Maintenance Questions/Issues...

[terpkristin]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anybody could help me out with some questions/issues I'm having with maintenance on my 2003 P5. My baby is almost 4 years old now and I'm finding that even though it's not that old (and doesn't have too many miles, only 40k), I'm spending a lot of money on it.

I took it in for the 30k service this week and the found a few problems. The biggest thing they found was that I was getting excessive carbon build-up in my engine. The only rationale they could come up with for it was that maybe the gas station I go to uses bad fuel or something...unfortunately for that theory, I go to a different gas station almost every time I fill up (well, I have about 5 I go to regularly, but it's rarely the same one twice in a row, and I'd find it odd if all 5 were bad). I changed my air filter at 20k miles though when they saw the one in my car at 40k, they said it was really dirty, too. When I changed it at 20k, it wasn't too bad, and I guess I'm surprised that it could be "excxessively dirty" this time. I've lived in the same general area since buying the car.

So I paid for the injection flush and the induction flush (flush might not be the right words), plus the 30k service (which comparing to other dealers, it seems like I got ***** on), plus new spark plugs and it also turned out that for some or the other reason, I needed new shims on the brakes, so tomorrow when I pick up my car I'll be about a grand poorer.

I suppose a grand wouldn't be so bad if I weren't taking care of my car (I change the oil regularly, I keep up with the air filter, I watch the fluid levels and flush those as necessary...), and if I didn't have other issues, but I've also had other problems, notably the brakes seem to wear out (front AND rear) very quickly (I've done 2 brake jobs since buying the car), and for some reason that NOBODY can explain, I seem to be going through tires at an insane rate. I've bought 6 tires since buying the car and now apparently need 2 more (one the tread is bald and the other has a nail and bad tread). I can't understand why I'd be so uneven on tread-wear on my tires...I do live in Northern Virginia which has a fair share of potholes, but my friends who drive in this area haven't had as many tire problems as I've had, and I've had a few alignments; even with the car in good alignment, I seem to be wearing the tires unevenly.

Alas. I read in Consumer Reports that the 03 P5 and the 04 3 had some issues in the realm of "engine minor" (which includes spark plugs and that type of thing) and "fuel system," so I'm wondering if some of my carbon problems can be attributed to that. Is there a recommended additive I can add to my gas or anything to clean up the carbon/keep it gone now that I've had the engine completely flushed (I use regular gas)? Or is this a problem I'm doomed to have? The carbon buildup has been killing my gas mileage...when I bought the car, I was getting 27ish mpg city, I'm getting barely 20 now, and only 22-23 highway. Is the tire wear problem normal?

I also read in Consumer Reports that the 05 and 06 3 were a lot better than the 04...I'm wondering if perhaps I should just cut my losses on this car and trade it in for an 07 3, if there isn't anything I can do to help the carbon problem, the brake wear problem, and the tire problem...

Any thoughts? Advice? I'm really frustrated, because aside from the horrendous gas mileage and the phenomenal tire expenses, I adore my P5. I love the way it handles, how it feels when I'm sitting in it...

Thanks
/tk

 

[reynoldsrobbie]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anybody could help me out with some questions/issues I'm having with maintenance on my 2003 P5. My baby is almost 4 years old now and I'm finding that even though it's not that old (and doesn't have too many miles, only 40k), I'm spending a lot of money on it.

I took it in for the 30k service this week and the found a few problems. The biggest thing they found was that I was getting excessive carbon build-up in my engine. The only rationale they could come up with for it was that maybe the gas station I go to uses bad fuel or something...unfortunately for that theory, I go to a different gas station almost every time I fill up (well, I have about 5 I go to regularly, but it's rarely the same one twice in a row, and I'd find it odd if all 5 were bad). I changed my air filter at 20k miles though when they saw the one in my car at 40k, they said it was really dirty, too. When I changed it at 20k, it wasn't too bad, and I guess I'm surprised that it could be "excxessively dirty" this time. I've lived in the same general area since buying the car.

So I paid for the injection flush and the induction flush (flush might not be the right words), plus the 30k service (which comparing to other dealers, it seems like I got ***** on), plus new spark plugs and it also turned out that for some or the other reason, I needed new shims on the brakes, so tomorrow when I pick up my car I'll be about a grand poorer.

