Miata Mailing List: May 1996, Message #237
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   From: "D. Scott MacKenzie" 
Subject: Re: crank bolt and Mazda
   Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 23:53:23 -0400

At 10:07 AM 5/3/96 -0400, you wrote:
>Just read Bill Cardel's post about the crank.   Folks (90s people)....maybe
>it's time we united "somehow" and addressed this problem "collectively" to
>Mazda.  Anybody got any ideas?  I know Jeannie was going to send them
>something...but maybe we could pressure them a bit more for some answers.
>The evidence thus far seems to indicate problems "straight from the
>factory."  I don't have the broken crank...yet...nor any turbo add or the
>like....but I know the pulley on my 90 isn't spinning perfectly concentric
>and I'm worried that at some point the crank in mine is going to break.
>Even now, if I disassemble as Bill described....what about damage at this
>point?  If it was a factory problem occurring on alot of 90s (improper
>torque or defective bolt) then I for one think Mazda needs to issue a
>service bulletin and bear at least some of the "burden" here....regardless
>of how many miles and how far out of warranty the car is.
>
>I also wonder why....or if....MCA has attempted to get some response on this
>from MAZDA.  Come on MCA staff....if you want to really do something for
>your members, then help them out in situations like this.  I can't believe
>that MCA doesn't have some kind of "connection" that could get at least some
>discussion going with MAZDA!
>
>My .02 cents worth....
>
>Gus
>GHARRIS@UWF.EDU
>

What is needed first is FACTS!.  In your case, I would suggest
nondestructively testing the cranknose piece.  Dye penetrant works well.  If
there is any indication of cracking, that is the time to do something, not
after the fact when they have you by the short ones.  The second thing to do
is make sure your service records are in order.  The third is to wait a bit
until I get the analysis of the bolt and crankshaft that failed.  I will
make it available to everyone that asks for a copy.  Just my humble
opinion..... Scott
D. Scott MacKenzie

"I believe that intelligence behaves like matter and energy - there is a
fixed quantity in the universe that can not be created or destroyed.
Unfortunately, the population is growing."