Sue Mazda?

[Mazdamia]

Yesterday I took off my intake manifold when I got the infamous loud engine rattle only to find this had happened: (sorry about the crappy lightening job on the first pic)

So I am missing three of the eight screws and one of the butterflies just broke off. Of the four butterflies, only one was intact and not loose.

Since this has happened to numerous people with 2 liter mazdas, I wondered what the interest in a class-action lawsuit for losses incurred by this problem might be in this little community? I plan on contacting some of the proper channels to pursue some type of remunerations for what I see as a problem with these cars. Please add your name and car to the list if you agree and have had the same problem that was not warrantied. If there is enough interest, I WILL pursue this with a lawyer.

1. Mazdamia 2003 Protege5

 

[65racecoupe]

If you aren't a certified mechanic, you may have a hard time proving this happened to you. Also, do you have any mods to your car (you know how much dealers and legal people like to deal with issues on cars with mods.)

Also, I don't believe you will get anything out of a class action lawsuit. I would just see what you could do locally with a dealer.

If there is nothing, then I would persue something legally.

 

[Mazdamia]

Zero engine mods. Just brakes and suspension.

 

[TheJohnny]

why didn't you just take it to the dealer to begin with?

 

[Mr. Win]

^^ werd

 

[boo-boo]

ya that is wierd...i have never heard of that one before

 

[Mr. Win]

common problem acutally

 

[GNO]

I haven't heard of it either. If so common, there should be a TSB or recall. If only a TSB, sorry if you're already out of warranty. If a recall, then it hasn't been communicated very well.

I don't think a class action suit is warranted. I'll run it by my wife and see what she thinks.

As for not taking it to the dealer. . . if it's out of warranty and not on a recall, my vehicles don't visit the dealer unless I'm too lazy to fix it myself. I don't think giving Mazdamia flack because he didn't take it to the dealer is really necessary.

 

[Mazdamia]

As for the Warranty, 70,000 miles. And if you look on the forums this is a fairly common problem with at least 5 other members claiming the same thing. Maybe more...

 

[toucci]

Wow that sucks that you didn't notice it earlier. I think everyone else who had the problem was under warranty; they even figured out which factory during which timeframe the loose screws were installed. Ask forum member "dis" about it... he knows all about it.

 

[JDM Sam]

That happened to a local member also. I think there's a TSB out for it.

 

[msubullyfan]

Same thing happened to me just last week (2nd time). The intake manifold assembly (including VTCS and VICS) was replaced under warranty. Car runs fine now... at least, I think it does. I traded it Friday for a new Nissan Frontier 4x4 (not because of the problem, though).

I've heard several times that there is a TSB on it. However, I've searched around and have yet to find it.

There's no way you can get a judge to approve a class-action lawsuit. However, if you want to pay the money to sue Mazda, go right ahead.

 

[Focuz_Freek_XxX]

Ive had the rattle in the engine too! twice...... im on my 3rd engine in my p5

 

[Mazdamia]

Yea, I read all the other threads about it before I started this one. There were just no symptoms that I noticed before the dramatic falling-off of a butterfly. I think when I lost the screws I was lucky enough to have them pass right through the engine without banging around or I suppose I would have heard them.
Pretty crappy engineering to have part of the car falling apart at less than 50,000 miles in many cases.
And no TSB:

0904204 JAN 05 A/C - Rear Window Defroster Grid Diagnosis/Repair
0500204 OCT 04 A/T - Gear Indicator Lettering Plate Cracking
0901404 OCT 04 Body - Excess Liftgate Operating Effort
0901204 APR 04 Interior - Lack of Heat From Seat
0900104 FEB 04 Interior/Instruments- Mirror/Compass Operation/Diagnosis
0200104 FEB 04 Suspension - Shock Absorber/Strut Replacement Guidelines
0700503 DEC 03 A/C - Warm Air From Vents With Fan in #2 position
0901003 DEC 03 Audio System - No Sound From CD Player/Speakers
0102803 DEC 03 Engine Controls - MIL ON/DTC P0507 Set
0200103 DEC 03 Tires/Wheels - Vibration Concerns
0700103 MAY 03 A/C - Musty/Mildew Type Odors
S01898 APR 03 Body - Wind Noise Around Doors
0100403 APR 03 Engine Controls - Cold Engine Rattling Noise
0102902 APR 03 Exhaust System - Sulfur Smell
0900203 MAR 03 Body - Roof Rack Cross Bar Removal/Installation

 

[khaosman]

What does it sound like? You've got me worried now

 

[GNO]

The engine I recently put in is much quieter than what the last one sounded like well before I blew it. I'm planning on parting out the old one, so I'm eager to see if my old intake had the same problem.

 

[nate0123]

What does it sound like? You've got me worried now

(mswerd)

 

[msubullyfan]

Oh, you'll know it if you get it. You'll hear a sound like a machine gun from under the hood (the screw rattling around in the cylinder and the piston beating it to death).

Within about 20 sec., the piston will very likely knock the screw into the spark plug and close the gap off completely, which will make the car miss badly and the car will throw a CEL.

Then, the rattling will likely stop because the screw will find its way out one of the exit valves. However, the misfiring will continue.

Mazda's recommended repair to the service dept. is to replace the intake manifold assembly with everything attached to it (VTCS, VICS) along with the fuel injectors and rails.

Although about 15-20 or so people have reported this on the forums, I don't think it's that common a problem.

 

[JCell]

it's happened to me as well, i posted a video some time ago because i didn't know what it was

it was fixed under warranty

 

[SkinnyJoint]

well i do believe that i have it, but i am not under warranty. any idea on a cost i guess or wtf should i do