Back from service (again) - Clunk & Hesitation

[OrangeAppeal]

Picked up my car this morning from the Service Dept. (in for the return of the clunk and the hesitation problem)

Service Manager told me that they replaced the Bushings because they were worn...and I didn't push that much farther yet.

Regarding the Hesitation, he said that there is still no fix for the hesitation, and when something comes out, I will be notified. I asked to find out an estimate or timeframe for the fix, and he said that they didn't know....no mention of contacting Callaway this time.

I expressed how I just paid $20k for a car that has an obvious problem and I wasn't exactly happy with it. He said that he had been in contact with the Regional Rep and that I could bring in my car and have him experience it....then I said that without him having any "technical" experience, it would be pointless for him to experience the hesitation and agree that I have it, when you guys can just tell him I have it and get the same response...not to mention that it's way out of the way for me to come down to this dealership. He agreed and said he would be in contact with me (next week).

I get to work and decide to follow up on my call to Mazda USA about the same two problems (very nice cust. service over the phone BTW), and here are the responses I get:

Hesitation: Mazda is not sure that there is a problem, and therefore there is no estimated timeframe for a fix.

Bushings: Mazda is not sure there is really a problem with the bushings, and thinks it might be a coincidence/quirk with my car.

Needless to say, I am not happy right now.

 

[OrangeAppeal]

ATTN EVERYONE WHO EXPERIENCES THE HESITATION AND/OR CLUNK

Take your MSP to your dealer and have them acknowledge your problem. The more people who bring their cars in for the problems, the more Mazda will have to look at it. I think mazda just wants to call this hesitation issue a "characteristic of the MSP"bs: )

Please help me/help yourself/help anyone else who wants to get this taken care of. Make an appointment with your dealership and have them address the issue.

Thanks,
Jesse

 

[boostisgood]

Mine goes back this saturday, and the tech will be doing a "ride along" with me, to show its not frikin tubo lag, like they said the first time. Frikin techs, how can I have turbo lag, when im pushing 6 psi of boost at 3500 rpm's ?

 

[ping]

HEAR HEAR!

Everyone PLEASE contact their dealer on the hesitation and clunk! Please also contact MAZDA USA in writing so that they know there is a problem. I will be writing them at the end of this month with the results of our "hesitation" poll (see my other thread). At last check there were over 72 votes WITH hesitation concerns, all describing very similar symptoms, and only 2 vvotes "without". I'll also be tallying the number of people who comment, but will NOT be forwarding anyone's name or screen name (other than mine, natch) to Mazda.

This is not a "quirk" of one particular car, it's a problem with the Mazdaspeed. That said, it doesn't terribly diminish my enjoyment of the car, but it's not right and should be fixed, period.

I've only experienced the "clunk" once or twice, I understand that's another problem that has been around since the MP3.

In both cases, don't let Mazda get away with stonewalling until we get tired of the issue and give up. Put it to them to fix this. Be as polite and professional as possible, but "kill 'em with kindness" by being persistent as well.

-L Dixon
"ping"

 

[TURBO3WAGON]

:bs: MAZDA service!

I'm going in soon cause it happens more often then not. I got the same BS letter that everyone else got. Its getting extremely frustrating.



(rant) :wtf:

 

[No.5]

HEAR HEAR!

Everyone PLEASE contact their dealer on the hesitation and clunk! Please also contact MAZDA USA in writing so that they know there is a problem. I will be writing them at the end of this month with the results of our "hesitation" poll (see my other thread). At last check there were over 72 votes WITH hesitation concerns, all describing very similar symptoms, and only 2 vvotes "without". I'll also be tallying the number of people who comment, but will NOT be forwarding anyone's name or screen name (other than mine, natch) to Mazda.

This is not a "quirk" of one particular car, it's a problem with the Mazdaspeed. That said, it doesn't terribly diminish my enjoyment of the car, but it's not right and should be fixed, period.

I've only experienced the "clunk" once or twice, I understand that's another problem that has been around since the MP3.

In both cases, don't let Mazda get away with stonewalling until we get tired of the issue and give up. Put it to them to fix this. Be as polite and professional as possible, but "kill 'em with kindness" by being persistent as well.

-L Dixon
"ping"

Hmmm......does Mazda Canada & Mazda USA communicate?

