MazdaSpeed 2.3L DISI Turbo Blown Engine Resource Thread

[Smoke_31]

Just a quick followup on my issues,

Mazda Canada has decided to warranty my engine. There is a brand new engine (long block and head) waiting to be put in. Mazda is waiting on a few parts and have offered to install a new clutch for free if I provide them with one while they have the engine and transmission separated.

This involved no hounding or bothering of the dealership. I had the car towed to the dealership the day the rod snapped and they have handled the rest. It has taken about a month and a half, but Mazda has finally agreed to fix it under warranty.

The only cost I will incur as a result is labor charges for removing and reinstalling my aftermarket parts. I will be writing a letter to Mazda to point out the fact that I should not be charged for any service they provide as a result of the failed engine. By providing warranty they have acknowledged the fact that the failure was due to an inadequacy of their equipment or manufacturing process and as a result I should not be charged for the removal and reinstallation of parts that I would otherwise not have been charged for.

I am excited to get my car back. Hopefully I will be cruising around within a week or so.


A quick question since I'm posting. Does anyone have any experience with the ACT clutches for the MS3? I was looking at the SPEC stage 3+ then found out they do not include a flywheel. The ACT seems to be the best route to go because it includes the flywheel.

My only concern is the act either comes in a street (365ft-lbs) or a 4 or 6 puck configuration with nothing really in between. Does anyone have experience with either of these clutch setups and if so what did you think?

[Smoke_31]

stratum

I would PM you but I do not have 15 posts yet.

I live around the Edmonton area. I'm withing 40 mins but I'm usually in town anyways.

I bought my MS3 at Park Mazda and took it there when the rod went.

I'm on 780 Tuners as smoke_31 as well.

[Darksun280]

Originally Posted by Smoke_31 Just a quick followup on my issues, Mazda Canada has decided to warranty my engine. There is a brand new engine (long block and head) waiting to be put in. Mazda is waiting on a few parts and have offered to install a new clutch for free if I provide them with one while they have the engine and transmission separated. This involved no hounding or bothering of the dealership. I had the car towed to the dealership the day the rod snapped and they have handled the rest. It has taken about a month and a half, but Mazda has finally agreed to fix it under warranty. The only cost I will incur as a result is labor charges for removing and reinstalling my aftermarket parts. I will be writing a letter to Mazda to point out the fact that I should not be charged for any service they provide as a result of the failed engine. By providing warranty they have acknowledged the fact that the failure was due to an inadequacy of their equipment or manufacturing process and as a result I should not be charged for the removal and reinstallation of parts that I would otherwise not have been charged for. I am excited to get my car back. Hopefully I will be cruising around within a week or so. A quick question since I'm posting. Does anyone have any experience with the ACT clutches for the MS3? I was looking at the SPEC stage 3+ then found out they do not include a flywheel. The ACT seems to be the best route to go because it includes the flywheel. My only concern is the act either comes in a street (365ft-lbs) or a 4 or 6 puck configuration with nothing really in between. Does anyone have experience with either of these clutch setups and if so what did you think?

I'm glad for you but id find out how much there gonna charge you before you kick off WWIII over it no what I mean?

[mouse0330]

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Stock, and they denied you? Have you spoken to the zone rep yet? If you don't know what a zone rep is, then you aren't even close to resolving this in your favor. And don't be afraid to file a law suit against Mazda NA, Federal law is on your side. Same with the guy with the CAI. But the main thing is to make the zone rep know that you're seeking a legal remedy if he or she doesn't approve the warranty claim. The dealer is over ruled at this point, you will have to go much further up the food chain. The main thing is to suit up for battle - learn the process in your jurisdiction, and start filing paperwork ASAP. Yes it's a hassle, but what did that engine cost ya?

+1...you are smarter than an average bear....guys..read his post again if you having problem with your blown engine..lol...doesn't hurt to try

[mouse0330]

its been awhile since I go back to this thread, being not fond of blown engine..lol
sorry to those thats been screwed. I'm at the point of not worrying anymore, I'm over 55k miles now.
For the fella that blown his engine at 3600 miles or somewhat....you got a definite case...unless you did some stupid ---- to it. Either way..3600miles is damn young for an engine to die.

