Broken timing chain

[Kosh]

I just got the bad news, broken timing chain. Mechanic said the valves could have dropped into the pistons and damaged a lot more. He said there wasn't any oil in the engine. I never got any warning light, car seemed to run fine up until it just stopped working. Has anyone else experienced this? All my maintenance was up to date, I had oil done only at the dealer. Never noticed a drop leak out, garage floor is clean. I'm just really depressed now

 

[MSMS3]

How many miles? Did you have the chain and tensioner checked by the dealer in connection with the VVT service bulletin before you passed the mileage limit? I think it was 6 years and 60,000 miles, I cannot recall.

If you had the dealer do all routine service checks, they may have forgotten to document this in their records or failed to do it. If that is a dealer mistake you may have recourse. No oil and no leaks suggests the oil drain plug may have vibrated loose, or you ventillated the block with a thrown rod when the chain broke.

Once a chain breaks, really bad things (read: $$$$$+) happen, bent valves, trashed valve train, bent rods, et cetera.

 

[Kosh]

It's a 2007 and has around 68k miles. I had all my oil changes done at the dealer since I got the car new. I don't remember anything about a chain/tensioner check being done, it may have been done I just don't remember. My engine was making a tick tick noise when it started up, just like the bulletin described. I'll call and see if it's in my service records. Dealer says I'm looking at 6k for parts and labor to get a new engine. If I want them to see what needs to be fixed around 1.2k to go in and look around. I don't think I'm going to get this fixed at the dealer. I'm looking at the forged engine on Protege Garage. Maybe it's time for an upgrade.

Thanks for your reply. Very useful information.

 

[Kosh]

Mazda just called and told me there is an extended warranty up to 70k miles or 7 years which covers the timing chain. They are going to tear down the engine and see what went wrong so I might be covered for a new motor.

 

[Kosh]

Mazda said they will cover 100% cost for repairs. I was only 2 months over 7 years so they cut me some slack. Hooray Mazda!

 

[5port]

"All my maintenance was up to date, I had oil done only at the dealer"

Paid off big time. Congrats. Course we'll never know what kind of oil the dealer put in there (5W-20)?

 

[Kosh]

They replaced the timing chain and fixed the valves that were bent and some other stuff on top. I got the car back and drove it around the block and when getting on full boost it started making a horrible machine gun noise. Took it back and they said there's a bad bearing. I'm going to have to pay for repairs from here on out. They said there was only so much money Mazda had cleared them to spend on work and it was gone after the first run of repairs. Since I'm over a month out of my Warranty I'm just grateful they covered the cost this far.

They are checking the rod bearings since they are easy to access, if it's not those then it's the main bearings.

 

[MSMS3]

Glad to know you are getting help. I'd stay on them because they were doing your oil changes and should have caught the tell-tale signs of VVT malfunction and should have fixed it within warranty period at your last oil change before it let go. Be nice, work with them, but be firm.

 

[Kosh]

Wasn't the bearings at all. There was a worn fuel injector seal that was making the noise when under full boost. It was a quick and cheap fix and they didn't need to tear down my engine again. What a relief. So all the work only cost me $150 and the car runs great now. Thanks Mazda!! (yippy)