So why does this blog exist? My Smoking Mazda CX-7 is not about my tweaked out, supercharged Mazda CX-7, instead it’s about my 2007 Mazda CX-7 (still under extended warranty) that really smokes after a few minutes of idle. The problem started almost about a year ago, but it didn’t happen often so I simply thought the temperature was too cold outside, and it’s natural for the exhaust to have the appearance of smoke. The few times that I brought my CX-7 into the Mazda dealership for a different issue (weird gear grinding noise from the rear, which they have not been able to reproduce either, so look out for MyNoiseyMazdaCX7.Com soon!) I mentioned the the excessive smoke from the exhaust and since they couldn’t reproduce the problem, I was given the typical “… everything looks fine, just give us a call if it happens again”
Then in January of 2010, I noticed the smoke was getting worse so I started to Gooogle ‘smoking Mazda CX-7 after idle’ I was relieved to find out the smoke monster from Lost was not after me! Other Mazda CX-7 has experience the same exact problem!
Blue Smoke on Idle and my favorite *Official* TSB from Mazda regarding smoking turbos – Mazda Forums
After being told my the Mazda dealership, they’ve never heard of such problem, I printed the TSB from Mazda and brought it down to the dealership again! This time, they confirmed they were able to reproduce the problem I’ve been having. The best part of this trip was when they came out and told me “… we did see the smoke after we left the CX-7 on idle for a few minutes, and Mazda suggest we change the oil and replace it with 5w/40″. Sure, should I take it to Jiffy Lube (where I normally get the oil changed)? Oh no sir, that would just be too easy, I was told in case the oil change doesn’t correct the problem they will have to contact Mazda’s home office and wait for further instructions.
OK, so what does that have to do with Jiffy Lube?
Well if you don’t use the Mazda $90 oil change for the 5w/40 oil change fix, then Mazda might deny the next step towards fixing the problem which according to the TSB “A: If the smoke returns, contact the Technical Assistance Hotline (Select option #2 for Major Assembly Authorization) with the oil change history information, to attain an authorization for a turbo replacement.”
I really don’t know what all that means except it sounds damn expensive. Even though my 2007 Mazda CX-7 is covered under the extended warranty (60,000 miles/6 years) They’re basically telling me if I don’t get this $90 oil change now, be prepare to bend over if the smoke problem returns. So I puckered up my butt and opened up my wallet.
1 st week after the oil change test, so far so good…
2nd week… Crap! Is that smoke? or is it just so damn cold?
and 3 weeks later… My smoking Mazda CX-7 is back!
The smoke came back worse then ever, it now even stinks like I’m driving some diesel burning truck. I dread stopping at red lights because the smoke would quickly surround my car and blind the cars behind me. It got so bad one night, the police decided to pull me over to see if I needed any help!
Few more phone calls to the Mazda dealership, nothing. Finally they told me to bring all the maintenance records, take some pictures and videos and bring it by the dealership. Sure, let me take some more time out of my work to chase these records down and get these picture and videos ready for you. At least I felt like this is going somewhere if home office is asking for all this stuff. Another morning off work to wake up early so I can get all this stuff to the Mazda dealership AGAIN. 3 hours and 4 cups of nasty coffee later, they came back and told me they could not reproduce the problem. REALLY? WTF? Here’re the pictures, and videos from three different dates within a 7 day period! But I was send back home and they were going to forward all the records, picture and videos to corporate.
Few days went by and my calls are not being returned now. I am starting to suspect that Mazda (or the dealership) is trying to ride out the last 1,700 miles of my extended warranty.
The last conversation I had with someone from Mazda was on 3/16/2010 and the person that I’ve been dealing with said everything was forward to home office and we should hear something by the end of the day or tomorrow (the 17th). It is now the 18th and I guess we will see.
This was my first Mazda I’ve ever owned, and it is a fun car to drive. I’ve thought of purchasing a MazdaSpeed 3 or the RX-8, but after the way Mazda has handle this problem for the past few months, I don’t think I will ever give them another try, nor will I recommend a Mazda to my friends.
Do you have a 2007 or 2008 Mazda CX-7? Do you have the same problem? Suggestions?
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