Warning! Markham Mazda!

[ryan_lau100]

So I want to vent a little as this has really been bugging me. Bought a new Protege 5 back in 03. The tranny failed after about 3 years and had to get it replaced. They did it free of charge as it was still covered under warranty.

When I got the car back I did my normal cleanup of the car and vacuumed it and washed wax etc. During this time I took my matts out to wash them and wait a second.. what's that smell? It smells like dirty moldy water. THEY LEFT A DIRTY SOAKED LARGE RAG UNDER MY MATTS! I had to spray it down with some deodorizer to kill the smell!

A few months later I was driving when the tranny got stuck in 3rd gear and would not change at all!! Mind you I drive an automatic. I had to turn my hazards on and drive home with just one gear!.

After turning the car off and opening the hood I checked the tranny fluid to see if it was that. Nope! There was enough fluid. Turned the car back on and all of a sudden it can change gears.

I bring it to Markham Mazda and talk to the head mechanic. He takes a look and days that one of the valves that circulates the fluid collected some dirt and caused the tranny to seize. Now I'm not car expert by any means but doesn't the tranny fluid circulate totally enclosed? This lead me to believe that they had gotten it dirty when changing in the second tranny the first time I took it in. He said he would give us a deal and only charge us for labour and not the parts. I reluctantly said do it as I needed the car and didn't have time to take it anywhere else. I had also forgot to mention about the dirty rag as I was to focused on the current situation.

Ok I will let that go this time... I mean who am I to say what was wrong with it? I don't know how to take apart trannys...

I was also feeling wheel wobble when braking. I was pretty sure it was the rotars that have worn down over the years. It was about time so I told them to change it while they were at it since he would give us a "deal" on labour. Stupid me I know I should have brought it somewhere else. He changes everything along with the rotars.

Two weeks ago..

I am driving and hear this loud screaming noise coming from my front right side of the car. I pull over into a parking lot and try to see if I can see anything wrong. Everything looks ok so I continue to drive. All of a sudden the noise goes away so I think its an isolated incident. A week later I hear the same thing! so I decided to pull the wheel off to take a look. This is what I see:

http://ryanlauphotography.ca/personalpics/Protege/Protege.jpg

What I'm thinking is someone from that dealership accidentally cut the CV joint cover and tried to patch it up! No one had told me anything about this or even mentioned it! Now It has split wide open and all of the lubricants have leaked out causing the sound. From what I've read online the sounds I'm hearing means the CV joint is totally dead and has to be replaced. It has to be them since they are the only ones who worked on the car. Tomorrow I am going to have to take the time off work to get these guys to fix it! I have heard a lot of other complaints from people about Markham Mazda too! Similar stories of them doing hack jobs on cars and being totally rude. This is bogus! I am calling head office about this for sure as well!

Any other advice? Thanks for reading my very long post but I'm frustrated!

I will update you guys as to the outcome!

[hhh]

i never got my car serviced there but i wasn't very happy dealing with their Sales rep and Business Manager. Unhappy with their attitude and act like they own an exotic car dealership.

hope things turn out well and give them what they deserve.

anyways, i ended up buying my car elsewhere.

[CheapScotsman]

So tomorrow you are going to take time off work to get these guys to fix it? Since you think they have schmucked up the jobs before; why do you believe that they will do a better job this time vs not schmuck something else up that doesn't show up for months/years.

Cut your losses and go somewhere else or you will just be posting a new thread 6 month to two years down the road.

[ryan_lau100]

So tomorrow you are going to take time off work to get these guys to fix it? Since you think they have schmucked up the jobs before; why do you believe that they will do a better job this time vs not schmuck something else up that doesn't show up for months/years.

Cut your losses and go somewhere else or you will just be posting a new thread 6 month to two years down the road.

it will probably be a good $400 in repairs and i really dont think i should be paying for it. my friend has told me to call the head office because apparently they will keep notes and call them on it to make sure im satisfied. we'll see i guess.

