Mazdaspeed6 Clutch Fix TSB

[Koenig]

Gentlemen, I was able to get the clutch TSB done at Wellesley Mazda in Wellesley, MA on my 2006 MazdaSpeed6 with 29k on the odometer. I was denied by two others (Sentry West in Shrewsbury, MA was one of the dealerships that claimed the clutch "felt right"). The other dealership told me "this would be considered a clutch adjustment and you are outside of the 12k warranty".

I consider myself a good consumer advocate, so I chose to go right to the top of Mazda to get this done. I'm not going to discuss who I contacted, and who was involved, because I consider what they did for my a personal favor.

I only chose this route after Sentry West denied me, and also after I griped to Mazda Customer Service, who were also not helpful, and tended to defend the decisions of the dealers. Eventually, I was able to get the RSM to visit Wellesley Mazda and drive my car with me in the passengers seat. After a 15 minute drive, a good conversation, etc. he said "I will authorize this repair for you but I bet you will not be able to tell the difference". He was wrong, I can definitely tell the difference. And so can everyone else who drove the vehicle before and after. It's like night and day folks.

So, fellas, YMMV, but based on my experience, I had to pull out all the stops to get this one done. If you are motivated and professional, you can probably make something happen. I wouldn't expect to get this one paid for without some work, especially if your mileage is somewhat high like mine is.

BTW, I am now at 31.5k on the odometer, and I am still loving the new clutch. The clutch still feels firm and sporty, but now release is higher and less jerky, and clutch pedal effort is much less.

Awesome work... and everyone on here can very well attest to the difference in the clutch feel too... even people who HAVEN'T had it done to their speed6 can feel the difference when they drive mine. If you should ever talk to the RSM again, perhaps you should mention that to him, lol (idhitit)

 

[emitch]

dropped the car back off at the dealer. after doing some research (mostly here) I called them and told them to look into my o2 senors being the issue with regards to the bucking. 30 mins later i got a call back telling me that it was indeed the o2, that a new one was on its way, and if i wanted a part time job. service writer said i made his job easy since i help self diagnose once again. can only thank the folks here for the help. car should be back on the road tomorrow. (thumb)

 

[brianguild]

Following up on my previous post above, see the redacted invoice attached below. These are the latest parts in use (I think) for the TSB, as of Feb 2009.

 

[Qwik6]

Same list as mine. They never replaced the clutch pedal though.

 

[brianguild]

Same list as mine. They never replaced the clutch pedal though.

hmm, were you a type A or B?

 

[Qwik6]

Type A. The clutch pedal was on the list of ordered parts. But it still the orignal one with 2 springs unlike the new one with only one. Clutch is smoother but the pedal still has an abrupt kick.

 

[Koenig]

Type A. The clutch pedal was on the list of ordered parts. But it still the orignal one with 2 springs unlike the new one with only one. Clutch is smoother but the pedal still has an abrupt kick.

Damn, I was an A too and I just realized, I never checked the pedal itself to make sure they changed it.... maybe I should look now and take it back.

 

[Super Shredder]

my dealer said that i should have gotten the tsb done to my clutch when it was replaced at 32k, not that they ever brought it up. he said it would be an expensive job to do on an already installed clutch? i thought they just lower the pedal to match the brake and accelerator. this is a thousand dollar job out of warrantee?

 

[Koenig]

my dealer said that i should have gotten the tsb done to my clutch when it was replaced at 32k, not that they ever brought it up. he said it would be an expensive job to do on an already installed clutch? i thought they just lower the pedal to match the brake and accelerator. this is a thousand dollar job out of warrantee?

they replace your clutch and a lot of the components and a few cables that involve the whole process from what I remember.... it's been a while since I've looked, but the TSB does show everything that is supposed to be replaced on the Type specific clutch, depending if you have A or B there's a few changes, like the pedal for A only and not B

and it's funny but I've attributed type Bs to be late 2006 (near 2007 models) and 2007 models... while the type A is early 2006 models.

The first speed6 I ever drove was a test drive, and the clutch felt fine.... when I found my car that I bought... I thought it was just me and that it had been so long, because the clutch felt entirely different.

 

[Qwik6]

Cables? Maybe this is why my car shifts like s*** now. I got shake it left to right going into 1st.

 

[Koenig]

Cables? Maybe this is why my car shifts like s*** now. I got shake it left to right going into 1st.

so now it's more like a semi-qwik6? (lol2)

See if you can take it back and get it looked at under warranty? Wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[Qwik6]

Out of warranty. I had stage 2 short shifter when they did the tsb. I didnt wanna take it back and them just void it saying I had a short shifter. I tried and removed it and went to put the stock assembly on and I could not get the pin back in to save my life. wonder what could be causing this? I may just end up taking it to a good tranny shop and see what they think. Its probably something simple.

