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my 2007 mazda 5 started making rattling noises whenever i drive over a rough road. the mechanic suggested i replace the struts. i googled the problem and found out it’s very common in many cars built after 2005 and the solution is to replace the sway bar bushing which you can order in ebay for $20 ($10 each, free shipping). there are no youtube videos on replacing the sway bar bushing on a 2007 mazda 5 so i decided to create one.
3/29/15 fb post
WOW !!! so if i have the experienced "experts" change the transmission fluid (ATF) on my car, it will instead ruin my transmission. chances are someone in my family already did so i will have to flush and refill the atf. i wanted to just do a drain and refill (no flush) which replaces about 1/3 which to me is good enough so i went to autozone which is one of the top auto parts store. the sales personnel are suppose to be experienced experts. their computer does not have data on my 2007 mazda 5 because it's a rare car so they asked what the label specifies. i told them ATF M-V. autozone had about 10 different ATFs and one of them was Mercon V and they told me that's it. but i googled and turns out it's the wrong kind with different viscosity which will ruin your transmission. M-V stands for multivihicle type 5 (so V is roman numeral). it's sold online for half the price of the ATFs in autozone and it specifically has a warning that it's not mercon V.
so first i take my car to a mechanic because of the rattling sound - the mechanic says the struts needs to be replaced which would cost $300 but when i googled turns out it's a very common problem and the bushing just needs to be replaced. i did the job myself and it only cost me $20. even if i let a mechanic replace the bushing it would have been a big job and cost a lot because when i did the job myself i had to work BLIND - i couldn't see anything i was doing i had to rely on feel and sense of touch. no way any mechanic would be willing to do that they would have taken out the big parts blocking the access to the bushings.
and then there is the fucking oil change - the most routine and simple of all car maintenance jobs. even that i have to do myself. WHY? because the mazda 5 has a splash shield that is fastened by 7 bolts and 2 clips that has to be taken out to access the oil filter and drain plug. that's extra 10 minutes of work for the service technician or mechanic. so they're thinking - next time you have an oil change they will have to remove and re-install the splash shield again so SOLUTION ??? GET RID OF THE SPLASH SHIELD AND HOPE THE OWNER DOES NOT NOTICE. thank god it only cost me $40 to get a new one in ebay.
1/2/20 update
my mazda 5 was leaking oil. turns out when my dad had it oil changed, the mechanic did not put the O ring for the oil filter.
(for more of my knowledge bombs, click the "ian's knowledge bombs" banner at the top of this article and choose any article in the table of contents that piques your interest)
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