New engine (shortblock) under warranty :-)

[E.NoE]

Just got my P5 back today. Its been at the dealer for the last two and a half weeks. I got a new engine under warranty. I took it in for a bad engine knock (second one in two months). It was the piston rod bearing again....but this time on cylinder 4 instead of cylinder 1 last time. The tech said it would be a couple of days and i got a rental (mazda3 wagon) also covered on warranty. I snapped the CV joints on the 3 after a day and they put me in a based out Escape which sucked. Anyways, i go in there on fri (almost a week ago) to see whats happening w/ my car. They havent called me in over a week. I go in there and talk to my service guy, kinda with an attitude. Then he told me the good news. "The tech tore the engine down to get to the bearing and saw that the whole thing was screwed so we ordered you a new short block and it will be here on monday." Sweet. 46,000 miles and i get a new engine. Dealer isnt that bad afterall. Runs good, sounds good, im happy. Just thought id share.


Eric

 

[mp5jeff]

how did you snap the axle on the 3?

 

[Mike R]

Wow, I had my shortblock replaced at 30K and I haven't had any problems since. Same problem, bad rod bearing. I wish I got another mazda as a rental. I get stuck with corollas every time.

 

[E.NoE]

i dont know how the CV joint broke. I was drivin it hard...but not that hard. My car has went through 10,000 times as much abuse as that rental. I was on a dirt road and took off from a stop sign kinda fast so the wheels spun. It hopped really bad, then about 1/2 mile later down the road i hit the gas and heard all kinds of funky noises. Mostly the axle floppin around and hittin the strut and s***. It was a tight car too.

 

[flat_black]

Enough with these posts! You all are making me scared that I'm going to throw a rod or a bearing soon! *scared*

 

[Douggie]

Enough with these posts! You all are making me scared that I'm going to throw a rod or a bearing soon! *scared*

Yeah, I swear i could feel something in the CV joints thru the steering wheel when turning after reading this post. It's like I could sense the wheel rpm with the very faint repetitive vibrations. But I checked the CV boots and it wasn't leaking or anything (dunno).

 

[flat_black]

Yeah, I think you're about as paranoid as I am at this point! When I was driving into work today my brain was going nuts; 'What was that rattle..?' 'Was that detonation..?' 'I need to turn my stereo off so I can hear the engine better'... Uugh. =) Every time I do turn the stereo off, though, I realize that the engine is just purring right along. Hehe. I'm just paranoid as hell, is all.

 

[Douggie]

Yeah, I think you're about as paranoid as I am at this point! When I was driving into work today my brain was going nuts; 'What was that rattle..?' 'Was that detonation..?' 'I need to turn my stereo off so I can hear the engine better'... Uugh. =) Every time I do turn the stereo off, though, I realize that the engine is just purring right along. Hehe. I'm just paranoid as hell, is all.

LOL. We're in the same boat. I guess I wouldn't be as paranoid if my warranty doesn't run out in 2 mths. Damn, should have bought that extended warranty...

Again, maybe it's just me, but although I've been trouble-free so far, it still shocks me that the reliability of the JAPAN MADE Proteges seems a bit low (from reading these kind of posts)

 

[vielster]

Well...sounds to me like you drive like an ass...that's the only way to explain throwing two rod bearings and breaking a brand new CV joint. Probably running your protege up above 5k consitantly even when cold and the oil hasn't really filled all the grooves yet. Also, when you get your new engine, I'd reccomend letting someone else drive it for the 1st 1000 miles or you'll likely blow another motor.

It's fun to drive fast, but people like you are why 1)insurance is so expensive 2)dealers are b****y with warantees 3)People are scared to ever buy a used car

 

[changedman]

s***. a rod bearing for me would suck. esp now with turbo

internals s00n

 

[changedman]

Well...sounds to me like you drive like an ass...that's the only way to explain throwing two rod bearings and breaking a brand new CV joint. Probably running your protege up above 5k consitantly even when cold and the oil hasn't really filled all the grooves yet. Also, when you get your new engine, I'd reccomend letting someone else drive it for the 1st 1000 miles or you'll likely blow another motor.

It's fun to drive fast, but people like you are why 1)insurance is so expensive 2)dealers are b****y with warantees 3)People are scared to ever buy a used car

does mazda expect every person to let the car sit for 5 minutes before use? thats somewhat rediculous, as is immediately revving. dont ever start the car and rev it up right away. thats true.
throwing a CV joint- why do you drive a rental hard, just because you can and its not your money? bad thinking.
and i cant believe mazda is replacing your engine for a second time. wow.

 

[E.NoE]

Alright....ive come to the conclusion that a lot of people on this board just love to bash anyone for anything. I had no intention to brag about blowing my engine when i fist posted this. Its just something rather important that happened to my Protege5 (which would make sense to post it on this board) that i thought to share with others. I dont rev the hell outta my engine before it has been warm for a few miles at least. Even so, to blow out two rod bearings in about two months? Thats a little more than just over reving a car when its cold every now and again. Wouldnt something a little more serious that that happen? And the CV joint on the 3 is a whole nother story. This car had UNDER 5000 MILES. It would be tough to snap a transaxle if you tried on a car that new. I didnt even try to abuse that car. And for a major part of the car to break when it is that new is ludicrous.

