by "Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
Published 09/22/2017 at 14:57
by "Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
Published 09/22/2017 at 14:57
Tags: Mazda
; mps
; Mazdaspeed
STARS: 3
So in June I bought a used, 110k+ mile Mazda 6 MPS/Mazdaspeed 6. No user or service history. No user manual. It was a gamble buy because of all these reasons but the power and fun factor won me over. For more details you can check out this post:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
For a while I have done nothing more on the car. Just driving regularly and having fun. But fall has arrived early and darkness is upon us, literally. It gets dark quite early already and I figured out I really wanted to get rid of the window tint. While driving at night I could make out no details through the tint, it was so dark.
Unfortunately I have no power outlet within extension cord range to my parking spot. So today I went over to a friend’s place and used his garage to get to work with a hairdryer and a razor blade.
I’m not even sure that window tint was legal... also, that rear window was darker than the backseat side windows for some reason. After spending some time being careful, I ran out of patience and just pulled it all off. There was glue residue even while being careful so I figured if I had to go clean the windows anyway, let’s just get the foil off quick.
Meanwhile, my friend was enjoying himself checking out everything under the hood. We came to the conclusion that a previous owner probably hit an animal at some point. The front bumper fits just slightly off, and some plastic bits inside had been broken. Also spotted a bit of an oil leak that I already knew about, the belt on the left side off the engine (while standing in front of the car) is rubbing a bit, perhaps related. Exhaust is still leaky and the air filter box on the right is a bit damaged. So it’s definitely a work in progress but so far everything still runs.
Anyway, he made some ducttape fixes to plastic parts and we went for a short drive. The rest of the evening I have been scraping off glue residue...
Now to go browse the service manuals to get more familiar with the engine.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
09/22/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 1
Transfer case, turbo and vvt are the common issues on cx7s with roughly the same powertrain, but haven’t seen many of these, not sure if people maintained their turbo awd sport sedan better than their plain family hauler or they’re just that rare though.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
09/22/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 1
Any shade of tint is legal in the back, or rear side windows. It’s the front windows that have to meet the requirements.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
09/22/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 2
I guess it’s nice to know there are a few little items to fix. Otherwise it wouldn’t be a proper Mazdaspeed car.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
09/22/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 0
Wow, those strut towers are SUPER nice. Usually they’re all rusted to crap around here.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
09/22/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0
Also the rear diff mount cracks when launched hard repeatedly.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/22/2017 at 15:42, STARS: 0
Yeah, heard that a lot. As far as I can tell the turbo and VVT are fine, it’s the belt on the outside of the engine block that’s an issue right now, and the fact that there is an oil leak on that side.
During the PPI I had done before buying they also found a small fluid leak at the rear axle somewhere but I haven’t found that again and there has never been fluids under my car after sitting for a while.
So I’m hoping my main issues will be seals to replace, worn bushings and more wear and tear stuff.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/22/2017 at 15:46, STARS: 0
Yeah, wasn’t sure of the local laws here as I’m an expat, but seems to be the case. I still don’t know why anyone would drive with that tint though. At night I barely saw people walking behind me.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/22/2017 at 15:48, STARS: 0
Haha, it helps that my buddy had just wiped all the crap off as well. But yeah, it seems fairly solid for a brand that had the reputation to rust away quickly until more recent years.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
09/22/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 1
My lifted 97 Sahara TJ on 35s had tinted windows
I hated backing up at night with it. Can’t see a thing. Had to open the door and stick my head out to see while backing up.
only car I had with non factory tint was a 91 civic hb with 50% tint on the rear windows, it looked good, but....
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
09/22/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 1
Might want to remove the cowl plastic and check just in case... and while you’re in there torque down all the cowl plate bolts since Mazdas have a tendency to creak and pop up there near the front of the dash/windshield and that’s usually the culprit.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/22/2017 at 15:57, STARS: 0
Will check that out tomorrow after work!
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
09/22/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 1
Probably a timing cover leak, might as well do vvt and chain while you’re in there though.
"KevlarRx7" (kevlarsupra)
09/22/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 1
The trick to getting anything off of glass is petrol, spray on wipe off then rinse.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/22/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 0
Will let you know whether you are right when I get it looked at. I’m hoping it’s something simple though, don’t have the tools or know-how to do much fixing myself so will be expensive probably to have it done.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/22/2017 at 18:23, STARS: 0
Read that before but didn’t want my car to smell of petrol inside. Used some generic window cleaner, the scraper, paper towels and one of those kitchen sponges with the rough side for the rear window to avoid killing the window defrosting element lines with the scraper. Worked pretty well, just takes a bit of time and elbow grease.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/22/2017 at 18:28, STARS: 0
Small-ish list of items:
- Airbag/seatbelt pre-tensioner warning light permanently on
- Oil leak mentioned in this post
- Possible fluid leak near rear axle
- Leaky exhaust needs welding
- Rubber belt on side of the engine is rubbing against something
- Headlights are modded and not working like they should
- Airconditioning doesn’t work
- 6 CD changer doesn’t work
Only really a bit worried about the leaks and belt.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
09/22/2017 at 19:11, STARS: 1
These have a top mounted intercooler? What is it fed by when there isn’t a scoop?
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/23/2017 at 01:26, STARS: 0
Air ducts along the inside of the hood feeding air from the front grille. It’s enough for the power it makes but lots of people going for more power switch to front mounted intercooler.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/23/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 0
Here are some pictures of the area affected. Unfortunately my technical expertise lies more with turbine engines, so I’m not always entirely sure what I’m looking at. But there is an oil leak somewhere on that side of the engine and the belt seems to be throwing it around:
Oil level is still OK but I won’t drive it around too much until I have it checked out again. Bit tricky to schedule with work though.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
09/23/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 1
Yeah it’s tough to tell from the pictures but I would almost guarantee a timing cover leak, it’s a common issue on these although usually it can wait until the vvt goes too. If it sounds healthy (especially on startup) you could probably leave it for a while and just top off as needed. Once the vvt starts going bad it’ll start to sound almost like a diesel, especially on that side of the engine and usually worse on start up. The vvt is right behind the mount, my old shop charged around 6.5 hours for timing chain and vvt and reseal I think, it is a chain but they’re kinda weak I’d definitely replace that too whenever you do it as I have seen them stretch. All in I think it was generally a 2-3k job for us with parts and stuff, but as I said if the vvt sounds fine it can probably wait a bit with the occasional top off. I’m sure you could find a vid on YouTube or something of what a bad vvt sounds like.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/23/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 0
Thanks for all the info, very much appreciated! I am quite sure I have never noticed the kind of grinding VVT sounds, but will check a bit closer never the less.
I think I will leave it be for a while then. If they ask the same kind of prices here in Euroland then it’s best to put it off as long as practically possible, since I bought the car for like €4k.
"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
09/23/2017 at 14:55, STARS: 1
Oh yeah, I have no idea about euro prices lol. Like I said, as long as the oil level is fine and the vvt sounds ok it should be good for a while. If you’re mechanically inclined, it’s not too tough a job for a weekend, don’t need to pull the engine or anything just be able to jack it up a bit. The vvt just gets kinda sludged over time and can blow and take the engine with it but its pretty noticeable, we could always hear it right away when people would pull into the shop even from the desks.
"Jetstreamer" (jetstreamer)
09/23/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 0
Wish I had the time, tools and place to do most work myself. But I’d be working on a small apartment parking space with very limited tools and no experience. Better to have it done by people who know what they are doing (hopefully). The Mazda place here has a good reputation but I have no idea what they would charge... Will find out in the future I guess, hehe.