MSP at dealership for service (hesitation/clunk/oil)

[OrangeAppeal]

This morning I dropped my MSP off at the dealership for a scheduled service. I, like most other northern MSP/MP3 owners, are experiencing the clunk. I'm also experiencing strong hesitation in second gear while accelerating (not consistant, but often).

As far as the clunk, they are just replacing the bushings and lubing them (but at least they are aware of it with the MSP now).

The hesitation on the other hand, they aren't sure why it is doing this. It is only in second gear and it feels kind like i'm accelerating while slightly feathering the clutch in and out and the clutch is slipping (but that is not the case...just gives you an idea of what it feels like). Went with the servic tech guy to make sure he is feeling the same thing I am...and he did. They don't know why it is doing this, but they have a call into the Mazda Techs out in CA (not sure why they would know more than the East Coast techs, but whatever), and they said they would be in touch with me soon.

While there, I'm getting my complimentary oil change and they are re-aligning the car (slightly pulls to the left).

Soo, in the meantime they gave me a '03 LS with all the bells and whistles...auto of course. Plus my saleswoman is getting me a hat (woo hoo!).

Anyway, I'll keep everyone updated on my situation in case any of you have the same probs I do.

 

[Go Mifune]

As far as I can tell every(or damn near) MSP has that hesitation. Around 4K rpms. Mine can be felt anywhere from 3K to 4K isn't always 100% consistant.

Some people claim that K&N air filters help or CAI will help. I think someone put in new cams and said that helped as well.

 

[OrangeAppeal]

My hesitation is from when I shift to second until about 4 - 4.5k rpms. It's not just at about 4k, it's most of the run through the gear...don't really notice it in any other gear. And it is very noticable

 

[Go Mifune]

Exactly you shift up into second and the engine hesitates (most noticably between 3-4K) until the ECU drops out at 4.5k RPM I am no expert nor do I claim to know much. But it seems the ECU wasn't programmed well for this boost and the hesitation is a side effect of that.

 

[Go Mifune]

Anyway best of luck and will look for the updates.

 

[rodslinger]

I noticed the hesitation too during test drives on two different cars. It was annoying enough to keep me from buying the MSP until Mazda gets it corrected. I'll keep checking this section of the boards hoping a definitive answer is found. Until then, everyone keep griping. If nobody complains, nothing will get done.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

i don't get any hesitation.

 

[OrangeAppeal]

Just got off the phone with the service manager.

They replaced my bushings with 156D...same old fix of course.

As far as the hesitation goes, this is what he had to tell me:
Mazda knows of the problem, but as of right now they do not know what is causing it nor do they know how to fix it. They are in contact with Callaway to get input from them on the cause and possibly a fix.

So, basically he told me to deal with it (kindly of course) and he will let me know when they hear of a way to fix it.

 

[Go Mifune]

Thanks for the info Jesse. If they fix that hesitation, the enjoyment factor would really increase.

The hesitation is kind of a drag.

 

[Street KingFD]

But it seems the ECU wasn't programmed well for this boost and the hesitation is a side effect of that.

I 100% agree with you. I too believe it's the ECU causing the quirkiness of the engine below 4500rpms. About the clunk. Yeah we had it bad on our MSP but it slowly went away never to return. 6k+ miles and counting.

 

[Newf]

If you car hasn't clunked in a long time....I strongly advise you to get under your car, grab the bar and see if it's moving....and make sure the bushings are still there.

....I'm not kidding. Once the clunk "leaves" my car, it's because the bushings fell off.

If this is not the case, I wonder if you were mistaken the clunk for something else.

The Clunk does not just "go away" it should only get worse until that above happens, no matter what climate your in.

 

[Street KingFD]

If you car hasn't clunked in a long time....I strongly advise you to get under your car, grab the bar and see if it's moving....and make sure the bushings are still there.

....I'm not kidding. Once the clunk "leaves" my car, it's because the bushings fell off.

If this is not the case, I wonder if you were mistaken the clunk for something else.

The Clunk does not just "go away" it should only get worse until that above happens, no matter what climate your in.

