my heater (i think) has been acting up lately. i was driving around one night with it on and when i stopped and got out i noticed my car making a ticking and bubbling noise. it also sounded like the fan was trying to come on but couldn't. it was strange like air and water were escaping somplace. but i didn't see anything. so i took it to the dealership and explained the problem, but the bastards couldn't do anything because they couldn't duplicate the problem...now, i have noticed that the car does not make any odd noises when i don't use the heater. only when i do. and now that i have been driving it for a while with this "problem" the dealership couldn't find i notice a burning smell. like plastic burning or an electrical thing. has anyone had this happen? and ideas as to what it can be? i think the service department thinks i'm crazy.

 

so you guys don't have any ideas? you usually have an opinion on everything!

 

I have a question....can YOU duplicate the problem with the heater?

its not uncommon for anyone to take their car in and when you go back to get it...the tech's are scratching their heads and tell you it worked fine for them....so if you can duplicate the problem with any regularity.....take a drive to the dealer...use the heater...get it to make the strange noise or whatever in the lot and drag the service manager out there and SHOW HIM what its doing....don't leave it up to THEM to duplicate the problem for you...SHOW THEM the problem...that way they can NOT deny that your car is actually doing what you have described to them.

 

The gurgling sound seems like a symptom of air being trapped in your cooling system (heater core, most likely).
If true, park you car, with front tires on a set of ramps (or incline), and run your car to operating temp with radiator cap off. Turn on the heater; the trapped air may be able to escape this way. You may see bubbles or perhaps a visible drop in coolant, which you can top off...
I can't comment on funny odors or noises, and indeed, there may be much more to this issue. If this a problem you can easily reproduce, then, by all means, follow Sir Nuke's advice.

 

yea i feel your pain man.. my dealership sucks too. just go back and duplicate the sound for them like sir nuke said. i took my car in bc it was making a noise that they couldnt duplicate so they didnt do anything. later i found that one of the bolts came out of the brake caliper and it had slid off the rotor. it did some good damage to the brake and wheel. then on top of that, mazda didnt want to pay for the damages or fix it. if i were you i wouldnt neglect the problem though, demand they fix it. it could cause major damage like it did to my car. good luck.

 

sometime you just have to be ******** to get what you want, especially at car stealerships

hey, that's what new car warranties are for right????

 

What the hell.. If you can't duplicate the problem , they won't fix the problem? What ever happened to Consumer Integrity? Especially if its a damn TSB, they should honor the damn warranty..whether they see the problem or not. FOR EXAMPLE, clutch stutter..it only happens on FREAK occurences and when you do a cold startup and drive off , before the engine warms up... So how the hell am I supposed to duplicate the freakin' problem when it takes a 30 min. to get to the dealership.. the engine will be steamin' hot. I'm definitely not waiting all day for the engine to cool off, so the techies can justify the source of the problems..heh, I want my rental car and I want my car fixed. OK IM RAMBLING..

 

Someone hit the [Post Reply] button!

 

Someone told me if they give me ****. I should bitch,complain, and threaten to call the warranty CEO @ the Mazda Corp...or whatever his/her title is..