Strange anti-theft device came in my MS3

[Lee456]

When I was looking at the Speed3 a couple months ago the dealer let me take home for a few hours. I guess he knew that would sell me and it worked. But after the car sat in my garage for 30 minutes while I was waiting for my wife to get ready to go fo a ride in it, it wouldn't start. Nothing, not even a click. I called the dealer and whoever answered said, "Oh, Steve's new and forgot to give you the remote. He'll be right over." He came over and brought me a little one button remote. All the salesmen carry them and if their cars are turned off for more than a few minutes they have to push the button and reset something before the car will start. When I bought it I told them to make sure to remove this thing and they said, "we don't, we just de-activate it." Today I was putting in a boost gauge and found that there is a little black box, about 1" on each side and 3/8" thick that is screwed on to the panel below the steering column on the right side near the radio as far back near the gas pedal as possible. There are three wires coming out of the back of it that are wrapped with black tape in a rather home made looking manner and go into a bundle of wires that plug into a black box that is about an inch thick and two or three inches wide that is cable tied to the frame under the plastic panel next to the gas pedal. That little box has two plugs going into it with a lot of wires. I can't see any markings on it, but there is a green plastic adjustment labeled min and max on it that can be turned with a phillips screwdriver.

This doesn't look like factory stuff to me. Is it? Does everyone have it? The black box on the panel under the steering column is easily visable, so if you have one you've no doubt seen it. I bought the car new so it's not like the prior owner had put this in but I can't imagine that they have their service department install all this stuff in every new car then just "de-activate it" and leave it in the car.

If anybody knows what the story is with this stuff I'd sure like to know.

 

[DaleNixon]

Jeez man that's straight out of the twilight zone. I'm subscribing just to see where this leads. (drunk)

 

[RUMBLEFISH]

There are three wires coming out of the back of it that are wrapped with black tape in a rather home made looking manner and go into a bundle of wires that plug into a black box that is about an inch thick and two or three inches wide that is cable tied to the frame under the plastic panel next to the gas pedal.

I ran out of breath just reading that sentance.(hah) Otherwise I will follow this thread for sure.

 

[Rotus8]

I can imagine the dealer putting in a cheap immobilzer thingy and abandoning it. But if they did a crappy job of installing it, I would b**** like hell. Can you take a picture under there? From a picture we can tell you which things are added. I would remove it and repair any "black tape" installation because one day your car is just going to stop.

 

[laz]

Sounds like a shock sensor to me. Does your car sound the alarm when you kick a tire? The Max is the sensor's sensitivity setting.

X

 

[Lee456]

I can believe they'd put a cheap device in the car and leave it, but from the number of wires connected to this thing (at least 20), it looks like several hours labor to put it in and it's hard to think they'd do that on every car. I agree completely with the statement that the car could just quit working some time. That's one of the reasons I asked about here and wanted to know if they all have them. Since it appears to be something this dealer put in, I think I'd be in a jam if the car wouldn't start on a trip and I took to a different dealer and he said, "what's this junk you installed in here? This isn't a warrenty claim." I'd also find it interesting if my dealer would refuse warrenty work because I modified my car when they appear to have modified it themselves without my knowledge. No problems with that yet, but all I've done so far is a cat-back exhaust and the boost gauge I'm putting in now.

The car doesn't seem to have an alarm. But when I was standing around them to vacuum out the car after I bought it I asked another salesman why they didn't remove the device and he said something like "they're hoping you'll pay for it." Then he got called away for another customer. It was late Saturday afternoon, they were very busy, and I was going to be late for dinner and just wanted to get the deal done and get my new car home, so I let it go. My salesman is a real nice guy but was new there. Maybe it has an alarm system in it and he was supposed to get me to pay $200 to have it activated but forgot. I'll be going over and talking to them about it this week but want to be prepared with whatever knowledge I can get.

I went out this morning and took pictures, but when I click on the insert image it wants a URL, so I'm guessing you have to put the pictures on some web site. I don't have an account with one of those. I can try to set one up later, but need to go out and get the car back together before it gets hot today. Garages in Phoenix are like ovens on hot days. If anyone really wants to see a picture I could email them to you.

Thanks for all the comments so far. At least I know now that it didn't come from the factory this way.

 

[numbnuts22715]

imageshack.us doesnt require an account. you just load up the pictures, and it gives you a url for them.

 

[Lee456]

Here's a picture (I hope):

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[kura808]

its hooked up to a bomb ;P

 

[numbnuts22715]

rofl. wtf?!?

definitely not factory!!!

 

[kingpin748]

That looks like an aftermarket alarm or something. Was the car new when you bought it?

 

[FrancoNemo]

for real! wtf is that! lmao call mazda! or cut it all off and see what happens!

 

[Lee456]

Yes, the car was new. They apparently put these in all the cars, because when I brought it home before I bought it and it wouldn't start after sitting for half an hour the first guy I talked to knew what the problem was and sent the salesman over with a remote. Phoenix is the auto theft capital of the world so I can see why they would be worried but I want it out of there. There are at least 20 wires in that plug, I have no idea where they go, and it's very close quarters so I'm a bit worried about how ripping it out would go.

 

[icspots]

So did they give you the remote yet?

 

[spdjnke]

that looks like a power interrup. I don't know if you guys have ever seen the FORD vehicles that use the Silencer emobilizer. Its very similiar. From what I can tell you should just be able to unplug the unit and connect the harness that's to the box to another open lead, mainly it works only if the ground is connected if I recall correctly. Check to see if there's a mating plug around there if there is you should be able to just disconnect the box with ground and reconnect the receptical and it should be good. The increase/decrease screw is just for the sensor to read from the remote based on distance.

good luck bro.

 

[AutoXRacer]

MazdaUSA will void your warranty for mods like this... I would have the dealer remove it and return the car to "factory" condition.

Another Mazda dealer stumbles on to that and will void your warranty in a heartbeat!!!

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Raise hell or get the remote for it for free!

 

[Pondo]

im sorry to be the bearer of bad news but thats a bomb, if i were you id make sure to pay the lease quotes on time.

 

[dkswim]

it looks like the shock sensor to me for the alarm

 

[bluelion]

MazdaUSA will void your warranty for mods like this... I would have the dealer remove it and return the car to "factory" condition.

Another Mazda dealer stumbles on to that and will void your warranty in a heartbeat!!!

i agree!!....