[lidokrantz]

quote Mouse..you got a definite case...unless you did some stupid ----

indeed, even if you are stock if you push this car to redline or beyond, or downshift into the wrong gear ANYTHING is possible.....being stock now... my Speed is slower and less fun than it was, not by much though.....but i do not worry at all anymore, and i drive it a little harder more often ..and if it pops it pops. When things get worked out and the causes are known and fixed...i will consider making this car an animal....2 years later i still like this car and it continues to impress me.... more now ...especially after my test drive of the new Camaro SS this week....getting back into the Speed3 after the test drive confirmed again what a nice little package this car really is....even stock !!!

[mouse0330]

Originally Posted by lidokrantz ..2 years later i still like this car and it continues to impress me.... more now ...especially after my test drive of the new Camaro SS this week....getting back into the Speed3 after the test drive confirmed again what a nice little package this car really is....even stock !!!

hehehe ...same here, test a lot of cars lately and it seems they all feel a little lame, not looking to trade my speed in, just looking another toy for my wife since I have Godzilla and speedy, trying to find a nice convertible..something with a little kick around 30-$40k...

as for blown engine, relax and enjoy your car man, still have mod on my car and I push it almost every time. My mod is not out of line, just simple sri,inlet,tmic,rmm,rsw bar...no smoke exhaust, crazy vibe what not, except vibe from the cpe rmm, car sounds great when push n quiet when idle.

Hope all you guys with blown engine get yours replaced under warranty...good luck guys.

[sleeperstang1994]

so reading over that list. it dosent look like anyone blew with a
stock turbo. a couple of the reworked turbos but not the stock right?

well NM found a couple with stock turbos. i guess im just hopping that im good seeing as the only other bolt on mod for me is a manifold im scared shitless. o well.

[Smoke_31]

Originally Posted by sleeperstang1994 so reading over that list. it dosent look like anyone blew with a stock turbo. a couple of the reworked turbos but not the stock right? well NM found a couple with stock turbos. i guess im just hopping that im good seeing as the only other bolt on mod for me is a manifold im scared shitless. o well.

I was one running a stock turbo.

[Smoke_31]

Originally Posted by Darksun280 I'm glad for you but id find out how much there gonna charge you before you kick off WWIII over it no what I mean?

I was a little angry at the time.

The furthest I will go is to write a letter to Mazda to see if they will drop the cost for the aftermarket part removal/installation or at least officially state that they will relieve some of the cost.

If they don't do either, I guess I will suck it up. It is 4 hours labor so $440 CAD plus tax.

I've got an AP and downloaded the ATR beta. I don't know anything about tuning though and the only shop around here who is Cobb affiliated has some seriously mixed reviews.

Hopefully I will have the car back soon. The new engine looks good sitting on the floor of their shop, but would definitely look better in the car!

[Darksun280]

440 Dollars? LMAO for boltons? LOLOLOl fuck that fight that shit

[kwsmithphoto]

Originally Posted by s-retire Thanks, What is here is only an excerpt of a six page letter with a demand for repurchase and informing them if they don't respond then costly litigation will be my next alternative. I didn't point blame, but made it clear that both Mazda NAO and the dealer have responsibility to cover my loss. It won't go small claims because we are talking $18k in damage including the fire damage and the blown turbo. The car was $25K and it only had 3600 miles.

They won't go for a re-purchase, but threatening to sue is a good idea. Did you specify how much time they have to respond?

Unfortunately, it also means you need to be ready to sue, which means finding a lawyer who's done this kind of work before and paying him a retainer. And keep in mind that the court may or may not award you with your legal costs...

Anyway, since the zone rep (Regional Service Manager) essentially proved for you that the dealer fucked up, your fight is really with the dealer, not Mazda per se. What happened is that Mazda refused to pay the dealer for the warranty because it wasn't a defect, it was negligence. So what you really have is a negligence case with the dealer, not a warranty claim with Mazda. Although keeping them involved as much as possible is a good idea because it will help to have them on your side if push comes to shove.

Hopefully, depending on what you said in the letter, it won't go to court. You'd prevail, but lawsuits are like cows: one party is pulling on the cow's tail and the other is pulling on it's ears, both trying to make the cow move in their direction. Lawyers manipulate the process so the cow doesn't go anywhere for a while, so they can just sit there and milk it...

Anyway, good luck and keep us posted!

[s-retire]

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto They won't go for a re-purchase, but threatening to sue is a good idea. Did you specify how much time they have to respond?

The Lemon Law in California doesn’t give them the choice of what they want to go for. If it is out of service with a warrantable non-conformity for over thirty days, I can demand repurchase. And this is warrantable!

