Is my MSP turning into a POS??

BradC

Member
:
03.5 Ti Gray MSP
Hey guys, I have a handful of problems with my baby this week and I want some reassurance that this isn't going to turn into a constant thing. Over the past week I have had the following develop.

1) Warped Front Rotors (@ only 11k miles)
2) Cracked Windshield (stress crack on driver's side)
3) Missing bolt on exhaust manifold heat shield (where the **** did it go???)
4) Malfunctioning alarm (whenever you use the key fob all the lights stay
lit until you turn the car on and off)

Granted the rotors are warped from hard driving, but the car only has 11k miles on it. You would think the rotors on a "speed oriented" model would hold up to a little punishment better.

Anyways, the whole point of my owning this car was to have a good time and get some mods on her. With all of these little things popping up and the Mazda service horror stories I hear, I am gettting a little nervous about putting parts on it. Anyone have any similar experience, maybe a round of problems then all good from there? What can I do about these things if Mazda gives me any hard times??
Thanks,
Brad
 
jersey_emt said:
Those are all very common problems. Nearly everybody has experienced them.
I haven't :)
I have had the windshield crack but it was due to a rock, my brakes are in perfect shape, no alarm problems, no missing bolts, etc.
The exhaust did break and the pipe they replaced it with looks a little bigger than the original. I have seen a couple of other forum members exhaust break as well.
I just have had 2 sets of bushings and the exhaust.
That's it...@ 42,000 miles.
 
18,000 miles on mine. the only warranty work i have had

1. 2 sets of bushings
2. Rear skirt falling off
3. Radio not working

as far as the "stress" cracks on the windshield. I dont believe its a stress crack. the MP3 chassis/suspension is just as stiff and i never cracked my wind shield (except for the rock hitting it) i daily drive my car and have not wrapped the rotors. I think every model of protege has that missing bolt thing. Its sort like the hole missing sock in the dryer mystery
 
BradC said:
1) Warped Front Rotors (@ only 11k miles)
2) Cracked Windshield (stress crack on driver's side)
3) Missing bolt on exhaust manifold heat shield (where the **** did it go???)
4) Malfunctioning alarm (whenever you use the key fob all the lights stay
lit until you turn the car on and off)
1. yep got them replaced...
2. Not yet
3. Yep - reinstalled
4. Nope

nothing u can do about it... its common problems
 
I am having the same problem with my alarm not working right. Are just supposed to take it to the mazda dealer. My rotors are rusting too and I have the famous "clunk" But all in all I LOVE MY MSP!!
 
i've had 2), and some bushings replaced (i need to get the front crunching fix still though). that's about it. my windshield though, i'm not sure if it was a stress crack, but it came from nowhere. my car was parked one night, no crack. went to drive it the next day, crack. i don't park near a road or anything that would cause it, no impact mark, starting at the edge. if it's not a stress crack i don't know what it is
 
my rotors feel like s**** and i'm at 8000 miles, they do that low pitched warped rotor shake even under light braking, i love my MSP more than anything but the fit and finish is just poor, i guess that's what we get for buying a vehicle the forst year it comes out, too bad they didn't continue to make the speeds because they could really improve on the whole concept and have a kick ass car, just up the boost from the factory maybe 2.5 lbs and fix all the dam quirks that it had, and they'd be outselling a lot of manufacturers
 
my car sat for a few months, i came back and now my rotors feel warped but it's just stuff on there causing grooves in it. i should fix it...
 
the question should be "did my msp start a peice of s***?" j/k .....i think.
even with all those annoying things alarm, radio,rotors,bushings etc.. its mostly petty & still a nice ride for 20k .
 
freekwonder said:
18,000 miles on mine. the only warranty work i have had

1. 2 sets of bushings
2. Rear skirt falling off
3. Radio not working

as far as the "stress" cracks on the windshield. I dont believe its a stress crack. the MP3 chassis/suspension is just as stiff and i never cracked my wind shield (except for the rock hitting it) i daily drive my car and have not wrapped the rotors. I think every model of protege has that missing bolt thing. Its sort like the hole missing sock in the dryer mystery
My MP3 had a cracked windhield within the 1st month I had it. It was replaced under warrenty and never had a problem again.

All in all I'd say, although problems suck on a new car, those are minor. The windshile dshould eb fixed for free and will likely be fine from then on out.

The rotor is your own fault, get better ones (thumb)

The alarm is warrentiable too, so just get it swapped or better yet, rip the useless thing out and get a nice 2 way unit.

A missing heat shield bolt at worst is a rattle, just replace it but use some lock tite and you'll be fine.
 
Last edited:
BradC said:
What can I do about these things if Mazda gives me any hard times??
Thanks,
Brad
Ok, class today's lesson

A. Buy a new car
B. Get a lawyer
C. Take the hit yourself
D. Do nothing
E. None of the above
F. All of the above

(cheers)

Welcome to the world of the MSP.
 
Those sounded like little issues that had nothing to do with the car turning into a POS. But if you have a broken tranny, your clutch burnt, or your engine failed....then its a different matter.
 
I also had a bolt missing from my heat shield, mazda replaced it during a routine oil change. My rear bushings were replaced 5 or 6 times last year before the proper ones came in. Experiencing problems now with oil leaking down my turbo housing and sludge in my coolant reservior, going to see mazda tomorrow. Other than that the car has treated me good and I love driving it.
 
I have the far left bolt missing from my heatshield too...

I have also had a coolant leak (bad radiator hose connection )
Alarm going off randomly the dealer said they found a loose wire but my TT has been acting up. So today I soldered in the wires and it still beeps and flashes "off" at me when I pull on it or hit it (not hard) so I am thinking that the alarm was going off when the TT would fall from the Velcro strap I had holding it up.
 
Listen to this s***!

I went to the mazda dealership (not the one I purchased my speed at, one that is closer to my home) Cuz i am having the problems with my alarm keeping the parking and taillights on after being armed with the transmitter. I also told them about the clunking when i reverse out of my garage. This is what the dumbasses told me: that the clunk is because i have 18s and it is rubbing. NO WAY, it has stock suspension!! what do 18s have to do with that? I dont know. And the alarm is off because of my aftermarket cd changer and a wire is making the ground act strange. How does this happen when the cd changer is plugged right into the back of the cd player? Has anyone heard of this? (probably not, because its bulls***) then they tell me that it is mazdaspeeds problem and to take it to them. All after waiting over an hour and not doing s*** about it.




BradC said:
Hey guys, I have a handful of problems with my baby this week and I want some reassurance that this isn't going to turn into a constant thing. Over the past week I have had the following develop.

1) Warped Front Rotors (@ only 11k miles)
2) Cracked Windshield (stress crack on driver's side)
3) Missing bolt on exhaust manifold heat shield (where the **** did it go???)
4) Malfunctioning alarm (whenever you use the key fob all the lights stay
lit until you turn the car on and off)

Granted the rotors are warped from hard driving, but the car only has 11k miles on it. You would think the rotors on a "speed oriented" model would hold up to a little punishment better.

Anyways, the whole point of my owning this car was to have a good time and get some mods on her. With all of these little things popping up and the Mazda service horror stories I hear, I am gettting a little nervous about putting parts on it. Anyone have any similar experience, maybe a round of problems then all good from there? What can I do about these things if Mazda gives me any hard times??
Thanks,
Brad
 

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