Looking for advice for blown Mazda Tribute engine

[slamilton]

My 2008 Mazda Tribute 4cyl started making engine noises today so I took it to the mechanic and they said there were metal shavings in the oil so it looks like I need a new engine and would be about $5000 to fix. It has 140,000km on it and is probably worth $3000 at best. Looking for advice on what other people would do? Get a second opinion, have cash for cars come pick up, fix it? It has good tires, replaced the muffler a few month ago so other than this it is in good shape relatively but I guess I would just be throwing money away to fix it. Thanks.

[Ken07AOVette]

Find a used engine. Try the salvage yards. SGI salvage, etc. Likely 1800 or so plus install and the engine will come with warranty.

[elk eater]

Originally Posted by slamilton

My 2008 Mazda Tribute 4cyl started making engine noises today so I took it to the mechanic and they said there were metal shavings in the oil so it looks like I need a new engine and would be about $5000 to fix. It has 140,000km on it and is probably worth $3000 at best. Looking for advice on what other people would do? Get a second opinion, have cash for cars come pick up, fix it? It has good tires, replaced the muffler a few month ago so other than this it is in good shape relatively but I guess I would just be throwing money away to fix it. Thanks.

Sell it for a what you can get and move on. Not worth fixing at 10 years old. Engine is the first of many problems to come. Not sure how you are with oil changes but they are a must.

[Tactical Lever]

Originally Posted by elk eater

Sell it for a what you can get and move on. Not worth fixing at 10 years old. Engine is the first of many problems to come. Not sure how you are with oil changes but they are a must.

Not familiar with the new Mazdas, but that sounds very unusual for one with that low mileage. I'd guess not related to oil, unless it had none! Maybe some flaw in engineering.

My old Dodge didn't make a noise, full of good oil, good temperature, and barely any load at 1800 rpm when it decided to spin a bearing.

If Ken's numbers for a used are half way accurate, and I suspect they are, you could probably add about $1500 or maybe more for an engine swap, if you aren't doing it yourself. Then you still have an engine with unknown history that may go at a similar point.

Could part it out and make enough to get a replacement, or just haul it away; but sounds like getting another is your best bet. Shame that it happened at such low mileage.

[slamilton]

So it actually seized up on the drive home, so going to wash my hands of this one. Going to try to get one of the tow and pay cash companies and see what I can get. Thanks for replies.

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by Ken07AOVette

Find a used engine. Try the salvage yards. SGI salvage, etc. Likely 1800 or so plus install and the engine will come with warranty.

Yup,a friend of mine just had the engine in his Honda Fit go. $2000 for a used engine with warranty. Got it back today and it runs like new.

[lannie]

Originally Posted by slamilton

So it actually seized up on the drive home, so going to wash my hands of this one. Going to try to get one of the tow and pay cash companies and see what I can get. Thanks for replies.

Good decision.

[daveyn]

Originally Posted by lannie

Good decision.

So $1800 for a used motor and $1500 to put it in.
Can you replace it for $3300 ?
Cause any used car you get will not only be an unknown engine but unknown everything and the car you have know you know to be sound except for the engine.
I'm thinking $3300 is a pretty cheap for that car, Just my thoughts.

[EZM]

Originally Posted by daveyn

So $1800 for a used motor and $1500 to put it in.
Can you replace it for $3300 ?
Cause any used car you get will not only be an unknown engine but unknown everything and the car you have know you know to be sound except for the engine.
I'm thinking $3300 is a pretty cheap for that car, Just my thoughts.

I'd agree - of you know the rest of the car is solid .....you might as well put the $3000=$3500 into it and knowing it's solid

VS

buying something UNKNOWN for the same money and a week later you drop a transmission, or the engine goes, etc..

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by daveyn

So $1800 for a used motor and $1500 to put it in.
Can you replace it for $3300 ?
Cause any used car you get will not only be an unknown engine but unknown everything and the car you have know you know to be sound except for the engine.
I'm thinking $3300 is a pretty cheap for that car, Just my thoughts.

Uhhh, $1800 on the Honda was the price installed.
And it came with a six month warranty. If the rest of the car is good it’s a no-brainer to me.
If you’re paying $3000 for a used car, private or a corner lot the warranty is likely going to last only as long as you’re out of sight.

[omega50]

What would realistic timelines to completion be if the Op went looking today for a used engine installed?

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by slamilton

My 2008 Mazda Tribute 4cyl started making engine noises today so I took it to the mechanic and they said there were metal shavings in the oil so it looks like I need a new engine and would be about $5000 to fix. It has 140,000km on it and is probably worth $3000 at best. Looking for advice on what other people would do? Get a second opinion, have cash for cars come pick up, fix it? It has good tires, replaced the muffler a few month ago so other than this it is in good shape relatively but I guess I would just be throwing money away to fix it. Thanks.

