The Mazda 3 thread

[nareshseep]

Might be useful for the mazda 3 guys

http://www.madox.net/blog/projects/mazda-can-bus/

[dredman1]

So I finally got around to installing the new end links and bushings for my front stabilizer bar which I bought last year, and did so at Laughlin & De Gannes today. Called around a few places and was considering going Federal as rainman seemed to have a good experience there, but ended up by Laughlin as both places gave me similar estimates for the work over the phone, and they are MUCH closer to where I work.

I had a very annoying knock in my front suspension, especially when I go over humps or any other bump in the road. All the alignment places I've been to said they could find nothing wrong, and that everything looked nice and tight. So I went with my experience with my previous car (a BJ Mazda 323) which had the same front suspension knock for well over a year, and when I changed my sway bar bushings in that car the knock went completely. Then I sold her a couple weeks after

Anyway, labour cost today was $360 in total, and it took them just over an hour to complete - I arrived at 11.45am and was out by 1pm - not too bad. The mechanic took his time and got some REAL stress with changing the bushings because of where they were located (he did it without removing the cross-member).

The cost of the bushings were ~TT$190 from S/Sales (bought some time last year), and the cost of the end links were US$30 each which I bought OEM from a Mazda dealer when I went to the US last year and brought back with me on my return. Out of curiosity, I called S/Sales today to find out the cost of the end links, and was given a price of TT$395 for one (I'm glad I bought mines in the US).

After driving a bit, I can say that the annoying knock I had is mostly gone (about 85% - 90% improvement), and the car feels "tighter" when cornering. I say "mostly" since there seems to be another very slight knock still present over bumps - which I figure is probably the cradle arm bushing.

Either way, I can live with that for now until I work out the best way to get replacement cradle arms (either locally or bring it back when next I travel depending on price). The car is much more enjoyable to drive now with that annoying knock almost eliminated.

[FullStop]

that price was to change the swaybar bushings and endlinks? that a bit high...

[dredman1]

yep - $360 to change the endlinks and bushings.

Got an estimate from Federals of "about $250 - $350 depending on how hard it is to reach the bushings".

I saw what the mechanic from L&DG had to go through to get to them, short of dropping the front cross member which would have been a lot more work, so I'm guessing Federals would've charged closer to the $350 figure.

[FullStop]

ok, i get it, i does normally go by my mechanic friend and do stuff myself so i dont hafta pay, so i suppose anything ppl pay will seem like alot to me...

[Rainman]

I've had the grom installed for the last 2 years without a problem, charges the 3g iphone as well.

Where did you get the GROM and who did the install? What was the cost?

Bought the GROM from amazon, did the install myself, it was very straightforward.

[dredman1]

Your problem is definitely fuel / air related, start with a service. Change air filter (service if you use a k&n, go easy on the oil), clean throttle body, clean maf and contacts. Use the appropriate products...for the MAF sensor cleaning use a MAF sensor cleaner like the CRC brand, for the throttle body use a throttle body cleaner that is sensor safe.

Where did you find the CRC MAF cleaner?? Looked around for it but no luck - only found the CRC Quick Dry contact cleaner which I use now.

i got it at car boutique st james

Well no luck finding this elusive CRC MAF cleaner. Car boutique doesn't have any
I checked a couple places on El Socorro Road too, but no luck yet. Too many parts places on that road to stop at all. Anyone knows where sells this let me know please.

[cinco]

raptor is a powerseller here and he carries the full range of CRC products

[dredman1]

Yep - saw Raptor selling the CRC products, but it seems he sells them by the case only. I'm looking to get just 1, probably 2 cans at most...
Didn't see the MAF cleaner in his thread either.

[Rainman]

You can use the CRC QD contact cleaner as well. It dries with no residue.

[dredman1]

The QD is what I use now. Just wanted to try the MAF cleaner since it's designed for the MAF sensor.

[^xcalibur^]

for anyone interested , original mazda3 rims up for sale. currently grey but gonna paint over to silver/alloy

details here
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=373427&p=5336669#p5336669

[2hd]

ok people i am new to this having just recently bought a 3, i just want to know if anyone ever encountered this problem with head lights. Both left and right working but my low beam projection the left seems to be different from the right. Anyone know where i can get this checked out?

[FullStop]

its supposed to be different.

[marlon333]

Low beam is asymmetrical and high beam is symmetrical.

[2hd]

ok i didnt know. i feel kinda stupid now

thanks

[2hd]

anybody interested in or have ever changed the factory installed deck?

[originalbling]

marlon333 wrote:

rainman wrote:
I've had the grom installed for the last 2 years without a problem, charges the 3g iphone as well.

Where did you get the GROM and who did the install? What was the cost?




Bought the GROM from amazon, did the install myself, it was very straightforward.

Recently got a roro M3 and looking to install something similar. In addition to the GROM unit, I am seeing this:



it has SD, USB and Aux in connectors.
http://www.therpmstore.com/Store/Produc ... itemID=133

anybody interested in or have ever changed the factory installed deck?

2hd, you have quite a few options depending on budget for this:

1. you can go with a sony or pioneer single or double din unit. You would also need a faceplate kit that either gives you a single din space with a pocket on top or a double din space to put in a receiver and this covers the curved spaces around the receiver.

2. You can install something like this which is specifically made for the mazda 3 console:




Hopefully some of the other owners who may have done this can give some feedback. I am also new to this and looking forward to learning more about the M3's.



*** Just to update this post regarding the XCarlink Unit posted above. Been doing some research and some users seem to have been having issues with some of these.
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=34982.1440

Read the reviews before you buy. ***

[2hd]

thanks man i was looking at this from a custom sound and security in couva

they have them for $275 but i getting a similar one on amazon for like $12US

will post pics when i get around to actually doing the install

[Amit]

i sent my 3 to service today, after hearing noise in the back left suspension... they found 2 lower control arm bushing damage. can these bushing be changed or the entire arm have to be purchase.
Also the 2 front rotors damage and can be machined, the car not even 3 years old doing 55000. SS dont want to want to replace damage parts

[allon4]

Huh? I thought the warranty was 3 years 100,000 km or which ever came first.
Is it that those parts aren't covered under the warranty?

[Groovemaster]

Isn't that a RORO, Amit?

[Amit]

no my mazda is 2.0 local

[FullStop]

check your warranty and check consumer affairs....

[acesinghit]

Amit.....let me know if you need to rounds up a squad in dey. That is BS, allon say he batting first.

[allon4]

Amit.....let me know if you need to rounds up a squad in dey. That is BS, allon say he batting first.

Yep!!!
Also X2 what Ghostbusters said
Crap my three years ending end of July.

[2hd]

wow damn

[Groovemaster]

check your warranty and check consumer affairs....

Do that^^^

[FullStop]

they fraid consumer affairs real bad, they will fix u up...

[2hd]

anyone know where i cud get a stone shield for under engine and the cost?

Calling SS is a trip