cr-actinic
Member
- :
- 2003 Tribute ES
I've had my Tribute since 2003 (my first car) and we've been motoring along for 350,000kms. Exceptionally reliable and robust for my needs. The only main occurring issue has been the alternator...fried 6 of them at ~$500 a pop including labour...seems to always fail not too long after the warranty period.
This past summer the car was driving rough on my home from work and hobbled about 20km from my trusted garage. About a block away the CEL came on and as I entered the lot, the CEL was blinking. Three of the original COPs failed and got them replaced. I also noticed that the front driver tire was off square to the pavement and turns out the tie rod. A week later the CEL popped on while entering the hwy on ramp it couldn't get past 3500RPM. Took it back to the shop and ended three CATs ended up being replaced.
Running back to normal and just this afternoon, what I thought the other tie rod failed as I was turning into the driveway. I noticed the wheel was set back futher and asked my mechanic to come over to take a quick look. The subframe collapsed above the passenger side control arm. After spending $$$, lost work, $$$ to replace front subframe, not knowing the condition of other supporting metal structure and other potential issues...it's pretty much all original parts except for brakes and aforementioned repairs...it's time to put her on blocks in the garage and take up a new hobby and make her my project vehicle. Something that I've always wanted to do but in the past, knowing how long it takes me to "do things" that are new, I couldn't have her out of commission as the Tribute is my work vehicle and I'm on the road.
With a 20month old son, talking of having another child as well as a large breed dog, The wife and I have been talking about getting a larger vehicle lately due to the expenditure on fixing the aging Tribute as of late. We've been considering the CX-9 as we're a Mazda household. She drives a 5-door Mazda3GT.
Love the Tribute but time to retire it as a work vehicle.
This past summer the car was driving rough on my home from work and hobbled about 20km from my trusted garage. About a block away the CEL came on and as I entered the lot, the CEL was blinking. Three of the original COPs failed and got them replaced. I also noticed that the front driver tire was off square to the pavement and turns out the tie rod. A week later the CEL popped on while entering the hwy on ramp it couldn't get past 3500RPM. Took it back to the shop and ended three CATs ended up being replaced.
Running back to normal and just this afternoon, what I thought the other tie rod failed as I was turning into the driveway. I noticed the wheel was set back futher and asked my mechanic to come over to take a quick look. The subframe collapsed above the passenger side control arm. After spending $$$, lost work, $$$ to replace front subframe, not knowing the condition of other supporting metal structure and other potential issues...it's pretty much all original parts except for brakes and aforementioned repairs...it's time to put her on blocks in the garage and take up a new hobby and make her my project vehicle. Something that I've always wanted to do but in the past, knowing how long it takes me to "do things" that are new, I couldn't have her out of commission as the Tribute is my work vehicle and I'm on the road.
With a 20month old son, talking of having another child as well as a large breed dog, The wife and I have been talking about getting a larger vehicle lately due to the expenditure on fixing the aging Tribute as of late. We've been considering the CX-9 as we're a Mazda household. She drives a 5-door Mazda3GT.
Love the Tribute but time to retire it as a work vehicle.
