Clunk Updates
- Thread starter Newf
- Start date
Just an update - my E's were clunking in the severe cold but I haven't noticed it now with the warmer temps and the radio turned up to a normal volume. My interest has switched more to the front bushings for now because they're making a heck of a lot more noise than the rears now - even squeeking in 40*F temps. Has mazda finally got off their arse and released a TSB for the fronts or are they going to just send me to the firing squad that is the dealership without any ammo in my pocket? I need a TSB for F's sake!
kickgirl vs. mazda
I know I'm a newbie to the sight, (I wish I'd found it in sept 01 when i bought my car) but I thought I'd share my most recent experience with the klunks & squeaks... As of March 3, 2004 in the battle of kickgirl vs. Mazda North America I won a cash settlement for the 'issues' with the vehicle. They were going to take it back & brand it a Lemon but I do like the car so I chose Money for my trouble and hopefully this will spur Mazda on to finding a permanent solution. (mj)
I know I'm a newbie to the sight, (I wish I'd found it in sept 01 when i bought my car) but I thought I'd share my most recent experience with the klunks & squeaks... As of March 3, 2004 in the battle of kickgirl vs. Mazda North America I won a cash settlement for the 'issues' with the vehicle. They were going to take it back & brand it a Lemon but I do like the car so I chose Money for my trouble and hopefully this will spur Mazda on to finding a permanent solution. (mj)
DooMer_MP3
Member
!? What other issues did you have? Or was it just the clunk/squeaky bushings? I wish I had time/money for a lawyer 
.
Chris
.Chris
Albino Flash
Member
- :
- MP3 gone/now 2004 Civic
You don't need a lawyer, just read up on your states lemon laws and do it yourself. If you meet the criteria, Mazda will try and satisfy you so you don't file a lawsuit.
I think I am going to go the Lemon route with my MSP. 5 visits for rear clunk (it would have been much more but I basically gave up mid sumer of 03), 10 for coolant smells and leaks and not to mention several times for subwoofer, front crunch and bad lag (ECU). I have 156D's with some sort of tape that the dealer applied (and called a shim). Anyway, in Michigan one has to give the manufacturer a "Last Chance Letter" (anytime after the 3rd repair attempt) after that is delivered the manufacturer has to respond in a reasonable timeframe and then has one last chanc e to fix the car. I guess for the rear bushings they'll try 156E's, not sure if they will ever figure out the coolant smell.
Many others tried this route? Any tips?
Many others tried this route? Any tips?
- :
- 2001 Mazda MP3
andr3w where u been? 
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55268
Updates on the Delsing rear sway bar bushing relocation kit will be posted there. It's working very well so far in testing, but then again we don't have thousands of miles on it yet (but Dave at Delsing's been autoXing his, so he's working on the longevity issue).
Updates on the Delsing rear sway bar bushing relocation kit will be posted there. It's working very well so far in testing, but then again we don't have thousands of miles on it yet (but Dave at Delsing's been autoXing his, so he's working on the longevity issue).
I have been mulling over this very same thing. Mine is in for a coolant leak A-Fing-GAIN - and as if I wasn't pissed enough the F-ing tools at Mazda USA REFUSED to sell the coolant hose I needed to my closest dealer - they forced me to drive over 100 miles to a Mazdaspeed dealer just to get this F-ing hose. A piece of F-ing HOSE!!! F you Mazda.(fu)andr3w said:
On another note, my E's were clunking mildly when it was colder but as it has started to warm up she's not clunking anymore. The front is cunching worse than ever though - even in above freezing weather. I think what I'm going to do is tell my closest dealer to order me a new set of E's for the back and a new set of the A's for the front and I will pay for them myself (obviously Mazda is going to stick it to us once again and not release a TSB for the front - that would make things too easy for the customer). I'm probably just going to go on a plan to replace the front and rears every spring (once per year) at my own expense. I'm willing to accept that without too much fuss...since MazdaUSA is forcing me to.
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I know I shouldn't have to Newf, but I am at a point where I'd rather pay the $50 to get new bushings installed than bother arguing to the brick wall that is the dealership.