I don’t make threats. I told them what I expect and that there are consequences for failure to act. And yes, time is up.

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Unfortunately, it also means you need to be ready to sue, which means finding a lawyer who's done this kind of work before and paying him a retainer. And keep in mind that the court may or may not award you with your legal costs....

Legal cost, treble damages and other compensation are available under the statute. I'm past getting ready.

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Anyway, since the zone rep (Regional Service Manager) essentially proved for you that the dealer fucked up, your fight is really with the dealer, not Mazda per se.

I don’t know where you got the idea that the RSM proved anything. The service tech said the drain plug was missing. I wish that by itself was compelling proof. I’d be all over the servicing dealer. Unfortunately, it isn’t as strong proof as you or Mazda NAO would like to have me believe.

The RSM pulled the oil pan, the balance shaft and one rod cap. Unfortunately, inspection of the exposed components does not support a theory of systemic loss of oil.

His unfounded opinion is the only other proof he provided.

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto What happened is that Mazda refused to pay the dealer for the warranty because it wasn't a defect, it was negligence. So what you really have is a negligence case with the dealer, not a warranty claim with Mazda.

Even if someone could prove that the dealer “fucked up”, it is warrantable defect in dealer workmanship as referenced in the warranty manual. The only exclusion would be for workmanship by dealers other than Mazda.

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Although keeping them involved as much as possible is a good idea because it will help to have them on your side if push comes to shove.

Mazda NAO has made it clear from day one that they are not going to be on my side. They want me to accept their side so they can avoid responsibility.

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Hopefully, depending on what you said in the letter, it won't go to court.

That is what I've been hoping all along, but with no success.

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Anyway, good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you and I will.

[huffentuff09]

Feeling Sick right now, I just read this thread<> I am liking my 09 a whole lot less NOW. Funny Chit tho , I just ordered a Cp-e cai and rear MM today to and I was feeling pretty good.. I remember when the 1999 Ford Lightning came out with the Eaton Blowers, yes when Mods came out people were throwing the CRACKED rods right out the side of the Blocks. Well people were putting on 6 > 8 and 10lb lower blower pulleys with out a proper tune and blowing them part throttle @ tip in. If I read this thread before buying , I might not have bought what I thought was a great car!!!

[kwsmithphoto]

Ah, you're gonna Lemon Law it, smart move! Sounds like you're doing everything right, and I'm surprised it's taken so long with no remedy yet.

I don’t know where you got the idea that the RSM proved anything. The service tech said the drain plug was missing. I wish that by itself was compelling proof. I’d be all over the servicing dealer. Unfortunately, it isn’t as strong proof as you or Mazda NAO would like to have me believe. The RSM pulled the oil pan, the balance shaft and one rod cap. Unfortunately, inspection of the exposed components does not support a theory of systemic loss of oil. His unfounded opinion is the only other proof he provided.

Gotcha. I misunderstood who said what to whom. Total loss of oil should be easy to prove, and on second reading of the zone rep's report, it doesn't sound like he did...

What a clusterfuck...but hang in there!

BTW, what model year is your MS3?

[DaleNixon]

Originally Posted by huffentuff09 Feeling Sick right now, I just read this thread<> I am liking my 09 a whole lot less NOW. Funny Chit tho , I just ordered a Cp-e cai and rear MM today to and I was feeling pretty good.. I remember when the 1999 Ford Lightning came out with the Eaton Blowers, yes when Mods came out people were throwing the CRACKED rods right out the side of the Blocks. Well people were putting on 6 > 8 and 10lb lower blower pulleys with out a proper tune and blowing them part throttle @ tip in. If I read this thread before buying , I might not have bought what I thought was a great car!!!

Stick to sane bolt-ons and monitor your shit with a dashhawk/gauges/ap/dashdaq/whatever and you should be safe. If you want > 300-350whp ASAP you are entering the danger zone currently. That's the sad reality. I'll be happy if I can make 300whp on a reliable DD. Put that CP-E CAI on the car, CP-E parts are the best for this car from my experience. It'll run great with it!

[s-retire]

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto BTW, what model year is your MS3?

Bone stock, early 2008. No over revs, no missed gears.

The car was being driven 70 mph, fifth gear, part throttle, in and out of cruse control, on a long freeway downgrade on I5 north of Lake Shasta when it popped. It got towed 130 miles to the nearest Mazda dealer in Northern California where the tech found the drain plug missing.

