MX-5 OC Forum

Roadster Robbie:

taff eunos:

 Hi Ollie, sadly this is a different type of diff to the one in question- it doesn`t seem to have the problematic dished friction plates where the lugs we are talking about would have snapped off from.

 

That is the same type of diff, it has springs inbetween the sun gears! The taper rings are inside the differential element of the assembly...

Thanks Robbie Roadster, so we do have photos of the correct diff coming then, in the previous photos it all looked a lot clearer where the tabs had snapped off from.

Ollie, carry on taking the thing apart and photographing all the bits if you can we will soon get down to the bits in question

Regards

Dr. Eunos

Roadster Robbie:

taff eunos:

 ...clamping force is via a worm-gear arrangement similar to a TorSen set-up.

 

"Clamping force" is generated by friction between the taper ring and the sun gear, the springs help with this. This type of diff has no worm gear.

 For any owners of 2004 (onward) MX5s fitted with an LSD who have concerns regarding the serious problem with this diff problem, I am willing to perform a `while you wait` diff oil change on an `at cost basis only` using ordinary EP 75-90w oil or Redline MT90.

We are very interested to know the figures of just how many of these diffs have already suffered partial failure already by having these tabs snap off. It appears Mazda dealers may have been instructed to simply remove these broken tabs from the magnetic drain plugs, not inform thier customers and simply refill the diff with oil, whenever cars with this early sign of imminant failure are serviced within the dealerships.

You can hopefuly avoid a very expensive diff replacement and even an accident caused by this defect.

If you wish to take advantage of this free of profit service please send me a PM to arrange when you would like to bring your car along.

Regards,

Dr. Eunos 

taff eunos:

It appears Mazda dealers may have been instructed to simply remove these broken tabs from the magnetic drain plugs, not inform thier customers and simply refill the diff with oil, whenever cars with this early sign of imminant failure are serviced within the dealerships.

Why does it appear Mazda dealers have been instructed in this way and by who?

 Hi Robbie, you have email.

Dr Eunos

 Dr Eunos you have email

 i agree lets see it on the forum,can i see your pics please?????

 just to lead on from this,this thread concerned me,as there are certainly dangers attached to these tabs snapping off.So i have done some digging...i have contacted thatcham,who are the research centre the insurance industry use.I was told some interesting things,unfortunatly i cannot quote  everything,as was off the record,but i was told no known "stated" faults.This does not necessarily mean Mazda are not aware, just they choose to deal with it differently.

So i contacted Mazda,at this point the conversation took a very bizarre twist...if i was to talk to you, and you went la la la la...can't hear you...you would get the general jist...though i did get some info when i informed them that i may be taking private action on behalf of someone as a independant engineer,not taking payment in any way, so no conflicts with my employers ect..though aside from my writing my own report,i will be looking at getting a collegue who is a forensic engineer to inspect the metallurgy,to back up whether faulty metal,faulty design,or faulty manufacture.

I was then told "we have had no know faults on these differentials"if there was a fault it would be took up with the dealer first,and then rose to our selves through our own internal process,i asked what this was,and they would not tell me,so i asked how many times would the dealer have to contact them for it to be an issue?they would not tell me,i asked them why?its confidential..why is  it confidential?i cannot discuss this with you,and all are calls are recorded.So i asked ,would i be right in suggesting,that if a dealer raised 10 or more issues in a short amount of time,would they take notice?i cannot tell you...

What they do not know, is i do know their internal process,i do no you could have 100 cars each go in to one of a hundred dealers,and each go in with a fault,and they would take no action,if you had one dealer with 20 cars in with a issue,they would act quickly.

They will argue their not aware,but they are,they will say they have no reported faults,this is due to the probable issue of testing the brakes at mot time,which in my opinion may put undue strain on the diff and cause the tabs to shear.As the car is no longer in warranty,Mazda will take no responsibility,they will also tell they will gladly inspect for you,but your responsible for the cost,at this point must people will take to an independant.Neatly sidestepped..

Does this mean you need to be concerned?yes..does this mean Mazda are responsible?if there is a manufacturing fault,yes, will mazda cover you?Whether you bought your car new or second hand,take to your dealer,dont necessarily let them work on it,make them aware of your problem,put it in writing to them,and give to the dealer principle in his hand.Inform him you wish him to take this up with Mazda on your behalf.They are Duty bound to do this!This is apparently the only way Mazda will take notice(their words not mine)

What do you have to loose?your car?a diff?maybe more?what do you have to gain?piece of mind?well i do not know at this stage,but i certainly think Mazda should reassess their customer service skills..and look at the bigger picture..i would be happy to act as a consultant for them should they wish to contact me...lol..If ever someone is defensive,awkward,wont answer questions ,and is not interested in listening...be concerned ,as they do not have your best interest at heart...