I got the D bushings (Part#BN7H28156D - Canada) put on April 30th; so far so good - the clunk has gone for the time being until a permanent fix comes.

As far as the hesitation - my doesn't hesitate, is simply stalls WHEN I DRIVE IT; read the Thread called "Stalling: Huge Safety Concern" for more details.

 

[slug420]

Morande Mazda in Manchester, CT has multiple MP3s that come in for the clunk on a regular basis, and I think im their first msp. They didnt say anything about replacing or even touching ym bushings, but did replace my sway bar and end links. Im not saying this is a permanent solution but this is another dealership you can direct MAZDA USA to because they know about the problem, and maybe its another option for you Jesse since your dealership might not be as experienced with the clunk.

I was quite impressed with the way they handled mine when i went in, that they knew of the clunk, and didnt sound like they were starting from square 1 looking for a solution. They have a blue mp3 in there now, and i actually heard that they were experimenting on that customer with some new 'greasable' bushings or something, once again, this isnt really a new idea that hasnt been tried, but they seem to be aware that this is an issue without a real solution at this time.

as for the hesitation, ill be glad when there is a fix i guess, I dont think I notice/have it very often. I probably have it, and just accept it as part of the car since even with the hesitation the msp is 29832 times better than my last car

 

[OrangeAppeal]

as for the hesitation, ill be glad when there is a fix i guess, I dont think I notice/have it very often. I probably have it, and just accept it as part of the car since even with the hesitation the msp is 29832 times better than my last car

Now, is that exactly 29832 times better, or could it be 29833?

Seriously, I think I'm just frustrated today. My dealership isn't new to the clunking issue (they told me there was an MP3 in there for the same thing, and another MSP), but I want to see what happens in the near future. The District Mazda Rep will be there next month, and is aware of my situation.

I'm still optimistic at this point....and I'm a little calmer now too.

 

[Dexter]

WHAT IS HESITATION!?

seriosuly i dont know. if u are talking about downshifting from 5th to 4th and not going anywhere, its because of the gearing. u have to go down to 3rd. other than that, i dont know what hesitation is....or clunk either. i guess im glad

i guess my mazdaspeed is just lucky or something (besides the sub)

 

[ping]

Hesitation is when you're going maybe 35-45MPH at 3000RPM, you nail it, and the engine doesn't WHOOSH but rather SHOaaah SHOaah and kind of stumbles with some power but something less than full military thrust until it hits, oh say 5200RPM then WHAMMO full afterburner.

Other times you can be tooling along at 3000RPM, nail it, and it feels like you[ve been rearended by entire the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad (WHOO-EEEEE).

Hesitation is also when you're accelerating strongly at less than wide-open-throttle (WOT) and the car doesn't hold a steady acceleration but rather bucks a bit.

Neither of these things are "characteristics" or turbo-engined cars, they're characteristic of a poorly-designed or poorly tuned/programmed engine management system.

In the wrong hands and in the wrong circumstance they can be safety concerns. That's one BIG angle I'm taking in bringing this to Mazda's attention. See my other thread on hesitation... there are other descriptions there.

 

[Turbo Matty P]

2293 miles on my new MSP and it's back in the dealer for a few days. I however, being a former employee, was not so nice upon dropping it off. I informed them of the problem, told them exactly where and what it was, showed them the A/F chart I had made. Demanded it be fixed. I also demanded someone put the computer from a new 03.5 in my car to see if Mazda DOES in fact have it fixed. They refused to swap computers becasue, " if the computer is the problem, we can reflash your ecu with the current program." I told em to get cracking or I was buying an Apexi S-AFC and fixing it myself and that I would retain my factory warranty. He told me to calm down, and they would check but " THIS IS THE FIRST MAZDA HAS EVER HEARD OF ANY SPUTTERING PROBLEMS FROM A MAZDASPEED"" I asked them to pick up any major auto magazine and read aloud every article about a MAZDASPEED. he agreed there was a problem and said he would be in touch. If he's not....I'll be in touch.

 

[Aaron]

i just dropped my speed at the dealer for the hesitation issue and coolant leak. Have to wait and see what happens.

 

[bcbadboy]

Ok I know I might sound like a dumbass but what in the blue hell is CLUNK?

