2005 Mazda 3 Engine Blowout

[manojnair73@yahoo.com]

Hi everyone,
I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who is having some major issues with his 2005 Mazda 3.
Basically, as he was driving to work yesterday (Durham, NC) during some rain, his car started acting up, and the "Check Engine" light came on. So he pulled over and called the towing company to take his car to the dealership to be checked out.

The explanation that he was given has baffled us.

They say that water has entered the engine via the air filter (just by driving the car on a rainy day) and has caused a problem. The dealer said that this was not coverable by the manufacturers warranty, and that this was a user problem. I spoke to the mechanic myself, and he said that it can happen when the car in front of you throws water into the air filter, or if a truck splashes a lot of water on the car, or if you drive through a large puddle. The water enters via the filter and gets into the compression chamber, and then the piston can't handle it. The pressure in cylinder 3 was 120 instead of 180, and the air filter was wet - this was how they deduced that.

They gave him the car back, and told him that it was driveable, but that it looked like one of the piston rods was slightly bent - hence the loss of pressure. We made him call Mazda USA and they agreed that this was not his problem.

This morning, on his way to work, the engine blew up - there's a hole in the side of the engine block.
He had the car towed back to the dealer, and waited until 11am (8am in LA) to talk to the Mazda USA rep - who said "after consultation with the dealer, we feel this is not a warranty issue"

He had to call Geico (who are paying to get his engine replaced) and is resigned to his fate.

My question is this - have you ever heard of a problem with a Mazda by driving it in the rain. Not even a thunderstorm or off-road, or even through mammoth pools of standing water - driving down a two lane highway (NC 54) with plenty of other cars - which is why I am confused. I've read his warranty booklet, and don't think that yesterday's sprinkle counts as a flood.

So - I'm looking for advice - my friend is too bummed out right now to do anything, so I am trying to help him.

Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!!

[Tammer]

Hi everyone,
I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who is having some major issues with his 2005 Mazda 3.
Basically, as he was driving to work yesterday (Durham, NC) during some rain, his car started acting up, and the "Check Engine" light came on. So he pulled over and called the towing company to take his car to the dealership to be checked out.

The explanation that he was given has baffled us.

They say that water has entered the engine via the air filter (just by driving the car on a rainy day) and has caused a problem. The dealer said that this was not coverable by the manufacturers warranty, and that this was a user problem. I spoke to the mechanic myself, and he said that it can happen when the car in front of you throws water into the air filter, or if a truck splashes a lot of water on the car, or if you drive through a large puddle. The water enters via the filter and gets into the compression chamber, and then the piston can't handle it. The pressure in cylinder 3 was 120 instead of 180, and the air filter was wet - this was how they deduced that.

They gave him the car back, and told him that it was driveable, but that it looked like one of the piston rods was slightly bent - hence the loss of pressure. We made him call Mazda USA and they agreed that this was not his problem.

This morning, on his way to work, the engine blew up - there's a hole in the side of the engine block.
He had the car towed back to the dealer, and waited until 11am (8am in LA) to talk to the Mazda USA rep - who said "after consultation with the dealer, we feel this is not a warranty issue"

He had to call Geico (who are paying to get his engine replaced) and is resigned to his fate.

My question is this - have you ever heard of a problem with a Mazda by driving it in the rain. Not even a thunderstorm or off-road, or even through mammoth pools of standing water - driving down a two lane highway (NC 54) with plenty of other cars - which is why I am confused. I've read his warranty booklet, and don't think that yesterday's sprinkle counts as a flood.

So - I'm looking for advice - my friend is too bummed out right now to do anything, so I am trying to help him.

Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!![/b]

Pure Bovine Scathology...This is a Mazda issue

[WoS]

Do you have an aftermarket intake? If so it could be the probelem of why it sucked water. Here in Ecuador a Mazda 3 had that problem, driving through a puddle the aftermarket intake absorbed water and affected a piston, this was not covered by the warranty because of the aftermarket intake.

I know that in the US the aftermaket intake does not affect the warranty, but you should be aware as to where to place the filter...

I have close contact with the dealer, worked the a while...

[poohangel15]

Originally Posted by manojnair73@yahoo.com

Hi everyone,
I'm posting this on behalf of a friend who is having some major issues with his 2005 Mazda 3.
Basically, as he was driving to work yesterday (Durham, NC) during some rain, his car started acting up, and the "Check Engine" light came on. So he pulled over and called the towing company to take his car to the dealership to be checked out.

The explanation that he was given has baffled us.

They say that water has entered the engine via the air filter (just by driving the car on a rainy day) and has caused a problem. The dealer said that this was not coverable by the manufacturers warranty, and that this was a user problem. I spoke to the mechanic myself, and he said that it can happen when the car in front of you throws water into the air filter, or if a truck splashes a lot of water on the car, or if you drive through a large puddle. The water enters via the filter and gets into the compression chamber, and then the piston can't handle it. The pressure in cylinder 3 was 120 instead of 180, and the air filter was wet - this was how they deduced that.

They gave him the car back, and told him that it was driveable, but that it looked like one of the piston rods was slightly bent - hence the loss of pressure. We made him call Mazda USA and they agreed that this was not his problem.

This morning, on his way to work, the engine blew up - there's a hole in the side of the engine block.
He had the car towed back to the dealer, and waited until 11am (8am in LA) to talk to the Mazda USA rep - who said "after consultation with the dealer, we feel this is not a warranty issue"

He had to call Geico (who are paying to get his engine replaced) and is resigned to his fate.

My question is this - have you ever heard of a problem with a Mazda by driving it in the rain. Not even a thunderstorm or off-road, or even through mammoth pools of standing water - driving down a two lane highway (NC 54) with plenty of other cars - which is why I am confused. I've read his warranty booklet, and don't think that yesterday's sprinkle counts as a flood.

So - I'm looking for advice - my friend is too bummed out right now to do anything, so I am trying to help him.

Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!!

Hey same thing happened to me and my husband 5 days ago we own a 2005 as well, bent the rod on cylinder number three broke the spark plug in half thankfully the insurance is paying for a new engine never had any problems like this before would love some more answers myself had never heard of something like this before