I will try to make this very short, even though I am having a bitch trying to get this solved.

My car 's brakes for no reason are locking up. Well actually not locking up but engaging to 80% without any brake push. While driving in 5th gear at 65mph the brakes slowly engage until I have to down shift to 4th and then 3rd and then pull over in order to move the car. After 30 minutes or so with the car off, the pressure releives and the brakes disengage.

I took the car to the dealer but they say nothing is wrong with the brakes. They test drive it but still no problems. After they say no problems I take it home and the same thing all over again. I'm thinking they're test drive is too short as I tell them.

The extended warranty that I have is Fidelity Warranty to 5 years or 100,000 miles. Anyways they were called to pay for what the dealer says it might be the Master Cylinder or Booster which is covered under my warranty (Fidelity). They (Fidelity) sent an inspector to diagnose the problem, but the inspector still says that nothing is wrong with the car. Plus they said that I had modified my car voiding warranty. They say that, beleive this, my 195/50-15 wheels and the 1.5 drop is cosidered a modification which would void my brake problem warranty. I have a stock brake set-up never touched. So now, Fidelity does not want to pay for this problem.

I think this is bull and they are trying not to pay.

Plus, the dealer replaced the master cylinder via Mazda today, and still, the same problem all over again.

I need some expert advice on both issues. I've gone nowhere with the dealer and my extended warranty coverage.

Please help. Thanks in advance.
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Sally_foryou

 

Well first of all I really doubt that lowering your car and changing the wheels are going to cause you problems like that. Good thing is you are protected from such assumptions also. Have the dealer and your warranty company explain to you the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. It's a Federal Law. It basically states that unless they can PROVE that something YOU did CAUSED the failure then they have to cover the warrantied part.

Now about the brakes. I would look at two things to help figure out the problem. Pull the wheels and take a close look at all the calipers, pads and rotors. Are the all the brake pads worn evenly from side to side or are the pads on one wheel worn signifigantly more? Also, look at the color of the brake rotors themselves. They are usually a dark grey color from normal use. Do any of them have an obvious 'blue' hue to them sort of like heat treated metal?

What you need to notice is that if one wheel shows obvious signs of advanced wear over the others then you may have a caliper problem on that wheel. If all the pads seem to be wearing evenly then it is probably something with the booster or master cylinder. Also, do you have ABS?

 

The main issue with this problem is that the car has been at the dealer for a week. The techinician says that he drives the car and no brake problems. I took the car at one time with the brakes engaged, he lifted the car with a floor jack front to rear and he could not move all four wheels. He says, maybe we should replace the master cylinder or booster. And no ABS BTW.

I originally paid the dealer to have them diagnose the problem, but they say it doesn't happen to them after test driving it. They won't admit to finding a problem, even though I have proven to them otherwise.

This is when the extended warranty was called. They say the dealer had no report about the diagnose or solution. So the extended warranty says the car is fine.

I did call them about the act you mentioned, but the person was out for the day. Left a message, ti'll next week.

By the way, I just got called from my dealer saying that Mazda will cover the booster for free as well. This is great news.

The techinician did mention that all of the brake components looked fine. But the front rotors are warped now cause of driving the car four times with the brakes engaged. Being that the dealer would say, everything is ok no problems go home.

The dealer said mazda would pay for the booster if and when I pay for the front discs and pads + labor. I still think that this is Bull, it's not my fault the rotors are warped.

But oh well, I really need my car and I figure 270.00 dollars for the front brake job is better than buying master cylinder and booster + parts.
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HURT FROM ZOLOFT

 

Actually you shouldn't have to pay for the pads and rotor replacement. They haven't failed from normal wear. They have failed because a covered, warrantied part caused them to fail. Make sure they understand that.

 

I've given my last drop of patience.

I've argued back and forth, they say that the rotors were like that from the first time I took the car.

Maybe a little when this first happened, but it has worstened from the times I've taken it home.

I will have to wait till next week now. They close sat. and sun. plus monday for Holiday.

I thank you for your information. I will follow up with the progress.
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HairyBerry

 

This is really shitty.

Demand a technician to ride with you. Rodslinger is exactly right about a lot of things. They have to prove that any modification you made destroyed the parts, they also have to cover any parts destroyed by a warrantied part. They can not say that they will replace a warrantied part if you replace parts destroyed by that warrantied part.

Demand that a technician ride with you on a longer ride until the exact problem you are speaking of occurs. Do not pay for anything or sign any papers or anything until exactly that has happened

 

Well, the dealer replaced the Booster, rotors and pads for the front and the issue is resolved.

They still don't have the root cause for the lock up, they think it was the paint I used for the calipers. The pads they say were getting stuck and would not release.

I'm still pissed, since they should of resolved this the same day, not 1 month later. Bastards.

Thanks to all.
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JuicyMelons

 

they are full of **** with the paint.

you didn't paint the friction surface of the pad right?

Next time flip the hell out and make fun of one of the guys wives.