Lemon Law for CX-7 due to Turbo Lag/Knocking/Pinging/Black Smoke...FIXED!!!!!

[slw]

Being new at this internet forum stuff, I thought I would create a new thread as well as the reply I made to the Occasional knocking/ping thread . . . .

My 2007 Grand Touring CX7 has knocking/pinging/black smoke, hesitation and turbo lag. The knocking/pinging/smoke typically happens around 45 mph giving a tad more gas and not all the time (not stomping on it). . . . but several times it was because I had to quickly maneuver around someone.

Finally, after storming into Mazda again, a technician rode with me and witnessed it. He drove it the next day and was able to make it happen where we were never able to duplicate it before. I put only premium gas in the car so it's not the gasoline. The tech said he would report this to Mazda engineers to get a fix. That was October and not a word to date.

This is a safety issue and I'm tired of being apprehesive when turning left in front of traffic because of the several near death experiences where my margin of safety was compromised leaving me in a new situation where my vehicle leaps forward like a bat out of hell where I have to slamn on my brakes to keep from hitting the car in front of me.

I have 12,219 miles on my CX7 and have started the process for lemon law for Mazda to repurchase my vehicle less $2K for the mileage. Mazda has responded offering to fix the knock/ping/smoke issue but says that the turbo lag is normal. They will also throw in some money for my trouble and give me a 5 yr extended warranty/100,000 miles.

The attorney called yesterday with my 2 choices: either except the offer and if the problem continues I have bought the cow OR . . . . start litigation against Mazda which will take months.

Right now I'm driving my husbands Tundra Double-Cab which is just huge as I've been instructed not to drive my CX7. We are thinking this over and will get back to him on Tuesday. Just not sure what to do.

My husband is afraid that Mazda will just restore the defaults to the turbo to get rid of the knock/ping/smoke issue and when that is done my turbo lag will return to it's original poor state. They have upgraded it more than once so they say and it appears to be better. I've sort of learned how to drive it giving it light gas and avoiding turning left or crossing streets without a signal. Now, is this any way to have to live?!

It's a great looking car and the first one I purchased without researching the heck out of it. Bought it on looks alone . . . . huge mistake. And, the tiny little test drive around the block did not indicate any turbo lag. We were excited to take our new car out on a road trip to San Diego and had our first near death experience just 30 days after ownership.

And . . . .just an added note: I only get 13 mph. Could be because I am a Speedy Gonzales in this car when it's behaving normal.

Just very disappointed in what is a great looking car.

Anyone out there in the process of and/or successfully completed a lemon law for the CX-7 with similar concerns?

[MAZOOM]

No, when they replace whatever they do, the turbo lag will be the same, they gave the PCM a reflash and you cannot revert back to an old reflash.

Just a note, in hot conditions, and if you sit at a light for more than a minute or so, the TMIC will heatsoak and you will experience increased turbo lag, and ultimately lower performance, heat is not a turbocharged vehicles friend(ESP with a TMIC), when rolling the TMIC gets air, and cools it down.

It's hard for me to give any sort of thoughts or experiance because after the reflash, and the mods my turbo lag is a non issue.

[astraelraen]

The problem with what you are describing to me is that Mazda USA will probably make you sign something saying the course of action they are taking is acceptable and it releases them of any liability, etc.

They will probably make you do that before they fix anything, so who knows how long/if they can fix whatever black smoke/pinging, etc you are talking about.

I seriously doubt they will give you this warranty and any cash up front without you signing anything.

You could proceed and see if they do try to fix the pinging/smoke etc, but DO NOT sign anything releasing them before the problem is actually fixed.

[slw]

That's why we are in a quandry as to what to do. We asked for a contingency clause saying that if it wasn't fixed, they would repurchase the vehicle and they said no. The Attorney said that they want to fix it and make us happy.

So, if we accept the fix we basically have to be quiet from here on out as I understand. Cannot do a lemon law after the fact.

I even asked if they would accept me basically trading for different Mazda vehicle to keep the money in their court (the CX9 with more money from us to make up the difference). . . but the attorney said they would not do that.

The attorney wants to make money I'm sure and the manufacturer has to pay all of the attorney fees. But, do we head down this path for some silly ping/knock/ and black smoke since they keep saying that turbo lag is normal? I've read so many forums on the turbo lag being similar to mind so it is an issue of compromising safety. Perhaps they didn't have all the bugs worked out in the first phase. I bought mine in June 2006 and it was the first one on the lot.

