MP3 OWNERS: Bushings Noise? Tell me about it here!!!

[DooMer_MP3]

Hi all. I just had my bushings replaced about 1.5 months ago with the supposedly fixed part. I've been in 3 or 4 times before that to get the bushings replaced. Now if my ears aren't playing tricks on me, it seems that horrible clunking noise is slowly making a return.

I have emailed Mazda USA in the past, but I think sending them a snail mail package with a few pages of signatures will help. If you have REAR SWAYBAR BUSHING CLUNKS/RATTLES ONLY, please reply to this with a mature response explaining your experience(s). I will print it up and send it to Mazda with a nice polished cover letter.

I know, I know, I've made a petition before for the Z919 vs Z828, but I realized the fineprint would never have helped us. This is a genuine problem that needs to be addressed, and I am willing to take the 20 minutes to write a letter and the $0.60 for postage :D.

Thanks everybody.

Chris

[Newf]

MY response is coming, this is a great I idea. I may pm you though, as some info I don't want on the ole net you know. I'm working now, when I get off, I'll do up something.

[MP3TLH]

I took my car to the dealer reagrding the rear sway bar bushings today. They just called and said they were cracked and ordered new ones forme (using the new part nubmer I got from this website). He assured me that this was covered under warranty. I had taken the car to the dealer earlier in the year for the same reason, but I couldn't reproduce the noise then and I didn't have a part number. This time I found a less than smooth road, typical to what I drive on everyday and wsa able to reproduce the noise.

I and several other MP3 owners have noticed this problem since day 1 (June 21, 2001 for me). To my knowledge, the dealer or I never have received a recall/service notice from Mazda about this despite attempts by owners to get Mazda involved.

After these are on I will report if the problem goes away or returns.

[DooMer_MP3]

Well since there seems to be some recent motivation to write letters, I thought I'd bump this to the top...

[INiTiAL33]

Good idea Doomer!:)

Ok im willing to do this to Mazda Canada too.........so ppl (states or Canada) send me your letters via email at initialv@telus.net or pm it to me on this board..

I think we really have to try everything to try to make Mazda move their asses and do something about it!....


and i'll pay more than $.60 ... i'll register mail it ! :D


Ok so Doomer has one going to Mazda USA... and i'll have one going to Mazda Canada :cool:

NOTE : this doesnt have to be only the clunking problem..... other problems such as clutch clatter and the strut mount squeak is also fine!

[scott42]

I've had the clunk "fixed" using the part # with C at the end...now I see that has been changed to the same # but with D at the end accdg to the TSB; so I'm going to have them try the new part) but its coming back. I've got CRAZY squeakage that DOES NOT go away once the car is warmed up (EVEN AFTER 60 mins of driving!!)
Clutch chatter in the first 10 minutes of any cold morning is a 3-1 chance of happening...
Is this what you guys are looking for? (like a list; or actual letters?)

[INiTiAL33]

Originally posted by scott42
I've had the clunk "fixed" using the part # with C at the end...now I see that has been changed to the same # but with D at the end accdg to the TSB; so I'm going to have them try the new part) but its coming back. I've got CRAZY squeakage that DOES NOT go away once the car is warmed up (EVEN AFTER 60 mins of driving!!)
Clutch chatter in the first 10 minutes of any cold morning is a 3-1 chance of happening...
Is this what you guys are looking for? (like a list; or actual letters?)


actual letters ;)

[scott42]

I'll work on one :) that whole time thing is a bitch.

[PA_MP3_Man]

I just got my bushings replaced last monday and don't have any more clunks. But give me a couple weeks and I should have them back. I'll write you a letter than if it's not too late.

[mp3_559]

My dealership is ordering the bushings now.. atleast from the sound of it.. it will stay squik clean for a couple weeks.. maybe that will hold me till summer where there not as bead, but yes i HAVE them AND YES it has been a pain to get my dealer to finally fix the parts.. i think its best even if the parts only work for a bit... everyone gets them done SO we can show them they do not work instead of pointing them to 3 people that had the change and it doesnt work.

[Newf]

mp3_559.......your right, we need to show them that it doesn't work in numbers. The more people the better. Mazda will just ignore a few single cases. That's been my problem all along.

