Mazda 3 Problems

It’s a toss of a coin, both are good cars and should give you a good run for the five years you want to keep them.

Changing the battery in a current Mazda 3’s key fob is a simple job once you know the process. Start by locating the small button on the back of the key near the silver metal key ring lug, and depressing it. You can then tug the metal key ring lug out and pull the manual accessory key out of the key fob.

Take a flat-bladed screwdriver and twist it gently in the slots where the manual accessory key is located. This starts separating the two halves of the key fob, allowing you access to the battery, though you will need to run an old credit or gift card down each side of the key fob to fully separate the halves.

Once you have the case open you will see the thin, round Panasonic CR2025 battery which has a rubber weather-proofing cover. Once you’ve removed the old battery and switched the cover to your new battery, you can start reassembly by putting the new battery in the key shell, with the positive side facing up.

Snap the key fob halves back together, push the accessory key back in, and then test to make sure the keyless entry works on your car.

It is important to note that this guide is for the current fob-style key and the process will be different for earlier pop-out keys.

The Mazda 3 is a great little car but, with a towing limit of 1300kg, it is not a burly towing brute. Engineers focused on making the car ride nicely and handle well, rather than being able to support large loads off a tow bar, so it would be seriously ill-advised to tow much more than a very small dinghy.

So long as it is serviced regularly and kept clean there is no reason a Mazda 3 won't be a reliable car. Watch for consumables like tyres, brakes and shock absorbers being replaced with high quality parts as it is a sign the car is likely to have been looked after.

In a word, yes! The most popular car in Australia, the Mazda 3, has been on sale since 2003 and offers a wide range of specifications and models to suit almost any needs or wants. With generous specifications, pleasing styling and even a turbocharged high-performance version, there isn't really a bad model in the Mazda 3 line-up.

Has it just started making the noise, or has it been doing it since new? Try running it on higher octane fuel and see if the noise goes away.

Mazda produce their super-popular compact car, the Mazda3, in several facilities around the world, including Hofu, Japan, Bogota, Colombia, Tehran, Iran, and Taoyuan, Taiwan. It is built by Mazda themselves, who call it the Axela in Japan and China.

It appears to be a problem with the red. Contact Mazda on 1800 034 411.

Since their introduction to Australia in 2003 Mazda's compact car, the Mazda3, has used a front-wheel-drive format. This continues a tradition from the prior 323 model, dating back to the early 1980s. Some people have been confused by the Mazda CX-3 and larger CX-5 SUVs, which are based off the Mazda2's sub-compact platform, and Mazda6 family car platform, respectively. The confusion stems from the fact the CX-3 and CX-5 look like tall 4WD off-road vehicles, which are often primarily rear wheel drive with part-time front wheel drive to make them four wheel drive. However, the Mazda3 passenger cars, including the high-performance turbocharged MPS model, have all been front-wheel-drive only.

Thanks to modern security systems gaining access to a Mazda 3 without using the factory keys is pretty tricky. The door and boot (trunk) locks are very good at protecting the car from thieves using screwdrivers to punch the lock out, as they did in the past. Modern immobilisers, computers and wiring systems are also adept at preventing a thief from doing the old Hollywood hotwire like you see in movies. The best bet is to call a locksmith and have them open the car for you.