 

[coyfish]

lol if they voided your warranty for a short throw . . . . I would love to see that reasoning. Replacing a long stick with a short one that in no way affects the tranny.

 

[Qwik6]

True. I should of taken it in since I only had 2500mi left on the warranty at that time.

 

[Joey Falconetti]

Quick question,

My Vin is about 300 higher than 107613 but still engages like a bastard and it overall a pain in the ass;

I was curious if I am SOL with my vin not falling between those TSB numbers...

 

[sunshineFC]

Quick question,

My Vin is about 300 higher than 107613 but still engages like a bastard and it overall a pain in the ass;

I was curious if I am SOL with my vin not falling between those TSB numbers...

Most likely SOL. But give it a try anyways. Are you still under the warranty?
-a

 

[Joey Falconetti]

Oh yeah! Crazy under warrenty; She only has about 20 k Miles on her; I am in Vancouver though; and the dealerships here like to do anything to avoid work.

I even Purchased from Mazda the $3000 Extended warrenty until 2013...

I am curious how my number is so high as I am a 2006....

 

[Koenig]

Oh yeah! Crazy under warrenty; She only has about 20 k Miles on her; I am in Vancouver though; and the dealerships here like to do anything to avoid work.

I even Purchased from Mazda the $3000 Extended warrenty until 2013...

I am curious how my number is so high as I am a 2006....

My car is a 2006 and I have 36k miles on her.

As for the clutch.... if your VIN # doesn't fall within the specified #'s that Mazda has on file, you are pretty much SOL.

The reason for this is because Mazda reimburses the dealers for doing "warranty" work, and TSBs are not even Warranty work... it is solely the dealer's discretion to perform them or not, and Mazda themselves cannot force them to do this.

If they perform the work on your car and Mazda doesn't reimburse them because your number didn't fall into the VIN range, then that dealer loses out on money.

You can still take your car in, and try.... but chances are the dealer will check the numbers, and if they send the info to Mazda to request for the repairs and Mazda sees the numbers don't match they can deny the dealer for performing the work, and if the dealer doesn't get paid for it, they will deny you the work.

It doesn't hurt to try though... so the best thing you can do is just take the car in, and mention how someone told you there's a TSB regarding the clutches... etc etc. Just don't let on to the service advisor that you know fully about it (i.e. regarding vin #s etc and what parts are replaced).... just make like you heard by word of mouth about a clutch issue.

Like I said, you have nothing to lose by trying, but I wouldn't go in there thinking they will do it.

 

[sunshineFC]

My car is a 2006 and I have 36k miles on her.

As for the clutch.... if your VIN # doesn't fall within the specified #'s that Mazda has on file, you are pretty much SOL.

The reason for this is because Mazda reimburses the dealers for doing "warranty" work, and TSBs are not even Warranty work... it is solely the dealer's discretion to perform them or not, and Mazda themselves cannot force them to do this.

If they perform the work on your car and Mazda doesn't reimburse them because your number didn't fall into the VIN range, then that dealer loses out on money.

You can still take your car in, and try.... but chances are the dealer will check the numbers, and if they send the info to Mazda to request for the repairs and Mazda sees the numbers don't match they can deny the dealer for performing the work, and if the dealer doesn't get paid for it, they will deny you the work.

It doesn't hurt to try though... so the best thing you can do is just take the car in, and mention how someone told you there's a TSB regarding the clutches... etc etc. Just don't let on to the service advisor that you know fully about it (i.e. regarding vin #s etc and what parts are replaced).... just make like you heard by word of mouth about a clutch issue.

Like I said, you have nothing to lose by trying, but I wouldn't go in there thinking they will do it.

For this type of work, the dealer gets pre-authorization from Mazda. They wont get stuck holding the bag. So, if you have a nice dealer, you can ask them to try. And by try, I mean have them confirm that you fall into the TSB's description. Which you dont b/c of the VIN, but you may under the subjective pedal feel description. They may fight for you, if they like you. But most likely you are SOL.
-a

 

[Koenig]

For this type of work, the dealer gets pre-authorization from Mazda. They wont get stuck holding the bag. So, if you have a nice dealer, you can ask them to try. And by try, I mean have them confirm that you fall into the TSB's description. Which you dont b/c of the VIN, but you may under the subjective pedal feel description. They may fight for you, if they like you. But most likely you are SOL.
-a

Yeah what he said.... as I was trying to clarify, they won't perform the work for you because since they won't get it covered under mazda being your VIN doesn't fall in the range, they don't want to lose money... so since they won't approve it, they will ask Mazda first... whom will most likely turn you down being the VIN on your car doesn't apply.

Sorry bro.... but like we said, you can still try.