[DooMer_MP3]

Well basically I just want people to post their detailed stories to this thread. Doesn't have to be in letter form or anything as I will attach a cover letter to my packet. I will strip out the stories from here and send them all (regardless of if you're in Canada or not) to MazdaUSA. Initial33 can send them to Mazda Canada. The more people they see with this problem the better. So tell me exactly what you've been through in the suspension noise department since you bought your MP3. Here is a sample of what I want:

-------------------

I purchased my MP3 in late July of 2001. Around the beginning of November of 2001 I noticed a slight noise from the rear suspsension that became known as the "clunk". By the end of December 2001, it was happening all the time, even when going over tar lines on the road! I made an appoitment with the dealer (Don Miller of Madison, WI) for the next oil change to have it looked at.

The first visit involved changing the bushings with the same part. They test drove the car and noticed nothing changed. They gave me a rental for a day while they ordered an entirely new Racing Beat rear swaybar. After installed, the noise was gone!

About two months later at the end of February, the noise returned. They replaced the bushings, and the noise appeared to subside. A few weeks later, it was back. This time their temporary solution was to put some "anti-friction" tape around where the bushings sat. This seemed to carry me through the rest of the cold months.

However, in July the noise slowly made its return. I called the dealer and told them about the new bushing part number that had a "C" at the end instead of a "B". In September when it was getting unbearable, they replaced the bushing with the new part and I thought this was going to be the end of this nonsense. Not so. About a month later I noticed the noise coming back, and now it is getting worse, here in December 2002. I will be talking to the dealer about this once again when my oil change comes up in a few weeks.

I am an average driver who does not drive my car hard. I use it as my daily driver and would like it to be clunk free at some point. I would also like to point out that my warranty will be up some time next year in 2003 after I hit 30,000+ miles. I refuse to pay money after the warranty ends to fix something like this every month that has been occurring since day 1.

Mazda needs to listen to their customers and fix this ASAP. I will be VERY skeptical about ever owning another Mazda again. I love the MP3, but the lack of willingness to fix this problem for good is totally unacceptable.

Chris Sobotkiewicz
Madison, WI
2001 Laser Blue Mica MP3
--------------------------


There ya go. Stuff like that ;).

Chris

[SomaMP3]

i'm gonna be writing my letter and emailing it away.......i'm sick and tired of dealing with the bushings....i got them replaced and there already done after 6000kms.....total BS:bs:

[Newf]

hmmmm, killer is my letter would be too long :)

[PaulMP3]

I am also experiencing this same problem, i have had them replaced once already and in aprox. 2 months the clunkinging is back. It sounds like there is something in my trunk like my spare tire bouncing around, i have removed everything from my trunk and still get the same loud clunk. I know one member mentioned he had a blown strut, for the most part its has been the swaybar bushings, i will be meeting with the mazda district rep after the holidays to tell them everything. i have called mazda NA and they say that i have to tell him. I agree this is totally not exceptable, my friends get in my car and call it a POS b/c all of the squeeks, clunks, transsmission grinding, and now my newest problem my CD player wont work. I need to talk to this rep guy about; squeek/clunk, tranny grind, and my 3rd z919 radio. I have had this car in # of times and when i get it back within a few months all my problems return. Mazda has a serious quality problem with these MP3's. I love this car so much that is the only reason i put up with all the problems.

[Newf]

I pm'd you my letter rather then here.

Good luck! We need it. But enough is enough, and this needs to be fixed. I'm on my 16th month, and probaby close to two dozen bushings.

[DooMer_MP3]

Wow, I must let it go longer than you do :). I typically wait until an oil change. Also, I'm going to bring up the front squeak just for the hell of it. I know I'm a hypocrite because I always said it was part of the struts, but we'll just see what they say. Hope it gets cold here so they can hear it :).

Chris

[INiTiAL33]

newf can you pm me your letter too ? i need it to send to Mazda Canada too or Doomer can you send me the letter? Thanks

[PA_MP3_Man]

I sent an e-mail to racing beat just for shits and giggles and the guy sent my info to "his" mazda rep. Well get got a reply back today and said that mazda will start using the mazdaspeed protege's bushings. They are made out of a different material suposedly. So that's my latest news. Maybe that's what the new "D" number stands for. who knows. Well later guys.

