Ridiculous Maintenance Costs = Loss of This Customer

Robotaz · Post by **Robotaz** » January 21st, 2005, 12:00 pm

I decided today to address the check engine light that has been coming on during highway driving. As I suspected, the EGR valve is not only the culprit, but was even disconnected, allowing my vac system to suck dirt in, for years I guess. I was horrified to discover that Mazda simply bails out on customers after they bite the bullet. EGR Valve = $260-$370. Not only will I be selling the Mazda I currently own, but I will also never forget this each time I go to buy my next car, which I do frequently. To me, a $2000 car with an EGR valve that costs nearly 20% of the car's cost is not only completely ridiculous and not fun, but insulting. Mazda needs to recognize that this problem is most likely why the hordes are buying ugly, boring Hondas and Toyotas instead of their race-inspired and vastly more entertaining cars and trucks. I feel like I just got screwed really bad. I did love my car. Now, I want it off my property and where it belongs - the junkyard. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm just plain mad now and feel stupid for buying my MX-3. OK, enough venting. Have a nice day!

Post by **Custommx3** » January 21st, 2005, 12:54 pm

Just block off the EGR on the exhaust mani and bypass it, the CEL will come on, but U'll get more HP.

You may not pass emissions testing though.
EGR vavles, alot of people probably have 1 for sale that did swaps.

Dont diss the car because mazda charges alot for parts out of production.

ANY part like that is expensive, ever looked @ what car parts cost these days besides general maintenance parts? Im sure youll be suprised.
My fiances Honda.. 179 bucks for a single fuel injector... I dont think so.

mitmaks · Post by **mitmaks** » January 21st, 2005, 1:56 pm

ya go buy honda...leave mx-3 to someone who will take better care of it...I just did over $300 worth of maintenance...belts/water pump/cv axle and its worth it, car drives like new, and I keep on mx3ing the streets.

93SOHC · Post by **93SOHC** » January 21st, 2005, 2:24 pm

yep, I just spent 175 on an axle installede and had to order my sway bar links from canada, for 67 bucks. All very worth it in my eyes to keep this rare and beautiful car alive. Since I purchased my mx in september for $2000, I have spent at least 400 in parts just to keep it on the road. Any car for 2000 bucks is gonna need some work, and if its used a foreign, you gotta expect to pay some $$$ for parts. If you wanted a cheap used car, with cheap parts you shoulda got a cavalier or something

DavidOS · Post by **DavidOS** » January 21st, 2005, 4:46 pm

all i can say is all import/jap cars that have problems cost alot to fix.
You have to shop around... going direct to mazda seems like you didnt look around hard enough.

Ricksmx3 · Post by **Ricksmx3** » January 21st, 2005, 5:18 pm

93SOHC wrote:yep, I just spent 175 on an axle installede

OMG!!

mazdubber · Post by **mazdubber** » January 21st, 2005, 9:32 pm

I went to Napa to buy some parts last week. When I told him it was an mx-3 v6 he said 'oh, you mean the million dollar motor.'

David Witherow · Post by **David Witherow** » January 21st, 2005, 11:10 pm

you know you can always order parts from other cars like escorts or probes cause on an average the ford parts tend to be cheaper.

Nd4SpdSe · Post by **Nd4SpdSe** » January 21st, 2005, 11:56 pm

mazdubber wrote:I went to Napa to buy some parts last week. When I told him it was an mx-3 v6 he said 'oh, you mean the million dollar motor.'

Is that a good thing or bad thing?

GoT_DaT_Mx3_Se · Post by **GoT_DaT_Mx3_Se** » January 22nd, 2005, 12:03 am

i only WISH i could burn the hubby's civic. we are throwing another $2000 in it this weekend. my mx3 has been great compared to the "reliable" honda!!

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » January 22nd, 2005, 2:43 am

so i take it it was good that i got my car for 1000?

bad rear struts and thats about it. Have not had any major problems..yet..Im trying to find an excuse to trow a ze in there or at least a mx6 5 spd

93SOHC · Post by **93SOHC** » January 22nd, 2005, 2:59 am

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
93SOHC wrote:
yep, I just spent 175 on an axle installede

OMG!!

That was the cheapest out of 5 shops in my area, I got quotes as high as 300! I woulda just done it myself but I don't even have a garage, much less the socket for the axle nut or an impact wrench! i know thats a lot, but its done and I didn't have to lay in 12 inches of snow and subzero weather doin it myself. When I move to florida I will do all my work!

Gro Harlem · Post by **Gro Harlem** » January 22nd, 2005, 6:38 am

What do you expect when you go to the dealer to fix stuff? Duh!!

I took my mom's 93 Camry in to get a transmission flush and they wrote up this huge list of things that should be fixed. They wanted $680 to replace the OIL PAN GASKET, claiming they have to remove the engine half way out of the car to get the lower brace off so they can drop the pan (a huge lie...there is nothing in the way of it).

They also quoted 570 for replacment of ONE axle, azzholes.

All dealerships do is patch up problems by replacing every possible component with BRAND NEW OVERPRICED "official mazda" parts until the problem is fixed. Thats why you go to a regular mechanic if your car is old.

It wouldn't matter if you had a toyota, honda or any other "notoriously reliable" car make, you'd still pay out the a-- if you took your 20 year old corolla into the dealership to have something fixed.

mazdubber · Post by **mazdubber** » January 22nd, 2005, 4:22 pm

Nd4SpdSe wrote:
mazdubber wrote:I went to Napa to buy some parts last week. When I told him it was an mx-3 v6 he said 'oh, you mean the million dollar motor.'
Is that a good thing or bad thing?

He meant that parts were notoriously expensive. I don't mind though.

92GS_STL_MO · Post by **92GS_STL_MO** » January 22nd, 2005, 4:52 pm

I just replace all the following and havent even added it all up yet (still working on my spreadsheet, but heres my partial list (not including incidentals with my KL-03 swap) Centerforce II clutch
Tokico HB Front Struts,Tokico HB Rear Struts, SRD Control Arm Bushings <removed dont hold up well on gravel replaced with the MazdaSpeed
Speed Hut Indiglo HVAC Controls, Speed Hut Blue Interior LEDS
Front and rear upper strut braces, Ford 2.5 liter valve cover gaskets, Shifter extension rod bushing, Eibach Prokit Springs (Front 1.5 in Rear 1.2 in) Eibach ALIGNMENT KIT Front
Mazda Driver and Pass side front wheel bearings
Mazda Driver and Pass side front wheel bearing seals
Mazda Driver and Pass side rear wheel bearings nad hub assemblies
Mazda Driver side balljoint
Mazda Passenger side balljoint
Mazda Driver side balljoint seal/boots
Mazda Front Driver and Pass side caliper bolt (long)
Mazda Front Driver and Pass side caliper bolt (short)
Mazda Front Caliper shims
Corksport SS Brakeline kit
Corksport SS Clutchline kit
Driver and Pass Frnt Caliper Moroe Loaded
Monroe front and rear strutmounts
yeah they cost alot to customize and keep driving BUT my parents own a 2005 accord V-6 asnd its on its third trip to honda to have the emmisssion controls worked on again (not covered by warrenty this time) its gonna cost like 1600 dollars (US) to fix a car thats only like 4 months old thats like 2 and a half payments, only vehicle we have owned that didnt require a major part replaced by 200,XXX is our 98 chevy silverado GOOD TRUCK
but if you are dead set to get rid of that MX-3 PM me im looking for a project car for my girl friend (im serious message me with the details on the car)