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SUVs Mazda CX-7 C-7 Clanging Noise and black smoke out exhaust when accelerating
41 messages, Last post on Apr 21, 2009 at 8:03 PM
You are in the Mazda CX-7 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: slw5 (Jan 22, 2008 6:12 pm) I don't have any technical advice for ya. Suffice to say, I've had mine a bit longer, just turned over 40K miles, and not a problem. That isn't meant to make you feel any better about your situation, but only to show that you have an abnormal situation. Most CX-7's have a little bug here and there, but seldom do we hear about a major issue, like yours. If you don't mind, I for one, would be interested, in hearing more about your situation as time goes by. Take care, Vince.
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Replying to: vbbuilt (Jan 22, 2008 6:56 pm) Thanks for the reply. Of course, at first I was excited about my new purchase and thought the turbo was an easy fix and didn't keep the receipts or document any discussion. I do have several receipts now. The CX7 was an impulse buy. I had a perfectly good Toyota Sequoia that got 15.2 mpg and I thought the little car would get better gas mileage, would be more my size, and I knew nothing about a turbo at all. . . just a great looking car caught my eye and being the first to own one from our local dealership was exciting. I've had to learn to drive more cautiously. I make sure I press lightly on the gas from a stop so it will go easy and the turbo will kick in. It's my car so I know how it works, but my hubby steps on the gas like any other car and he's furious as it just sits there and then takes off. Several times we've thought we would be hit by another car because it didn't move. The turbo has been upgraded several times and it's improved a tad with each upgrade. One day I had to stop because of a stalled vehicle, I had time to maneuver around it, stepped on the gas and it just sat there, by the time it kicked in another car had moved into place and mine leaped forward and I had to slamn on the brakes to keep from hitting the other car. In a similar situation I went to manuever around a car, stepped on the gas and that darned clanging and black smoke appeared. This was the moment I charged into Mazda Service. Just really ruins the enjoyment of a great looking car. Will definitely keep you posted. Do you happen to know who to write to at Mazda? Is there an address for the president or something? I'll check with the California Attorney General. Didn't think of that. When I looked up lemon law online it took me to attorney websites and really no information. Thanks again for your reply and I'll keep you posted.
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Replying to: slw5 (Jan 22, 2008 7:58 pm) As for Mazda, trying to reach anyone at Mazda USA is an exercise in futility. Time and again, members in this forum have contacted them for one issue or another, and are always greeted with a polite, yet nebulous response. They're basically non responsive. Bring your husband and talk to the GM at your dealership. Tell him/her your story. Tell him about your dissatisfaction. Tell him you're looking into the Lemon Laws. Then see how he responds. If you're still dissatisfied with his response, then go to the Chamber of Commerce to lodge a complaint. Try the BBB, too. Good Luck! Vince.
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Replying to: slw5 (Jan 22, 2008 6:12 pm)
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Replying to: gch523 (Jan 26, 2008 5:34 am) Reason I'm asking is that I took mine in for the 30K maintenance. Two days later, lots of nasty grinding and clanging from the front end. Took it back. Turns out the mechanic didn't put enough torque on the lug nuts on the front passenger wheel, after they had rotated the tires. The lug nuts started loosening and well, you get the picture. Told my shop adviser that was pretty poor on their part. They agreed. So, lesson learned. But I've never heard that noise before and no way of knowing it was for that cause. Vince. |
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Replying to: gch523 (Jan 26, 2008 5:34 am) This is a great looking car but just a piece of XXXXX!!! My husband cusses at it everytime he gets in it. I've taken it back 4 times for this and the smoke and noise wasn't witnessed till October and I've been sitting here waiting for Mazda to figure out what wrong with it ever since. I can't duplicate the noise if I try and it doesn't happen all the time but I definitely feel it is related to the turbo because there is hesitation when it happens and then the clanging and then the smoke. It definitely is not predetonation ping. I too could go on for hours about this car. The dangerous situations we've been placed in because the car just sits there until it decides to move is ridiculous and now the clanging/smoke. I noticed there is another reply asking where I hear it. My noise seems to be from the rear. . . . it always startles me when it does it. We are thinking about pursuing the lemon law but we've never done anything like this before. I woke up this morning thinking I would write our General Manager at the Galpin Mazda here in Valencia, CA instead of my hubby marching in an complaining. He is trying to quit smoking so he should be just in the right frame of mind to blast them but not sure that is the approach we should take. It's a shame that such a great looking car has had trouble since about a month after we got it. I only have 12K on it and it's a year and half old. Has your dealership "red lined" you with Mazda corporate to find a fix for this? I think our guy said that there had been other complaints about this issue. All I can say is that I do not want this car. I shouldn't have to think about how my driving experience will be today. Will the noise happen and/or will I be put in a situation turning in front of traffic where my car will just sit there. Do you have really bad turbo lag with your car? They've upgraded my turbo many times via computer something and it improves a tad each time. We have been in several situations where we needed to react quickly and had just a dead spot and looked up to see cars barreling down on us thinking we would die. Oh, turbo lag is normal we were told. I too could go on for hours!!!!! Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one.
