Leaking strut

[badself]

My '08 CX-9 GT's front suspension has been hissing over bumps for the last six months, much more so over the last month.

I took it in to the selling dealer (Heritage Mazda, Bel Air, MD) for this issue and to flash to TCM for the limp-mode condition on steep terrain.

Even though they are a Mazda-only stealership, their service manager returned the car saying they could not duplicate the suspension problem, and further stating that my ECM was at its latest calibration, even though the TSB instructed the dealer to flash the TCM, so they didn't even perform that TSB. He further stated that the vibrating mirror was due to an unbalanced tire, and therefore not covered under warranty. I let him know he was a worthless **c*, and that I'd be contacting North American Mazda as well as give him straight zero's on the service survey.

I took it to a second dealer. They heard the hiss right away, and found the r/s strut leaking fluid. They ordered a front strut, and I'm waiting for it to come in the next day or two. They're a Ford/Mazda dealer. They also flashed the TCM, and ordered a new driver mirror for the excessive shake issue. Even though they treated me better than the Heritage Mazda *** (named Mike Weatherman), they still refuse to replace the struts in pairs (damaged strut only), and refused a four wheel alignment (alighn front and track to the rear wheels only).

Overall, I like the CX-9. However, at this point, I don't believe Mazda will be seeing any of my hard-earned cash again any time soon. I'm waiting for the strut and mirror to be installed before I go after North American Mazda for not replacing the pair and after Heritage Mazda for refusing service on a blatant safety issue.

I also have an '09 Honda Fit and have owned several Honda vehicles over the years, and have never received such poor service, though I've often had to fight hard to get some service issues resolved. When my '03 Pilot's transmission failed at 88,000 miles, at least they goodwilled the $2,700 remanned OE transmission, leaving me to pay the $570 labor. I'm pretty sure Mazda would have told me to take a hike under the same circumstances.

(Sorry for not posting this in the right section.....too late to do anything about it now.)

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

On this new of a car, there is no reason to replace a perfectly good strut, so I agree with the dealer on that.

I had an experience with a dealer not identifying two noises, only to take to another and the tech instantly knew what both were when he drove it. Fixed in an hour with no parts.

Don't hold incompetent dealers against Mazda, either, unless none of them will help you. (even a good car doesn't deserve to be bought if you can't get good service somewhere)

As for Honda, we will NEVER buy another Honda after they tried to make us pay for a new head assembly because Honda didn't want to inform CR-V owners that the valves needed to be adjusted at 30k, instead of the scheduled 105k. Not performing the simple adjustment caused the entire head assembly to become damaged, requiring full replacement. Honda kept that tidbit to themselves, and let most owners pay for the repairs themselves. Since it happened consistently around 80k, well out of the 50k warranty, owners who didn't do their research had no choice but to pay out of their own pocket.
I hate thinking about how many owners paid for those repairs because Honda didn't own up to a simple valve adjustment interval change. The dealer also sucked, keeping the car twice as long as promised, and returning it with oil dumped all over the engine.
Worst dealer treatment I've ever received.

 

[cccx9]

At least the second dealer helped you out. They may not have been able to replace both struts under warranty. I've had problems with service from many different brands. It is a dealer by dealer thing. Some are great and some suck.


So hissing over bumps is always a leaking strut?

My CX-9 is fine but my Altima hisses over every little bump.

 

[ceric]

For the sake of anti-trust law, automakers can't do much about dealers.
The only leverages they have are vehicle allotment and customer satisfaction bonuses. Some dealers just don't care for some reasons. Every time I went in for service, Mazda sent me a survey. That is your time for a revenge.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

For the sake of anti-trust law, automakers can't do much about dealers.
The only leverages they have are vehicle allotment and customer satisfaction bonuses. Some dealers just don't care for some reasons. Every time I went in for service, Mazda sent me a survey. That is your time for a revenge.

this is true. most people don't realize what a bad survey can do for a dealership. they stand to lose out on factory incentives, warranty cash and other such things.

 

[The-9]

With the mfg's today taking part replacement dictation to extremes, you would have a piston replaced if one went bad and not the whole engine if it was not damaged. Like CX9 SportOwner said, no need to replace a working good strut.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

With the mfg's today taking part replacement dictation to extremes, you would have a piston replaced if one went bad and not the whole engine if it was not damaged. Like CX9 SportOwner said, no need to replace a working good strut.

that will never happen i assure you. the cost of labor and the engine itself as a whole is far cheaper than pulling, disassembling, reassembling and dropping back in a motor

 

[The-9]

that will never happen i assure you. the cost of labor and the engine itself as a whole is far cheaper than pulling, disassembling, reassembling and dropping back in a motor

happens every day.. replacing a piston for example is cheaper using flat rate then the manufacturer giving a whole engine to install which presents time a little less then replacing a piston. You need to drop into a dealer and get a kick out what they have to do like rebuilding a warrantied transmission which does take way more time the dropping a replacement unit in.

Remember, Flat rate time is NOT what a dealer would charge you and could be as much as 1/3 the time of retail rate.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

happens every day.. replacing a piston for example is cheaper using flat rate then the manufacturer giving a whole engine to install which presents time a little less then replacing a piston. You need to drop into a dealer and get a kick out what they have to do like rebuilding a warrantied transmission which does take way more time the dropping a replacement unit in.

Remember, Flat rate time is NOT what a dealer would charge you and could be as much as 1/3 the time of retail rate.

i have worked at three separate mazda dealers and this has never happened. i am aware of how the system works and what parts cost as well as book time VS warranty time. as for what happens under an aftermarket extended warranty versus the factory warranty i guess i could see some variations.

 

[ceric]

I believe nowadays dealers do not perform complex repair works such as replacing a piston. They replace transmission, engine, etc. as a whole. The bad ones are sent back to automakers for refurbishing. Therefore, you hear about refurbished transmission and engines from automakers.
Independent shops, however, can do whatever they want.

 

[The-9]

guess maybe I have been around american dealers too long since this whole asian thing is new to me(rofl2)(rofl2)

But then again, just happend with a subaru WRX, cracked piston, replaced under warranty according to my bud who owns it. oh well