[Betelgeuse]

Originally Posted by huffentuff09 Feeling Sick right now, I just read this thread<> I am liking my 09 a whole lot less NOW. Funny Chit tho , I just ordered a Cp-e cai and rear MM today to and I was feeling pretty good.. I remember when the 1999 Ford Lightning came out with the Eaton Blowers, yes when Mods came out people were throwing the CRACKED rods right out the side of the Blocks. Well people were putting on 6 > 8 and 10lb lower blower pulleys with out a proper tune and blowing them part throttle @ tip in. If I read this thread before buying , I might not have bought what I thought was a great car!!!

99 % of the people with blown engines have fucked with the car in some way. Many will tell you they're bone stock when in reality they either altered the tune or WAS running more boost at some point. Only a very few have been really unlucky. Keep this car close to stock and you'll have very little issues. I push mine hard everyday and it's going on 55k. And please, whenever any work is performed on it, whether it be a simple tire rotation or oil change, ALWAYS double check everything. I've found completely loose lugnuts to an overfilled sump by a quart or more. Never ever put all your trust in any mechanic.

With all that said, if you bought this car thinking it's mod friendly, think again. The engine isn't the strongest but more so, the ECU is just not easy to deal with. It wasn't designed that way and you'll end up taking more risks than you care to.

[yang_jackson]

Originally Posted by huffentuff09 Feeling Sick right now, I just read this thread<> I am liking my 09 a whole lot less NOW. Funny Chit tho , I just ordered a Cp-e cai and rear MM today to and I was feeling pretty good.. I remember when the 1999 Ford Lightning came out with the Eaton Blowers, yes when Mods came out people were throwing the CRACKED rods right out the side of the Blocks. Well people were putting on 6 > 8 and 10lb lower blower pulleys with out a proper tune and blowing them part throttle @ tip in. If I read this thread before buying , I might not have bought what I thought was a great car!!!

damn... you are all over this forum with your chicken little shit. why dont you just sell your car and get a yaris..... itll be a better fit.

[kwsmithphoto]

Considering the cost, these motors are already pretty wound up from the factory. 130lbs of torque per litre was unheard of in a mass produced engine until fairly recently. That's a lot to ask for from casted con rods.

BTW, I wonder if any of these blown motors were over-revved at any point. Not hard to do on a downshift, if you think you're going from 6 to 5 but actually find yourself in 3rd...

[bf360]

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Considering the cost, these motors are already pretty wound up from the factory. 130lbs of torque per litre was unheard of in a mass produced engine until fairly recently. That's a lot to ask for from casted con rods. BTW, I wonder if any of these blown motors were over-revved at any point. Not hard to do on a downshift, if you think you're going from 6 to 5 but actually find yourself in 3rd...

the rods are forged

[s-retire]

Originally Posted by Betelgeuse 99 % of the people with blown engines have fucked with the car in some way. Many will tell you they're bone stock when in reality they either altered the tune or WAS running more boost at some point. Only a very few have been really unlucky. Keep this car close to stock and you'll have very little issues. I push mine hard everyday and it's going on 55k. And please, whenever any work is performed on it, whether it be a simple tire rotation or oil change, ALWAYS double check everything. I've found completely loose lugnuts to an overfilled sump by a quart or more. Never ever put all your trust in any mechanic. With all that said, if you bought this car thinking it's mod friendly, think again. The engine isn't the strongest but more so, the ECU is just not easy to deal with. It wasn't designed that way and you'll end up taking more risks than you care to.

Bone Stock means just that. No modifications to the hardware, software, tune or boost. The only change was the oil and filter done by the dealer.

[evidence]

Originally Posted by kwsmithphoto Considering the cost, these motors are already pretty wound up from the factory. 130lbs of torque per litre was unheard of in a mass produced engine until fairly recently. That's a lot to ask for from casted con rods. BTW, I wonder if any of these blown motors were over-revved at any point. Not hard to do on a downshift, if you think you're going from 6 to 5 but actually find yourself in 3rd...

Actually boosting an engine is mostly 'free' power, without adding much extra load on the internals. But your right that they are wound up from the factory, we're running things hotter and faster, which intrinsically makes it more dangerous.

The newest theory is that the internals are weakened by running to lean at cruising and part throttle for the massive timing advance it tries. Many people are playing with cruising and light throttle AFRs, dropping em as much as a point.

