Clunk Updates

[scott42]

I really don't think there will be a recall; in the US at least. The guy I've been dealing with at MNAO let me know that QnA is working with Energy Suspensions to come up with a solution. And most likely, there will merely be an updated TSB.

And referring back to one of newfs thoughts about the tape actually working or just eliminating the noise while the sway bar isn't actually working properly (as it would with tight and correct bushings) I think that is the case, as I've had the tape done as well...albiet, I have had only sparce clunks here and there, I can definitely feel the handling of the rear deteriorate...

I, supposedly, should have a general timeline of the fix coming by thursday; either that, or I'll be having them replaced again... (I told them I could deal with it until the fix is made if I got a timeline before my appointment for Thurs.) I want new ones for the summer as they won't go bad in the nice weather, but they're already bad now from January. I'll obviously report what I find when I do.

BTW; off topic here...has anyone seen the new Accord 2 door? They look great...

 

[PaulMP3]

im getting new ones put in right now. My service mngr calls my car the noise maker. it was getting really bad. hopefully i will be good till some reacall or tsb. Scott keep us updated, this will help us USA mp3 get a quicker fix.

 

[Newf]

New accord looks funny. At least with no spoiler/ground effects

anyhow

VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!


All this time I thought the tape was working....HA! I guess since it was making a noise, I never really wantd to look under the car very hard


But today I put the racing harts back on....and what do I notice???

My bushings in the back were GONE!!! I mean...GONE, nowhere to be found! The clamp is there, the screw is gone, but no rubber bushing!

I only lost one, the other is still there and holding on fine....but ummmmm, this ain't right

Make no wonder it wasn't making a noise, it was gone!

back in Feb I did get under the car and take a look, and everything was fine. So the tape thing worked for at least a month, but since then I've been just driving around


I'm shocked. Had I not had 185/70r14 steelies with studs on, I would have noticed the handling asap. But with those tires on, they roll over so much you can't tell. With the RH's on, you can tell the bar isn't working.

Back to the dealer I go.

Oh JOY

Good news is, my compustar system came in....now, which wire goes where?

 

[PaulMP3]

:wtf: that is insane.

 

[oliver2000]

Great.....bushings falling off must be a safety issue....why do I have a MSP and a MP3 again ?

 

[scott42]

holy cow...

that makes me want to check right now...I've been killing myself trying to figure out why my right side feels so soft in the back...I thought it was tire pressure for about 2 weeks now, so I'm constantly checking...the handling has been way off and I just can't figure out why...this could be something to check out...

BTW, I got no call back from MNAO regarding a timeline, and I also didn't bring my car in because I wanted a guarantee that I'd get a rental because I can't miss another (yes this is true) combined 3 days of work in order to get this fixed again.

I'll check back in with any new findings...I'll be under the car at lunch.:wtf: :bs: :wtf: :bs: :wtf: :bs: :wtf: :'(

 

[Newf]

I haven't gotten a call or anything in a while either....not impressed.

 

[1sty]

This is getting out of hand!
Why the hell won't racing beat just release a kit of there orginial parts?
Seems like the best solution to me.

 

[No.5]

Neither have I. I went back to my dealership last week and took the Service Manager for a ride to hear the clunk. They still haven't gotten back to me for a service date (which they said they'd do ASAP). Maybe the Head-Honchos at Mazda are discussing something?....

Also, my car is still stalling intermittently (and NO...it's not a driver ability thing...)

 

[1sty]

Let me guess stalls when you put the car inneutral before the engine switches from acceleration to braking like on a shift or if your on the highway and hold the clutch to the floor?
If you have a CIA get it off and back to the dealer you go. This is an extreamly common MSP problem. Although the CIAs are what seem to be cuasing it.

As for the bushings Newf mentioned some time ago they maybe halting all bushing swaps until they have a new setup that will last more then a month.

 

[No.5]

No CIA. It has also stalled when I was sitting at a red-light, clutch + first gear engaged.

I forgot who initially posted this Thread, but:

"My car did all the same thing you guys complain about... and it definitely was not a boost or intake leak.
Turned out the stop point on the throttle bodies butterfly was closing to much and the car was simply dieing for air when returning to idle. Once I opened her up a bit all the problems went away instantly. all you need is a small 8 mm open ended wrench.
This may not help you guys but it did the trick for me."

