Category Archives: tips

How much better is the carpet we use in our Premium Moulded Carpet Kits vs the factory stuff

We have always made samples of our carpet available to anyone who asked us. It was a bit of a pain in the ass to drive to the post office, fill out the customs paperwork, and have the sample measured and mailed out. It was all manual and very time consuming.

A damp carpet can cause mildew germination and mould growth after 48 hours. Mould will not be immediately noticeable. This fungi buildup can pose a severe health risk for you and your family. The moisture in a dark, damp place will increase these toxins with time. It will make the situation unbearable for people sensitive to allergens, elderly, kids and pregnant women. We highly recommend treating your carpet with an emergency carpet drying immediately.

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Mazda3carpet.com Install Guide -FREE download

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Are you thinking of installing our Mazda3 Premium Molded Carpet Kit in your 04-09 Mazda3 or Mazdaspeed3 yourself but you feel like you don’t have the knowledge to take on the project?

Now you will. You can download our Mazda3carpet.com Premium Molded Carpet Kit Install Guide for free. With 20 pages of pictures, instructions and insights that will demystify this project. We break down the entire process into easy to follow instructions.
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Where to find rust on your Mazda3 that may be covered by warranty.

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Can you spot the bubbling paint on the top of the seam? Click to enlarge.

1. Rear Fenders

One of the first areas to check is where the end of the rear bumper meets the rear quarter panel at the rear wheel opening. Its at this point where rust begins to form as bubbling paint.

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Tensioner Failure on Mazda3’s

2004 and some early 2005 Mazda 3 were equipped with a plastic pulley on the serpentine belt tensioner. This applies to both 2.0 liter and 2.3 liter engines. In newer models it appears as though the plastic pulley has been replaced with a metal pulley instead.

The reason this has been brought up to my attention is that failure to recognize that the pulley has broken by the driver may cause the engine to over heat which can then result in major engine failure if the driver ignores these signs and continues to drive the vehicle.

Typically what happens when the pulley breaks is that you may hear some noise from the passenger side of the engine compartment. Your engine light will turn on as the alternator is no longer being driven by the belt. Prior to the failure, you may hear a loud squeaking prior to failure of the pulley.

If any of the above was to occur to your car, immediately get off the road, shut the vehicles engine off to prevent damage and have it inspected by a trusted mechanic.

Ideally you should have the tensioner inspected by your mechanic at your next oil change or even proactive and have it replaced along with new belts.

Thanks goes out to Glenn of Cam Tech Automotive of Mississauga, Ontario for the pictures below and the tip. A 2004 Mazda3 came in to Cam Tech Automotives shop earlier this week as a result of the pulley failing. The driver continued to operate the car which led to the engine overheating and damaging the cylinder head past the point of repair. Had the driver been aware of the consequences of ignoring the signs, they could have saved a substantial repair bill.

Note that the replacement parts should now be using a metal pulley and no longer the plastic variant.

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PART 1: Mazda Canada Quietly Pulls Back on Rusted Mazda3 claims

The rust problem with the first generation Mazda 3 produced from model year 2004 – 2009, that has been widely written about in forums and blogs across the internet has taken an underhanded turn.

Mazda Canada had extended their 5 year, unlimited mileage corrosion warranty another year to 6 years, due to the amount of Mazda 3 and other Mazda owners complaining about their rusting rides. Well a source close to us, informed me today that if you are in Canada and have a Mazda with rust issues on your car to call you dealer immediately.

The urgency stems from news that Mazda Canada has quietly decided to reduce the amount of money that they pay to dealers to cover repair costs from $1500 to $500 only. This reduction in coverage takes effect on November 1, 2010.

This means the owners of Mazda vehicles may potentially be left holding the majority of the tab to repair their rusting vehicles.

So what can you do about it? Well, here is what I have learned:

1. Call your local dealer service department with your VIN number in hand. They will verify that your vehicle is covered under the 6 year corrosion warranty. They do this while your on the phone.

2. Once confirmed that your vehicle qualifies, your dealer will typically arrange for you to come in to take pictures and get the claim done.

3. When Mazda Canada approves the claim, arrangements are then made for your vehicle to be brought in for repair.

There are a few things that I am unclear of yet: Not sure if a rental or courtesy car is provided while they work on your car. I am also not sure if the claim has to be made before November 1, 2010 or the repairs have to be done by that date.

I am currently awaiting word from my local dealer in Mississauga to find out if my car qualifies and have been waiting for a call for 2 days from their Service Manager despite multiple phone calls and voice mails left.

If you live in the United States or any other country that sells the Mazda let us know how it is being handled in your country by posting a comment below.
I will post more information as it becomes available to me right here on the blog.

If you are looking for more information on the areas that typically rust on Mazda3’s check out: Click Here