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Jun 04, 2009 9:07 pm)
Got a 2009 Mazda Speed3 2 months ago and having issue with battery draining within 24hr period.
 
It started with the "Engine" light indicator coming on. Took it to the dealer and they couldn't figure out the problem. They concluded that it was a glitch and reset the code. The next week, I left the car sitting no more than 2 days and the battery was drained. Took it in and they replaced the battery, concluding that the battery had a faulty cell.
 
Again, I left the car sitting for about 1 1/2 day while going out of town. Once again the battery was drained and I had to jumpstarted. My conclusion is that it is not the battery and the dealer have no clues what the issue is. Something is obviously being left on and is draining the battery.
 
I'm taking the car in again and will give an update soon.

Messages Page 4 of 9

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