 

[Cameleon3]

Not that it's going to make much of a difference but they are going to replace my stabilizer bar today...I will get my car back tonight...wish me luck!! I will need it...

 

[1sty]

No CIA. It has also stalled when I was sitting at a red-light, clutch + first gear engaged.

I forgot who initially posted this Thread, but:

"My car did all the same thing you guys complain about... and it definitely was not a boost or intake leak.
Turned out the stop point on the throttle bodies butterfly was closing to much and the car was simply dieing for air when returning to idle. Once I opened her up a bit all the problems went away instantly. all you need is a small 8 mm open ended wrench.
This may not help you guys but it did the trick for me."

Actualy I posted that. Worked for me and it may for you aswell.

 

[PM_OTT_MP3]

As for the bushings Newf mentioned some time ago they maybe halting all bushing swaps until they have a new setup that will last more then a month.

This would make sense, because I had bushings ordered aprox 2 weeks ago, and they still haven't received them. Although the service manager said he had them on high priority, when I called the parts dept today, they mentioned that the order was classified as "low priority" meaning they don't expect them til JULY!!! They may very well have been instructed to put a hold on these useless bushings until the fix is released.

... stay tuned

 

[MP3intheSTL]

That's (werd) I had my bushing replaced about 2 weeks ago and they had the bushing overnighted, and my car was done that afternoon.

 

[PM_OTT_MP3]

Dunno... could be a Canadian thing, or this theory could be dead wrong... who knows. Let us know how long it takes next time you bring it in (i.e. 3 - 4 weeks from now).

 

[Newf]

Something to add to my grief.

It turns out, the bushing that fell out?

Well, the clamp or bracket thing that holds it onto the sway bar, that's bent. And, the bolt that holds this all together into the bottom of the car popped out, but stripped everything in the process. So, if you look under your car, there's this metal beam type thing that goes from left-right tire, and that's where the bushings gets screwed into, well, now I need that replaced too.

thankfully, that part is on all Protege's.

I'm guessing, with all the replacement bushing I've gotten over the last year, the hole for the bolt got worn, stripped, and it just wiggled it's way out.

I took the car to Mazda after work yesterday. Never called them before hand. Walked in and looked at them and said , "I know why the car isn't making the clunk noises anymore"

Then I took the bushing that fell off the car, out of my pocket, and said." Because this ain't on there no more" The managers face was shocked.

Anyhow, as a joke, we went to the service manager....I walked up to the desk, and he was like "good day, how are ya?"

I replied " Well, not to bad, but I need something done to my car"

he said sure what can I do...


I said, I need these put back on my car and I took the bushing and slapped it on his desk. His face froze. He first thought it was some sorta joke, even thought that this ws the sample I had gotten off of them, and sent to RAcing Beat and I was just bringing it back.


You have to appreciate the humour in this, even though it is upsetting. We have been through so much with the clunk, we all had to laugh at it and basically said....oh my, here we go again.

 

[scott42]

newf, you're a better man than I...I would not be laughing at all at this point.

 

[Newf]

I'm getting rid of the car, the for sale was put on Wednesday night.

So, what happens, I don't care. I just want to make sure i don't loose my shirt on it at this point. It's amazing how your attitude changes towards all of this once you realize that your not keeping the car. Yes, it's a problem, yes, it needs to be fixed, yes it needs to be fixed before I decide to get a Mazdaspeed, but I'm not keeping the car past this summer regardless so I don't want to stress over everything any more.

It's a damn good car, best one I've had in terms of fun. Just a pitty that the entire experience is ruined by what is really a small problem, but a problem that has become huge due to Mazda's ignorance.

I obviously have some faith that they will eventually fix it. Otherwise, considering a Mazdaspeed would be ignorant on my behalf.

 

[Toronto_Raj]

It's a damn good car, best one I've had in terms of fun. Just a pitty that the entire experience is ruined by what is really a small problem, but a problem that has become huge due to Mazda's ignorance.

I obviously have some faith that they will eventually fix it. Otherwise, considering a Mazdaspeed would be ignorant on my behalf.

[/B]

(drinks)

I wouldn't buy a Mazda again as they all suck. (MPV, P5, reglar protoge, pick up, tribute they all have the front end squeak>>> according to the dealer though)