[Smoke_31]

I stopped by the Mazda dealership on Friday to check on things. The engine was in the car with only a few things left to do. Mechanic said it should be finished Friday.

I received no phone call so I went to stop by on Saturday and found out the service dept is closed on the weekend. No biggie. A little bummed out because I thought I would have the car for the weekend.

I called at 10am this morning (Monday). Service manager answered the phone and told me they would call me back this afternoon.

2:30pm rolls around and still no phone call. The service dept closes at 4 or 4:30pm.

It took me 5 calls before the girl at the front desk paged the service dept to answer the phone.

I was then told that the mechanic was unable to bleed my clutch lines and they would have to order new ones which should take a couple of days to get here. This tells me the mechanic must have either pierced or crimped my clutch line. This means most likely another week without my car.

I then ask to speak to the service manager to discuss the labor charges they want me to pay for the uninstall and reinstall of my aftermarket parts. He refuses to talk to me because he needs to clarify with the Western Canada Regional Service Manager. This tells me he is trying to load up with ammo to try to force me to pay this labor charge.

I am now looking at 2 months without my car (this upcoming Saturday). This is getting ridiculous. Mazda spent a month and a week trying to find a way to screw me out of warranty. When they finally fold and say they will fix it, they order the new engine which took another week to get here. When they start working on my car, they then tell me they are charging me $440 to uninstall then reinstall my after market parts (BPV, SRI, TBE).

Right about now, I am ready to start shooting up the place.

So pissed....

[DaleNixon]

^ Sucks man just hang in there. And congratulations for being the first person on the internet to ever spell the word "ridiculous" correctly!

[s-retire]

Originally Posted by Smoke_31 I then ask to speak to the service manager to discuss the labor charges they want me to pay for the uninstall and reinstall of my aftermarket parts. He refuses to talk to me because he needs to clarify with the Western Canada Regional Service Manager. This tells me he is trying to load up with ammo to try to force me to pay this labor charge.

Small potatoes compaired to the motor. Who originally installed the aftermarket parts? If not the dealer, I can see them wanting to recover those costs.

Originally Posted by Smoke_31 I am now looking at 2 months without my car (this upcoming Saturday). This is getting ridiculous. Mazda spent a month and a week trying to find a way to screw me out of warranty. When they finally fold and say they will fix it, they order the new engine which took another week to get here. When they start working on my car, they then tell me they are charging me $440 to uninstall then reinstall my after market parts (BPV, SRI, TBE). Right about now, I am ready to start shooting up the place. So pissed....

I know having your car down this long is hard. At least they're fixing it. Mine will have been OOS for six months next week, they will not honor the warranty without legal action and I didn't have any aftermarket parts installed. Good luck to you.

One question, how did you convince them to honor the warranty?

[GQ_WhiteMS3]

Seriously ... don't take this the wrong way ... I mean it in the harshest way possible.

SUCK IT UP, SHUT UP and PAY THE BILL. You have mods, you blew the motor, Mazda footed the bill and replaced your engine INCLUDING labor. You are WAAAAAY ahead of the game here. Don't argue, nod smile say please and thank you until you get your car back, pay your bill and then bitch if you like ... but your going to shoot yourself in the foot here.

[lidokrantz]

to be honest you are getting away CHEAP...I would hide my tail between my ass and run out of there if they are only charging you $440 and keeping your warranty intact with the mods....i am very surprised they did not void your warranty to begin with....they voided my engine for having a TBE on the car.. i had the TBE on for 2 years and i really miss it...The original service dept covered my ass...then they all left or got fired and the new management did not want ot take a chance with the mods..Doh!!! I miss the extra 40 hp big time and you can really feel it.

[s-retire]

Originally Posted by GQ_WhiteMS3 Seriously ... don't take this the wrong way ... I mean it in the harshest way possible. SUCK IT UP, SHUT UP and PAY THE BILL. You have mods, you blew the motor, Mazda footed the bill and replaced your engine INCLUDING labor.

Is it an accepted fact that his mods caused the engine to pop? I don't think so...

[tmtbiker]

Originally Posted by GQ_WhiteMS3 Seriously ... don't take this the wrong way ... I mean it in the harshest way possible. SUCK IT UP, SHUT UP and PAY THE BILL. You have mods, you blew the motor, Mazda footed the bill and replaced your engine INCLUDING labor. You are WAAAAAY ahead of the game here. Don't argue, nod smile say please and thank you until you get your car back, pay your bill and then bitch if you like ... but your going to shoot yourself in the foot here.

