Orlando MS3s beware of Classic Mazda SR436!!

[AutoXRacer]

So I went to the dealers this morning to have the end-link replaced under warranty, even though I ordered the AWRs. I figured since the OEM part failed, under principle, Mazda should replace it...

Well, I'm sitting in the waiting room and the service person tells me they can't fix it cause I have an aftermarket exhaust...:eek:

What the...?(scratch) What does an exhaust have to do with suspension components...? She said the tech said its heating up the subframe and the that exhaust is hitting the frame; yeah, OK... I personally told them its the drivers side rear end-link which is obviously making noise since I personally inspected it. Anyway, she said if I put my stock exhaust back on that they would be happy to fix it under warranty.

What a bunch of (argh)(pissed)!!!!!!!
I am really hating...HATING Mazda dealerships right now...
I've been a die hard Mazda fan forever since my Miata...now, I'm actually thinking twice before buying another one...

These dealers and service tech are totally useless... How can they be certified to work on a vehicle? They are such tools!!!!!

I just can't believe it...

(direct)"Mazda, you can take your bogus ass warranty and shove it where the sun don't shine!!!!"


Honestly, in reality, its probably just the dealer that should be burned out and every tech and service person shot!!!

Classic Mazda on SR436 (semoran blvd)(gun)
Orlando people, avoid this dealer at all cost!!!


OK, I'm done...
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[slo03.5msp]

I would have fixed it. Don't hate on mazda because you got one grumpy tech and one bad service writer. I understand where they are coming from but when using reasonable it's just not possible to blame the exhaust for a suspension component breaking. If you really want to get back at the dealer call mazda NA and open a claim and try and have a field tech come out.

[Savate]

Well, on the bright side, atleast they didn't try to void your warranty. just swap and go back with a list of other stuff to make the trip worth it.

(blowup)

[mx-p5]

It's not just Mazda. It's dealers in general. And as stated, be glad they didn't void/flag your car for being modified.

[slo03.5msp]

They won't flag it for exhaust. We had a kid here who I personally know who drives his ms3 hard and the rear mount broke. The engine litterally fell out of the car and they fixed it under warranty once mazda NA had gotten involved. It was modded btw.

[08ms3bm]

People are lazy in general. He/she came up with an excuse not to do it, and it worked! I find that a baseball bat and some physical persuasion does the trick. . .

[AutoXRacer]

I've been there before for the fuel pump TSB which my car was within the affect range and the same crap came up. Because of my mods, they wouldn't flash it...

(bang)

[AutoXRacer]

I would have fixed it. Don't hate on mazda because you got one grumpy tech and one bad service writer. I understand where they are coming from but when using reasonable it's just not possible to blame the exhaust for a suspension component breaking. If you really want to get back at the dealer call mazda NA and open a claim and try and have a field tech come out.

I ordered a full set of AWR adjustable end-links...

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/maz3rearlink.jpg

I just wanted it replaced since it was a defective part. When I trade in the car 4-5 years down the road, I'd like to replace all my mods back with the OEM parts.

[squabbin]

nice!

[jam_asian85]

PM sent

[Super Unique]

Which mazda dealer is generally considered the best service department in the central florida region?

I ask this, as I had some issues with my first real service visit to classic mazda east, and would like to know what the alternatives are in my region.

[jam_asian85]

WOW, I find it hard for them to be acuting this way for a dealership who sponsor event such as this www.mazdapalooza.com

Either way, if you both want. Give them a second try but this time talk to the GM Chad to see if you could work out something with him.

[AutoXRacer]

Which mazda dealer is generally considered the best service department in the central florida region?

I ask this, as I had some issues with my first real service visit to classic mazda east, and would like to know what the alternatives are in my region.

I will be going to Fairbanks Mazda from now on...hopefully I won't need to though...

Other Mazda dealer is: Sport Mazda on south OBT by FL Mall




WOW, I find it hard for them to be acuting this way for a dealership who sponsor event such as this www.mazdapalooza.com (http://www.mazdapalooza.com/)

Either way, if you both want. Give them a second try but this time talk to the GM Chad to see if you could work out something with him.

Thanks for the "name"... (2thumbs) I'll be sure to meet him next time...

[MS3077]

I will be going to Fairbanks Mazda from now on...hopefully I won't need to though...

Other Mazda dealer is: Sport Mazda on south OBT by FL Mall





Thanks for the "name"... (2thumbs) I'll be sure to meet him next time...


Dude! Do not go FAIRBANKS MAZDA off 17-92 in longwood. They'll void your ass in a heart beat. I bought from there but will never go there for service! I would give Classic Mazda off 436 another shot, at least they didn't try to void you from the get go and offered to fix your shit if you go back to stock.

[SuperStretch18]

Dude! Do not go FAIRBANKS MAZDA off 17-92 in longwood. They'll void your ass in a heart beat. I bought from there but will never go there for service! I would give Classic Mazda off 436 another shot, at least they didn't try to void you from the get go and offered to fix your shit if you go back to stock.

I have to agree. Classic is *supposed* to be one of the better dealers in the area...

[ITLOWNU]

Hey guys I am from the Central Florida area too and I also have my car at Classic Mazda East this morning for the whole Bose radio issue (which took them 2 weeks to figure out and order). I spoke with Julie and she also told me that if I change anything except the sway bars they will not cover anything under warranty but if I put it back to stock they will cover it, unless I put bigger wheels on it they will void my transmission warranty even if I return it to stock. How the hell would they know if I put the factory wheels back on!!? I agree that the dealers should just chill because they get paid for there work from mazda NA so why be a D@@k in the first place. If they would just be cool in the first place they would probably have MS3 owners flocking in for service work which in turn means more money in a troubled economy, DUH!!