[Exocet77]

I bought a 08 Mazda truck in Feb. Had a few problems and had to bring it in. Been to the Guelph Mazda twice now for the same problem. There customer service is obnoxious. Bringing it to the Acton Mazda this weekend, will see how that goes.

By the sounds of things, Mazda service is going downhill pretty quick :mad: Should have bought a toyota

[The_Professor]

If you search any of the many local Mazda forums you'll quickly realize that Markham Mazda is the worst in the GTA. More horror stories come out of that dealership related to sales and service than any other. Since you suspect that they're the ones who messed up the CV joint you likely can't go to another dealer and have it fixed at no charge, so you'll have to decide whether going back to MM is worth the potential hassle.

I say go there and see if you can get them to confess to screwing up (highly unlikely). If it looks like you have to pay out of pocket for the repairs take it somewhere else (Avante Mazda or Mazda of Toronto IMO).

[ryan_lau100]

update:
went in this morning and asked the guy to take a look. immediately said we have no appointments come in tomorrow morning at 745. i proceed to show him my photo of the boot with the adhesive on there saying how i was disappointed that they would have done something like that and not told me. of course the guy turned pure defensive and tried to pull it off as being normal by saying "that is just greese... you realize when the boot gets cut greese will drain... that is greese." i told him it was some type of glue since the consistency was totally different from greese. he then proceeded to say that "oh you had brought the car in so long ago...." i replied by saying "yes i realize that but your dealer was the only one that touched the car... if it was torn from normal wear and tear i would have no problem paying for it but you can clearly see that someone had tried to patch it... and even if you did it in good faith after seeing it broken you didnt mention any of this to me"

i stopped arguing and said ok i will bring it in tomorrow morning. im sending in a notice to mazda head office about the situation. if they do not want to fix it free of charge im bringing it to avante. i liked avante but they are just really inconvenient for me to get there.

[Frankie3s]

So tomorrow you are going to take time off work to get these guys to fix it? Since you think they have schmucked up the jobs before; why do you believe that they will do a better job this time vs not schmuck something else up that doesn't show up for months/years.

Cut your losses and go somewhere else or you will just be posting a new thread 6 month to two years down the road.

Agreed. I'm willing to bet they also put back the old tranny fluid instead of new.

[TrevorK]

Agreed. I'm willing to bet they also put back the old tranny fluid instead of new.

I would put my money on them not changing the filter as being the cause of contamination.

[whampoa]

OP, you sure have alot of time on your hand. You'll been screwed twice already. I don't think a third time will make any difference.

Take your lost and find a local garage to fix the damage MM have done.

As I say, local garage and not dealership.

I'm never too comfortable with any dealership garage, as soon as my warranty expire, I just go to my local garage and never be bother with.

[ryan_lau100]

OP, you sure have alot of time on your hand. You'll been screwed twice already. I don't think a third time will make any difference.

Take your lost and find a local garage to fix the damage MM have done.

As I say, local garage and not dealership.

I'm never too comfortable with any dealership garage, as soon as my warranty expire, I just go to my local garage and never be bother with.

well im gonna take a crack at it tomorrow
if its a no im going to just send a letter to HQ and then drive over to avante or MoT since ive heard very good things about their service

i dont know any mechanics personally so i wouldnt trust them anymore than the dealers but at least the other two mazda dealers have a good history from what ive read

[CheapScotsman]

well im gonna take a crack at it tomorrow
if its a no im going to just send a letter to HQ and then drive over to avante or MoT since ive heard very good things about their service

i dont know any mechanics personally so i wouldnt trust them anymore than the dealers but at least the other two mazda dealers have a good history from what ive readwell ... good luck. Another trip to the dealer where, maybe, they might eat the $400 repair ... and they will schmuck something else up and you will be back for at least two more trips 6months to 2yrs down the road. Eventually they will leave you hanging and you will HAVE to take it somewhere else ...

Or do it now and save yourself the time and aggravation of dealing with a dealer who won't do things right.

[sixer]

I previously owned two different Mazda's and felt that in general, Mazda sucks for service. Went consistently and tried different dealers and same thing.