It's a scarey proposition doing this. I think we need to ask the attorney if he thinks this is something he can win or if we should just take the fix and then sell the darn thing.

My son said that the car was designed to use 103 octane or something and that's why it reacts to our west coast premium the way it does. Not sure if that's true.

Anyway, I will continue to watch the posts to see if anyone as similar experiences and also post our experience with the lemon law should we decide to move forward with this.

[mikomi]

It's unfortunate you are having problems. But here are some things you should know, perhaps too late... but here they are..

Fuel Octane
The CX-7 runs on 91 octane (R+M/2 method) gasoline or higher. (let's not get into the 87 octane stuff discussion in here please) so I don't know where your son got his 103 octane from.

Turbo Lag
Unfortunately, lag is a characteristic of turbo-powered cars. As for the problematic left-turns, I just play it safe and take my time. I just come to accept the characteristics of the CX-7 and I drive accordingly.

With those two things out of the way. One of our members filed for lemon. Still waiting to hear word on the verdict, but his problem pertains to something else (transfer case). One thing you have to realize like I have said before is the lag is something inherent in turbo cars, not just the CX-7. The other problems are within the warranty and given the chance, Mazda should repair it. But the lag will always be there. Personally I find accepting their offer tempting because the lag is something I'm used to and never once had I had a situation where I was in danger and they did offer better warranty and some cash. I'd take the cash and upgrade the car, but that's me.

I sincerely hope things end with a positive resolution for you.

[MAZOOM]

Haha, at the most the car was designed to use 93, and with what happened with the MazdaSpeed6, they programed to car to run on 93, and since a majority of people can only run 91(in so cal, etc..) they had a recall done so they could reflash the computer to run on 91, but the power would only drop off above 4000RPM's, and the CX-7 was primarily designed for 91 s it's not really an octane issue unless you're not filling up with 91.

You have an early build, and those we're the ones with the most problems. The turbo lag is normal, and with the latest reflash it really shouldn't be a problem, but most seem to exagerate the turbo lag problem, manly because they know nothing about turbocharged veichles, and they expect instant power.

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q...elleration.flv

This is my CX-7, if you notice, the only lag is below 2000RPM's, that's the turbolag, this was taken in a cool climate so it will be much more pronouced from a stop on hot days.

[slw]

Thanks for the info. I love the looks of this car . . . hottest little liquid platinum SUV on the market and I truly do have fun zipping around in it when it behaves and, I guess I am ultimately safer being more cautious these days.

I'm thinking we will take the deal. The extra money for our trouble will be put towards the car to pay it off quicker and the extended warranty is a bonus. By then, I can either sell it or have gotten used to it's idiosincricies especially if the clang/knock/black smoke issue is nonexistent.

We've owned a lot of cars over the years and never had trouble with any of them. I traded in a perfectly good paid off Toyota Sequoia for my CX7 to have something smaller. I stepped out of my Toyota comfort zone into the world of Mazda. I do have to admit that I had the most pleasant buying experience ever . . . so completely opposite of our experiences with Toyota.

Also, I think it's time to learn how to use the manual shift for those emergency situations (never tried it).

Any suggestions other than not driving like a Speedy Gonzales to improve the mpg from 13?

I would just like to thank all those who have listened and offered suggestions.

Have a great day!

[mikomi]

Well, I'm a Toyota person myself too. Camry, Corolla, Camry, 4Runner, Hilux, Fortuner, so this is my first non-Toyota. Haha, not disappointed.

Anyway, for trying to save on gas, try not to accelerate too hard. I get 12mpg mostly, but I'm sprinting every time I accelerate. I've achieved 19mpg before in the city in gridlock traffic, so it's doable, but I just began modifying my car and know my mpg is going to plummet because I'm simply having too much fun. I think that's the biggest thing, don't accelerate hard and you're good to go.

[Shaz]

I'm in the boat as well. I'm a Mitsubishi guy having owned an Eclipse and a Montero Sport so this will be my first Mazda and so far I'm liking the zoom-zoom experience

[Fuqit]

Sucks that your having so many problems. With the turbo, from the time you hit the gas, there is a few seconds delay... then the turbo kicks in and you take off. That is normal and my wife has that problem. Mashing on the gas in 1st gear is probably the "worst".

It would be a good idea to learn the "stick" paddle shift. You have a little bit more control over your speed. You also pick up speed faster, too.

Hope you get your leagal issues resolved as Mazda is generally a great place to purchase a car!