[aaronc7]

gheeyyy. daytona mazda service dept is run by 2 women so its pretty much just like this, lol.

[jaydubz]

AutoX, I feel your pain man! However I really think it was the person who you spoke to. Classic is actually one of the better dealerships for service. I would asked to speak to Chad Rogers, he set up the Mazdapalooza deal. I would also ask to only have Kerry work on your car. He is probably the best Mazda tech in all of central florida. I like fairbanks but I would only by the car from them not have it serviced there. The service department is far too ready to try and void for anything.

[MS3077]

AutoX, I feel your pain man! However I really think it was the person who you spoke to. Classic is actually one of the better dealerships for service. I would asked to speak to Chad Rogers, he set up the Mazdapalooza deal. I would also ask to only have Kerry work on your car. He is probably the best Mazda tech in all of central florida. I like fairbanks but I would only by the car from them not have it serviced there. The service department is far too ready to try and void for anything.

+1

That's exactly what I do! And yes Kerry is awesome

[AutoXRacer]

OK, so I finally got my end-links in and installed last night.

As I jacked up the rear and slid under the car, look what I found, or should I say, look what was missing!!!(shocked)

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02977.jpg

I can't believe the dealership brushed me off that way and a week later, my OEM end-link is flopping in the wind... Just shows you techs have no clue what they are doing. The best person that knows about your car, is YOU!!

Anyway, I am speculating that I lost the nut do to the vibrations of the loose ball joint and thus loosened the nut to eventually fall off. Initally when I inspected the rear, I checked to make sure it was torqued to specs.

I don't know if its me or what, but the car feels smoother and a little tighter; less sway. Might be just a placedo effect. :D

So here are some pictures!!!

Rear:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02981.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02978.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02979.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02983.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02984.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02985.jpg

Front:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02987.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02986.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Milkywayman22/Mazdaspeed%203/Suspension/DSC02988.jpg

[serialtoon]

Sexy, any difference in the way it handles?

[AutoXRacer]

Sexy, any difference in the way it handles?

Seems quieter and a tighter... But that might be just me feeling a placebo effect trying to justify the mod... (lol2)

I'll be at Sebring this weekend for a full weekend of autocross action. I'm sure I'll give the new end-links a workout. I'll post my findings on Monday.

[AutoXRacer]

Well, I had no noise from the end-links up until I reached Sebring 2 hours away and drove over a small decline and my rears clunked. They clunked when I drove into the hotel parking lot, and clunked all through the first heat (5 runs) on Saturdays practice runs. I loosened some bolts thinking they might be too tight and ran the 2nd heat (3 runs) without any issues; no noise. I also ran all of the next day (5 runs) without noise.

When I got home and changed my wheels to my daily drive set, I inspected the rear end-links and re-torqued the driver side cause I was getting a little clunking when I tapped the sway bar. When I drove off the driveway this morning, the front clunked... Though I don't know if they clunk whenever you jack up the car and need to resettle. http://****************.org/forum/images/smilies/Smilies/06.gif

I'm going to email Ken at PG and ask him if the clunking is normal and how to work it out. As far as the product itself, it performed awesome!! I really do feel like the car is a little flatter/stiffer... Though replacing end-links should not have that effect unless the stockers were flexible... http://**************************/forum/images/smilies/gtnsmilies/questionmark.gif

My next race won't be till the 22nd... I'll see if they'll make noise again.http://****************.org/forum/images/smilies/gtnsmilies/burnout.gif

Just got and email from Ken at PG and he says that they are supposed to make noise due to their design. Seemly like its something you can get around with the inherent design of the end-links.

[Super Unique]

heims like that are noisy no matter what :)

When I saw the pics I thought, wow seen those before, but a LOT bigger LOL.... Heims click, clunk, etc... but they are strong and stiff. Depends on what your looking for. That will definitely stiffen things up compared to stock, but the price of entry is noise. Using them on the end links should be fine. Where you run into real trouble is using heims for steering and suspension like we do on offroad vehicles. Then the noise is just unreal. My jeep could drive right over a regular car, but it sure sounded evil when doing so :)

[knowledge007]

I am getting a clunk when I go over bumps and such in the front end of the car. Should I check, or would this be an issue...???

[jaydubz]

I am getting a clunk when I go over bumps and such in the front end of the car. Should I check, or would this be an issue...???

Yes you should, could be another issue.

AutoX are the end links a known failure by chance?

[Super Unique]

He replaced the stock end links with aftermarket ones. The mounts he put on use heim joints, so they are going click and pop no matter what. It's inherent to the design of the joint. metal on metal will always make noise.

[Reyan]

Ask for the service manager and see if he is willing to help you out first before calling Mazda.

[jaydubz]

It is rather ridiculous that an excuse like that was given, I am curious as to who the tech and service advisor who told you that.

[AutoXRacer]

I am getting a clunk when I go over bumps and such in the front end of the car. Should I check, or would this be an issue...???

Definitely check yours!! I spoke with another MS3 owner at the autocross this past weekend and he also had rear end-links issues where he lost the bolt that attaches the sway bar to end-link.

I had also heard of another owner who also had issues with their front end-links.

I replaced/upgraded my end-links because the dealer refused warrantee work and I did not want to keep breaking stock end-links.



It is rather ridiculous that an excuse like that was given, I am curious as to who the tech and service advisor who told you that.

Advisor: # 844 Julie A Gambino
Tech: No name just #185