Lots of ?? HELP PLEASE!!!

[D_Roc7822]

Hey everyone.. Couple ?? for everyone.. Back on new years eve the first thing I did in 2008 was slide into a curb one night when it was snowing its ass off. Happy New Year to me!! I tried to avoid it but the car just kept on sliding and that was nothing really I could do. I also damaged the bumper pretty bad on the driver side when I hit a fire hydrant 4 days after I got the car. So, so far my experience with this car and the weather elements has pretty much sucked. I hit the curb on the passenger side and ever since then I have a grinding noise when I get up to speeds around 45 mph. Ive gotten underneath the car to see if maybe I bent anything or something like that and everything seems to be fine, but I know its not when I drive it. The alignment is off pretty bad and first off I am wondering what the grinding noise could be? Its hard to explain.. but its like a grinding noise that rotates with the wheel. If that makes sense. My 2nd question is should I take it into the dealer for them to look at it.. or would it be best to take it someplace else for them to inspect it? If I take it into the dealer would they be able to replace whatever is wrong with it under my warranty or would I be SOL and forced to replace it myself? I could take it into the dealer when I get my oil changed cause its getting to be that time to get that done. Ive never owned a car with a warranty so is the first oil change free or how does that all work? If anyone can answer this.. I would be in debted to you for a while lol. Thanks in advance.

[utopia]

check the brake dust cover...when i installed the sportlines i had to hammer out the front part and clipped the dust cover and it did that. i just hit it back into place ;x only idea i've got but i even heard that at like 2mph...depends on how much it would cost them probably. if it's expensive they'll probably say no because of the accident and if it's cheap and they are nice maybe yes? honestly though i would go somewhere else to get it looked at. if you think you can get it under warranty as soon as that place locates the issue then bring it to the dealer. i really only go to the dealership for warranty work and stuff like that otherwise they really are overpriced.

i didn't get a free oil change :(

[D_Roc7822]

yeah dealerships are really overpriced when it comes to work. Cause you know they are gonna charge you the most they can for everything. Thanks for the info.. Ill give it a check tomorrow to see if thats it. And thanks for the advice on getting it check someplace else. I can get my alignment done @ the same time then.

[utopia]

yeah dealerships are really overpriced when it comes to work. Cause you know they are gonna charge you the most they can for everything. Thanks for the info.. Ill give it a check tomorrow to see if thats it. And thanks for the advice on getting it check someplace else. I can get my alignment done @ the same time then.

yea definetely...mazda wanted $250 to install SPC rear camber links so i'm just going to do it myself they said it takes 2 hours which I don't believe is right but I could be wrong. because i have negative camber from my lowering springs (bird) hahah but yea get that alignment done definetely. selling your car cause of those weather issues?

[D_Roc7822]

oh definitely not...other than the tires sucking really big donkey d**k in the snow.. I have no complaints @ all. I love the car. Its just I have really really bad luck with cars I guess and god hates me lol. I left you a message on your other thread about the sportlines. I couldnt see the pics and those are the springs I was gonna with. So I really wanna see the pics. If you could.. pm them to me or just put up a clickable link so I can check it out.

[USAF_TRobertson]

Why not claim it on your insurance?

[bova80]

oh definitely not...other than the tires sucking really big donkey d**k in the snow.. I have no complaints @ all. I love the car. Its just I have really really bad luck with cars I guess and god hates me lol. I left you a message on your other thread about the sportlines. I couldnt see the pics and those are the springs I was gonna with. So I really wanna see the pics. If you could.. pm them to me or just put up a clickable link so I can check it out.

probably why you shouldn't be driving with summer tires in the snow. it advises you not to in the owner's manual. get a set of winters and you won't have these problems.

[fourthmeal]

You slid into a curb. I would think your bearings are damaged in the wheel hub.

Also...replace the bumper with aftermarket!

[D_Roc7822]

Why not claim it on your insurance?

the insurance company already loves me because of the past vehicle.. which was totaled when it busted up in flames on the highway. I told you... REALLY REALLY BAD LUCK WITH CARS!! Its like Im cursed. I dont want them to drop me or have my rates skyrocket for 2 claims in the matter of a couple months.