I suppose a grand wouldn't be so bad if I weren't taking care of my car (I change the oil regularly, I keep up with the air filter, I watch the fluid levels and flush those as necessary...), and if I didn't have other issues, but I've also had other problems, notably the brakes seem to wear out (front AND rear) very quickly (I've done 2 brake jobs since buying the car), and for some reason that NOBODY can explain, I seem to be going through tires at an insane rate. I've bought 6 tires since buying the car and now apparently need 2 more (one the tread is bald and the other has a nail and bad tread). I can't understand why I'd be so uneven on tread-wear on my tires...I do live in Northern Virginia which has a fair share of potholes, but my friends who drive in this area haven't had as many tire problems as I've had, and I've had a few alignments; even with the car in good alignment, I seem to be wearing the tires unevenly.

Alas. I read in Consumer Reports that the 03 P5 and the 04 3 had some issues in the realm of "engine minor" (which includes spark plugs and that type of thing) and "fuel system," so I'm wondering if some of my carbon problems can be attributed to that. Is there a recommended additive I can add to my gas or anything to clean up the carbon/keep it gone now that I've had the engine completely flushed (I use regular gas)? Or is this a problem I'm doomed to have? The carbon buildup has been killing my gas mileage...when I bought the car, I was getting 27ish mpg city, I'm getting barely 20 now, and only 22-23 highway. Is the tire wear problem normal?

I also read in Consumer Reports that the 05 and 06 3 were a lot better than the 04...I'm wondering if perhaps I should just cut my losses on this car and trade it in for an 07 3, if there isn't anything I can do to help the carbon problem, the brake wear problem, and the tire problem...

Any thoughts? Advice? I'm really frustrated, because aside from the horrendous gas mileage and the phenomenal tire expenses, I adore my P5. I love the way it handles, how it feels when I'm sitting in it...

Thanks
/tk

I have an 03 as well, and I too go through brakes and tires like water. On the gas part, I think I average around 23-24 mpg. I thought I just ran my baby too hard.

 

[StealthWyvern]

I have an 02 atx p5 and I don't seem to have any of those kind of problems and my car has near 150k on it!

The pads that could be just simple as cermic pads which dont last as long as regualr pads.

The gas milage problem. I have no idea as I average 24-27mpg with mostly city driving. Maybe the cleaning on your injectors will help that you did. Also the gas you coudl be using coudl contain ethinal(sp?). If thats the case then that is more then likley your case. Most cars get crappy gas milage with that crap compared to regualr gas.

 

[redpr5]

crappy gas=crappy mileage. run some fuel system cleaner and see if that helps your gas mileage. as far as brake pads go, i run through back pads about twice as fast as fronts. i thinks its weird that the rears go before the fronts...makes no sense

 

[reynoldsrobbie]

I have an 02 atx p5 and I don't seem to have any of those kind of problems and my car has near 150k on it!

The pads that could be just simple as cermic pads which dont last as long as regualr pads.

The gas milage problem. I have no idea as I average 24-27mpg with mostly city driving. Maybe the cleaning on your injectors will help that you did. Also the gas you coudl be using coudl contain ethinal(sp?). If thats the case then that is more then likley your case. Most cars get crappy gas milage with that crap compared to regualr gas.

Yeah Im in CA, so I have the "cleaner" gas

 

[redpr5]

Yeah Im in CA, so I have the "cleaner" gas

you have the cleaner everything. CA and their stupid CARB laws :bs: do you have any problems with that?

 

[Tengo]

Yeah Im in CA, so I have the "cleaner" gas

i wonder what happened to all the good gas, when i was little i wuld always smell that strong smell of gasoline when i would sit in the car while my dad pumped away. now when i pump gas i dont smell a thing?

 

[redpr5]

<b>i wonder what happened to all the good gas</b>, when i was little i wuld always smell that strong smell of gasoline when i would sit in the car while my dad pumped away. now when i pump gas i dont smell a thing?

we went to war with iraq

 

[Tengo]

we went to war with iraq

figures

 

[P-Funk!]

1. We run rich at Wide Open Throttle (WOT). This can be helped by using Sea-Foam to clean the carbon build-up.

2. Inspect your air cleaner before going to this dealership again. Hold it up to the sun or a strong light - if you can see light - it is okay. I suspect they are ripping you off - you need to start gathering evidence or going to another garage.

3. Shims on the brakes?! I have done my brakes and not noticed any shims. HHmmmm. I know if you don't lubricate the caliper slides - the caliper hangs up and wears the inboard (IIRC) pad excessively.

4. Go to another alignment place and let them see the worn tires. You may have frame alignemnt issue - the 'alignment' is within spec - but the car frame is not.

 

[P-Funk!]

oh yeah - and a clogged air filter causes the car to run richer... Poor fuel economy and more carbon build up.

