Any problems with ANY mazda 3s [Archive]

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BlueMonsta

03-29-2004, 11:07 PM

Hello, Im 90% gonna get a 3 sport 2.3L 160 hp AUTO (<--- gay...... )

i just want to know if there are any issues with the car

e.g. transmission problems
i know of the Goodyear tires (<-- crap in rain)
and the toyos are alot better

but thats all i got in this section.

Thanks

goldwing2000

03-29-2004, 11:44 PM

Well... my airbag light popped on this morning. And it's been pulling to the left since I got it. I'm taking it in for service tomorrow. I'll let you know what happens.

Oh, and there's a heinous clunk-WHAM! in the front under hard acceleration. The mechanic said they did it on purpose but I have my doubts. There's a thread about it on here somewhere...

AzMz3

03-29-2004, 11:52 PM

Mine is A-ok so far, knock on wood.

---Herb---

Dexter

03-29-2004, 11:53 PM

why get auto?

BlueMonsta

03-30-2004, 01:12 AM

y get an auto?
guardian needs to drive the car... =( and shes too lazy to learn

is insurance higher if i get a manual?

goldwing2000 - the WHAM is for ur auto tranny?

BlueMonsta

03-30-2004, 01:12 AM

btw thanks guys/gurls

Dave2521

03-30-2004, 01:44 AM

The loud noise in the front under hard acceleration is on purpose, supposed to scare us into not doing that (bird) . I just turn the music up loud :). and it happens on all 3s. And the insurance shouldnt be higher on a manual, i wouldnt see why it would.

Though another issue ive heard is groves in the rotors from the brakes, hasnt happened to my car and i have close to 3k miles on it. Just gotta watch for it.

Another issue (with all mazdas i think) is the paint is REALLY thin, so stone chips are an issue, though as long as you are careful you should be ok, no scratches on my car from stone chips, Old people yes, but not from stones :(

On that note Welcome! (wiggle)

-XtenZ-

03-30-2004, 04:29 AM

The grooved disc brakes are an issue that I have with my car. I don't know if this is caused by excessive rusting (due to car sitting on lot for lengths of time) causing increased abrasion or a manufacturing problem. Which ever one, I suppose getting your discs machined will wash that problem away. Aside from the discs I have no problems just a wish... for a Mod/Custom panel for the CD/Stereo.

-X-

goldwing2000

03-30-2004, 11:06 AM

goldwing2000 - the WHAM is for ur auto tranny?

No, it's indirectly caused by wheel hop, but I don't know the exact chain of events. If something breaks or if it gets worse, I'll worry about it then. As long as I don't break traction or hit any huge potholes, it's fine.

And I have a manual trans. Autos are for housewives.

shinzen

03-30-2004, 11:24 AM

Welcome to the board- but I would tell your guardian to learn how to drive a stick! To give you an idea of transmission loss, when I was at the track in december (road track) a driving school had a protege 2.0 liter auto and the 1.8 liter manual, the 1.8 easily kept up with the 2.0 and the only difference was the transmission... Things to think about

jim3s

03-30-2004, 11:45 AM

1st. problem was an engine light at 1,000 miles.
(dealer flashed ECU)

2nd. CD changer stopped working 2nd week. Changer seemed to be stuck
(dealer replaced with a new unit, still waiting for the 6 cd's to be returned. 4 weeks since replaced)

3rd. Passenger side wiper doesn't always clean windscreen. Leaves uncleaned area for top 3 inches of arch.

4th. Airbag/seat tensioner warning light come on and goes off for no apparent reason. The one on the speedometer. Stays on for days, but is always off when I take it to the dealer for a scheduled time. Service tech says no information is being written to the log. (still unsolved)

Service caused problem.
During an oil change the tech. nicked the o-ring that seals the oil canister. Two quarts of oil blew out of engine during 50 miles of driving. Only leaked when under pressure. Thankfully I caught before much more oil was lost.

But, I still love my 3.

