Is This A Lemon?

[vlrussian]

i dont think the weather should effect the car though and they way it drives

 

[autoxes]

man, this makes me even MORE apprehensive about getting a ms3...

I would say to definitely take it back to the dealer.

 

[Sierra117]

When I first had my MS3, I had the same problem, and was thinking about taking it to the dealer to figure it out. Was an intermittent problem between 200 or 300 miles, and then it just went away, hasn't happened since.

Seemed to me to only happen when I was driving under ten mile per hour, and its was a sorta of grinding whine, like the kind you hear from those Kenne Bell charged Cobras. At least, thats what the sound was like. All I had to do was pump the brakes once, and it would go away. I think its just everything settling in?

 

[jaydubz]

When I first had my MS3, I had the same problem, and was thinking about taking it to the dealer to figure it out. Was an intermittent problem between 200 or 300 miles, and then it just went away, hasn't happened since.

Seemed to me to only happen when I was driving under ten mile per hour, and its was a sorta of grinding whine, like the kind you hear from those Kenne Bell charged Cobras. At least, thats what the sound was like. All I had to do was pump the brakes once, and it would go away. I think its just everything settling in?

That sounds very similar to my situation, however I still dont think a new car should do that at all. Well right now the car is at Mazda and I am stuck driving a toyota matrix, oh well.

I will keep you guys posted, tech said they never saw anything like it this before which I find hard to believe.

 

[Sierra117]

Oh I agree with you. It shouldn't but sometimes it does. I was freaked out to all hell at first, this is my first real stick shift, and I was like..."oh s***, I broke something." Then it just went away and its all fine now. If its a big problem, definately let us know what the deal is.

 

[BOOSTR]

Glad you took it in. I was never thinking you had a lemon based on your description of the problem. My point was that a new car should not make any noise at all. It will as time rolls by but with 600 miles its to soon for oem parts to whine or grind. But that said its not out of the ordinary to have to visit the dealer for adjustments on a new car.

 

[Sierra117]

Oh, and legally speaking, no its not a Lemon. Has to be in three times for the same problem, and fixed all three times (within a certain period between in shop times), and still not be fixed, and a few other legalese terms. Having something broken in the first few hundred miles is just s*** luck.

 

[jaydubz]

Yeah tell me about s*** luck, I had originally left Mazda and went to VW (GTI MKV) the car drove very well, but got to be a bit boring after a while. I decided to research the speed 3 and all reviews seemed very positive and on top of that it was a pretty good value for HP/Money/Space. I really hope I dont come to regret my decision.

 

[BOOSTR]

Since he's in FL here's a link for the law. Its not complicated nor would you need an attorney to put the dealer/manufacture on notice if you had to go that route.

http://www.800helpfla.com/lemonlaw/doeslemonapply.html

 

[fourthmeal]

I think a lot of people forget that we have noisy diffs and gears in this cassette-style transmission.

You have got to remember that this car isn't isolated like a VW is, and is much more prone to providing the driver feedback of all sorts. I heard a lot of the noises you are talking about, and have had no problem with the car (except for the engine falling out like it did to lots of other people), and she's doing fine at 11K right now.

We have full floating calipers, which glide along the rotors (there is zero airspace next to the rotor), we have a limited slip differential, we have a few straight-cut gears in the trans...basically we have a track-ready car here and the noises show that. You're fine, honestly.

 

[jaydubz]

I think a lot of people forget that we have noisy diffs and gears in this cassette-style transmission.

You have got to remember that this car isn't isolated like a VW is, and is much more prone to providing the driver feedback of all sorts. I heard a lot of the noises you are talking about, and have had no problem with the car (except for the engine falling out like it did to lots of other people), and she's doing fine at 11K right now.

We have full floating calipers, which glide along the rotors (there is zero airspace next to the rotor), we have a limited slip differential, we have a few straight-cut gears in the trans...basically we have a track-ready car here and the noises show that. You're fine, honestly.

I guess after my initial run in with mazda quality with my 6, I am expecting the worst. Do you think the metal rubbing noise may have been my brakes getting super hot and expanding?

 

[Betelgeuse]

It will go away. I had it happen only once but over on the other forum, it has happened to a few people early on. It occurs when the car has been driven really hard and the brakes get really hot. It'll stop doing it after a while. It's the caliper(s) not letting go all the way. If it happens repeatedly then take it in but more than likely it will cure itself. Give the car some time man. You're extremely paranoid. Using your logic, I wouldn't touch VW with a ten-foot pole but I'm more more open minded and see the glass half full.

 

[jaydubz]

It will go away. I had it happen only once but over on the other forum, it has happened to a few people early on. It occurs when the car has been driven really hard and the brakes get really hot. It'll stop doing it after a while. It's the caliper(s) not letting go all the way. If it happens repeatedly then take it in but more than likely it will cure itself. Give the car some time man. You're extremely paranoid. Using your logic, I wouldn't touch VW with a ten-foot pole but I'm more more open minded and see the glass half full.

Thanks for the info, yeah I am a little paranoid, but I do have god reason to be that way. I went through this with my 6 but I cam back to mazda because of the value of the speed3 plus i got a awesome deal on it.

What about the gear grind? Can you offer any support on that issue?

 

[Betelgeuse]

Thanks for the info, yeah I am a little paranoid, but I do have god reason to be that way. I went through this with my 6 but I cam back to mazda because of the value of the speed3 plus i got a awesome deal on it.

What about the gear grind? Can you offer any support on that issue?

This has been beaten to death. My advice is to check out the other forum under the stock issues section. Sorry I can't post a link here (the forum would block it).

Anyway my quick advice would be to adjust your seat so your clutch foot doesn't stretch too far. That alone has helped some people and is often overlooked. The grinding is usually a timing issue from what I've seen. You're either shifting into third too quickly or letting off the clutch too quickly. For some reason saying that gets many on the defensive. No I'm not telling you how to drive, it's just that the 2-3 shift in this car requires a little more care (probably a poor design - who knows). Many would blame the mount but that's BS as far as I'm concerned. If the mount was the issue a lot more people would be grinding including myself. Now a completely loose mount is another story - being that yours is an '08 the recall should be unnecessary.

For the time being, try shifting slower from 2-3 until you no longer grind. Then gradually increase the speed until you're comfortable. If shifting slower and adjusting your seat don't work, then have the dealer look at it.

 

[jaydubz]

Thanks Betelgeuse, I will be getting the car back tomorrow hopefully. The grinding typically happens from 1st to 2nd, however after reading the forums a it it appears that this problem may be present but goes away after some wearing in.