Are springs covered under any warranty?

[lobo]

I have a rattling noise from the rear driver wheel and the shop I'm at found a broken piece of spring in the assembly that was responsible for making the noise. Just curious if this kind of damage is covered by an extended warranty program?

[lobo]

BTW, here's what they found.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8035187/2013-03-30%2009.34.01.jpg

Lobo

Edit: just passed by the dealer and they said that they would not cover something like that after 3 years / 80,000Km. So much for getting the extended warranty. :(

[ptgrad2012]

did you go over a pothole?

[lobo]

Heh, that's what they asked me too. I honestly don't recall going over any (major) pothole that would have made say "damn that was a big hole!". I'm guessing I'll have to pay a visit to Street Performance to get it replace. I'm not that good with mechanics but since this spring broke a while back, does that mean that my rear suspension is not functioning as it was intended to so that shock absorber is doing most of the work?

BTW, I was at Active Green & Ross to get it checked and they came back with a quote of $1800 to replace all of the suspension. If I didn't want to replace everything, I could replace the shocks only for around $900. At the dealership they said $340 for replacing the two rear ones. I'm imagining that Jimmy's will be significantly less than those prices.

Lobo

[lobo]

P.S. The guy at AG&R also said that Mazda puts crappy suspension equipment in their Mazda 3s.

Lobo

[peterm15]

P.S. The guy at AG&R also said that Mazda puts crappy suspension equipment in their Mazda 3s.

Lobo

Spring are pretty cheap.

Buy new springs, get any mechanic to install( jimmy probably cheapest) call it a day. You shouldn't need to replace the shock yet.

P.s.

Stop taking your car to active green and Ross. They are obviously trying to rip you off. At least that location. ( I have actually had a good experience with one of their locations.)

[aj3]

Spring are pretty cheap.

Buy new springs, get any mechanic to install( jimmy probably cheapest) call it a day. You shouldn't need to replace the shock yet.


I agree.
This happened to me last year, exactly the same problem and symptoms and Jimmy found out after a short test drive that it has a broken rear spring on the driver side.
Good reason to upgrade to aftermarket springs even though mine still under warranty. I went with prokit from leftover alphamotors/street performance special.

I compared the broken piece from the OP and mine and they exactly broke from the same area of the spring, they also have the same contour on how it was broken.
Could be a defective manufacturing spring batch? Mine is MY2009.

Here's the comparison:

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/ajphoto09/OP_zps0d517432.jpg
Op's broken spring

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/ajphoto09/Mine_zps228c513b.jpg
My broken spring

[Wes08M3]

I would look a little further into your extended warranty to see exactly what is covered and what isn't. Just because one dealership doesn't want to do the warranty work doesn't mean it shouldn't be covered.

Looks like the spring is quite corroded so it may have broken more because of that rather than just hitting a big pot hole. I think that should be covered under warranty, unless your MAP plan explicitly says major suspension components are not covered.

EDIT: this MAP brochure explicitly says COIL SPRINGS ARE COVERED
http://www.mazda.ca/MciWeb/pdf/parts/en/Mazda_Brochure_en_2011.pdf

Seems like whatever dealership you spoke to isn't telling you the truth. Unless you don't have a MAP plan and you're just talking about the powertrain warranty, then no it's not covered.

[Pereira11]

do you have an extended warranty?

[Jackal]

Heh, that's what they asked me too. I honestly don't recall going over any (major) pothole that would have made say "damn that was a big hole!". I'm guessing I'll have to pay a visit to Street Performance to get it replace. I'm not that good with mechanics but since this spring broke a while back, does that mean that my rear suspension is not functioning as it was intended to so that shock absorber is doing most of the work?

BTW, I was at Active Green & Ross to get it checked and they came back with a quote of $1800 to replace all of the suspension. If I didn't want to replace everything, I could replace the shocks only for around $900. At the dealership they said $340 for replacing the two rear ones. I'm imagining that Jimmy's will be significantly less than those prices.

Lobo

Wow what a rip-off price. Although $340 is a pretty good price I'd imagine Jimmy beating that price.

[lobo]

Thank you for showing me this! I checked my paperwork and I do in fact have a MAP plan and sure enough it says that it covers the coil springs as part of the suspension area. The plan expires next year to the day and I'm way under the kilometres allowed. Looks like I'll be paying a visit to them this Monday.

Lobo

[lobo]

I agree.
This happened to me last year, exactly the same problem and symptoms and Jimmy found out after a short test drive that it has a broken rear spring on the driver side.
Good reason to upgrade to aftermarket springs even though mine still under warranty. I went with prokit from leftover alphamotors/street performance special.

I compared the broken piece from the OP and mine and they exactly broke from the same area of the spring, they also have the same contour on how it was broken.
Could be a defective manufacturing spring batch? Mine is MY2009.

Here's the comparison:

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/ajphoto09/OP_zps0d517432.jpg
Op's broken spring

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/ajphoto09/Mine_zps228c513b.jpg
My broken spring

Wow, that's actually pretty freaky how they both look almost identical to the damage they received.

Lobo

[Wes08M3]

Thank you for showing me this! I checked my paperwork and I do in fact have a MAP plan and sure enough it says that it covers the coil springs as part of the suspension area. The plan expires next year to the day and I'm way under the kilometres allowed. Looks like I'll be paying a visit to them this Monday.

Lobo

Bring the paperwork in with you as proof. There should be no way for them to deny the claim as long as there are no signs that your suspension has been abused/neglected/modified.

Also, I would push for them to replace both rear springs. The other spring is likely quite corroded as well and no doubt will be fatigued to some degree. You should always replace springs in pairs and the Mazda dealer would likely tell you that if you were paying out of pocket. But since it's warranty, they'll never tell you this. I'd try and push for having both replaced, it's a long shot but might as well try anyway.

Good luck!

[lobo]

Happy to report that the Mazda dealership was able to replace both rear coil springs under the MAP warranty plan. :)

Lobo

[kaycee]

Im out west and they said not covered under extended warranty as well. Have an appointment next week so will bring it up again with that brochure .. THANKS GUYS!!

f you mazda service! ;)

here are pics of my broken coil from a few months ago - http://imgur.com/a/FsiGD

another TM3 thread where OP was covered under warranty after a second call - http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?63320-Are-coil-springs-covered-under-warranty

[kaycee]

i asked last month about coverage for a broken coil and they said no, guess ill go back with the brochure - thanks guys!

f-you mazda service ;)

pics of my broken coil - http://imgur.com/a/FsiGD

another TM3 thread where OP was covered under warranty - http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?63320-Are-coil-springs-covered-under-warranty

[Swerny]

Happy to report that the Mazda dealership was able to replace both rear coil springs under the MAP warranty plan. :)

Lobo

you owe Wes08M3 a beer