626 issues
 

I am looking for opinions on an issue that I have had recently. It is a pretty long story so bear with me. December 29th I brought my car in to a well known company to get some work on my car (my mechanic couldn't do it that weekend). The day before, my mechanic had told me that the CV boot needed to be replaced. I brought in the vehicle - a 1999 mazda 626 - and had them take a look at it. The company called me later in the day and told me that I was correct and that the cv boot needed to be replaced but they don't do that there, that I would have to replace the axle. I said okay, since I needed it done for work on Monday. They called me again later on and told me that they found a few other things wrong and that I needed the sway bar and the control arm replaced, which I declined. Next thing I know it they are calling me back and telling me that they had 'accidentally' torn all of that stuff out already and would just install the others at no charge. This was okay with me, since it was free stuff.

I picked the car up on the following day, 30th of December and paid for it. It seemed to be fine and I drove the car for the entire month of January with no issues,- mind you I always take back roads to work and never drive over 45 during that commute. One day I decided to hop on the highway and 5 minutes into my drive on the highway I heard a pop and some grinding. That night I realized that my transmission fluid was leaking, so I called out of work the next day and brought the vehicle to my mechanic who told me the vehicle was leaking from where the axle meets the transmission, so I called the other company which had done the work and brought the car in. They replaced the axle and put on a new seal.

When I picked up the car later that day, the first thing I did was bring the car on the highway. Lo and behold, the same problem occured - a pop and grinding. I brought the vehicle back again and after a few hours they told me that the bearing in the transmission had been 'worn' and was causing the leak.

I never had any issues with my transmission leaking nor with it slipping or anything. I have had a cv boot replaced once after getting new tires but it had been a year or more since. I make sure I get my oil changed on time, brakes checked etc.

The question that needs an answer is, could an incorrect install on the company's part have caused this issue? They are insistent that it didn't (which is understandable because I'm sure they don't want to have to pay after they already made a mistake with the extra parts).

I have been arguing with them for a week now because my mechanic is telling me that they are more than likely at fault. I am just not sure if this issue requires me to bring the car to a transmission specialist to get a second opinion or if people here think that I can resolve this with a little more drastic actions towards the company.



- I am a teacher and don't know a ton about cars so if you do explain, please try to put it in the simplest form. I have been researching the issue for the past week and reading every possibility there is. I decided to give this a try.

Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance.

Hi Exior:

First question back at you: you bought the car then you took it to the mechanic? I am thinking this is the wrong way around. Next time you may want to ask the owner he or she lets your mechanic inspect the car before you buy. That costs you about $100 but it would have saved you a heap of trouble.

I cannot say who is right , your mechanic or that shop that did the CV joint. Let's assume that the shop is right after all they where tearing into the car. Here is apicture of the CV joint:

Attachment 4069

You can see where the axle is to be inserted and the seal that keeps the transmission fluid in the case. There is a bearing inside the case. If that bearing is worn out and wobbles then the seal will be chewed up in no time.
But I have not heard of this kind of failure to this day. Therefore I would want to know what could damage that bearing inside.
Maybe the engine and transmission mounts are damaged and let the engine/transmission move around to much.
Maybe the car has kissed a curb so hard that the axle is now pushing to hard against the transmission.

So what would I do now? I think I would ask the shop that did the work if they can positively diagnose the worn bearing rather than guess. And ask them how much they would charge for that. It would probably mean they take the CV joint out and finger feel for wiggling at the bearing.
Or you could your mechanic have a stab at it.

In either case, braise yourself. I think if the bearing is bad the transmission needs to be taken out of the car and disassembled. And that won't be cheap.

I didn't buy the car and bring it in.. I have had the car for 3 years. It says in my paragraph above I 'brought' the car to them so I can see where you might have made a mistake. Also, when I brought it in the first time it was for a change of the cv boot.. Which is just a rubber part that holds grease. What I want to know is, if the company installed the cv axle incorrectly, could that have worn out the bearing in my transmission?

Few things disappoint me here: 1) no mileage stated 2) automatic or standard.

Being a 1999 it's old and some mileage.
If it's an automatic the fluid should have changed 3 times by now (that's every 5 years) needs to be changed every 30-40,000 miles as far as i'm concerned. If it's a standard it should have been changed twice.

It's possible with the boot ripped, crap got in there that's not good for anything, especially u-joints and bearings. Depends on how long it's been ripped i guess, which we will never know.

On top of that the Mazda 626 sucks and is #9 on the top worst cars due to the problems with the automatic transmission (all models) as per: Yahoo!
Original posted by tanprotege on: https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/off...ssenger-32970/

It's an automatic and has 88,000 miles. I bought it with 72k.

After reading up on transmission issues, a worn bearing is not one of the big issues that is common. It's pretty strange that I would bring it to get the boot changed, they told me that I only need the boot changed but they don't do that - they will only do the axle, and then the part of my transmission that can be affected by that axle just magically gets worn. There are just far too many coincidences for me to look past. Especially considering the fact that the mechanic that was working on it already had made a mistake in tearing out a bunch of other parts and having to install them free - sounds pretty careless.

That's right Exior.
Generally, speaking: an independent mechanic is more likely to go for the inexpensive solution. I.e. if boots are available that independent mechanic would likely ordered one from his preferred supplier.
A Mazda service is more likely to go by the Mazda Service Book and it would have specified Mazda parts. If Mazda does not offer a boot only the whole axle would need to be replaced.
I really can't give any other advise than the one I stated in my first reply. But maybe you should give it to your usual mechanic. He seems to be an independent guy and more in tune with your way of taking care of a car.

If this transmission is shifting well then I feel it is worth fixing that problem if it is a bearing at the output shaft only. The cost is in taking it out of the car. I saw a video when the mechanic took it apart and put it together in 1/2 an hour while explaining everything.

However, if it is not the bearing then I still would get the fluid changed for peace of mind.