Morning gents,
I thought I might share this unpleasant anecdote with you guys. Earlier on in the year I had the dreaded Timing Chain stretch. When the car was in the dealership (Invicta Motors Maidstone) getting fixed, an issue developed with the DPF lamp on the dashboard. The dealership couldn't stop the lamp from flashing. This lasted for 1 week then I got a phone call saying the car was fully repaired.
No sooner had we left the dealership then the engine management light came on. We could hear a strange clicking sound. The car started to hesitate then a surge of acceleration was experienced. This happened under gentle acceleration and was quite an unnerving experience!
I had the fault code read by Freelance who said a fuel pressure fault code was being generated. Because the vehicle was under warranty, I had no choice but to reluctantly return to Invicta Motors. They changed the fuel filter and then returned the car to us. After approx 40 miles the fault returned but was even worse. The car went in to lymph mode and then emergency mode. We couldn't take the speed over 30mph on a 60mph duel carriageway!!
I then went back to Maidstone who then said it might be the Injectors and they needed to be sent away at my expense. I agreed to this minus the cost of the fuel filter. However, I was annoyed at their lack of conviction in their answers. They appeared to be just guessing. I explained that I knew the Injectors were not the issue but agreed to it in the hope of finding a solution. They were sent away to a diesel testing specialist who diagnosed that they were operating correctly. I then had to take unpaid time off work to thrash it out with the dealership who responded with they have found a leak on an Injector seal which they had admitted had been caused by an incorrect installation of the Timing Chain kit which included high pressure hoses and Injector seals. Bearing in mind that the car had spent over 4 weeks for a previous Timing Chain repair - I decided to remove the car from Invicta due to their total incompetence. I was livid.
The car then spent time with Freelance and an independent diesel specialist in Tonbridge Wells who couldn't solve the fuel pressure problem.
I then raised a written complaint with Mazda UK who advised me to take the car to another Mazda dealership and they will try and fix the vehicle in line with the terms and conditions of the external warranty I had. The car was then taken to Crayford Mazda who I have mentioned in a previous thread. They were excellent.
However, the plot thickens. I was now two weeks away from our annual holiday to France and I needed the car to drive on the continent. The amount of stress that this saga was causing was unbelieveable and completely unnecessary.
Crayford Mazda reset all the fault codes and after liasing with Mazda UK technical couldn't diagnose the cause of the fuel supply issue. Two days before the holiday and with me at breaking point, They decided to change the PCM (Power Control Module) and give me a hire car for our holiday (with the cost being reimbursed by Mazda UK).
I returned from France but the car still wasn't fixed. Three days had passed and I got a phone call saying that they had found the cause of the fault. Damaged wiring between the PCM and the fuel system was causing the car to hesitate / surge. Apparantly the bolts on the existing PCM (I know it as the ECU) were loose?? A new wire was run from the PCM to the fuel system and now the car is running lovely.
I couldn't believe it however; I know who is at fault. I firmly believe that when the car was in the dealership at Maidstone, whilst trying to get the DPF lamp to stop flashing, they had messed around with the PCM and damaged one of the wires. However; I cannot prove this.
The only saving grace from this disgusting episode is that our holiday wasn't ruined (although I was given an Insignia) and I didn't incur any costs! If it wasn't for the warranty then I could have suffered severe financial hardship due to the total incompetence of a main Mazda dealership.
At one point I sought legal advice. All this for a lump of bloody metal.
Although I achieved a reasonable outcome the stress this has caused myself and my family is unforgivable. I fought Mazda to the very end but I know some other members haven't been as successful.
The sad thing is we are now going to lease a new car and get rid of our tainted 2010 Sport and replace it with a 6 tourer. I can't believe that we are going to buy a new Mazda after what we have experienced but nothing else offers us what the 6 does at the same price. At least we will have the benefit of a 3 year manufacturers warranty!!
I hope you have enjoyed reading the longest post in the world but I had to share this with you guys in the hope that you don't experience what I have been through.
Farnsy