[D_Roc7822]

probably why you shouldn't be driving with summer tires in the snow. it advises you not to in the owner's manual. get a set of winters and you won't have these problems.

yeah I knew someone was gonna bring this up. In my defense though I didnt think they would be as bad as they actually are in the snow. After this all happened I remember I had a set of 16" wheels from a Mazda3 that I could have put on there. Im not the brightest crayon in the box.. if you cant tell lol.

[D_Roc7822]

You slid into a curb. I would think your bearings are damaged in the wheel hub.

Also...replace the bumper with aftermarket!

Yeah I was kinda hoping that wasnt the case... cause thats pretty expensive right? Ive heard the bearings themselves arent.. but the labor to put them in is crazy. And I would replace it with the autoexe bumper but see I really dont wanna pay a grand for the bumper with paint and everything. And then wait 3 months for it to come in. Trust me Ive already been down that road.

[BURNt SKiN]

the insurance company already loves me because of the past vehicle.. which was totaled when it busted up in flames on the highway. I told you... REALLY REALLY BAD LUCK WITH CARS!! Its like Im cursed. I dont want them to drop me or have my rates skyrocket for 2 claims in the matter of a couple months.

Sounds like you need accident forgiveness from allstate man! It works..

[WildChild]

I wouldn't bother taking the car to the dealer. They won't fix accident damage under warranty. Dealership service is the most expensive option since you will be paying out of pocket. Take it to a local shop with cheaper hourly rates. You will have to spend some cash to make this right. Either by paying for it all on your own, or getting insurance involved. If I were you I'd call the insurance company. Pay your deductible, and get everything fixed, bumper, wheel,etc. Then get yourself some decent winter tires. Or you might just have the same problem again.

[Falconx84]

1. bad bearing more than likely, but I would check the brake cover/guard thingy too.

I don't use the stockers when its below 50 degrees, they're rock frickin hard and slide even in "spirited" driving. Temp plays almost as much a factor as road condition. I was scared to use the stockers when it was 50 deg and raining

[D_Roc7822]

yeah, all I know is that they really really really suck in the snow. I wonder why mazda put these kind of tires on the car straight from the factory? Cause I bet there was a lot of accidents because of them. Ive driven with them in the rain.. nothing crazy cause I never do in the rain but they were just fine. Whats a round about figure for the bearing to be replaced? How much am I gonna have to whore myself out for.

[Falconx84]

it was $250 for my landrover.... but I drove about 5-10 miles on the bad bearing so the spindle had to me repaired (sucks being out on a trail when something breaks, but she got me home)

[D_Roc7822]

how long can the bad bearing last? Cause this happened on New Years Day and I drive the car quite a bit each day for work.

[Falconx84]

well.... lets just say mine was bad for a while... like a good 2 months it made noise.... one day it just decided to seize and that corner dropped a good inch (felt like a foot)

just dont wait too long, because if it is a bad bearing, when it goes, it fuckin goes like theres no tomorrow with lots of grinding and horrible noises you never want to hear from your car

[D_Roc7822]

ok thanks.. Ill have them check it out when they do my alignment. Im expecting the worst.

[Young Roids]

Oh yea bro if you are in illinois you need to STOP driving on stock tire immediatly. I barley got my car home from the dealer on the stock tires. I drove my car straight home and parked it in the garage then I ordered 16in wheels and snow tires and I did not drive untill they arrived.

[D_Roc7822]

lol yeah I guess thats what I get for not really researching the entire car. I knew all about the performance things.. but somehow I guess I missed the part on how bad the tires suck. Or maybe I just thought it couldnt be as bad as it was lol. Either way.. huge lesson learned. Not only to research everything before getting a car but to also transfer insurance over the day I get the car.

[shockdoctor]

I drive everyday with the summer tires up here in Minnesota. I took a while to figure out how to drive this car in the snow/cold, but I eventually found out that you have to floor the car at avery stop sign/light ond hammer the brakes to the floor at every stop. The traction control and the abs won't let you drive it any other way. Maybe I'm just a much more skilled driver than the rest of you tards. lol.(doughpoke Really, even with winter tires on the car. this is the best technique for a fwd car with this much power and brakes like ours. My friends who drive their Vette's do the same thing. The car is better in the snow/ice than you think. Don't baby the brakes, don't baby the gas pedal, and for God's sake, don't turn off the stability control until summer! All said and done, next year I will probably pony up for some new winter skins though. Just to keep all of you safety nazis off my back.