+1, i know you're angry and shit, but my stealership is going out of their way to get my warantee denied. last time the car was there (hopefully last time ever) the tech got on my back for some hose clamps by the stocker airbox being loose..he said it was "very likely there used to be a cold air intake here and they wouldn't be so kind (to do the work under warantee) the next time"

so, my chances of getting a new motor are essentially nill, if i ever need one. i'm sure they'll find some aftermarket t bolt clamps and call BS on me. pay your 440 and get your car home, shit they even offered to install a new (aftermarket!) clutch installed free to boot!

[GQ_WhiteMS3]

Originally Posted by s-retire Is it an accepted fact that his mods caused the engine to pop? I don't think so...

No it's not ... but the dealership DID NOT have to replace his motor.

So your point is 100% irrelevant.

edit .... besides ... why the FCUK should a dealership pay to install HIS AFTERMARKET mods.

[boosted3]

u should be lucky they are only charging u that price to install the parts.Fuck u should be charged for the whole motor plus labor.u aint noone special at all.U modded u blew that it.Pay the price like all of us and suck it up and work and make money and buy a motor simple.I blew and i said fuck goign to the dealer just suck it up and pay

Originally Posted by Smoke_31 I stopped by the Mazda dealership on Friday to check on things. The engine was in the car with only a few things left to do. Mechanic said it should be finished Friday. I received no phone call so I went to stop by on Saturday and found out the service dept is closed on the weekend. No biggie. A little bummed out because I thought I would have the car for the weekend. I called at 10am this morning (Monday). Service manager answered the phone and told me they would call me back this afternoon. 2:30pm rolls around and still no phone call. The service dept closes at 4 or 4:30pm. It took me 5 calls before the girl at the front desk paged the service dept to answer the phone. I was then told that the mechanic was unable to bleed my clutch lines and they would have to order new ones which should take a couple of days to get here. This tells me the mechanic must have either pierced or crimped my clutch line. This means most likely another week without my car. I then ask to speak to the service manager to discuss the labor charges they want me to pay for the uninstall and reinstall of my aftermarket parts. He refuses to talk to me because he needs to clarify with the Western Canada Regional Service Manager. This tells me he is trying to load up with ammo to try to force me to pay this labor charge. I am now looking at 2 months without my car (this upcoming Saturday). This is getting ridiculous. Mazda spent a month and a week trying to find a way to screw me out of warranty. When they finally fold and say they will fix it, they order the new engine which took another week to get here. When they start working on my car, they then tell me they are charging me $440 to uninstall then reinstall my after market parts (BPV, SRI, TBE). Right about now, I am ready to start shooting up the place. So pissed....

[Decepticon]

has there been any 08.5 and 09 speeds that have blown?

[kwsmithphoto]

I don't know Canadian law but consider that aftermarket parts are generally more difficult to install than OEM parts are and take more time to install.

Personally, I would be thrilled for a deal like you got, if my engine was modified. $440 bucks is chump change, considering all the work they have to do to get you car running properly - with the mods installed and (hopefully) dialed in.

Continue being patient and consider yourself lucky. I understand your frustration but you got a much better deal that many people did! You are one of the lucky ones.

Good luck, hope you get your car back real soon!

[evidence]

I gotta agree here.. so very few people get their motors replaced, then even fewer with mods. Everyone talks about the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, but even if the mods didnt cause the issue and it wasn't your fault, it unfortunetly is on you to prove and and most likely take them to court to get them to warantee it if they don't want to.

The 'law' is on your side, but the law is expensive..

[Smoke_31]

Thank you to the people who have been understanding here.

I am getting off luckier than most of the people who have blown their engines. Perhaps you have all lost site of your own rights. If Mazda denied my warranty claim, I would be in court right now asking them exactly how my modifications caused the engine to throw a rod.

That aside, my only point about the dealership charging me $440 is the fact that they would not have had to remove and reinstall my parts had the engine not failed. Like I said before, by honoring warranty, they accept that the damage was a result of either bad workmanship or a deficiency with the parts themselves. This fact alone should be enough for them to either drop the labor cost or at least partially refund it.

The reason I am pushing so hard is due to the fact that I know Mazda will not warranty another engine if it fails. That is the nature of the beast. I might as well push for as much this time around as I can get.

I guess what it boils down to is, yes, I am getting a better deal than most of you have. I am thankful for that. I am however still going to push for the best deal I can get. That is the kind of person I am.

