Mazda Problemo Número Tres

"mazda616" (mazda616) 04/02/2015 at 20:37 • Filed to: Mazda

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Pretty sure the passenger door lock actuator is dying. And it's not sold separately - only as part of the entire door latch assembly that is $104.00. :-(

That lock has been making an odd noise and also moving slowly for quite a while. I've noticed that if I locked and unlocked the doors a couple times, it'd quit making its funny noise and operate normally again. That has went on for like a year.

Yesterday, it decided to stop. I can lock and unlock the door manually but when I press the power lock, it tries to lock and doesn't make it. I can literally see the little manual switch (the piece with the orange sticker on it) twitch but it doesn't go to the locked position and the door doesn't lock. If I leave it for five or ten minutes and then try again, I can get one good lock and unlock before it is back to just twitching.

The problem isn't electrical. All the fuses are good. Keyless entry and power locks work fine on all other doors. It has to be part of the mechanism since you can literally hear it trying to engage. And it's been making an extra loud click for quite a while now.

My friend and I are going to remove the door panel this weekend and take a look. I'm hoping if I apply some grease to it, parts might start moving freely again. But I'm pretty certain I'm going to have to buy a new door latch assembly. And from what I've read online, replacing it is quite a bitch.

I guess three problems, all relatively minor (and zero of the mechanical variety) is pretty good for six years of ownership. But, I'm OCD enough that it irks me to no end when something isn't right with my car. I literally obsess over it until it's fixed. Quite an annoying character flaw of mine.

I still find it interesting that the passenger lock actuator quit when the driver's one obviously gets operated more, since I am the only one in the car 99% of the time.

Turned over 72,000 miles on Tuesday, too.

Local Miata Bro > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 20:44

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The Mazda5 that my mom had had to get the passenger sliding door lock mechanism replaced 3 times under warranty. The damn thing never worked, neither did the keyless entry.

mazda616 > Local Miata Bro 04/02/2015 at 20:47

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This is the first issue mine has had. I figured maybe it was making the odd noises a while back because it wasn't used a lot. Most of the time, I only unlock the driver's door with the keyless entry.

Local Miata Bro > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 20:52

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I doubt that is the case, I just blame Mazda's inability to wire anything correctly, the factory headrest speakers in my Miata were wired backwards. Either way my parents and I love our Mazdas, dad is going to be buying a Mazda3 hatch with a manual soon.

mazda616 > Local Miata Bro 04/02/2015 at 20:58

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Mine's been a great car. Still is. Couldn't have asked for a better vehicle to take with me to college and beyond. I love it. I am just annoyed that something on it is broken. :(

Jay Lauer > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 21:05

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How would you rate the reliability overall with the car?

I've had an 05 Mazda 3 manual hatch before, but now I'm considering getting another or a Speed3 if I can find a good one.

I had my 3 for about 20,000 mi/2 years with pretty much 0 issues.

mazda616 > Jay Lauer 04/02/2015 at 21:12

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It has been rock solid. I've owned it for six years and 60,000 miles. In those six years, I have replaced the passenger side upper motor mount (hydraulic unit that started to leak - known issue, took fifteen minutes to replace), a $10 brake switch (30 seconds to replace - unplug old switch and plug in new one), and now the lock actuator. Not bad for a seven-year-old car, I say. I never used the factory warranty. Not even once.

desertdog5051 > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 21:34

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Ford has a similar problem on their trucks. Passenger side will lock but not unlock. Drivers side won't do anything. Ahhh, first world problems. I remember it wasn't that long ago that I had to push lock buttons and roll windows up and down by hand. Such drudgery.

wafflesnfalafel > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 21:45

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09' 5door hatch, 82,000 mi - new clutch, rear shocks and tires and a starter motor recall (never had any issues with it) but that's it so far.

Jay Lauer > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 21:56

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Awesome. I see yours has 72k miles. That's about where I'm hoping to aim for.