[D_Roc7822]

HA!!!! thats really all I have to say is HA!!!! Complete Opposite over this direction.

[Mocoso]

My friends who drive their Vette's do the same thing. The car is better in the snow/ice than you think. Don't baby the brakes, don't baby the gas pedal, and for God's sake, don't turn off the stability control until summer! All said and done, next year I will probably pony up for some new winter skins though. Just to keep all of you safety nazis off my back.

LOL! Last time I tried the hammer and stomp on the beast in inclement weather it pulled a 180 on me as seen in the Cobalt commercial and it was mighty pissed at me for doing it... no thanks the beast doesnt come out on wet weather.. the wild child is funner and cheaper to repair...

My vote on the noise is a bearing... dont want to be driving at speed when the thing goes unless you have a good grip on the wheel....

[Young Roids]

I drive everyday with the summer tires up here in Minnesota. I took a while to figure out how to drive this car in the snow/cold, but I eventually found out that you have to floor the car at avery stop sign/light ond hammer the brakes to the floor at every stop. The traction control and the abs won't let you drive it any other way. Maybe I'm just a much more skilled driver than the rest of you tards. lol.(doughpoke Really, even with winter tires on the car. this is the best technique for a fwd car with this much power and brakes like ours. My friends who drive their Vette's do the same thing. The car is better in the snow/ice than you think. Don't baby the brakes, don't baby the gas pedal, and for God's sake, don't turn off the stability control until summer! All said and done, next year I will probably pony up for some new winter skins though. Just to keep all of you safety nazis off my back.


(headshake)Are you insane? Do what you want with your own car but for my money I will put $600 of snow tires on my $20,000 car just to be safe.

[D_Roc7822]

so how much do you think state farm would hate me if I turned this into them. I had a claim back at the end of august 07 for my eclipse which was comprehensive but then @ the same time for what Id have to for my deductable (500) I could a majority of the stuff fixed. Sometimes I ask myself.. why does god hate me!!!!

[D_Roc7822]

Im going tomorrow to see what the damage is gonna be... Ill let everyone know when I get it fixed.

[Craighjr]

Hey if the passanger rims were perfectly clean and not scratched I would maybe go to Mazda with it and say "hmm odd noise fix please."

[fourthmeal]

Be careful with State Farm.

They will typically cover you, then drop you like a bad habit (which you may be to them...lol) instead of raising your rates.

I remember about 5 years ago when I was "unlucky" like you a few times in a row...my agent warned me that I was on thin ice and that it would be best to lay low on the claims for a while if possible. My rate never went up at any time, though.

[BluMicaR]

I don't think it's productive to suggest or believe your accidents are because, "God hates you."

[D_Roc7822]

Hey if the passanger rims were perfectly clean and not scratched I would maybe go to Mazda with it and say "hmm odd noise fix please."

yo know I have thought about that.. cause the passenger side is perfectly fine. The driver side bumper is pretty messed up but other than that... passenger side is perfectly fine. I have the wednesday and thursday off work so I might just go to mazda and see if there is a way to get it fixed. If not then ill fott the bill.. but hey nothing wrong with asking.

[D_Roc7822]

Be careful with State Farm.

They will typically cover you, then drop you like a bad habit (which you may be to them...lol) instead of raising your rates.

I remember about 5 years ago when I was "unlucky" like you a few times in a row...my agent warned me that I was on thin ice and that it would be best to lay low on the claims for a while if possible. My rate never went up at any time, though.

yeah I think Ild rather foot the bill than have them fix it. Ill have my claims for when big things happen. The eclipse though was my first claim ever. So idk.

[D_Roc7822]

I don't think it's productive to suggest or believe your accidents are because, "God hates you."

I speak only the truth... if you knew the kind of luck I actually had you would prolly think otherwise. I wish I could provide examples but theres so many that I cant pick and choose. But other than that.. that comment was made soley for entertainment purposes and me trying to laugh it off and not be completely pissed about it.

[D_Roc7822]

well i went to mazda today to see what the deal was... and it was the wheel bearing. But its on the driver side not the passenger side like I thought. Or so they say. Which is weird cause it didnt start till I hit the passenger side one. The tech said that the bearing is noisy but it isnt loose or cause me any problems and that I should prolly have it done when I have the bumper fixed. So I guess thats good news. Im not gonna die driving down the road. Oh and I got my oil changed... so that was pretty exciting lol.