New MX-3 Owner - My Trials and Tribulations

rndmprsn · Post by **rndmprsn** » November 25th, 2005, 10:18 pm

so i bought this white 94 mazda mx-3 about a month ago...142,700 miles on the odometer, and a brand new tranny...$2200.

it was leaking oil so i had the valve cover gasket replaced, the muffler pipe fell off...had that fixed too.

then after a week or so it started stalling out...so i had it tuned up and replaced the spark plug wires too. still stalled...so i took it to a good shop on advice of a friend and they cleaned out the injectors and the throttle...they fixed a power steering fluid leak that had developed, a new hose and they also replaced the radiator, said it was also leaking. still stalled...so they then replaced the FPR and took the gas tank off and cleaned out sludge and dirt, new fuel pump and fuel filter too.

then...when driving back home at night, the lights got really dim and the instrument panel started to go crazy and then stopped working, it was the alternator, i had that replaced and got a new battery...then while driving away from the shop, the alternator belt snapped...i noticed the engine temps, which is never above a third, was at the top and the charge light came on...so i pulled over, the shop towed the car and fixed the belt...

the car now drives like a champ...just drove it up 300 miles from raleigh NC to baltimore MD avg speed about 85-90 mph and it performed really well...the response is quick off the line and on the highway, noticeably, much better than before, i guess it should be for all the shat i replaced/fixed, total cost for all that $1200.

but...i think i have a nice peppy unique car now and spent about $3400 altogether, much headache for the last month, but now i know alot under the hood is new etc...and i do like the car, so $3400 isn't so bad IMO
any common things i can expect?

question, whats the best oil type/brand to be running this time of year?

thanks...

RNDM

PATDIESEL · Post by **PATDIESEL** » November 26th, 2005, 1:58 am

I like Mobile 1 10w30, full synthetic. Helps the older motor with lube. Some say it leaks more easily, but I disagree. Reason, I had a K8 that leaked like crazy and I'm sure I ran it fairly often with no oil showing on the dipstick. Never faltered eve nwhen low on oil.

Glad you like the car. I've owned one for about 10 years now and love every minute of it

On the 94' 4 cylinders, not much to look out for. Maybe get ready for struts, wheel bearings and rebuilt calipers. 140-150,000 is about the right time for that stuff to start failing.
They are awesome cars and you'll never find another car like it.

2fazed · Post by **2fazed** » November 29th, 2005, 10:07 pm

I've owned my I4 for 8 years, and the parts I've had to replace the most is the wheel bearings, cv joints and water pump.

I think on the V6, the disty, front valve cover gasket for a few.

bluemx3 · Post by **bluemx3** » December 1st, 2005, 9:28 am

How do you know if your wheel bearings need replacing?. I know if the CV joint is bad it will make a clunking noise when turning, but I don't know how to check for a bad bearing.

solo_ryder · Post by **solo_ryder** » December 1st, 2005, 3:26 pm

You can just jack up the front of the car and grab the tire from each and and wiggle it around, if it moves around alot then you may want to replace them, but its usually not a big deal.