I'm still completely blown away by it but I have good news to report!--I went today to get all of my bushings (front and rear) replaced at my own expense and the dealer replaced them all UNDER WARRENTY for me! Now the fronts SHOULD have been under warrenty but the rears I could see going either way -- I thought they were clunking when it was cold but have since stopped clunking....and it's possible what I thought was clunking was just tire noise going over bumps. The rears were cheap ($26) and are easy to install so I told him I'd pay for them if I had to...but he said the rears looked worn to him so he did it under warrenty! VERY cool - 1 of the first times a dealership has ever did something nice for me!
The fronts we kind of had a deal on - I told him there was a new part number for the front and that I wanted him to order them for me. He said he would but I should be aware that a new part number doesn't always mean it's actually a new part - it could just be supplied from a different place or something. But he ordered it anyway and when it came in he noticed that it has changed from the previous version -- the new version of the fronts have a kevlar sleeve inside of them similar to the teflon sleeve inside of the rear E bushings. Because of this change he agreed to put them in under warrenty.
SO...I have new bushings all around. The front already seems better - just less sloppy or something, it's hard to describe. This is only on 1 short evening of driving though so it's hard to tell. Plus I put my summer tires on yesterday, so I'm still trying to get used to EVERYTHING again - the handling, the bump-steer, the extra noise over bumps with the lower profile tires, etc. The rear seems about the same as far as I can tell...which tells me either my previous E's were in "ok" shape or there's just too many variables to make an accurate judgement (what with the summer tires on and all). I was surprised how much more noise the suspension makes with the summer tires on - that's not a problem, just an observation.
I'll post an update again in a week or so with some definitive conclusions on the front and rear bushings.
I'm still completely blown away by it but I have good news to report!--I went today to get all of my bushings (front and rear) replaced at my own expense and the dealer replaced them all UNDER WARRENTY for me! Now the fronts SHOULD have been under warrenty but the rears I could see going either way -- I thought they were clunking when it was cold but have since stopped clunking....and it's possible what I thought was clunking was just tire noise going over bumps. The rears were cheap ($26) and are easy to install so I told him I'd pay for them if I had to...but he said the rears looked worn to him so he did it under warrenty! VERY cool - 1 of the first times a dealership has ever did something nice for me!
The fronts we kind of had a deal on - I told him there was a new part number for the front and that I wanted him to order them for me. He said he would but I should be aware that a new part number doesn't always mean it's actually a new part - it could just be supplied from a different place or something. But he ordered it anyway and when it came in he noticed that it has changed from the previous version -- the new version of the fronts have a kevlar sleeve inside of them similar to the teflon sleeve inside of the rear E bushings. Because of this change he agreed to put them in under warrenty.
SO...I have new bushings all around. The front already seems better - just less sloppy or something, it's hard to describe. This is only on 1 short evening of driving though so it's hard to tell. Plus I put my summer tires on yesterday, so I'm still trying to get used to EVERYTHING again - the handling, the bump-steer, the extra noise over bumps with the lower profile tires, etc. The rear seems about the same as far as I can tell...which tells me either my previous E's were in "ok" shape or there's just too many variables to make an accurate judgement (what with the summer tires on and all). I was surprised how much more noise the suspension makes with the summer tires on - that's not a problem, just an observation.
I'll post an update again in a week or so with some definitive conclusions on the front and rear bushings.
my fronts have been really good on this car. So, if it ain't broke......
I'm interested in trying them though. I really pushed mazda to fix the fronts as well as the backs during my meetings with them. It's interesting that they followed through on them. But, since my new car does not need them, there was no need to test or try them. Keep us posted on them
I'm interested in trying them though. I really pushed mazda to fix the fronts as well as the backs during my meetings with them. It's interesting that they followed through on them. But, since my new car does not need them, there was no need to test or try them. Keep us posted on them
Fronts squeek a little
My fronts squeek a little when going over big dips in the road. That just may be the shocks though. I have not had any issues yet with the rear bushings. I have about 5,000 miles on them. My warranty is out in soon; I'm at 30000 miles. I believe I have till August for the 3 years to expire. (pukey)
My fronts squeek a little when going over big dips in the road. That just may be the shocks though. I have not had any issues yet with the rear bushings. I have about 5,000 miles on them. My warranty is out in soon; I'm at 30000 miles. I believe I have till August for the 3 years to expire. (pukey)
I think that people should stick it right back to mazda! It felt sooooo good when I got judgment in my favor. Study the lemon laws for your state, for me in indiana I was able to have FREE legal representation under our state laws. Krohn & Moss Ltd is the firm who fought my case & they are great, they do lemon cases for several states. SCREW 'EM!!
