Recent content by ricksmz5

I was the 2nd owner of a 2010 Mazda 5. Had 90,000 miles on it when I bought it. Fluid was grey. Owner's manual implies you never have to change the fluid! I drained mine- w/o taking any of the cooler apart- and added three quarts of new fluid. That brought the level close to correct. Did...

Thanks for sharing. I've got the same issue with my 2010 Touring. Did your mechanic have to do any programming once the refurb unit was installed- or was it "plug & play"? Rick (Phoenix, AZ)

Ordered parts-lots of parts for my 5 with 152,000 miles on the odometer. RF strut, bellow and mount. L fog lamp, belts, cabin filter & blower motor, driver's window actuator, LF inner fender, belly pan. Still runs and shifts good- I keep an eye on the fluids, as it leaks a little oil. Is it the...

Fuel pump access is under the middle row- passenger side seat. Four bolts on seat, cut 8" L-shape in carpet, four screws on hatch. No sign of fuel leak-dusty. Ran car and wiggled fuel line and electrical connector- no smell. Took it to a third mechanic Monday, and they could not duplicate the...

Not really- it's back to 1/2 tank now. I get a mild whiff every now and then, but it hasn't choked me like it did last week. Going to spend the time this weekend to pull the back seat.

I've seen a lot of discussion regarding this issue with the Protege 5- the plastic top of the fuel pump body cracks and leaks fuel. I have a "mystery fuel odor" with my car- no visible liquid on tank or lines. My neighborhood mechanic couldn't find it. As a last resort, took it to the Mazda...

I had the spin-on type filter- but the "black edition" cooler. After replacing the gasket twice, and having it fail after a few months, I finally ordered a new OEM cooler. Fingers crossed- 3 years and many miles, it's still holding together.

I have 136,000 miles on my 2010 GT. No major issues- although I'm looking at replacing a leaky fuel pump very soon. I am second owner and since 2014 have: replaced oil cooler gasket (early on -twice!); motor and transmission mounts; F and R sway bar bushings and end links; F & R struts/shocks...

Not really a repair manual as much as general info... Not very helpful, but I think it confirms that there's access to the fuel pump from inside the car- under the 3rd row passenger side.

This says to remove the "2nd row seat". Leads me to believe it was written for the Mazda 3, rather than Mazda 5. Isn't the fuel pump under the 3rd row seat? I've seen a lot of discussion regarding this issue with the Protege 5- the plastic top of the fuel pump body cracks and leaks fuel. I...

So, I got bored the other night and was surfing EBay- never a good thing, lol. I ordered some LED "switchback" bulbs- they flash amber, and then change to white parking lights. From what I've read, the ECU controls the turn signals, and will not recognize the LED's- they will "hyperflash"...

Over the weekend I changed my engine oil- Quaker State 5W20 Full Synthetic, Wix filter, dumped the transmission fluid, and added 3.25 quarts Royal Purple TransMax. Today, I finally got around to replacing the front and rear sway bar bushings and end links. Energy Suspension bushings w/grease...

Yeah, "carbon fiber" my ass! Mine did the same thing....

At $36 US, they are exactly half of what the same thing costs in the US!!!! The Dorman's (974039) are about $30....

Nice wheels!