Mechanic recommendation for San Diego, CA?

Prexus2005 · Post by **Prexus2005** » April 3rd, 2006, 2:13 pm

My 92 MX3 is having difficulities with passing smog. =/ I've purchased emission parts such as O2 sensor and catalytic converter and had them installed but no help... I was told by one shop that I bought the wrong parts or faulty parts. They gave me a quote of $400 to fix the emission system but I don't know if I trust them...

I've read some posts here and think my fuel regulator might need adjustment also but don't know enough to do it myself.

So... does anyone by chance know a reliable shop or mechanic in the San Diego area I can take my MX3 to?

Thanks in advanced!

Phil.
philwu71@yahoo.com

2fazed · Post by **2fazed** » April 3rd, 2006, 2:57 pm

Not too many Mxer's on this forum in SoCal. $400 for smog repair is rediculous. If you don't have a clue, go to Mazda and have them do a full system diagnostic. Should only be $100-200, and that will be reliable.

I've found in my 8 years of owning my RS, is that unless they are Mazda specialists, mechanics don't have a clue about Mx-3's and you will get screwed in the long run.

Prexus2005 · Post by **Prexus2005** » April 3rd, 2006, 3:55 pm

Yeah, that's why I didn't go ahead with the first shop hehe. And I figured it would be tough finding someone who have some clue about the MX3 but thought I'd try my luck and ask.

I might end up going to the Mazda dealer... and get my automatic seat belt recall taken care of at the same time.

Good suggestion.

Thanks bro.

Phil.

Prexus2005 · Post by **Prexus2005** » April 18th, 2006, 2:40 pm

Welp, took the car to the dealer last Friday. They said the car is too old for them to work on to diagnosis/repair the smog system and won't recommned a mechanic because that's against their policy lol.

They did schedule an appointment for me to go back for the seatbelt recall this comming Friday but said it might take another couple of weeks to actually do the repairs if they'll have to order the parts.

Yes, this is a Mazda DEALER! hehe John Hine down by Mission Valley fyi.

Maybe I'll just have to spend that $300-400 and get the smog repaired... or bribe a station to pass it for $150-200.. but then I'd have to do it again in a year or so unless I sell it.

Oh well. If anyone have any recommendations, I'm all ears.

Thanks.

Phil.

2fazed · Post by **2fazed** » April 19th, 2006, 12:03 am

The Mazda dealership you took it to is pulling your chain. Too old?? That's BS. I just took my 93 for a diagnostic, cause I needed to get some verification on a few things on my DE engine, cause I'm getting the swap CA smog legal. If you didn't know, most of the 90's I4 Mazdas are all similar, and the V6 with the 626, Mx6, Probe GT, so they know about the engines. I think the guy knew the diagnostic was going to take a whole day, and didn't want to do it. Call another Mazda dealership. I can see them not wanting to do the 80's Mazdas, but 90's are the decade that most of the repairs would be going there for.

My 2 cents.

Prexus2005 · Post by **Prexus2005** » April 19th, 2006, 4:49 pm

kk, will call another dealer AND the same dealer again just to see if I get the same answer.

Thanks,

Phil.

Prexus2005 · Post by **Prexus2005** » April 26th, 2006, 2:45 pm

I passed smog! whoohoo!

Took it to Precision Tunes because that's where I usually get my oil changed. Told the guy I was having problems with the smog system and he found a crack in the front pipe leading to the catalytic converter.

That crack was a known issue when I had another shop do a diagnostic on the car few months ago. The other shop didn't think it was the issue and wanted to charge me $400 for a new catalytic converter and O2 sensor but said I should find a shop to get that crack welded.

Back to the story.. the mechanic at Precision Tunes suggested that I replace that cracked front pipe and after that, it "should" pass smog. He was not 100% sure... and I was skeptical... but it would only cost $250 incl. labor, so I went ahead with the repair.

Took it to a Smog Test Only center and it barely passed! My nitrogen oxide is now 817 vs the 835ish limit but it's down from 2,000! Good enough for another 2 years here in California! =) Something is still not quite right I guess but I'll worry about it later.

The car runs alot quieter now and there is definately more power. My gas milage might have also increased to 32mpg vs 29-30 previously. I'll know for sure with the next tank of gas bought at a record high $3.19 per gallon! =(

Still need to get my seatbelt done. Time to go dance with the dealership.

But for now, it looks like I've stumbled on to a mechanic I can sorta trust hehe.

Phil.

tallymx3 · Post by **tallymx3** » April 26th, 2006, 2:55 pm

Wahts up with the recall your talking abou on auto seat belts. I have them is there something i should know.

Prexus2005 · Post by **Prexus2005** » April 26th, 2006, 3:26 pm

On the mx-3.com front page, look on the left side column: "TECHNICAL INFO" --> Recalls.

I forget which model years the recall applies to... but the auto seatbelts are under recall for free repairs. They were prone to getting stuck and some other issues.. but mine driver side belt did get stuck and stopped working. I've pulled the fuse like alot of others had done.. but figured I should get them repaired especially when it's free.

Phil.

2fazed · Post by **2fazed** » April 26th, 2006, 10:51 pm

Did you pay $250 for just one pipe to be replaced? Cause last year I replaced the catalytic converter($50), muffler($30), and the pipes($40) between, with labor($50) for $170. Your $250 charge seems bad.

Prexus2005 · Post by **Prexus2005** » April 27th, 2006, 1:00 am

Yeah... I was charged $170 for the pipe with the mesh cylindar thingy in the middle.. and $80 for labor. Sounds like I got slightly robbed..

oh well... before the repair, I was seriously considering bribing someone to let me just pass smog for $200.. =p

But thanks for the info bro. I'll continue to look for a shop that does good work and charge prices like you quoted. Incidently, I did pay about $50 months back for the catalytic converter I ordered from an online store- auto parts of america I think. I can't imagin a mechanic/shop would charge the same price and not mark it up a bunch unless they were friends/relatives...

So... if anyone has a friend/relative who's a mechanic here in San Diego... hook me up for future work. =)

Thanks,

Phil.

2fazed · Post by **2fazed** » April 27th, 2006, 10:18 am

To be honest, I think the place I go to is cheaper, cause there mostly hispanic. I compared them to other shops, and the ones that had white guys, where 3x more expensive.