[Kooldino]

Squeaks in the rear and front here. Had mazda replace bushings in the rear last year, and now that it's cold again, they're baaaa-aaaaaack.

[INiTiAL33]

Originally posted by PA_MP3_Man
I sent an e-mail to racing beat just for shits and giggles and the guy sent my info to "his" mazda rep. Well get got a reply back today and said that mazda will start using the mazdaspeed protege's bushings. They are made out of a different material suposedly. So that's my latest news. Maybe that's what the new "D" number stands for. who knows. Well later guys.

Can you verify if indeed it is the "D" bushing? or if not can you find the part #? Thanks

[Newf]

yeah this mazdaspeed thing sounds interesting? Verify part #

And doomer.... your right, mention the front as well. I never sent you anything concerning the rear strut noises or front. I got into that with my real letter to mazda.

[bud_d]

I havent got the clunk in my car, just the squeaking, when goin over bumps, it was "fixed", they just relubed the bushings, and havent heard anything since... about a month so far

[INiTiAL33]

Originally posted by INiTiAL33
newf can you pm me your letter too ? i need it to send to Mazda Canada too or Doomer can you send me the letter? Thanks

noone wants to help us Canadian owners?....... im just trying to help.......

[DooMer_MP3]

My letter? I haven't written one yet. I wrote my experience in page 1 of this thread though! Just cut 'n paste 'er out of there.

Chris

[INiTiAL33]

Originally posted by DooMer_MP3
My letter? I haven't written one yet. I wrote my experience in page 1 of this thread though! Just cut 'n paste 'er out of there.

Chris

what about newf's letter? can you pm me that too?

[jsradema]

i just got my bushings replaced today. i am sure it will come back and when it does i will post a letter

[ymp3]

hi,

my car isn't really doing the clunking noise thing, but it does have a heck of a squeak. i have taken it back to mazda like 6 or 7 times (i really should have lemmon lawed it, but i couldnt part with the car) for the noise, and when it is cold outside it gets worse. they told me it was the rear bushings, it was even squeaking up front for a while. maybe this is something to the effect that you are looking for. i cant tell if it has messed up my car or not, i am no mechanic, but it sure as hell is annoying. i still have all copies of the paperwork from when i took it in, but now my car is no longer under warrenty. got any suggestions???

thanks,
brandy:)

[INiTiAL33]

noone has letters to send me? :confused:

[DooMer_MP3]

Ok everybody, last chance. I'm sending my letter to Mazda North America Operations ATTN: Consumer Compliance next Wednesday! Tell me a brief story about your clunk if you haven't (preferably including location as well).

Chris

[DooMer_MP3]

TTT One last time. Come on people, everybody with the slightest clunk, or even history of it post your quick story. We need Mazda to see the numbers! This will be going into the mail tommorrow night or Thursday morning.

Chris

[SomaMP3]

Here's my letter Doomer....Initial, you can use it as well.....Fight for Canada!

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

In May of 2002, I was thinking of purchasing my first new vehicle. The 2002.5 Sunburst Yellow Mazda Protégé 5 caught my attention. Unfortunately, this wasn’t my first vehicle of choice. I went to my dealership in search of an MP3 but unfortunately, they were all sold out. My dealership only received 2 and they were both sold before they were delivered. So I decided to get the Protégé 5, but always kept the MP3 in mind. In early October, I received word from my Mazda dealership that a MP3 was coming in off a one-year lease. I was the first person that was able to look at the car. It had 59,000kms on it and was in good condition, except for an odd ‘clunking noise’ I noticed when I test drove the car. I expressed my concern to my dealer at which point they assured me that it would be taken care of. There would be no damage to the vehicle if driven until the parts arrived. I paid $25,000 CDN for the vehicle since it was a “collectors edition” and purchased the 150,000 km extended warranty along with Mazda’s Pro-Pack (undercoating/rust inhibiter etc).

The “clunk” noise was very noticeable anytime I either went over a slight bump in the road or a speed bump. I waited for about a week, until I couldn’t take the clunking noise anymore. So I took it back to the dealership and they told me that the bushings on my rear sway bar had practically disintegrated. The parts were on back order, and two and a half weeks later, my car was fixed. At this time, winter had come into Winnipeg and I had found that the suspension (probably the Tokico shocks) would creak over any type of use (such as going over a speed bump) this is not my main concern.

