Today is the first day the Mazda6 has not been broken

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
02/11/2019 at 21:03 • Filed to: None

It has taken months of ownership and weekends of working on this stupid thing but the Mazda6 is finally fixed. Saturday I did the valve cover gaskets which were sorely needed as the ones I took out were as hard as plastic and super brittle and it was leaking a quart of oil every 200 miles or so. I also put in a new rear motor mount to get rid of a drivetrain clunk. $80 at LKQ net me an undamaged door in the proper color as the door it had was ruined by a run-in with a Ford Fusion a few months back.

This was actually hell on earth. No two ways about it. Leaning my 5'5" ass waaaayyyy over the engine bay of a midsized Mazda to get to the rear valve cover bolts sucked ass and resulted in much back pains. To further my frustration, it’s physically impossible to remove the cover without snaking a wrench in and unbolting and removing the VVT solenoid.

Without a doubt the all-aluminum 3 liter DOHC V6 is a gem of an engine. Rev happy, makes good noises, pretty damn decent amount of power for its size. It’s just installed in the wrong orientation. I’d absolutely die to have this engine in a Miata (fun fact, Mazda considered putting it in the NB but decided it would be too expensive and nobody would buy it).

Damaged-ass door. Bowed out and wouldn’t seal at the top at all. Wind noise was horrendous. Window wouldn’t roll down all the way. 0/10.

This shit is weird. Most doors have the door cavity with the wires in it, the window regulator bolts to the door, the motor is in there somewhere, and there’s a bit of plastic sheet moisture barrier glued on with a tar like substance. Here there is a big-ass sheet of FRP to which EVERYTHING on the door bolts. Regulator, motor, handles, wiring, all of it. The wiring never goes inside the door cavity, but instead runs through clips on the interior side of this panel for easy access. The window motor is staring you in the face as soon as you take the door card off, easily removed with three bolts.

I’m on the fence about this design. On one hand, it seems VERY repair-friendly and, indeed, it takes about 15 minutes to totally strip and remove one of these doors.

On the other hand, since everything bolts to that chunk of FRP if it cracks, breaks, catches fire, etc. you’re thoroughly boned. Luckily there are plenty in salvage yards, but I imagine breaking off an interior door handle when these were new was an absurdly expensive oopsie.

So now that it’s all in one piece I can say: honestly it drives great. Mazda did a good job making something that sounds boring on paper, a V6 FWD midsized sedan family hauler, fairly entertaining to drive. Steering is super responsive and the engine is rev-happy and ready to go. The only thing marring the experience is something I’ve noticed a lot in Fords of this era: an INCREDIBLY lethargic electronic throttle. My 2005 Mustang also had this issue and it makes things like heel-toe downshifts incredibly frustrating. The whole car feels very quality and solid in a way not on par with, say, my Lexuses, but far and above better than any domestic I’ve owned from the era.

DISCUSSION (36)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/11/2019 at 22:14

Good -- now please get rid of it as quickly as possible.

cbell04 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/11/2019 at 22:22

If it gives you trouble again I’ll lend you my promaster

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/11/2019 at 22:35

So, to sum up...it’s actually pretty good car, but you ended up with a lemon?

If you’d found one without any of the unseen damage this had when you bought it, would it have cost the same plus what you’ve put in...or did you pay the actual value and get screwed?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious
02/12/2019 at 00:18

It’s a good car but regardless of if mine was a lemon or not they are massive suck to work on.

WRXasaurus > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 05:12

One thing I've heard that fixes a throttle like that is cleaning or replacing the MAF sensor.

ProfessorDumbledore > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 07:35

Great write up! But are you really David Tracy in an earlier form ?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/12/2019 at 08:43

That’s the plan

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 10:13

What was the run in with the fusion? Did they have a fender?

dogisbadob > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 11:32

Yup! This is why I HATE transverse V6's, and why I will NOT buy one again! I’m considering a Mazda 6 as my next car, but NOT a V6! And fuck them for making the wagon V6-only! I’d get the 4-cylinder hatchback

I have a 4th gen Maxima right now, and it’s a little easier to deal with than what you have.

Bbrunner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 11:36

I have the ‘06 Mazda 6 s Sport sdn. Bought it used. Chain broke first month I got it so I replaced the engine.

Two months later the engine light came on. Had to replace the EGR valve and gasket. After driving a few miles the light came on again. Had to replace the purge valve and fuel vapor leak detention pump.

Apparently it didn’t like the first purge valve (engine light still on) so I put a second purge valve on it.

Noone can figure out why my engine light won’t go off. Now I can smell oil burning and have to figure out where the leak is coming from.

Ayone have any ideas of what might be causing these issues?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > ProfessorDumbledore
02/12/2019 at 11:52

Nah, not enough rust.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bbrunner
02/12/2019 at 11:53

I’m not super familiar with emissions systems. Generally my stuff is either nice enough that they “just work” or it’s old enough to not have them (or I removed them wholesale, like my fox body mustang).