As i forum member,i do,and what started from reading something that concerned me, has now led to me going to a lot more digging...i will keep you informed...

regards

sidewayssam:

 just to lead on from this,this thread concerned me,as there are certainly dangers attached to these tabs snapping off.So i have done some digging...i have contacted thatcham,who are the research centre the insurance industry use.I was told some interesting things,unfortunatly i cannot quote  everything,as was off the record,but i was told no known "stated" faults.This does not necessarily mean Mazda are not aware, just they choose to deal with it differently.

So i contacted Mazda,at this point the conversation took a very bizarre twist...if i was to talk to you, and you went la la la la...can't hear you...you would get the general jist...though i did get some info when i informed them that i may be taking private action on behalf of someone as a independant engineer,not taking payment in any way, so no conflicts with my employers ect..though aside from my writing my own report,i will be looking at getting a collegue who is a forensic engineer to inspect the metallurgy,to back up whether faulty metal,faulty design,or faulty manufacture.

I was then told "we have had no know faults on these differentials"if there was a fault it would be took up with the dealer first,and then rose to our selves through our own internal process,i asked what this was,and they would not tell me,so i asked how many times would the dealer have to contact them for it to be an issue?they would not tell me,i asked them why?its confidential..why is  it confidential?i cannot discuss this with you,and all are calls are recorded.So i asked ,would i be right in suggesting,that if a dealer raised 10 or more issues in a short amount of time,would they take notice?i cannot tell you...

What they do not know, is i do know their internal process,i do no you could have 100 cars each go in to one of a hundred dealers,and each go in with a fault,and they would take no action,if you had one dealer with 20 cars in with a issue,they would act quickly.

They will argue their not aware,but they are,they will say they have no reported faults,this is due to the probable issue of testing the brakes at mot time,which in my opinion may put undue strain on the diff and cause the tabs to shear.As the car is no longer in warranty,Mazda will take no responsibility,they will also tell they will gladly inspect for you,but your responsible for the cost,at this point must people will take to an independant.Neatly sidestepped..

Does this mean you need to be concerned?yes..does this mean Mazda are responsible?if there is a manufacturing fault,yes, will mazda cover you?Whether you bought your car new or second hand,take to your dealer,dont necessarily let them work on it,make them aware of your problem,put it in writing to them,and give to the dealer principle in his hand.Inform him you wish him to take this up with Mazda on your behalf.They are Duty bound to do this!This is apparently the only way Mazda will take notice(their words not mine)

What do you have to loose?your car?a diff?maybe more?what do you have to gain?piece of mind?well i do not know at this stage,but i certainly think Mazda should reassess their customer service skills..and look at the bigger picture..i would be happy to act as a consultant for them should they wish to contact me...lol..If ever someone is defensive,awkward,wont answer questions ,and is not interested in listening...be concerned ,as they do not have your best interest at heart...

As i forum member,i do,and what started from reading something that concerned me, has now led to me going to a lot more digging...i will keep you informed...

regards

Quite right sideways sam, if I find 20 cars with snapped-off hardened steel tags attached to the drain plug and direct all of the owners to one Mazda dealership on the same day with the same letter for the dealer principle and have a BBC Watchdog reporter and camera crew on hand, do you think Mazda UK will wake up and smell the coffee then?

This is a very real problem and I am slightly astonished some of the responses from people who really ought to know better, the interests of the members of this owners club should be paramount in regard to this issue, sadly not everyone agrees.

I would just like to add that for the benefit of the record and to avoid confusion for anyone reading this thread for the first time, all posts by jimbobsquarepanties aka. Colt Seavers were removed by the postee and replaced by a very apt inate grinning icon. Probably for the best....

Dr. Eunos

 hi there, if you want to pm me the photos so their not on the forum,i will give you my email,i unfortunatly at this moment do not have enough information to come to an informed decision,and as i said before ,i have little knowledge of mazda diffs,and would like to see exactly what they look like,where the tabs are and what a failed one looks like.

Can you help?i have inspected cars on behalf or more than one warranty company,primarily AON RISK,Volkswagen/Audi, Toyota and Lexus ,so have good product knowledge on them,but lacking on Mazda,so any direction you could give would be appreciated, the photos would greatly assist,as i can get an idea withwhats happening.

I think any issue with loose bits rattling round is not good,at best the diff will become an open diff,and you would not even beware of it,at worst,i have seen diffs lock solid...

lets find the cause of the problem,if it is a fault whether one in  a million,or more common,i'd rather know than not know.

thanks

Tim

The diff nose on my VLSD-equipped 1.6 is rusty red. Without trying a magnet on the casting, my assumption at the moment is that this material is more likely to be cast iron than cast aluminium.

Something in the order of a million MX-5s have been manufactured and sold worldwide (not forgetting the Honda S2K that uses a similar Mazda-licensed diff). Whilst these broken tabs show up on requests for help on various forums from time to, usually in "look what I found when I drained my diff oil" threads, I have yet to come across anyone whose diff has failed catastrophically and thrown them into a wall backwards.