PJO

03-30-2004, 02:13 PM

I too noticed a very loud clunking noise under the front of the car. I don't think I was excellerating very hard and one time it was while going over a railroad track. Is this bad for the car? If it's on purpose it seems kind of stupid. I would think lots of people would take their cars back to the dealer complaining about the noise. It's sounds like something serious when you hear it. (shocked)

Black Majik MSP

03-30-2004, 02:17 PM

If you know how to drive a car well & have a decent amount of patience & desire to get it right, learning to drive stick isn't hard at all. Driving it well is another story.

Maz3sportGT

03-30-2004, 10:09 PM

This is weird?? I have had none of these problems at all. The CD player works, the brakes are fine, there is no knocking noise from the front or back either. When did all you guys get your Mazda 3? I got myn on March 13 2004 so its not that old but people report problems on this forum almost a week after they got their 3s.

ZippityZoomZoom

03-30-2004, 10:22 PM

BlkZoomZoom

03-30-2004, 11:54 PM

jim3s

03-31-2004, 01:20 PM

When did all you guys get your Mazda 3?
I got mine end of January. 5916 miles at this moment.
used as a daily drive work car. 450 miles a week.

No problems @ 900 miles with an automatic. There is alot of brake dust on the rear rotors compared to the front.
I think that is because the front brakes are vented and the rear isn't. When I wash my car, the rear wheels always have about twice as much brake dust as the front.

goldwing2000

03-31-2004, 02:00 PM

The Mazda 3's are having a problem with front crash sensors, they already have an updated sensor out though. Also a couple are having problems wit cam timing.....still in the works for the exact cause.

Yeah... the dealer just called and said they had to order an airbag sensor for mine. So I'm driving the Freestar loaner for another day. (jerkit)

cochizzle

03-31-2004, 04:34 PM

No problems @ 900 miles with an automatic. There is alot of brake dust on the rear rotors compared to the front. No knocking noise here either.

Sidenote: I have two vehicles one with an automatic and one with a manual tranny -around here with all the hills and traffic the manual is a pain in the ass. The elitist "stick is better" attitude needs to be shoved where the sun don't shine. (sssh)
stick is better, move somewhere without hills or somewhere without traffic... i drove an auto for 3 years (before that i had a manual)... i feel like i'm more in touch with my car now that my new one is a manual... im constantly pushing in the brake with my left foot to start my girlfriend's automatic car, and its weird to accelerate with both hands on the wheel, i constantly put my hand on the shifter. Just because an auto is more convenient, doesn't mean that a manual is less fun to drive... that or maybe you've gotten sucked in to the lazy auto mentality j/k

BlueMonsta

04-02-2004, 01:09 PM

wow thanks guys...
so the brake rotars are being deformed due to braking?
Front is making clunking noises?
my car makes clunking noises, the transmission is screwed up, think the transmission fuild is on low or its dirty or something.
SOUNDS like i should wait till 2005... =(

I already asked my guardian to RE-learn manual but woman = lazy... so gay....... i hate it when auto-tranny gets old and gear-shifts become very JERKY...

Maria

04-02-2004, 01:24 PM

I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT STATEMENT

wow thanks guys...
so the brake rotars are being deformed due to braking?
Front is making clunking noises?
my car makes clunking noises, the transmission is screwed up, think the transmission fuild is on low or its dirty or something.
SOUNDS like i should wait till 2005... =(

I already asked my guardian to RE-learn manual but woman = lazy... so gay....... i hate it when auto-tranny gets old and gear-shifts become very JERKY...

BlueMonsta

04-02-2004, 01:46 PM

I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT STATEMENT
the whole thing?? or a specific line??
my apologizes... but yah which line?

Maria

04-02-2004, 01:59 PM

the whole thing?? or a specific line??
my apologizes... but yah which line?
Woman=lazy

BlueMonsta

04-02-2004, 03:18 PM

Woman=lazy
woman that I know personally = lazy, comment restricted to cars only.

I've some posts by you, your cool. My apologizes for making that general comment.