However, shortly after my last oil change, I noticed the same noise gradually coming back from the rear of the car again. Once again, it got increasing loud over the week so I took the car back to the dealership. They told me, yet again, that my bushings were causing the ‘clunking’ problem. After yet, another two weeks of waiting for the order, my car was ‘clunk free’.

I have owned my MP3 for a total of 3 months and have replaced the bushings twice after less than 10,000kms. I hope that Mazda will take this letter to heart, and come to the aid of their well paying drivers. It appears that this is a common problem among all MP3 owners. It would be nice for Mazda to come up with some type of a permanent fix for the “bushings” problem. This is my second Mazda and overall I have found that it is a dependable vehicle other than the relying problem. Please take this letter into consideration in finding a solution.

Sincerely,


David Czarnecki
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
2001 Laser Blue Mica MP3

[Toronto_Raj]

I own a Canadian ver of blue mp3 with 24000K on it maintained by the same dealer and oil change every 3500K. I had the clunk and squeak problem for a long time and I kept on complaining to dealer. But recently (4 weeks) they agree to look in to it and replaced my bushings under warranty. The next day it started making the same noise again :-(. I’m tired of going back and forth to the dealer. Any way I got in to a tough argument with service manager and he agree to go for a ride with me and agree to look in to rear end noise (clunk and squeak), but he doesn’t want to look in to front end squeak . He said it’s normal to all Mazda he even took me for a ride in his protege5 2002, with 15000k on it makes the same noise at the front end. Again I do have problems with trani... it wouldn’t shift some times, grinds in and there is a lots of vibration on shifter but the dealer is saying that its normal to Mazda!!! It seems like Mazda Canada has no interest in fixing our problem or informing dealer’s about the new release of parts. As matter of fact my dealer didn’t even know that there is another release of bushing with "D" series!! He was so surprised when I told them. Mazda Canada does not respond to calls (**** suckers). I think Mazda should concern more about fixing the problems rather than coming up with mew design of vehicles and trying to compete with other companies. Well, if Mazda is really interested in competing then go for a service and maintenance competition, instead of going for a production and sales competition. SUCKERSsssss........


Chris I guess it would be a peanut for add on to your complain letter, but still i feel good because with all the language deficulties i'm trying to give you some thing to add on. heheh

Oh by the way dont laugh ENGLISH is my 4th language man :-)

[rowan]

In October, I traded in my Protege5 for an MP3 that had arrived at a new dealership opening in Ontario (Ajax Mazda). I had owned my Protege5 for just under a year at the time.

Similar to SomaMP3 I did not get a great deal on the price of the MP3. It had just over 23,000 Kms on it. The MP3's clunk was noticeable and very surprising since the first day I had it. Due to the holidays and my busy work schedule I have not yet been in to my usual dealership (Downtown Mazda) to tell them about my clunking problem but will be making a trip there this week as it is time for an oil change anyway.

Aparently the new version bushings do not fix the problem, but any relief from the clunking is welcome .. it sounds like the car is broken! I was very worried for the first week until I came on this message board and started reading the woes of other MP3 owners.

It has been theorized that this clunk will also plague the new Mazdaspeed Protege models, and with that in mind I know myself and all other MP3 owners are hopeful that Mazda will invest the resources to see their customers satisfaction.

[saskmp3]

I purchased my MP3 in august of 2001. I initially noticed the car pulled to the right. I took the car in for an alignment. The car was supposedly okay. They rotated the tires to see if that would help. It did not. They insisted it was the high performance tires. After installing winter tires the car still pulls to the right.
I noticed the squeak in the struts as soon as the temperature dropped (approx. one month). I took it in to the dealer, they could not duplicate the noise, so they greased the bushings. The car began squeaking the following day. Recently (November) I noticed a slight clunking from the rear. The clunking is much worse now and I plan to take it in next week before it drives me crazy. I have been following problems on this site and have been waiting for a fix because I doubt my dealer could actually solve the problem. It is an inconvenience to take the car to my dealer (Mainway Motors) when they do not seem to know anything and their service hours are Mon-Fri 8-5.
ps. The next closest dealer is 150 miles away.

