mfreilly

I saw in the recall experience thread that a number a people were getting a new starter and battery. I brought my car, which is out of warranty, in yesterday for the recall and they tell me I need a new starter and battery but it is not covered. It is $600 for the starter and $195(!) for the battery. I have never had a problem starting except for the one time it flooded and it took me all day to start. Does anyone know of any information or documentation that the starter/battery is a known issue? I need some ammunition to see if I can get Mazda to cover this.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

shaunv74

Go here. These are all the recalls and bulletins.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ins_index.html

expo1

But if your out of warranty TSB & Bulletins don't apply to you. The starter is not a part of the 4206F recall so the dealer doesn't have to give you a free one if your out of warranty. The starter is one of the reasons I have not gone in for this recall. I am also out of warrenty and have the original starter put in the car 5/2003. My 8 starts fine so I had no need to get the new one. This recall includes a new flash that causes the car to turn over more times before it starts. I do not wish to place my older starter under that extra stress so I wrote Mazda about getting the new starter and I had a question about what happens if the flash messes up my car. They have failed to reply to my letter.

ken-x8

Depends on the dealer and one's power of persuasion. A rant about secret warrantees also carries some weight.

Google "secret warranty" - that should turn up consumer sites with some background on the concept. That there is a TSB shows they know there's a problem. That your car experienced it, and Mazda didn't help (didn't even warn you!), can be a wedge.

$195 would buy you three or four perfectly good batteries elsewhere.

Ken

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

yes, in the least, you can buy a battery for less than half that and put it in yourself.