PolishDriver77

Recently I seem to have a problem with shifting from second to first during freezing weather. It will not downshift unless i put it into nutral like 2 times. The graravel noise is pretty annoying too, but some1 on here had a pretty good idea of spraying some rubber stuff, so maybe that will fix it. Besides that the 2005 mazda 3 sedan is my first "real" car and its the car that my father learned me to drive manuel on.

I have the car for about 3 weeks, about 20 stalls so far, but the car is fun as anything.
BTW my other car was a subaru svx with 200,000 miles on it... 230 hp though stock.

TreetopFlyer

I get that noise too! I just figured it was the action of switching from forward to reverse (which is when it really clunks loud). What is the problem?

CarbonFiber

They told me it was the wheel baring(wtf), so I just played along and let them change it out(y not). Still getting the *clunking* noise so going back on Monday. I don't know why, but they really don't want to listen to what I have to say. Oh well~ I guess they will rebuild the whole car for me than...

bob teatow

I wouldn't think wheel bearing noise would be associated with shifting....

Insist the mechanic go for a test drive with you.
If they can't fix it, try another Mazda dealership.

gsx

Bought the 3 in Jan. of 04. Only problem was the air-bag sensor. Auto. trans. on trips to Ohio to visit Mother car has consistently recorded 30 mpg. That at running 80 mph. The only update to the 3 was a cai system. Around town 20 -23 mpg.

vtohthree

I think we should start another gas mileage thread, but this time a good and detailed one.

CarbonFiber

Well~, the mechanic took a "ride" with me and told me he couldn't tell what is wrong...... And to top that, I got my first CEL while at the dealers. They told me to come back because it was nothing serious, and just turned the check engine light off!!!!!! They didn't even tell me what caused the CEL!

bob teatow

Carbon, I'm sure that's frustrating! Did the so-called-mechanic at least admit that there was something wrong? For sure, even an idiot can hook into the car computer and retrieve the CEL problem code and look up the message.

Insist on a real mechanic or take it to another shop.

Isniper

i bought a M3 in july 04, had a door rattle on the driver side. the dealer said they didn't hear anything till i made them go on a ride with me. then they said it was nothing. after being presistent the finnally fixed it. i got 2 different responses. the one on the recept said, "loose window try" and the tech said it was the power window bracket. it took them 3 days to figure out what it was. now i get to do it all over agin cause i have the same rattle in my passenger side door.

CarbonFiber

I took it to my friends shop, CEL came on again.... It was just the gas cap(i guess it's a faulty one not really sure). Loosen than tighten back up and still on~. Oh well... can't get mad about something you have no control over, just have to take it back to the dealer again.

And to answer ur question, he did not admit to his dumbness, and I am going to a different dealer since I'm not really having any luck with this one. There was no really experienced mechanics in the dealer I was going to anyways, they are all around my age(around 20), so I wasn't expecting too much to start with.

Isniper

i am now on a first name basis with the dealership. LOL! anyway i got my first CEL. they told me it was my gas cap although i told them that it was the first thing i checked. and that i had filled up the day before. i also told them that i had bee a week since it came on. they told me to come back WED or THURS. so i will go back and i will want to get a print out of the diagnostics. i already know that they will try to BS me again. gotta love 'em!

bob teatow

ISniper, in case you haven't been following, there was a batch of bad gas caps. So if you get a CEL and the dealer tells you "it's the gas cap" - ask him for a new one - should be provided as freebie under warrantee. Ask him to clear the CEL.

If you get another CEL that points to the fuel system, it turns out there was also a batch of bad fuel pump assemblies - the actual culprit - according to posts here was the check valve. This is a bigger deal to replace, but is the next step.

Isniper

Thank you for that information bob. thats exacactly what they told me. i haven't read all the posts in here yet cause i just joind the other night.

daxclark

Had a similar problem with a motorcycle that I own. A little valve that is supposed to only let air INTO the tank (and not out - to prevent pollution in the form of gas vapor) was not letting air in - causing the tank to turn into a vacuum. Some guys actually had their tanks implode (dent inwards) because the vacuum was so strong. Engine starves for gas as it cannot suck any out of your vacuum-laden tank. Guys were getting their gas cap replaced and having the same problem. I, instead, took my gas cap apart to find that two rubber/plastic slugs that were supposed to be sliding up and down on a spring had simply wedged (heat?) into place and refused to move to allow air in the tank. I just yanked one of the suckers out and put the thing back together... not a problem since. Technically I have a small hole in my cap that leaks a very small amount of gas vapor out of the tank, but it's better than wondering when the replacement cap would end up having the same problem and stranding me on the road. Now, car caps may be different, but somehow I doubt it - I don't think the car would "know" that you've modified the cap (after all, I see cars driving around without the cap on all the time!). Angain, that's IF it's the same setup.

-Dax

daxclark

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...sb/results.cfm

Go to the above link for Uncle Sams list of service bulletins for the 2005 3. Of course, you can look up any other car as well. You can also retrieve a list of recalls. Use the choices listed on the left to jump to what you want.

-Dax