"Why drive a rental hard, just because you can and its not your money?" Your god damn right.


Eric

P.S. I dont see how Mazda could get away with NOT replacing my engine. It is still covered under warranty and it broke. Their warranty, not my problem.

 

[vielster]

I'm truly not here to bash, but when I read your thread, the first thing that came into my mind was "Two rod bearings....this guy must be pushing the car pretty hard, pretty often, or under not so hot conditions."

As far as something more serious happening, you're kinda lucky nothing did. Rod bearings usually are what go and cease up the motor. In a car with a little higher output, the bearing pack will start to spin around the piston head connecting point and eventually lock up and throw the rod (through the head or the cylinder wall). At cold temperatures, when the oil ain't quite the best viscosity, there's less lubrication in the piston rod bearings...enough to go with, but when you run it hard and fast, the stress on these parts becomes too much for the lubrication system to handle with the oil so thick and you end up spinning the bearing.

The fact that you then snapped a CV joint on a spankin 3 just confirmed that you like to run cars hard, probably going around a 90 degree turn really fast and mashed the gas, hopping the outside wheel stressing, unstressing, stressing, unstressing, eventually breaking it.

Sorry for it to come out as a bash, I would rather it have come out as be more respectful of your vehicle, it has feelings too...

 

[Mounty]

You first said:

dont know how the CV joint broke. I was drivin it hard...but not that hard. My car has went through 10,000 times as much abuse as that rental.

Then you said:

And the CV joint on the 3 is a whole nother story. This car had UNDER 5000 MILES. It would be tough to snap a transaxle if you tried on a car that new. I didnt even try to abuse that car. And for a major part of the car to break when it is that new is ludicrous.

So you admitted you drove the rental hard, then you denied and tried to blame Mazda for poor quality!

Alright....ive come to the conclusion that a lot of people on this board just love to bash anyone for anything.

Maybe the problem is you, not other people bashing or Mazda quality. :bs:

 

[E.NoE]

Im not totally bashing Mazda. I do love my car...even though i do drive it rough. The big issue i have now is that the car is leaking/burning coolant, and leaking oil. There are some nice spots on my driveway from the NEW SHORTBLOCK with less than 400 miles on it that has pissed all over my driveway. When i put the heat on i get a thick stench of burning coolant. Looks like the seal where the tranny bolt up to the engine is leaking fluid also. Ive been babying the new block to break it in, so thats not an issue. Why would a brand new shortblock be burning and leaking coolant and oil? This isnt the first time the techs at the stealership have given me issues.

 

[02ESwBoost]

Rod Bearing

Is this a common thing on the FS motor ? you guys were stating that other pro's were having the same problem with bearings and rods..... I have about 3000 miles left on warranty and want to know if I should be looking at this poss problem area prior to the warranty expiring... I always thought that the Pro was a bullett proof vehicle unless you over modded it..... (freak)

 

[E.NoE]

Well...here is a nice update. Took the car in for the leak and burning of every fluid in the engine only a week after having a new shortblock put in it. They had to replace the head gasket and the oil pan gasket along with a coolant line and A/C line. Got it back and drove it around for an hour or so and heard a nice grinding/harsh rattling noise from the front end. As i drove it got louder and louder and started to happen more often. Have idea what this one is. The CEL came on right before i got home too. Im persuing the lemon law on this car. Its been in the shop for more than 30 days for warranty repairs.

Eric

 

[scorch70]

Well...here is a nice update. Took the car in for the leak and burning of every fluid in the engine only a week after having a new shortblock put in it. They had to replace the head gasket and the oil pan gasket along with a coolant line and A/C line. Got it back and drove it around for an hour or so and heard a nice grinding/harsh rattling noise from the front end. As i drove it got louder and louder and started to happen more often. Have idea what this one is. The CEL came on right before i got home too. Im persuing the lemon law on this car. Its been in the shop for more than 30 days for warranty repairs.

Eric

Good luck man. That sucks. Sure sounds like you got a lemon all right. Or a stealership that doesnt know what the **** they are doing.


scorch70

 

[eting_pro5]

I'd say it's more the dealership just being dumbasses. I don't think i'd trust most dealerships with installing a new engine (but what choice do you have for warranty work)

Good luck with the lemon law

 

[hex2bit]

Man, that sucks... You just seem to find the cars with defects. Two bearings, a bad engine install, and you broke a CV joint, in dirt non-the-less!!

My baby's been perfect! Couldn't be happier with the P5. Absolutely no problems... besides the crappy stock tires.

BTW, in most cases, 4 out of every 5 techs are retarded. In any shop, dealer or not, there's probably only going to be 1 or 2 good techs. The rest I wouldn't even trust with changing my oil.