Mazda Problems

The Brumby would have been a good choice 10 years ago, but finding one now that hasn’t been driven into the ground, beaten to death, or rusted away is nigh on impossible. Instead of buying a dodgy old your son a favour and buy him a decent car, one that doesn’t belong in a scrap yard, and will serve him well for some time into the future. I would go for a Hilux, Triton, or Bravo 2600.

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.

Based on your description it’s only worth what a scrap merchant might give you. If you really want to try and sell it ask $500 and you might get $200.

I wouldn’t expect them to touch the transmission when replacing the turbocharger. You could have another mechanic check the work done.

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.

The tyre guys are correct that carmakers set their pressures based on a blend of performance, economy, comfort and wear. Tyre companies generally advise that you run higher tyre pressures for better performance and economy, but that will compromise the ride comfort. I would run a higher pressure for the benefits to handling and fuel consumption. Make sure you rotate your tyres regularly, that will even out the wear over the life of the tyres.

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.

You would like to think that sales personnel have the knowledge to advise you on issues like this and do so before you buy, but it seems they don’t. And yes you should have asked to be sure that your phone is compatible. Phone Mazda’s customer relations service (1800 034 411) and discuss the problem with them.

The warning light is telling you there is a problem and that you should have a diagnostic check done on it. The idle speed is probably too low to sustain reliable running. It’s possibly a faulty sensor sending a false message to the computer.

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.