Mazda3 ATX woes

[9296D21B14]

Three months ago as part of a repair to my Mz3i 2.0l w/ATX which was rear ended, the front left axle, control arm, outer tie rod, and strut were replaced. The impact pushed the car into a tree striking the left front wheel well causing this damage. Yesterday, my wife noticed the "AT" light come on just as she was pulling into work. Also, CEL was lit. The code ended up something like "4th gear ratio out of spec." The car was towed to the dealer who did the original repair. While on the lift, the tech showed me where the drive shaft had pulled out of the transmission causing the the fluid to completely drain out. The seal was shot. This is 90 days and about 3k miles after the original repair.

Guess what? The dealer as of yet doesn't want to take responsibility for a warranty repair due to faulty removal/installation. They state the axle popped out due to unseen damage from the original accident.

The insurance company is deciding whether to send someone out to evaluate and see if they will pay for a supplemental claim. The tech told me (before the bosses showed up) that the axle was not properly installed causing the failure now. He was not the original tech who did the repair.

Questions. What would cause this axle to fail in such a manner? I have looked at an online shop manual and it looks as if there is only a retaining clip involved in connecting the axle to the transmission. Any other ideas? One way or another, the ATX and axle are shot, I am without my car for probably several weeks, and everybody is trying to shift the blame.

This is not a request on how to deal with dealerships or insurance companies but rather what could have caused to mechanical failure. Next call is to a lawyer just for advice. I am documenting all contacts.

All replies are appreciated.

 

[mstrjon32]

So did the dealer do the work on the car when it was damaged, or was it some other shop?

 

[9296D21B14]

Same dealer. Multiple brands with one body shop housed under the Ford logo. The body shop and it's separate mechanical shop did the original work. The car was towed yesterday to the Mazda service unit a block down the highway. The Mazda tech is the one who showed me the loose axle and busted seal and offered his opinion. The body shop clown who was my contact on the original repair first stated it couldn't have been anything they had done but also that he was not a trannsmission specialist when I asked him what exactly caused the new failure. They brought the original tech who did the first removal/replacement to look at the car with a service manager. My impression was they knew they were on the hook for the repair but now it's turning into dodge and delay.

The cause of the failure will determine who has to pay. Faulty repair = body shop. Additional unseen damage = insurance company. Coincidental transmission failure = Mazda original warranty. Can this be that hard to figure out?

 

[CBDFrontier06]

What the dealer needs to realize is that if the accident had never occurred, the axle likely would have never pulled out, causing the transmission to drain itself. They need to take responsibility and fix it...but if they can't seem to pass this repair by the bean counters upstairs, then they need to turn this into a 'factory defect' and get it warrantied. Either way, the dealer needs to fix it and give you back your car...and do battle with your insurance company if they see fit.

 

[9296D21B14]

CBDF. My sentiments exactly. We shall see. Any thoughts on why or how the axle turned loose?

 

[mstrjon32]

Honestly dude, write a letter to Mazda and complain about how the dealer is treating you. I had some problems with dealer incompetence right after I bought my car and I wrote a nice 3-pager to GM and I got back the $497 that I was out as a result of my car breaking down (this was extraneous stuff too, including the cost of a rental car, a hotel, and gas to return the rental car and retrieve my car). They were actually incredibly helpful and understanding about the situation, unlike the dealer who sold me the car.

To be honest, I'm surprised that they're giving you such a hard time considering that it is under warranty. Typically when I've brought cars in for warranty work, it's basically a no questions asked we'll fix it and you'll be good to go situation. On one occasion they actually replaced something that had a TSB out that I didn't even complain about. Even so, I have a feeling corporate will be a lot more helpful than some scummy dealer.

 

[Quest]

yo-

axle(s) don't just come pop right off or turned loose in normal car with proper assembly procedures (never heard of that happening to cars that I've serviced so far). My suspicion lead me to believe that it's your dealer's half-arrse repair job that lead to this, and they just wanna flat-out deny it of their responsibilities (for a gearbox typically cost them a few thou + labour cost to install).

I agree with CBDFrontier on this call that someone has to take on the responsibilities of liability due to faulty repair. If dealership gives you a blindeye, take them to the court.

Also: I would like to point out that your subjectline is somewhat misleading for as if this problem occurred with a normal vehicle (and not one that was involved in a collision)

 

[9296D21B14]

Got the car back today. Just in time as my backup vehicle (92D21) has no a/c and the heat wave is on here in SELA.

Explanation was that an incorrectly sized or improperly installed retaining clip/ring at the axle/transmission junction caused the axle to come partially out of the transmission. The car never lost all of its fluid. The first report was that the fluid could not be seen on the dipstick but it did not pump itself dry. They drained about three quarts during a pan drop to inspect for damage. Total capacity is 7.6 qts. No debris in the pan or on the magnet. Fluid was pink with no burnt smell. They saved a sample to show me. (I suppose it was my fluid.) No replacement axle, just the correct ring reinstalled.

I had done a complete cooler line exchange from the factory fill to Mobil 1 full synthetic (M-V) about 9k miles ago which hopefully helped lessen any further damage. The car drives fine for now. No codes. Shop warranty covered the reapair so no involvement with insurance or Mazda factory warranty.

I will do an Auto-Rx ATX treatment and then dump the bulk replacement fluid and go back with a full Mobil 1 exchange again via the cooler line. Hopefully that will be the end of it but there was little to base a push for a replacement transmission.

Thanks for the replies. Having access to an online shop manual and full TSB's as well as what little I have picked up here on BITOG kept the shop's service writer's lies to a minimum.

 

[zimmerDN]

Mazda3 techs aren't the most responsible neither are they reliable. I had my throw-out bearing replaced under warranty before and a week after the repair my transmission fell on the ground.

---- mazda??? Thanks for that!!! They covered it under warranty but my car suffered unnecessary stress and damage.

 

[Quest]

That's some strong words heard by a former Mazda/Suzuki tech like yours-truely, zimmerDN!

Just because the incompetent greasemonkeys in your area didn't do a good job in repairing your Mazda doesn't necessarily means that I cannot do a good job. If you cannot find good Mazda mechanics in your neighbourhood, either file a complain to Mazda Canada or find someone farther who cares.

As I see more and more Ford/Mazda dealships sharing parts and mechs in the field, I couldn't help but wonder if the ford mechs are just as good at performing Mazda repairs or just another mickeymouse job?

Q.