I have a 2006 Mazda 3 (5 speed manual) that recently needed a new engine. The car had 81,000 miles on it and we have promptly done all oil changes on it. One day it was fine and the next the motor was blown (horrific sound when the motor started). We had no warning, no oil leaks, etc. We checked the oil and the oil level was fine. We had it towed to our mechanic and he also checked the oil, the level was fine, but he noticed metal chips in it indicating a major engine problem. He said it needed a new engine. We were skeptical, even though this mechanic has been wonderful to us, so we had the car towed to a Mazda dealer. The dealer immediately told us the car was down 3 quarts of oil (lie) and the engine was blown because we didn't have oil in it. After much research on my mechanics part and mine, I'm finding out that many Mazda 3 engines have blown for no reason. We were told that there are NO rebuilt engines for this. My mechanic told me that no one will rebuild them because of all the problems they have had with them. We ended up spending $6,000 at the dealer for a new engine.
Has anyone else had a blown engine for no reason? And no, we do not race this car.

 

I haven't seen many blown engine posts (though you can search the forum). There have been a few mentioning a sudden onset of rattling at certain RPM's which sounds like a valve problem.
I'm suprised that there would be no warning sounds before it died... I can only guess that a bearing must have seized, then shreaded itself when you restarted. Though this is not a normal occurance for any engine.
If there was sludge in the engine that could have resulted in poor oil flow to one / multiple bearings or other parts, or if the oil pump died, there's not a lot that would be a sudden onset of failure that I can think of.
I'd have a mechanic figure out exactly what failed before fixing it... since if you rebuild it and put a bad part back in it'll just kill the new engine.

Good luck.

 

I fear I'm seeing the beginning signs of my engine going also
I've been doing some research when I came across this link....

http://apa.ca/readarticle.asp?id=547

Scary that Mazda doesn't seem to be acknowledging there is potentially a major problem with their cars.

 

I just found out that my 2007 Mazda 3 engine is blown. No warning sounds or lights, just started making a horrible knocking noise. I keep up on all maintenance, and my car is under warrenty too, but from reading other forums and posts, I may still have to pay $5,000 out of pocket.

 

Car just up and died. I have it serviced regularly, in the last two years have driven it less than 3000km, I take care of the car...end november I checked the oil and changed to winter tires, oil was fine. then christmas day the car started making a knocking/grinding noise that got worse really fast.
I checked the oil by guess and oil was dryer than 100 year old beef jerky.
No warning, no warning light, nothing. Now i am the owner of a mazda 3, 2.3 l dead car.
Mazda dealership stated there were no leaks found in the engine at all. No leaks under the car, nothing, suggesting perhaps it was burning oil and I did not notice?
I am sensitive to smells, I would have noticed and gotten it looked at immediately.
I can understand better if I drove the car to the ground, didnt get it serviced, didnt take care of it but this, I don't understand this at all.

to get a 30 day warrantied, refurbished engine is 3500.00 plus installation plus taxes...for this to happen again.

my goodness, no warning at all not even a hint of a cold or sneeze...

 

you guys are scaring the me out.... I just traded my Honda Accord for a Mazda SP3 2.3 few weeks back. I drive a bit over 500 miles a week so the car regardless of how well I take care of it will get some major miles out on. I would just hate to see it die - specially without any warnings.

 

For those that have had this problem, there is an oil light for low pressure. That should come on if there is no oil, was that switch & light tested on the dead engines? I'm surprised that it wouldn't have come on if the oil went away.

 

my speed has just over 42000 miles and i was sitting in stop and go traffic here at busch gardens and he motor just started knocking on the top end and it was loud. out of no where. i never got a light or any warnings. mazda is going to give me a new engine for free but they wont take it apart and tell me what failed.

 

I am slowly joining the blown engine club. 05 mazda3 2.3 manual with a whopping 108,000kms on it and always dealer serviced never driven hard. Motor runs great but get a good top end rattling noise aunder load at about 3000rpm.after sitting it puffs excess oil out the tailpipe but runs smooth just eats oil. Dealer quote was $6350 for new motorwhich i wont pay. Used is a crap shoot cause you'll end up with same problem and a well known rebuiler locally said they wont do it cause it will happen again. Very bad motor design. Mazda wont do anythinv to help but then again i am 2yrs past warranty. I am thinking of getting a wrecked 3 with the 2.0 as it is alot more hassle free and will bolt in. Just ned cpu and the dash guages then recode the keys to the donor set up. Few have done it n seems well worth and the used motors are substantialy cheaper to buy. Anyone else with same ideas or other alternatives id love to hear em. Btw new to this site but am veryfamiliar with the forums.