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Replying to: slw5 (Jan 26, 2008 7:52 am) They out right LIE about the gas mileage and its not fair that I am stuck with a 30k investment based on LIES , after all I was looking for better mileage at least I get 16.8 mpg ,about 270 miles to a 16 gallon tank , 160 miles are highway miles . Sorry but that is CRAP !! [ they claim 18 city and 24 freeway] The turbo lag is there, although I have never had a near death experience as you have thank GOD !! , and I hope I don't . I have made 4 trips back to the dealership since owning it , they have had my car for two months of the nine I have owned it ,always supplying me with a cheesy rental , and I am about feed up , I will be talking to an attorney about the lemon law . gch523 |
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Replying to: gch523 (Jan 27, 2008 5:22 pm) Thank God! There are others out there. I'd be happy with 16 mpg . . . .I get 14 mpg and buying premium gas sucks!!! Yesterday, I got on the California DMV website because I figured that was a more reputable website and emailed one of the lemon law attorneys they had listed and am awaiting an answer. I picked one that has an office in our town and had 20 years experience. I only wish I had saved all the receipts from when we first took it in about the turbo lag (I just thought it was a new car and they were working the bugs out of it . . . never dawned on me it was a real problem I would be dealing with for 18 months). The first near death experience was our introduction into turbo lag about a month after purchasing it (of course no one ever mentioned turbo lag during the sale). I drive only about 7 miles a day to and from work so it's not too bad but turning left in front of traffic causes me anxiety. I know how to lightly press on the gas so that it drives smoothly, but my hubby drives it like his truck and it just sits there. . . . no way can you just stomp on it to get out of the way of something or move fast if need be. But, why should I think about driving . . . it should be natural as it's always been. Step on the gas and it goes and we've never had a car that clangs like metal with black smoke blowing out the back. You'll have to keep me posted. I'll write more if, by some chance, I do have a lemon law case. Read all the info on lemon laws because the manufacturer pays the attorney fees. Apparently, a win is either getting the car replaced with the same model but the newer year or the price of the vehicle less a mileage differential. Not sure if it's important to keep your receipts proving that you use premium or not. Never dawned on me to do that but I plan on keeping them from now on just in case. We've never done anything like this before but it's worth a try. We've been sitting here since October waiting for Mazda to find a fix for our problem . . . meanwhile, I've put another 2,000 miles on it. I got to thinking that the Mazda 3 had more get up and go everytime I got it as a rental. Mazda uses turbos in all their Champ race cars and don't seem to have a problem with turbo lag . . . . . so I guess the new technology in an everyday car didn't work out so well. Obviously, there is something wrong with the turbo if they keep upgrading mine each time I take it in. It helps a tad at the time. I'll be checking back from time to time to see how your case is going and I'll continue to post my progress as well.
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Replying to: slw5 (Jan 27, 2008 11:31 pm) Check out the Lemon Law Questions discussion too.
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Replying to: steve_ (Jan 28, 2008 9:12 pm) http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/automotive-law/lemon-law.php I received a call today indicating that I have a strong case for lemon law. We are reading the "retainer" paperwork tonight and my husband has a few questions before I sign anything since the car is in my name. Thanks! it's so easy to go to the wrong place. I picked an attorney that has an office in the town that we live in even though the main office is in San Diego. I'll keep you posted on the progress. |
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