I'll have to check that out about the bushings falling off. Trust me I know the clunking noise, it's horrible. We used to have the clunking noise but it faded away. Every now and then I'll get a little mutter of a clunk but that's rear. Wouldn't the car handle horribly if the bushing fell off and make almost a grinding sound?

 

[Newf]

nope, won't make a grinding noise at all because the bar won't be touching anything, just kinda floating between the clamps. You might here a small clang, or thump every now and then as the bar hits the bracket with the rubber missing, or as the bar moves and hits where the struts are ( a little bar I don't know what it's called)

Grab the bushings too, make sure their tight. You might be just lucky.......I hope so.

 

[ForceFed]

If you car hasn't clunked in a long time....I strongly advise you to get under your car, grab the bar and see if it's moving....and make sure the bushings are still there.

....I'm not kidding. Once the clunk "leaves" my car, it's because the bushings fell off.

If this is not the case, I wonder if you were mistaken the clunk for something else.

The Clunk does not just "go away" it should only get worse until that above happens, no matter what climate your in.

Hey i had the same thing happen to me.When i got my MSP from day one ,I had the "CLUNK",but as i got more and more miles on it ,it got quieter and finally went away.I get under my car all the time and the bushings are fine!I have 3800 mi. on my car now and virtually no more clunk!HMMMMM?????

"The CLUNK" is like a bad disease,
Easy to get,and a B*tch to get rid of!

 

[OrangeAppeal]

I forgot to mention, when I had the MSP at the dealership, I inquired about the decline in pressure while accelerating (boost leak?). The service manager got back on the phone with Mazda and he was told that they didn't know what was causing it, but it was related to the hesitation problem...

Here is my theory...stock BOV (Bypass Valve) is poor quality and it may leak. The leak is creating some sort of abnormality in flow with the MAF sensor and that is creating the hesitation/stumbling? Soo, the people who are not experiencing the hesitation aren't experiencing any boost leak and therefore have a properly functioning BOV (Bypass Valve).

Soo, this problem is a hit or miss kinda thing that starts with the BOV. THIS IS PURELY SPECULATION, I HAVE NO PROOF TO BACK THIS UP

Any opinions?

 

[boostisgood]

Jesse,

I whole heartedly agree with you. I beleive that the BOV is causing issues with boost leak. My car goes Saturday for bushings, leaking hose, and the hesitation. I will bring these points up with the tech, not the service mgr. I hate dealing with those guys. I wanna talk to the guy who is bustin knuckles on my cars

 

[Go Mifune]

I'd wish could drive an MSP that claimed not to have the hesitation. Just for comparison basis.

I mean some claim not to have the hesitation or that it is cleared up by CAI ect.. That kinda voids the idea of the ECU being at fault and rather some faulty part...like the Bypass Valve?

 

[oliver2000]

Mine does this as well I think...feels like the engine is gasping for air.....I was going to put a K&N drop in filter after the break in period. Going to have it checked out,,,I notice it most is 2nd gear when I hit 3K rpms....sort of stumbles its way up....at highway speeds I do not notice it thou

 

[turboge]

The BOV is not the problem. The problem is mostly in the intake, and the ecu tuning. I replaced my BOV with an adjustable one and it ran the same. I installed an MBC on a car with the new Injen intake and there was no boost leak from the BOV.

Most of the stumbling was gone, but still a little bit in certain load conditions.

 

[OrangeAppeal]

The BOV is not the problem. The problem is mostly in the intake, and the ecu tuning. I replaced my BOV with an adjustable one and it ran the same. I installed an MBC on a car with the new Injen intake and there was no boost leak from the BOV.

Most of the stumbling was gone, but still a little bit in certain load conditions.

I saw your posts on the richness that the ecu was running, and I'm sure that has some to do with it. What in the intake do you think is the problem? The intake tubing, or the intake manifold, or the injectors? Just trying to get an idea while i'm in my holding pattern with MAZDA to get an answer.
Thanks Braden

EDIT: also, do you in fact notice a boost leak with the stock BOV? Cause I definatly notice a drop in pressure as I accelerate. Stock everything.