[MPChi]

I bought my MP3 in July 2002, with 3k miles on it. It steers right on day one, and a couple alignment visits to a Mazda dealer didn't solved the problem. They also told me its the tires that causes the right steer, and my alignment was perfect. I end up driving with my left front tire slightly less inflated to compensate the steer.

I also noticed the squeak from the front every morning when I go over the bump in my driveway. Right now, my car has 8k miles and I had the clunk in a couple incidents. Both took place when I was backing out my car in a parking garage after work. It was quite loud, and I can feel it from the seat, coming from the rear of the car. Fortunately, that doesn't happen as often as some of you guys...yet.

Another thing is the notchy 2nd gear. Shifting is quite notchy from 1st to 2nd when I rev 4k rpm or higher. There is a split second delay before the stick can slide into the slot and have the gears engaged.

Also, the clutch stutters(slip) once in a while, shaking the entire car like crazy. It happens more often during morning when the car is cold. But I do realize it still happens even after 20-30 minutes of driving. It is just that the stutter is a lot less violent when the car is warmed up. I have to baby the clutch to prevent it from happening, but it happens sometimes when you least expected.

I still love my car very much, and wouldn't trade it in for something else. But I am a little disappointed with the problems it has and no official fixes on any of them. The car only has 8k miles :rolleyes: Oh well.

[SomaMP3]

Look at that doomer, you got 5 more letters!

[trobbins]

I purchased my MP3 on Spetember 11, 2001 (hard to forget) from Don Miller Mazda in Madison, WI. I noticed a squeaking when the weather began to turn cold. The squeaking came from both the front and rear of the car. I also started to notice the "clunk", it sounded as if something was loose in the trunk. After spending a weekend emptying the car to see what was clunking, I learned the problem was the same as the squeak.

I had the bushings replaced in spring of 2002.

This fixed the problem until fall of 2002 when the weather got cold again.

I haven't been in to have the problem fixed, again. I do plan on getting in ASAP.

I have noticed the squeak mainly occurs when the car is cold on a cold day. I have noticed the "Clunk" occurs on a cold day when the road is wet, or when I just got done washing the car.

I assume, since the problem is occuring when the car is under warranty, that any future problems, even when the car's warranty is expired, will be handled under warranty.

Thank You,
Tim Robbins

[BigBlue]

I purchased my MP3 in Winnipeg, Manitoba at Gerry Gordon's Mazda in August of 2001. I had a project in Toronto however, so for the next 4 months I was there with my car. While in Toronto, I had no problems with the car whatsoever. I returned to Winnipeg in December of 2001.

Shortly after I returned, I started to notice a slight clunking sound coming from the rear of the car and seemed to be more focused on the right side than the left. I had even at this point read about the issues others had with this issue so I was prepared. I went to the dealership and even pointed out I'd heard other MP3s around North America were having the same problem. When I picked up the car the clunking was gone and I was extremely appreciative as it's hard to explain just how frustrating and annoying that clunk can get once you are driving around with it for awhile. I only drove around for a few days tho and the clunk returned. I brought the car back in and they informed me that all they had done was grease up the joints and tighten things up. This time however they decided to do it properly and ordered the swaybar bushings. They replaced the bushing and this time the sound went away and stayed away for a good long time. Throughtout the summer I had no problems. In November however, probably around 8 - 10 thousand Kilometers later, the clunk returned. I brought the car back in and rather than replacing the bushings, the dealership once again thought they knew the problem better and that it was I believe the struts so they replaced those. I got the car back and it was exactly the same...still clunking. I had to bring it back in again and they said they'd already replaced the bushings before and I told them again that had fixed the problem before for awhile at least. The service at Gerry Gordon's has frustrated me as they don't ever seem to be willing to take input at all. So they finally decided to order the bushings, but now they were on backorder. I still haven't got them put in altho I'm finally scheduled to get it done tomorrow so I'll let you know the results altho I fully expect the problem to be fixed at least for awhile. For me, the biggest thing has been all my time I've had to waste bringing and re-bringing in my car every time there's a problem...and it's compounded by the fact that normally it's one time to the dealership so they can analyze the problem. Then they need to order whatever parts so then it's another trip to come in to install the parts...and because they have on different occassions fixed it incorrectly, it's meant I've had to repeat that whole process again. Very, very frustrating.

