This forum rocks! Thank you to all who contributed to this thread...I read all 30+ pages and credit it for helping me achieve the results described below.
In order to relay as much info as possible I am providing many details...sorry in advance if its excessive. Mazdaspeeeed6 & Qwik6 not sure if you have had luck yet, but this might be worth a read given what I saw in your posts.
I am having the full clutch TSB done today/tomorrow on an VIN type A 06 MS6 with a little over 57k mi on it (post factory warranty on the whole car) and Net-net am only paying for the clutch plate (under $200).
I purchased in Sept 06 and during my first and second services had issues similar to the ones the Koenig mentions in earlier posts. It was difficult to get into 2nd gear, esp. during really "spirited" driving. I also made mention of the fact the clutch felt oddly hard to operate, and thankfully the dealership documented this (although somewhat vaguely) in my invoices, their answer being that everything was functioning as designed. These visits were made in Nov & Dec 06, 4 months b/f the TSB was released for the clutch.
Fast forward to Sept 08 coming home from a long road trip, 600+ mi and 6th gear started to slip when passing at 100+mph...I considered this odd and had hoped it was an isolated incident. I had another 600 mi drive the next month and at 200mi 5th and 6th were slipping under heavy torque. I am not an abusive driver and have never destroyed a clutch in 15 years of driving. I started to feel concerned about the situation knowing that sooner or later I was going to pay a lot of money to fix something that was poorly designed from the factory and later clearly admitted to but never informed of.
After reading about the TSB in this strand I went to the dealer, who I patronized every 5K mi since moving to the area, and asked about the TSB, telling them I learned of it from a friend and had drove his 06 MS 6 the week prior, and noticed it felt like a totally different (and better) car. I asked to have the tech drive my car and note on my record that the clutch was letting out high and hard to drive (which he agreed that it did do) and asked they document the fact there was a TSB to address it. At the dealership they told me that they could not help but to call Mazda USA.
I called Mazda USA and told them I had this problem when I first bought the car, took it to the dealer I purchased it from and that I was fobbed off and basically told I was crazy (not the same dealer I use now). I made the point that after those interactions I stopped complaining and had no way of knowing about the TSB released 4 months later b/c I loved my car and wasnt looking to lemon law it and was tired of hearing I was nuts, so I stopped complaining and just accepted it. I was not shy in letting them know that we have many Mazda products in our family (RX-8, Protg, Miata) and would like to continue doing business with them. I also thankfully I had 2 receipts that mentioned something in general about the clutch and faxed it to Mazda USA. Within 24 hrs Mazda called my current dealer who verified that I was a regular there, serviced my car religiously, and didnt abuse my car (and I do have some light modsaftermarket intercooler, intake, exhaust, test pipe). Within 48 hrs Mazda authorized them to do the TSB so long as I paid for the clutch plate (which is fairit is a wear item and I used it for 57k mi).
I am not sure which of these factors (or which combinations of them) proved to be the tipping point, but it worked and kudos to Mazda for seeing this through and the dealership for going to bat for me. If you are in my position warranty/mileage-wise and if any of these factors apply to you, make sure you use themas many posts have said before the dealer makes all of the difference. The dealer I patronize in Hamilton NJ has a specific tech that has done several of these TSBs and overall the service people are great. I really cant say enough good things about these guys; even when just in for general service. I dont mean to sound like a commercial but from me this is a huge compliment...I was a service writer/sales person/mechanic many years ago and know how difficult it is to find people who are not just nice but competent and trustworthy also. In short I am very critical about the people who touch my car.
I am going to pick it up tomorrow and hope to have the same reaction as many of those who have already done the TSB for A VIN cars.
Good luck to all on this issue and please feel free to hit me up with questions if I can help.
