Well I have 46,320 miles on my MP5 and it started making some rattling sounds. Thought the VICS was just getting louder than normal. So on a nice crisp Oct night went for a drive to see what I could find out. Well the VICS rattle usually stopped at 3k rpm but this rattle did not and it got louder under load , not good. So after I checked my warranty info and found out I was 3 months past the factory warranty I thought I was SOL. I called the dealer and asked them if my car was still under warranty and wouldn't you know it I forgot I had purchased the extended Warr. So off to the dealer. Note: check the TSB's before taking the car to the dealer. Print out any that may concern you. IE: VTCS rattle, clutch chatter, hard shift or grind into third.........etc also any forum chat about a unknown problem to mazda. ie: loose vics screw and your service records <--- Very Important. Went to the dealer (Nucar mazda DE) with all info in hand and stated the problem. Mentioned the VICS screw comming loose and you should have seen the look on the service mang. face Showed him the forum prints and got asked several ? and a I will look into it response. A week later found the No. 2 & 3 rod bearings were shot along with the No. 2 main bearing, along with a loose VICS screw. Well after 2 weeks of back and forth between the dealer and the Extended Warr. Company The Dealer sided with me, tore the motor completely apart and had it on display for the adjuster. 2 days later Adjuster came out and started pricing Engines ( Make sure you read and understand the contract carefully ). So found two Engines 1. Brand new 2. 28,000m used. Here is where the fine print comes in. In order to get the new engine I would have to pay the diff. from the used eng. ( used: $1760 New: $3660 : $3660 - $1760 = $1900 ) Well since I didn't have $1900 laying around I went with the used engine. I did make sure to tell the Dealer to use all my accessories since some were new (accident) and to tear down and inspect the engine , which they did free of charge to me. While they where replacing the engine they replaced the clutch, pressure plate and TO bearing (TSB: Clutch chatter), replaced the 3/4 shift Syncho (TSB: Hard shifting, Grinding, or No shift into 3rd gear), Reprogrammed the VTCS system after replacing the VTCS valve (TSB: Rattling noise at 1000-3000 rpm cold engine) and loctite the VICS screws. So in all it took 1 week (back and forth between the Dealer and Warr. Company) to find the problem, 2 weeks to get approval to fix the problem, 1 week to get the parts in, and 1.5 days to put the car back together. Was it a P>I>T>A yes. Was it worth it Hell Yes!! This car is now quieter than it was off the show room floor. No more rattles from anywhere no more chatter and smooooooooth shifting!!!!! As for the Extended Warranty make sure you read everything. Most of the time spent on my car was going back and forth between the Dealer and Warranty Company. The Warranty Company has to approve everything the Dealer finds before the Dealer can proceed to fix it. All in all it took longer to fix the car but it was worth it and it didn't cost me a dime.

 

Glad you hear that your problems were fixed. Just had my own little VICS screw problem last month...went at 46,5K and repaired under warranty.

 

I'm really hoping these newer mazda/ford engines don't have these same problems. I never drive my car for fear I'll fart and bend a rod.

 

Damn that's the first time I've heard of Mazda honoring their warranty ... good deal man! Glad to hear your baby's alright after all!