[PA_MP3_Man]

To whom it may concern,

I purchased my MP3 in October 2002 with 20,188 miles on it. After about a week of driving my car I started to notice a noise in the rear of the car when I went over harder bumps in the road. After about 3 weeks of driving there was a clunk whenever I went over any type of bump. I went to my dealer and they ordered new rear links and bushings. After waiting 3 weeks becuase of backorder, they were replaced and the car was great. No noise from any bumps. It is now 1-08-03 and the clunk is almost back in full force. I am about to take it back to the dealer to have it looked at and bushings changed again.

I would like to see a real remedy for this problem. It's not fair to have to replace bushings every month, and once the warranties are up then what do I do? I'm stuck with a car that doesn't work right from the factory. Doesn't have a permanent, or atleast long term fix, and is out of warrenty and will kill me in costs to fix it all the time. I love this car but if this keeps happening, I will be forced to use the lemon law and get my money back. I would encourage others to do the same.

Please help us out. We love our MP3's and I really want to keep mine. But I'm not going to keep something that is broken, or needs to be repaired on a monthly basis.

Any kind of help, explinations, tactics would be greatly appreciated. If you need to contact me you can do so by e-mail at: stivasonm@sasd.k12.pa.us

or postal mail at

Mitchel Stivason
374 Rattigan Rd.
Chicora, PA 16025

Thanks for you time and consideration,

Mitch

[DooMer_MP3]

AHA! Sweet! You guys rock. I'll be typing up a cover letter tonight and sending these in! Thanks so much.

Chris

[PA_MP3_Man]

Hey Doomer,

Hear anything? How many letters did you get to send in? hopefully this combined with Newf's efforts will get this situation taken care of.

[Stou]

Here's my letter,

I have bought my MP3 in october 2001. About 2 or 3 month after the purchase, the car started to make some noise from the rear end. I went to the dealer after I have read some comments on the net about the noise comming from the sway bar bushing. After looking under the car, we saw that the paint on the sway bar, under the bushings was gone and the bushings was loose. Since the dealer didn't had any technical notes on that and they didn't have any bushing in stock, they simply put (on my request) a small pieces of rubber between the sway bar and the bushings. This partial fix correct the problem for a few months. A few months ago, I went to the dealer and they changed the rear bushings. About a month later, those new bushing started to make noise again. Now, the front one also make lot of noise.

I love that car but this bushing thing start to make me a little disappointed about my car. With all those noise comming out from the suspension, it sound like a 10 years old car.

I heard that the new Mazdaspeed has the same problem. Mazda realy need to done something about this problem.

Sylvain Tourangeau
Quebec, Canada
sylvain@stoudesign.com

[Newf]

I'll sum up my troubles here just to add to the list. Would be a great list if everyone wrote something here. We could refer dealers or whoever to this one topic in the forum


I got my car Sept 4th, 2001. At about 1500kms, I noticed a small clunk noise in the rear that we first thought was maybe the sub moving around, or spare tire/jack. We removed EVERYTHING from the back one day, including the little piece of wood covering the spare tire, and the tire itself. Still there. the noise eventually got much worse, effected handing severly. I can here it over the radio, you have to yell over it at times that it's at it's worse. You can feel the banging through the floor, the seats, and shifter when it happens. it can even be heard from outside the car when she sways left/right.

Eventually we tracked it down to the bushings once the car was on the ramp it was obvious that they were loose and worn.

replacing the bushings worked in the rear worked. For the first time, almost 6-7 weeks. The next time, 5-6 weeks, next time 4 weeks. Now every 3 weeks.We tried lubrication, taping. I had many troubles at first getting new bushings in as they were always on backorder. So, we found that just taking the bushings off, cleaning them up, taping the bar up again, and installing the bushings over on top of the tape, lasted just as long as getting new bushings without having to wait for the part to come in. Clunking happens worse in the rain. Cold weather, or warm weather doesn't seem to make a difference as it's there regardless. But, it is for sure at it's worse in the rain or wet snow.