Maria

04-02-2004, 04:01 PM

woman that I know personally = lazy, comment restricted to cars only.

I've some posts by you, your cool. My apologizes for making that general comment.

OK it's all good..... I was just bustin your balls anyways

goldwing2000

04-02-2004, 05:08 PM

OK it's all good..... I was just bustin your balls anyways

Ball-busting hottie ----> (2thumbs)

Well, I got my car back yesterday. No airbag light and it tracks perfectly straight.

I'z a happy boy!

Maria

04-02-2004, 05:12 PM

Ball-busting hottie ----> (2thumbs)

Well, I got my car back yesterday. No airbag light and it tracks perfectly straight.

I'z a happy boy!

Congratulations!!!!

(cheers2)

jim3s

04-02-2004, 05:36 PM

Ball-busting hottie ----> (2thumbs)

Well, I got my car back yesterday. No airbag light and it tracks perfectly straight.

I'z a happy boy!

agree about ball busting hottie

really glad to hear you got both problems fixed. My airbag light is still intermittent off and on. Today off. At least your experiece will help me talk to the service folk.

I wish you didn't have to do without your car for so long. Suprised you aren't out playing. I know if I couldn't drive mine for a couple days I would be making up for lost time. And that statement coming from an old dude who should be tired of driving. But, this car is so much fun.

Did they give you a reason for and what they did to correct the pulling?

and

Congratulations!!!!

(yippy) (yippy)

Maria

04-02-2004, 05:42 PM

agree about ball busting hottie

really glad to hear you got both problems fixed. My airbag light is still intermittent off and on. Today off. At least your experiece will help me talk to the service folk.

I wish you didn't have to do without your car for so long. Suprised you aren't out playing. I know if I couldn't drive mine for a couple days I would be making up for lost time. And that statement coming from an old dude who should be tired of driving. But, this car is so much fun.

Did they give you a reason for and what they did to correct the pulling?

and

Congratulations!!!!

(yippy) (yippy)

You guys are hilarious.... Sorry to hear about your car. mine only has 1600 Miles on it and it is running like a dream.. Almost better than sex sometimes...

I'll tell you what though. The day my baby has just one problem those sales guys are going to be in for a big surprise.

goldwing2000

04-02-2004, 08:00 PM

You guys are hilarious.... Sorry to hear about your car. mine only has 1600 Miles on it and it is running like a dream.. Almost better than sex sometimes...

I'll tell you what though. The day my baby has just one problem those sales guys are going to be in for a big surprise.

Something tells me that they are going to bend over backwards to make you happy. Call it a hunch.

My mechanic said that sometimes he's noticed funny tire wear from taking the same highway ramps at high speeds. I can't really say if he's full of crap or not but with these soft tires, it wouldn't surprise me. I think I remember it pulling from day 1 but on about day 4 (300 miles), I was out beating on it at a local Mazda meet/drive. :D

Either way, they racked it, tweaked it and now it's perfect. I think they cross-rotated the tires, too. I just washed it and the dirtier wheels were on the front. I've heard that the rears gather brake dust faster than the fronts. If that's true, then it would seem the did the rotation.

RE: Airbag sensors, my guy said that sometimes the connector under the seat has pin problems. He said he has to take them apart, de-pin the connectors, squeeze the pins tighter and then re-assemble the connectors. That would definitely cause an intermittant problem like you're experiencing. If your service guys don't want to do all that, you could probably do it yourself if you're the least bit handy.

Oh... just over 2400 miles. I was only without the car for two days, so I can live with it. I tell ya one thing, though... that Freestar was like driving a marshmallow!! Everything was soft. The ride, the brakes, the steering, the acceleration... everything! Gah! (blarf) I almost think I should have spent the extra $2 per day and gotten an LS.

binyan8r

04-07-2004, 12:54 PM

i got my 5-door two days ago. on my way home from the dealer, the door ajar light suddenly came on even though all doors and hatch was closed. anyone else have this problem? i'll be taking in for service soon and will post an update.

yac2727

04-07-2004, 04:12 PM