 

[OrangeAppeal]

Ok I know I might sound like a dumbass but what in the blue hell is CLUNK?

CLUNK - definition: Drive around with your spare tire unbolted, and go down the bumpiest roads you can find...the noise you hear is a clunk. For our application, it is associated with the rear suspension...the swaybar deteriorates the sway bar bushings and there is much slop/play with the sway bar and down uneven surfaces or bumpy roads, you can hear a clunk-type noise....this is what is referred to as "the clunk"

If you do a search for "clunk", you will get many hits...problem with the MP3s as well as the MSPs.

 

[bcbadboy]

Oh yeah you are right. I hear that when ever I go over a speed bump or up a curb. What do you have to do to get rid of that sound? Do I tighten the bolt?

 

[LinuxRacr]

Oh yeah you are right. I hear that when ever I go over a speed bump or up a curb. What do you have to do to get rid of that sound? Do I tighten the bolt?

The spare tire thing was just a figure to help you understand the sound comming from your suspention. It has something to do with the busings.

 

[unwrittenLaw]

The Clunk comes back...it always comes back...muhahaha..

 

[No.5]

2293 miles on my new MSP and it's back in the dealer for a few days. I however, being a former employee, was not so nice upon dropping it off. I informed them of the problem, told them exactly where and what it was, showed them the A/F chart I had made. Demanded it be fixed. I also demanded someone put the computer from a new 03.5 in my car to see if Mazda DOES in fact have it fixed. They refused to swap computers becasue, " if the computer is the problem, we can reflash your ecu with the current program." I told em to get cracking or I was buying an Apexi S-AFC and fixing it myself and that I would retain my factory warranty. He told me to calm down, and they would check but " THIS IS THE FIRST MAZDA HAS EVER HEARD OF ANY SPUTTERING PROBLEMS FROM A MAZDASPEED"" I asked them to pick up any major auto magazine and read aloud every article about a MAZDASPEED. he agreed there was a problem and said he would be in touch. If he's not....I'll be in touch.

I find this totally bizarre. You mean to tell me that the computer program is different on the 03.5 than the 03?

Mazda Canada apparently recognized my stalling only last Friday; one of the lead Engineers found the issue causing the stalling. Now they are apparently trying to engineer a fix; both in parts and an upgraded computer Flash. Why bother to re-write or upgrade the exiting program when they could just use the 03.5? Seems to me the programs are identical on the cars.

According to Mazda Canada I'm ear-marked (or "red-flagged" as they said) to be the first one in Canada to have the fix placed to allevaite the stalling. But I'm in a holding pattern until the fix is rolled out to the Dealership...

 

[oliver2000]

Interesting......my dealer is doing squat....blames turbo lag....how high in the food chain did you have to go to get Mazda canada to do something.....getting past the first agent is the hard part...they might as well be robots....." take your car to a dealer "

So the voice mail system should say.

Thank you for calling mazda canada

To be told to go to your dealer press 1
To be told to go to your dealer by a person press 2
To inquire why you are being told to go to your dealer press 1 or 2

Thank you for calling mazda Canada

 

[No.5]

Interesting......my dealer is doing squat....blames turbo lag....how high in the food chain did you have to go to get Mazda canada to do something.....getting past the first agent is the hard part...they might as well be robots....." take your car to a dealer "

So the voice mail system should say.

Thank you for calling mazda canada

To be told to go to your dealer press 1
To be told to go to your dealer by a person press 2
To inquire why you are being told to go to your dealer press 1 or 2

Thank you for calling mazda Canada

I contacted/directed my campaign towards the Manager of Canada's Mazda Information Centre Consultants; located on the Mazda Canada website.

At the same time I was in contact ofcourse with the service manager of my dealership, who inturn was informing the Western Canadian Rep. of the issue. Bascially when you call, you end up (after navigating through the phone board) with the "joe-blow" call taker. Sorry...I need to speak to your manager I said. "Oh"...then you actually get somewhere.

Mazda Canada launched an "investigation" as to what was happening and how to deal with the situation.

Suffice to say Mazda Canada did call me back, the Regional Rep and the dealership are all part of the equation as far as the fix goes.

I guess I'm red-flagged for the first update since I'm exremely concerened about the safety concern.

Now for the wait until the fix is rolled out to the dealerships....