Time passes, I got my bushings replaced at least once a month during that time. some new part #'s came out, never worked, actually were worse. Eventually we replaced the sway bars, and links numerous times at they were wearing as wel.

Then more squeaking from the struts occur from all four corners. We replace Struts, strut mounts. Struts never seems to do anything at all. the mounts seemed to get rid of the squeaking for about 3-4 months. I am convinced the squeaking is just a lube and grease problem, but dealer doesn't seem to have right grease for it. Squeaking occurs badly when it's cold outside, but doesn't seem to happen when the car is really wet or REALLY warm. Hence why I think grease would cure problem.


My front bushings also squeak, but I have never had them replaced. For some reason my dealer ignores the front. Go figure.


i can go on and on about this. I'm at 21000 kms now, I've had at LEAST 12 sets of buhings. And that number is higher, and could be a LOT higher if it wasn't for waiting for parts to come in, and just plain trying to ignore for as long as I can before bringing it in to get redone. There have been countless times, specially with the latest bushing, 156D, that they only last 3-4 DAYS.....DAYS!

[Allen]

Hi folks, just got back from Taiwan last week. It's cooler here in Texas than it is in Taiwan at this time.

So I hopped into my beautiful MP3 in this cold weather to find out my clunk is back. That dreadful noise... make it stop!! Please!!! Makes me want to go back to Taiwan so I don't have to listen to the car squeak each time when the weather is cold in the mornings.

I've driven my car to the Mazda dealership to repair the rear AND front clunk noise several times since November 2001, when I first purchased it. To this day Mazda has replaced one bushing and lubed another. I believe they lubed the rear and replaced the front bushings. The problem has not dissappeared, nothing solved. They have since tried to just lube my bushings to "temporarily" stop the noise from happening .... this helps some as Texas weather is hot one day and cold the next. Sometimes I hear it and it bothers me, sometimes I get lucky and don't go over any bumps on the road. When the weather warms up, the noise will eventually go away.

My first visit to the dealership about my MP3 clunk was around 01/02/02. They investigated the clunk noise and stated, "BINDING" as the cause for the clunking noise. They took off the rear bushings and lubed it ... it stopped the noise for that day. A few days later I noticed the front started to do the same thing.

So took it back a week or two afterwards and they decided to replace the bushings for the front side. They had to order the parts first. I received notice from them in the mail around 02/07/02 that the part had arrived. I believe I took my car that same week to have the bushings replaced.

No clunk for a few weeks now. I believe a month later, one chilly morning, I drive past the security gate ... "CLUNK" "CLUNK" ... I can't believe my ears so I decided to hit the company speed bump to prove my ears wrong. I wasn't imagining the sound, "clunk" "clunk", over the speed bumps. Tell me that wouldn't frustrate any car owner?

Now how much time would I need to spend just to get these bushings fixed by Mazda? My warranty only last two more years. I don't live next door to my Mazda dealership and I have to work to pay taxes like everyone else... otherwise, I wish I could nest right there at the shop until they do right to my Mazda MP3.

This is what they ordered for my front bushing replacement (may have been bushings for non-MP3 Protege, not sure).
Part description: Bushing, stabilizer.
Part number: BN7H-34-156
Order # 02037016
Balance due: $12.74 (warranty covered)
Ctl# 1052
Bin Loc: E03
Mul Key: RO#37190
Order date: 02/06/02
Recieved date: 02/07/02

Folks on this board have listed bushing part numbers:
OLD # BN7H-28-156B
NEW # BN7H-28-156C

I have postponed modifying my suspension under the warranty period, because I'm afraid Mazda will blame the bushing squeaking noise on the new springs.

I find Mazda's solution a mess that only confuses the consumers. I wish they can get their act straight to fix this problem virtually every MP3 owner has experienced or is experiencing.

[PaulMP3]

I have had my car in the shop numberous times, my car clunks and squeeks like crazy, it is horrible when it is cold out the first thing i hear every morning pulling out of my drive way it two loud squeeks from the front, then front the back. Train tracks are the worst, my friends all are like "whats the matter with your car". it is ridiculous. i will e printing all these post up when my dealer calls me and tells me when the rep is comming. they wont replace mine agian till he drives in it. Mazda must do something. I can relate to every thread in this post. It goes away for a little then it comes back louder then ever.