The oil leak is likely valve cover gaskets as it was with mine. There aren’t a whole lot of places for oil to leak from but it is an incredibly expensive job so if you can’t do it yourself I’d just live with the smell and keep topping off the oil. The obnoxious reality of these transverse DOHC V6s.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > dogisbadob
02/12/2019 at 11:54

The 3800 Series II is okay due to being extremely compact ‘cuz pushrods. Not the absolute worst thing to reach the rear plugs.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > random001
02/12/2019 at 11:55

They did have a fender but it’s kind of a pain to replace (moreso than the door, amusingly) and purely cosmetic unlike the door which was a functional concern so I didn’t bother.

Someone waved my wife to turn left and she did so without thinking about it and got t-boned by oncoming traffic. Oops.

DoomsdayMelody > dogisbadob
02/12/2019 at 12:15

There’s nothing wrong with transverse v6’s. Sure, they’re a little harder to work on, but realistically the majority of them (including the duractec/MZR 3 liter) are relatively simple to maintain if you have the correct tooling.

DoomsdayMelody > Bbrunner
02/12/2019 at 12:16

Timing chain, and two purge valves? I’d say your the only common denominator here. Replace owner.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 12:21

I got hit because of a similar situation. I never do it anymore. Cop said we were both at fault in the situation. Totalled my car out. Fixed it anyways. Now I never leave gaps for people to go through.

random001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 12:27

Ugh.

domster > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 12:31

Great car if taken care off not when bought neglected with 15 yrs of abuse.

PistonheadJake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 12:31

Yep,

The 3.0 variants are known for failure especially in the early years of the 6. I own an ‘05 I-Sport with the 2.3L, which is probably the most reliable version you can have of these cars. I just clocked over 175,000 this week, and all I’ve done is basic maintenance every 5,000. Its not nearly as powerful, but the responsive handling is always a treat.

Believe it or not, my 2nd year owning it I was considering a 3.0, but didn’t because Gas prices were exceedingly high at the time.

These are great cars, but the good ones go far and wide anymore.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > PistonheadJake
02/12/2019 at 12:47

yeah, the 3.0 is known for precat failure. The 3rd-gen MR2 has the same issue. Haphazard rushed implementation to meet government regs gone horribly wrong.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > domster
02/12/2019 at 12:49

Even brand new this car would be a bitch to work on. Literally any underhood work is made hell by the open-grain fiberglass core support that makes your arms itch, and god help you if you have to remove the damn thing for any reason. Which you will, because of course. And light bulbs that require bumper removal. And hydraulic motor mounts that shit the bed every 30k miles. Lovely.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
02/12/2019 at 12:49

Yeah it hurt. Negated a diversion for her previous speeding ticket because she got a failure to yield ticket.

dogisbadob > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 14:10

Don’t you need a cro wbar to tilt the engine forward on those?

dogisbadob > DoomsdayMelody
02/12/2019 at 14:12

Ever try to replace a valve cover gasket on one? You half to take half the engine apart to get back there! 15 hours vs 15 minutes. BIG difference!

Mine isn’t even the worst one since the intake has cutouts to access the rear coils and spark plugs.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > dogisbadob
02/12/2019 at 15:10

For what?

dogisbadob > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 15:14

I was replying to DoomsdayMelody about the GM 3800 V6. You have to tilt the engine forward with a crowbar to access the rear spark plugs.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > dogisbadob
02/12/2019 at 15:28

What on earth? I have never had to do that. Wonder if that’s only on the smaller cars like the Regal/Grand Prix

dogisbadob > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/12/2019 at 15:36

Maybe

Bbrunner > DoomsdayMelody
02/12/2019 at 18:11

The chain was worn by the time I got it. I needed to change it and got a good deal on a motor. The engine code read purge valve after I put the first one on so I got the actual Mazda purge valve and it's still reading the same code

DoomsdayMelody > Bbrunner
02/12/2019 at 18:23

I’d check your connections on the valve, if you bought a brand new OE purge valve and it’s still throwing the code look at the harness.

DoomsdayMelody > dogisbadob
02/12/2019 at 18:25

Did it on my 99 Taurus, removed the bolts for 2 of the motor mounts, tip forward with harbor freight pry bar and your in business. Might have added 40 minutes to the job. Not at all the end of the world.

DoomsdayMelody > dogisbadob
02/12/2019 at 18:26

Hey buddy I’ve been talking about the 3L duratec/MZR (Ford/Mazda) the 3800 has enough problems without me trying to defend it.

dogisbadob > DoomsdayMelody
02/12/2019 at 18:28

oops yeah I got posters mixed up sorry!

Josh - the lost soldier > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/14/2019 at 23:05

I’ve got to admit, I absolutely loved the Mazda6 first-gen, especially in MPS guise and the hatch . If they are really as bad as you experienced (I have no reason to doubt you, by the way), then I’m glad I didn’t bite the bullet when faced with the possibility of owning one. Still, it’s a good looking car and, despite better judgement, I still want one with a manual transmission.

How much to ship to ATL?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Josh - the lost soldier
02/15/2019 at 09:14

From what I gather mine was super well maintained until it wasn’t for a couple years and stuff got deferred and deferred and then I got it. Most people don’t have this many issues with it and I’m sure now that I fixed it things will be fine. Still a PITA to work on when something DOES break which is why there’s a lot of cars I’d pick over a Mazda6 but... eh.