Done anything to yours? I like the idea of a decent exhaust system and maybe, only maybe, a Cobb Accessport

DasWauto > Jay Lauer 04/02/2015 at 22:07

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I had an '04 (hatch, 2.3l, 5-speed), that I got in '09 with <70k miles. Had it for ~5 years, my brother drives it now, reading about 160k miles. In that time it's had the electric fan, thermostat, struts and a rear shock mount replaced. The struts and shock mount were within the last 6 months and think they're items you can reasonably expect to address for a 10 year old car with that mileage. Aside from that, it's just been oil, filters, brakes and tires, basically just regular maintenance items. It's still on the original clutch, as far as we're aware, the pedal is getting quite high but happily there doesn't seem to be any slip yet.

Great car, IMO. Early cars rust badly if you're in an area that salts the roads as heavily as mine does. If you don't live in such an area and you can find one with low mileage in good upkeep, go for it.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 22:08

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I'm starting to wonder about this era of Mazdas... My GF's 2008 Mazda3 is starting to suck hard since it rolled over 60k miles. It eats headlights, needed a new transmission control module (crazy expensive and now the transmission is schizophrenic), and a few months ago the gas cap had the misthread problem again (expensive fix to a known problem, since it flat broke this time). It's starting to have weird engine problems even though it has led a charmed life with consistent maintenance. Aside from these, the car is very nice for the age. Still, I'm starting to wonder if we should get her a new car...

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > mazda616 04/02/2015 at 22:24

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I had that happen where it was difficult opening. One day I went out to my 5 year old car and the door wouldn't open after I hit the unlock button. I had to get in form the passenger seat for 4 days till I could get home to take the door apart. The solution? a little grease on the mechanism and hinge. worked fine after that.

mazda616 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 04/02/2015 at 22:42

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Oh, I pray that's all mine will need! I really don't want to buy this part and go to the trouble of installing it.

mazda616 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/02/2015 at 22:43

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Mine has been by far the best car I've owned. These problems it has had are TINY issues. They just bother me because I'm OCD.

mazda616 > Jay Lauer 04/02/2015 at 22:44

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Mine is just a 3, not a Speed 3. But it has a catback exhaust from an '08 Speed 3. Has Eibach Pro-Kit springs as well. Not much else, really, besides tint, eyelids, Speed 3 rear valence, and a K&N filter. I've kept it mostly stock for simplicity and reliability since it has been my only car the entire time I've owned it.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > mazda616 04/03/2015 at 07:03

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man my mazda 3 was a beast when it came to reliability. The only issue I ever had in the 4 years / 60k miles owning the car (bought at 40k) was the thermostat failed during a long trip, causing the engine to run cool. No biggie. Then an accident, but to no fault of the vehicle.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > mazda616 04/07/2015 at 15:22

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I have an 06 sedan, ever have problems with window switches? My drivers side window won't go down when it is hot. I think the glass expands and jams the mechanism. It will roll down fine after it cools off. I have a hard time remembering to role it down a crack when it's going to be a warm day. Other than that all I've done is a thermostat and new tires. It has been far more reliable than our previous 2002 Impreza.

Takuro Spirit > mazda616 04/07/2015 at 15:39

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If only there was a Mazda parts guy that offered discounts to Oppo members on OE Mazda parts.... Hmmmmm...........(i mean me)

If you didn't get it working by lubing let me know.

mazda616 > Takuro Spirit 04/07/2015 at 16:34

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Lube didn't work. Actuator is dying. I found one on eBay from a wrecked '08 Mazda3. Actually ordered two, since I discovered my left rear actuator is doing the exact same thing. I'm worried these new ones will die, too, though - since they're the same age. Can you get the actuator by itself? I want to replace as few parts as possible.

Takuro Spirit > mazda616 04/07/2015 at 16:46

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Nope, ya gotta buy the whole latch and cables. Only the older Proteges and trucks were serviced separately.

mazda616 > Takuro Spirit 04/07/2015 at 18:35

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Well I got the used actuators by themselves for $112 total (for two).