Blew My Engine!!!! Pix too!

[TampaSport20]

Okay - official cause from Mazda:
"#2 Rod exploded through the block."

They want complete oil change records (as a few of you said they would) or "they probably won't cover the warranty work." There's no possible way I can get records going back 2 years for oil changes I did myself.

The engine was detonating not 4 months ago. Is there any way I can get around the oil change records? I could TRY and get them but I highly doubt I can considering I bought oil anyplace that was handy.

Your reccomendations, guys? I *am* willing to goto court for this one.

Did you write down the mileage's you changed the oil at ??? You can write up your own maintenance records...There's nothing that says you have to pay someone else to do oil changes to maintain your car properly.

 

[Protege52003]

sorry.......

-R

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

Too many points? I only had one...Mazda dropped the ball.

BZZ, with all due respect since you have helped me many times when I was stuck and needed it... you're not going all corporate on us, are you? I never said I could tell exactly what happened with his motor. It's really hard to tell now that it's in pieces. My whole point is that the burden of proof doesn't lie with the car owner...it lies with Mazda to prove that it wasn't their problem. Assuming, of course, that the car wasn't modified to any extent. That's why the Magnusson-Moss Act was implemented. Right now it looks like it's up to Mazda to prove that the owner was somehow responsible. True, detonation will usually pound on the upper half of the rod bearing and thin it to the point that the backing grabs the crank and spins it, but unless the FS motor is even weaker than I realized, I don't see how this could cause a rod to puke the block and cause the catastrophic damage that occurred with his engine. I know it's comparing apples to oranges, but I spun 7 of 8 rod bearings once in my ancient Pontiac 455 in the T/A once at high speed (7200 rpm in 4th gear...181 mph...I was running from the flashing blue lights...don't ask) and the motor still got me to the house regardless. Sure, it didn't want to turn over again after it cooled back down, but it at least stayed intact. I'm just still at a loss to understand how the hell someone can puke a block on a stock Mazda motor, unless it's a weak ass motor or unless something was way wrong or way weak with the thing from the get-go.

Like I said, Mazda did a lot of things right with this car, but there are a few very important things that they didn't iron out. If it won't hold up, don't build it and market it as a sports car! I'm as big a Mazda fan as you'll ever meet, but I'm not letting them off the hook on this point. If you're going to turbo an already weak motor, at the very least make sure the A/F tuning is right. Same as if you're going to install a LSD from the factory, make sure it won't break under normal "Zoom Zoom" use. If not, be prepared to deal with the consequences.

Right now it looks like this one is on Mazda, and the burden of proof is on them to say that it's not.

I threw a rod out the side of a 318 block due to a spun bearing on the highway, coming back from the track....
Corporate? Me? Nah. I just felt like arguing with someone.
I can't see that happening on stock boost either.

 

[Crazee D]

zoom zoom boom, lets go back to my room

Tom (and Katie) extend their sympathies...
...and would like to tell u about Scientology.

 

[EmRidMSP]

My SELLING dealer was awesome. But too bad for me my selling dealer is back in Washington, D.C. But there are a few really good dealerships in Phoenix - specifically Showcase Mazda and Cardinale Way Mazda. But Mazda Roadside Assistance won't tow me to Phoenix (which is 90 miles south). And I can't afford to have it towed down there because it would be around $400.

And no, nothing was written down about mileage. I did not keep any receipts for the oil I bought or anything like that. But I'm tellin you, I looked in that engine and it was just a think coat of oil on everything. ZERO sludge build-up. This dealership is just a bunch of gawdy little bastards.

 

[EmRidMSP]

I contacted MazdaUSA today via e-mail. Here are the contents:
"I have a 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege. On 27 March, rod #2
exploded through the block at approximately 4000rpms under normal
driving conditions. The dealership, Galpin Ford/Mazda in Prescott, AZ is
refusing to cover the car under warranty. Except for aftermarket motor
mounts (which were installed after the failure of both rear and
left-side mounts), the car is completely stock. Galpin is demanding
oil-change records going back as long as I hve owned the car. I do my
own maitenance, so I have no records. However, when I visited the
dealership to inspect the car I found a few things: 1) The dealership
had re-arranged (appearently searched but I won't call it that) the
interior of the car. 2) the Valve Cover had been removed. Upon
inspection, the interior of the engine is completely devoid of sludge
and appears to be properly maintaned.
I have enjoyed this car since I bought it and have had problems which
were immeaditely covered under warranty (detonation issues, etc). Until
now. Help?"
______________________________________
This is the reply I received:
"Hello Aaron,

Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations.

I'm sorry to read about your engine problems in your MAZDASPEED
Proteg. In regards to your question, please understand I'm not
technically trained and therefore not in a position to diagnose or
instruct on repair procedures for your vehicle. For these matters,
Mazda relies on the factory-trained technicians at authorized Mazda
dealerships to diagnose and repair concerns that may arise with a Mazda
vehicle.

Should an issue need escalating, the Service Manager would be your
point of contact and if necessary he may review matters with Mazda's
district representative.

Please keep in mind that your warranty only covers defects in
workmanship or materials, not items related to maintenance (including
lack of maintenance), normal wear and tear, or outside influences.

I have personally called and left a message with Tony Pacini, Service
Manager of Galpin Mazda, and have informed him of your e-mail. We've
requested he involve Mazda's District Customer Support Manager with
this warranty decision. Please understand if he has already requested
proof of maintenance, based on your vehicle history with their
dealership, this will need to be provided to proceed any further.

