Bloomin Mazda!

Robstar_2

Hello

I'm looking for some advice. My partner and i took out finance for a mazda 3 sport 2.2 59 plate about a year and a half ago from Arnold Clark. The car has had endless problems but thankfully we did take out the year warranty.
However, the car just stopped working enroute to Edinburgh and we had to call the breakdown cover to pick us up and take the car home. We've since had a mechanic look at it and he says the engine is knackered...so we can either get a new engine at over 2k (we don't have that kind of money to hand) or trade it in the way it is! As we took a 4 year finance package with Arnold Clark to pay for this what do you suggest we do?
We've heard Mazda also has a loophole that if you haven't had it continually serviced from a Mazda garage then they can't be blamed for this.
Has anyone else had this problem? What do you suggest we do?

Many thanks!

LandyAndy

What is actually wrong with the engine?
What miles has it done?

LandyAndy

I have two 59reg Mazdas and they have been incredibly reliable. All have been dealer serviced from new.


My Mazda6 (same diesel engine as yours) suffered a stretched timing chain at 80,000 but I got a 50% contribution from Mazda to the cost because it had a full dealer history.


What sort of history does yours have? I can believe some people scrimp on the servicing because one of the services is very expensive at a dealer.

LandyAndy

I presume the value of the car is less than the outstanding finance?
Can you source a recon engine or even just a used one?

macman

Th vehicle is out of dealer warranty, so AC won't be interested. The fact that you obtained a four year finance deal via them (presumably the finance contract is with a third party, not with AC themselves) is not relevant-the finance remains payable until the end of the 4 year term, unless you settle early.
The vehicle is around 6 years old, so Mazda have no liability either, regardless of the service history. If the engine has failed due to a known issue you could ask them to contribute to the repair, but I'd rate your chances as minimal-still, nothing to lose by asking.
Would help if you give the mileage and say what is wrong with the engine-is it cambelt failure and resultant destruction? Cambelt change is I think due at 75k or 6 years on the turbo diesel-has this been done?

LandyAndy

macman wrote: »

Would help if you give the mileage and say what is wrong with the engine-is it cambelt failure and resultant destruction? Cambelt change is I think due at 75k or 6 years on the turbo diesel-has this been done?

The 2.2 diesel is chain driven, see my post above, but stretched chains are a known problem. If the 3 is the same as the 6 then the fault is shown as the DPF warning light coming on. Not a clever warning but Mazda dealers know to check it.

Robstar_2

Hi. Thanks for the replies. The car has been serviced at a mazda garage but by a mechanic who has access as he works their so been done correctly. Had no dpf light but had a flickering oil light at times and the sump was taken off and a mesh cleaned. Iv been told it sounds like the shims from the bottom end have worn away and caused damage its apparently common has 78000miles on it. It starts but sounds terrible. The timing chain hadnt been changed as far as im aware

forgotmyname

Oil light means stop driving right away and turn that engine off..

Does sound like you need a 2nd hand one or the current one rebuilt.

The cost of a rebuild can add up with new bearings and gaskets etc. But if done properly you will end up with an engine thats like new.

A used one is always an unknown quantity.