If the tires are under- or over-inflated - they will wear unevenly. Can you get us pix?

 

[bazooka joe]

i'm not saying you got ripped, but that's a lot of money you've spent...i've got 92k on my 02 and i've not spent that kinda money...remember, the dealer is always going to be more exp. and will be looking for things to "fix"/"repair"...this is where they make their money.....were you having a lot of problems with the car before you brought it in? or were these just the routine maint periods and you let them do their thing?

 

[Diehonda]

1. We run rich at Wide Open Throttle (WOT). This can be helped by using Sea-Foam to clean the carbon build-up.

2. Inspect your air cleaner before going to this dealership again. Hold it up to the sun or a strong light - if you can see light - it is okay. I suspect they are ripping you off - you need to start gathering evidence or going to another garage.

3. Shims on the brakes?! I have done my brakes and not noticed any shims. HHmmmm. I know if you don't lubricate the caliper slides - the caliper hangs up and wears the inboard (IIRC) pad excessively.

4. Go to another alignment place and let them see the worn tires. You may have frame alignemnt issue - the 'alignment' is within spec - but the car frame is not.

+rep
Number one reason to join the site right there. People are quick to give you good information and explain it in detail.

They could be talking about the pad shims/retainers that attach the pad to the caliper. Replacing them or adjusting them is an over priced way to say they lubricated them.


In the future please post problems you are having so that the forum can help you. You can search here and find most things have been covered before but we are always please to help so post the question if you don't find the answer through searching.

Change to ceramic pads if you want a longer period between changes. Alos post pics of the tires if you haven't replaced them already. Like posted above, too little or too much air can cause uneven wear. An alignment may be the trick as you said there are several potholes in your area.

Do a search on Seafoam and you will see the benefits of removing carbon buildup and better gas mileage.


Welcome to the site!(first)

 

[pasadena_commut]

Hi all,
I took it in for the 30k service this week and the found a few problems. The biggest thing they found was that I was getting excessive carbon build-up in my engine.

The carbon buildup has been killing my gas mileage...when I bought the car, I was getting 27ish mpg city, I'm getting barely 20 now, and only 22-23 highway.

Did they show you the plugs? This is the kind of stuff a scumbag dealer will pull to extract $$$ from the unsuspecting. Especially if you are an unaccompanied female. [Which sometimes backfires badly on them. A friend of ours took her car in for a warranty service a few years ago and they told her she needed new brake pads. Might have worked on some people, but as she had just changed them herself the weekend before, all they got was a customer who refused to ever return to that dealer.]

That said, there is probably something wrong with your car if the mpg has fallen that far. And whatever it is it might also lead to carbon buildup (assuming there really is some). Normal P5s don't build up carbon - when I last changed my plugs they were fine. Your best bet is to ask around and find a reputable independent shop that services mazda and have them take a good look at the car. If it's a 2003 check to see if it has been recalled for VICS screws. A screw having passed through one cylinder might mess things up enough to drop your mpg. (Did your car ever make a sound like a machine gun?)

 

[Matthew1785]

Not to jack the thread but i am running super rich I've checked everything I'm not even getting 230 MPG anymore God i cant wait to turbo this car and TUNE it out maybe i can get better gas milage then

 

[Diehonda]

Not to jack the thread but i am running super rich I've checked everything I'm not even getting 230 MPG anymore God i cant wait to turbo this car and TUNE it out maybe i can get better gas milage then

I am not getting 230 MPG either(pissed)

Run some Seafoam through your gas tank and brake booster. Check your air filter and spark plugs. Check your tire pressure.

I get 28/31 and drive it like a rental at least three times per week.

 

[Matthew1785]

I have spark plugs have been changed, I used some gumout, maybe the engine just likes to burn a lot of gas, either way its going to get tuned sooner or later so I will just deal with it till feburary

 

[bazooka joe]

just took my mileage yesterday...303 miles on 10.8 gallons = 28 MPG...that's on a 02 turbo'd auto with 92K miles...not too bad!

 

[bucksatan]

I'm glad that someone mentioned that the brakes wear fast, I was wondering if I had some weird things going on with mine. I've been going through pads faster than on my previous car, and I don't think that i have been harder on them than I have with my previous vehicles.

 

[bazooka joe]

I'm glad that someone mentioned that the brakes wear fast, I was wondering if I had some weird things going on with mine. I've been going through pads faster than on my previous car, and I don't think that i have been harder on them than I have with my previous vehicles.

i'm on my second set???