Rest assured I have documented your concerns on our corporate file and
forwarded a copy to the upper management of the dealership for their
review and resolution. Your Service Manager will be your main point of
contact. Please contact Tony Pacini with any additional concerns or
inquiries at [deleted].

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda."

They STILL want oil change records.... I am probably going to be taking this up with the service manager. If he still replies in the negative I'm going to propose my options I posted prior. If I do anything legally, it's probably going to involve a lawyer and a letter. Beyond that, I doubt it. I'm a student, so it wouldn't be worth the time or even possible.

 

[Dr.Sound]

sucks ass.
events like these made my decision THAT much easier.

good luck to you.

 

[rednecks_r_us]

Good luck. You need to talk with Kyle (wildwolf) he has 4 motors replaced under warranty in his silver MSP.

 

[shane02pro5]

Man that has been my next worst nighmare since I blew my tranny about a year ago. I have put 50k miles on my P5 at 10psi with my Hiboost kit with no KLACKALACKA BOOM!!

But J&S Safeguard is going in first thing in the morning WOOHOO!!

Good Luck!!

 

[StrEEt MaFiA]

I had the same problem man, and mazdaUSA would not help me solve anything at all. The service manager would not work with me and all the repairs ended up coming out of my pocket.

 

[EmRidMSP]

Just wanted to give an update and ask a question:

I just heard from a guy at ApexR1 that another MSP customer had a motor blow up here in Arizona just last week. If this is you, please shoot me a PM or reply on here.

Mazda is still fighting me. The dealership is telling me that the regional office is agreeing with them, that they will not cover the motor under warranty unless I can produce oil change records. I'm attempting to get into contact with the regional office myself even though the dealership seems to be attempting to block that. I'm going at them from the angle that they need to show me in my warranty where it says it is required to keep records of oil changes for my warranty to stay in effect.

I have checked myself, even in the owners manual, but I can't find anything about it. Has anyone else noticed this in their warranty or manuals?

 

[TampaSport20]

I'm going at them from the angle that they need to show me in my warranty where it says it is required to keep records of oil changes for my warranty to stay in effect.

Here will be Mazda's response (somewhat)

No it does not say that exactly. However there is wording in there something like this. Coverage does not include damage caused by intentional misuse or improper maintenance.

They feel they have proof that you improperly maintained the car. Your only response would be to have mainitenance records proving otherwise

 

[dirtysouth_msp]

Yep, that is what they will say.

Why oh why did you not take my advice? It worked for me...lol.

 

[EmRidMSP]

Yeah. I prolly shouldve. Couldn't quite bring myself to it, though.

Heard from Mazda this afternoon. Here is the complete text of the e-mail as sent to me:

Dear Aaron,

Thank you again for contacting Mazda North American Operations.

According to our last e-mail correspondence on 3/31/06, I informed you
that we would be escalating your request to Mazda's District Customer
Support Manager (DCSM). This is a Mazda corporate employee based out
in

your region who reviews cases like these with the Service Manager. The
DCSM is empowered to make decisions on behalf of Mazda North American
Operations.

Please be advised that your case has been reviewed by the DCSM as well
as our warranty department and there will be no warranty assistance at
this time based on the lack of proof of maintenance. Please understand
this is Mazda's final decision and will not be escalated any further.
Any further correspondence on this issue will be documented only.

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda.

I'm not quitting yet.
(enguard)

 

[Jeph]

LAME, keep at it, i'm sure that something will be done.

 

[MrDiggler]

OMG, what jerks. They build a defective product and then won't stand behind it. I swear on my life I'll never buy a new Mazda or one from a Mazda dealer again. If I keep buying Mazdas I'll make damn sure that the money goes to someone else besides the company.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

Every manufactuer does the exact same thing. You need to show you maintained the vehicle.

 

[MrDiggler]

Every manufactuer does the exact same thing. You need to show you maintained the vehicle.

They probably do. I've just not experienced major component failures while under warranty with anything other than the MSP, and I'm still not over what Mazda Knoxville put me through.

I know I'm being idealistic here, but I still have a hard time understanding how the burden of proof is on him. If need be, the residual oil and the oil filter could be sent off for testing, and the bearings could be analyzed as well. The fact that it's a bone stock car and the engine is clean as a whistle should be enough. Magnusson-Moss allows for an owner to do their own maintenance or get it done somewhere besides the dealer. They say they want receipts, but if you get right down to it, how would you really prove the oil changes were done? Receipts for oil and filters don't really prove you actually changed the oil. Handwritten receipts from the local corner garage could be easily drawn up after the fact. There's a level of trust involved even with receipts, no?

Good thing my engine never popped, or I'd be screwed just like him, even though it wouldn't be my fault. I've owned my MSP from 8k miles to the present 48k. All but one oil change were done by me, and the other was done at a buddy's gas station/garage. It gets good synthetic every 5k miles or so, but I don't have a thing to prove it. If I ever have a warrantied vehicle again, I'll keep a log book with receipts for oil changes. Funny that in the two years I've been dealing with Mazda Knoxville they never once mentioned that I should be logging the oil changes while under warranty. They know I do my own maintenance, too. How nice of them.

 

[ONRAILS]

Then again... if you do your own oil changes (as I do), you can keep the receipts, but that just proves you bought the oil and filter. What proof is there that you actually changed the oil. See, I don't understand how they can ask for proof (real proof), if there is no way you can give it to them besides going to the dealership and having them do it.

 

[xbbmazda]

that looks so nasty!