To whomever asked how I got Mazda to warranty my engine (sorry, too lazy to switch pages to check), I simply had AMA tow my car to Mazda from the spot where I blew a rod. Mazda inspected the damage, took many pictures of my modifications and checked my ECU for trouble codes. The dealership then conveyed this information to Mazda corporate who then made the decision (took several rounds of photo's over about a month and a week).

The only thing I added to help insist that I should have my warranty honored is the fact that I found a thread (this thread) displaying many vehicles (some of which are stock) with the exact same damage caused by driving under the exact same conditions (highway driving). I also mentioned that I did not know of a single vehicle ever made throwing a rod with an intake and exhaust system installed. The mechanic agreed with this point. I also was talking to the mechanic personally. He made mention of how he and the other mechanics, at the conferences they go to, believed that number 4 cylinder is being starved of oil and how Mazda refuses to admit this is a fault of the MZR engine.

I am sorry I cannot add more about how I got my warranty approved. Mazda pretty much handled most of it which was good of them (and as they should).

I have to disagree with the comment about aftermarket parts being harder to install. Examples:

HKS intake: 1 nut and 2 hose clamps to put on and take off.
HKS BPV: stock bolts, stock recirc hose, stock hose clamp, stock vacuum line
CPE DP: Much easier to maneuver into the car and IMO easier to remove and install the turbo flange nuts
CPE catback: Same as stock, other than not having to cut the back of the exhaust off like on the stocker (not that this needs removed to replace engine)

The worst part is that I know as soon as they go "your car is ready" I am going to fold and pay them anyways. I am just sick of waiting now lol... Summer is much to short up here to waste it driving my truck... which is also a brand new Mazda. Go figure hey? Maybe the fact that I have sunk so much money into Mazda and refered about 3 people so far has something to do with them standing behind my warranty so well.

[Smoke_31]

Originally Posted by boosted3 u should be lucky they are only charging u that price to install the parts.Fuck u should be charged for the whole motor plus labor.u aint noone special at all.U modded u blew that it.Pay the price like all of us and suck it up and work and make money and buy a motor simple.I blew and i said fuck goign to the dealer just suck it up and pay

I am a tool for blowing my engine? The same engine that is blowing while running stock? I guess perhaps you are a tool for NOT going to the dealership. Maybe it is different where you are from. Up here, the dealership has to prove that you ruined your engine. Your mods have to be the direct cause of the failure of the engine.

BTW, I am a power engineer and have a good job with great pay. If i felt like wasting my money (maybe something you enjoy) then I would have decided to pay for my own engine before letting Mazda deny my warranty.

Perhaps, sir, you are a tool.

[The Frush]

if everyone is having problems with rods breaking, or wondering if there's a problem with the crank look into other aftermarket companies. like cosworth has some forged rods and forged crank of their own the also have a shaved and balanced ranger crank.,for the focus.... not sure if the crank's is the same but the rods should be...i wanna say there's a duratec focus with over 380 whp

[ms3077]

Originally Posted by Decepticon has there been any 08.5 and 09 speeds that have blown?

They obviously haven't been out as long and you would think hearing about motors blowing might have at least a small impact on newer speed owners modding their cars hence haven't heard about many blowing yet.

[s-retire]

Originally Posted by GQ_WhiteMS3 No it's not ... but the dealership DID NOT have to replace his motor. So your point is 100% irrelevant. edit .... besides ... why the FCUK should a dealership pay to install HIS AFTERMARKET mods.

Your statement shows a complete lack of understanding of the relevant issues, or perhaps a strong bias in favor of a company that has improperly denied warranty service to their customers.

I never said they should cover the installation cost of the aftermarket parts. In fact the warranty excludes labor for replacement parts not installed by a Mazda dealer. I'd be happy if they just complied with the written warranty and the legal obligations it provides.

Originally Posted by boosted3 u should be lucky they are only charging u that price to install the parts.Fuck u should be charged for the whole motor plus labor.u aint noone special at all.U modded u blew that it.Pay the price like all of us and suck it up and work and make money and buy a motor simple.I blew and i said fuck goign to the dealer just suck it up and pay

Originally Posted by Smoke_31 Perhaps, sir, you are a tool.

I couldn't have said it better myself. The true TOOL is the owner that sucks it up and allows Mazda to wrongfully deny warranty. That action only further provides incentive for Mazda to continue the practice on others.