Exhaust manifold problems

[FrozenMazda]

Folks,

Got a problem and was wondering if anybody else has had similar issues:

Had an exhaust leak a couple of months ago (discussed in another thread) and was fixed under warranty. However, the leak is back (same location) and today I saw a frightening sight.

As I was backing out of the garage, I saw a pool of fluid about where my engine sits when I park my car. Luckily that was only condensation from the AC unit, but next to it I saw a bolt laying on the garage floor. Now I just moved in to this place and the garage was immaculate so I know it came from the car. It has a lock washer on it and on the head of the bolt, it has the number 8 with a dot above it (I'll post a pic as soon as I have battery power for the camera). I'm assuming that this is a bolt for the exhaust manifold.

Anybody else have this problem???

Thanks for reading this long thread.

 

[instylz]

Heatshield? check to see if it was from there as many of us are missing bolts there.

 

[FrozenMazda]

Yes, I am missing a heatshield bolt too (that's on order(crazy)), but this one is different. If you take a look at the pics, the washer isn't part of the bold head like the heatshield bolts. Also, the heatshield bolts have no writing on the head whereas this one does. And another thing is the smaller untreaded piece at the end of the bolt.

EDIT: One of the pics looks like it's all FUBARed in the thumbnails, but it does work.

 

[dominoy2k1]

kinda looks like the bolts that go on the oil pan.

 

[FrozenMazda]

kinda looks like the bolts that go on the oil pan.

Man... DON'T SAY THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(nervous)

BRB. Going to put the car on ramps and see if it is coming from there.

 

[FrozenMazda]

kinda looks like the bolts that go on the oil pan.

Just came back from putting it on the ramps. All the oilpan bolts are in place and tight.

... NOW DON'T YOU EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!(j/k) Just for that...

(boobs2) you get flashed by my manboobs.

 

[FrozenMazda]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes.. that bolt did come out of the exhaust manifold (passenger side. Is that the #1 cylinder?). However, they didn't order a gasket ahead of time so I have to drive back sometime next week for that (200 miles to nearest dealer). Looks like there was no locktite on any of the manifold bolts (????).

Check the manifold bolts and make sure they're tight. Hopefully it's just an isolated incident and you guys won't experience it. I'm certainly lucky in that the bolt landed fell out in my garage.

Oh yeah... FWIW, Got S03 Pole Positions on the Speed now. Ride's much quieter.

 

[Ljspeed]

This is too crazy, I had the dealer order me a missing heat shield bolt today while I had my rear clunking bushings replaced for the second time. Prolly this weekend Im gonna take off the heat shield and make sure all exhaust manifold bolts are there and properly torqued. But torquing down some loose heat shield bolts did make some difference on that metal vibrating from 1st to 2nd on low rpms.

 

[FrozenMazda]

NEW UPDATE!!!!!!!!!

Got the gasket installed this morning. Took an hour longer than told and I found out why later. When they disconnected the charge pipe from the turbo to the intercooler (to remove the manifold/turbo from the head), they broke the nipple that the BPV hose attaches on and tried to fix it with some silicon sealer. That obviously didn't work and when I tried to drive away, it would fall flat on it's face at 4 grand.

Going to hopefully be a nice (civil) conversation with the manager at Freeway Mazda tomorrow as well as Mazda NA to let them know what's going on.

 

[DSMConvert]

hehe yep im in the same boat with the exhaust mani problem....at first i decided to do it b/c going to the dealership is always a hassle here in tampa and requires a weeks notice to the dealer fo the appt, but once again they have come loose, and this is with me using locktight...really pisses me off...

 

[Black Majik MSP]

I'm fairly certain I'm missing a heatshield bolt...guess I'll be checking this out tomorrow too. Too many damn problems...

 

[DSMConvert]

haha whats up man glad to see im not the only one up at 5am on a saturday...power to the early morning people!!!! sorry bout the thread jack...

 

[FrozenMazda]

I'll post one on Monday when I get to work. Then can I be in the Early morning people club????