 

Mavis Tire Discount almost made me join the dead engine club. I took my car for a synthetic oil change and four days later I found myself in Cornwall , CT (AKA middle of nowhere) with a noisy engine and oil light lit up. The engine started making a rattling noise about 2,5k to 3k RPM. Since I don't push my car mush, I started noticing the noise every time I shifted. It also happened when trying to maintained speed on the highway. Mavis acknowledged the fault and had me drop off my car today for them to take it to a engine specialist they use in Tarrytown, NY. I was a bit hesitant at first and wanted them to take it to Mazda for repair, but after doing a bit of a search I found the shop they taking it to has a very good repudiation and do specialize in high end performance engines. I dropped off my car today and will be following up tomorrow with the shop to find out what went wrong.

 

I had a 2005 Mazda 3 GT 2.3 manual. The exact same thing happened at 100,000 km. (62,000 miles)
I was the second owner and luckily I had the extended warranty transferred. It was always dealer serviced, but I had to fight to have the short block replaced. I'm a middle aged woman who drives to work and back. They told me that I must have been off roading (um, no) or that I didn't maintain it. ( I had every single receipt to prove otherwise).
It just started knocking, I pulled over , and then game over. I won though, and they replaced it thus saving me 6000.00.
I sold the car.
Currently on Vancouver Craigslist, there are 2 Mazda3's for sale (2004/2005) with a replaced engine for sale. Another 2005 is for sale 'with a blown engine' for 2000.00.
How is Mazda getting away with this?
How is a 30,000.00 dollar car worthless after 62,000 miles?! Google "Mazda blown engine" and see how common it is...
I'm sorry that this happened to you. I was lucky.

 

I too have recently blown the engine on my three, no warning no light just a loud knock. I had the oil changed regularly and was coming up on the next change when it happened, apparently over 100k this engine starts to burn oil. I had always used synthetic oil so i believe that is the reason why it lasted as long as it did. There was not one drop of oil left in the engine. Someone had posted on a forum once that Mazda knows about the issue and has been helping in correcting the problem with engines that have blown. Does anyone know about this? I guess i am a gluten for punishment because i went out and bought a SP3 2013..... I love Mazda's

 

hi folks,
i got a 2005 mazda 2.3L 5-speed manual with 130k on it. Recently my engine light came on took it to auto zone and had them scan the CPU it read P2404 Evap hose detection leak. The gentleman there was helpful and suggested that it may be the EGR valve or the some fume canister that sits in trunk under the spare tire. I maintain this car well oil changes, etc. Please help anyone? anybody fix this issue any tips are appreciated.

thanks,
ATX2.3L

 

PLEASE HELP.....ANYONE

I have a 2010 Mazda 3 and got the oil change done by a private garage. Last week the platic seal around the oil filter broke and all the oil came out. As soon as the oil light came on i turned off the engine but i was apparently too late and the engine blew (according to Mazda). Now the dealership doesn't want to honor the warranty. I also have certain doubts about this dealership (Lehman Mazda in Miami) as i've read several bad reviews. My car was funtioning when it was towed but when they called me they said the engine didn't turn on. How do i know that they didn't turn the car on when it arrived at their lot and they blew the engine? Where does it say in the contract that i can't have my oil change done at a private garage?
If anyone has any suggestions, tips or can help PLEASE advise.

Thank you

 

I cant believe why anyone should or would pay $6000 plus for a replacement engine, there are plenty of damaged cars that go to auctions every week, log onto the auction sites and look for a low mileage damage car that suits your needs, you should be able to pick up one you need for spares even if you take it home and strip the parts off you need and take the rest to the scrap metal dealers, you will not only have a good engine complete with gearbox ready to install as a complete unit, but have plenty of spare parts, wreckers buy their cars from these auctions, in all its up to you where you spend your hard earned cash but for me it the auctions where i pick up my cars from, thanks for reading my advice.