Nevada 545 -
Dealer says they are obsolete and they can’t get them because they’re not made anymore and no one has them. So I don’t understand your statement: “If the dealer doesn’t stock the valve cover gaskets they can get them in their next daily parts order, they are not obsolete.”
Please explain.
Nevada 545
I didn’t know control valves and variable valve timing control solenoids are the same thing.
Thank you very much. Next time???
If you don’t know much about cars, the 16 year=old car is the best way to learn! I don’t even like to do an oil change on a $30,000 car!
The valve covers have been discontinued, the gaskets are available, $30 each.
Dealers don’t stock every part, most parts are kept in the manufactures warehouse.
VWs are generally not thought of as especially reliable, which in turn leads to higher costs. Volvos are somewhat better in that regard but they’re not exactly cheap, nor is their associated maintenance. Plus, you mentioned price for a replacement vehicle. A Volvo comparable to the Buick I mentioned would cost more, be older, or have more miles. Asian makes are generally considered more reliable than their European counterparts but there are no Asian models that fit your needs. That left me with the Opel-made Buick and a coin toss. You can always make your own decision based on whatever factors matter most to you.
You would think, that with technology being what it is, that the dash display could tell you exactly what every fluid and pressure level is, and even alert you to changes from normal.
Are you willing to pay for that? Probably the least expensive way to do it would be as part of the LCD display, but there is a cost to develop the software to report the data taken by the OBDII on demand. If there are other things you want monitored, then there is a cost to provide sensors, read them, and report the data. It seems to me the main cost would be in testing to verify reliability before deploying the updated system to the public. Anyway, the overwhelming number of buyers don’t care about this data, though many here would. Maybe reading OBDII data to a smartphone, tablet or laptop is a more Immediate solution.
With operator competence level reduced to zero, the car will have to take care of itself.
I know parts are kept in the manufacturers warehouse, but the parts aren’t available, so getting them in their next day delivery isn’t an option. That’s only for available parts.
Also, yes, JoeMario found the gaskets for me. Very much appreciated.
What about Fords? I see these Ford wagons all over the place, which look similar to mine. Of course they’re not brand new - I’d get a used one - but every time I see one I think I should look at them. There really seem to be a lot of them around here. Are Fords any good? I’m sure some are and some aren’t, and I have no idea what year these wagons are, but they sure look older than 5 or so years old. I’d prefer used before new anyway.
You are facing a difficult learning curve with that car and your current problem. I suggest you make a concerted effort to investigate independent shops in your area that have experience with Mazdas. The price of an entire upper gasket set might seem within reason just to get the pieces you need and an independent shop should find what ever such options there are and offer you an estimate.
My personal opinion of the dealership’s mechanic is he’s trying to pressure you into buying a new car. He may want your car for himself to flip, etc. Of course I don’t know you or the dealership or the mechanic. I’m just shooting from the hip as I sometimes do based on my own past experience.
The Ford Flex would be good.
Only 88,000 miles on a car less than 20 years old and you can’t get a part?
Sounds like you need the Internet. Get the mechanic to tell you which gasket he needs. Then go looking for aftermarket parts made by a third party. A Mazda isn’t a rare or exotic. I bet the a band new part is available.
If the mechanic doesn’t have this ability, its time to find a new garage. Did you check with Mazda for the part?
Thank you Rod-Knox. I intend to scout car repair places to see if any have/can work on Mazdas. I wouldn’t have a problem with having to buy a set of something just to get one part in that set, as long as that’s what 's needed.
As for getting pressured into buying new, I’m sure that’s what they’re doing, but I’d be surprised if they even want my car. They’re more interested in me buying new, or at least used from them. Though he said he’d do whatever I want. So I said to put those gaskets in and see what happens, if that fixes the problem. Before that happens I’ll see if I can find a place instead of going through the dealer.
dhallis - yes, know the gaskets that are needed and found them.
I just ordered the headlight for $288 from RockAuto. Thank you skulldrinker. Dealer wanted $700 plus almost $300 to install. And the gaskets for about $12 and $28. Now to find someone to put them in.
Dealer parts are expensive, but in many cases they are better parts than aftermarket parts. I found that out with power window regulator/motor parts. The dealer parts were more than 3 times more expensive than the aftermarket parts, but the dealer parts lasted a lot longer than the aftermarket ones. I bought aftermarket because I didn’t plan to keep the car long enough to make the dealer parts cost effective.