Mazda you have is 11 years old and the motor is hatched. Take the $3-5000 it will cost to repair it and go buy something 3-5 years old with less than 40,000 K on it. There are lots of small cars in the $8-12,000 range that fit that description.

Local Edmonton search shows 28 cars

https://www.autotrader.ca/cars/ab/st...advancedSearch

[EZM]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Mazda you have is 11 years old and the motor is hatched. Take the $3-5000 it will cost to repair it and go buy something 3-5 years old with less than 40,000 K on it. There are lots of small cars in the $8-12,000 range that fit that description.

Local Edmonton search shows 28 cars

https://www.autotrader.ca/cars/ab/st...advancedSearch

Agreed - If the OP has a budget of $8-12K ...... but we are talking about $3K here.

If I had a $3K budget, and this was my situation, I'd put a rebuilt motor into a used car that would get me around for the next few years.

[Austin]

I have a 2010 Mazda 3 in my garage about to be written off by insurance due to accident - too much body work

[Bigwoodsman]

Get some tannerite and have a blast! Kaboom! Go find another car!

BW

[Tactical Lever]

Which engine, and is this the 4x4 version (or is the "4x4 AWD?), or the FWD?

If you could get a decent mileage engine installed for $1800 that wouldn't be bad. Figured a fair bit more. Maybe less work to get one of those in and out than I figured.

Also, are these Mazda/Fords getting a good rep for reliability, in this trim?

[Buckhead]

It depends on the condition of the rest of the vehicle. If the body and interior and rest of the drivetrain are minty - then another engine will probably get you another 5 years at least.

140,000 kilometers isn't that many. Most vehicles will pass 300,000 kms given some regular maintenance. Years on a vehicle mean little if it was properly cared for.

[JB_AOL]

Yep. Definitely find another used Kotor and put it in. Those escapes/tributes last long.

[RandyBoBandy]

Originally Posted by slamilton

So it actually seized up on the drive home, so going to wash my hands of this one. Going to try to get one of the tow and pay cash companies and see what I can get. Thanks for replies.

Guys, he made up his mind 12 posts ago !!

[HyperMOA]

So is a tribute just a ford badged as a mazda? I'm wondering because from everything ever read on this forum, any Japanese car will go 1.2 million kilometers and only need a set of brakes. Just looking for clarification.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by HyperMOA

So is a tribute just a ford badged as a mazda? I'm wondering because from everything ever read on this forum, any Japanese car will go 1.2 million kilometers and only need a set of brakes. Just looking for clarification.

Good one!!!:

At one time Ford owned 30% but have sold their interest in all Asian motor companies including Mazda.

[JB_AOL]

Originally Posted by HyperMOA

So is a tribute just a ford badged as a mazda? I'm wondering because from everything ever read on this forum, any Japanese car will go 1.2 million kilometers and only need a set of brakes. Just looking for clarification.

Mazda supplied the 4 cylinder, ford supplied everything else, including the v6. so, if it's a 4cyl, yes it'll last forever.

But in general, those escapes/tributes last pretty good, there's still ones around as taxis, specifically the hybrids. I believe it was mostly because they were simple vehicles, not much to go wrong, and if it did, easy and cheap to fix.

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by HyperMOA

So is a tribute just a ford badged as a mazda? I'm wondering because from everything ever read on this forum, any Japanese car will go 1.2 million kilometers and only need a set of brakes. Just looking for clarification.

True story. One of my vehicles was a 1996 Toyota Previa minivan. I got rid of it in 2013 only because someone rear ended me and the insurance company deemed it uneconomical to repair.
It had 498000 on it. To this day, per mile it was the most cost effective vehicle I've ever owned.

[HyperMOA]

Originally Posted by JB_AOL

Mazda supplied the 4 cylinder, ford supplied everything else, including the v6. so, if it's a 4cyl, yes it'll last forever.

But in general, those escapes/tributes last pretty good, there's still ones around as taxis, specifically the hybrids. I believe it was mostly because they were simple vehicles, not much to go wrong, and if it did, easy and cheap to fix.

Being this was a 4 cylinder that failed; he mustn’t have been giving it its weekly AO gallon of sea foam. Operator error, the Japanese are still batting a 1000.



Interestingly enough if what you say is true, all the Ford stuff is functional and it’s the Mazda engine that has failed. INCONCEIVABLE!!!! Now ducks will walk on ceilings, cows will bark, and the sky will be chartreuse. What episode of twilight zone are we in?

[HyperMOA]

Originally Posted by bobtodrick

True story. One of my vehicles was a 1996 Toyota Previa minivan. I got rid of it in 2013 only because someone rear ended me and the insurance company deemed it uneconomical to repair.
It had 498000 on it. To this day, per mile it was the most cost effective vehicle I've ever owned.

But how is the Toyota you replaced it with costing anymore? It’s an impossibility.

[HyperMOA]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Good one!!!:

At one time Ford owned 30% but have sold their interest in all Asian motor companies including Mazda.

I know. I was just trying to cast the blame at Ford. It had to be their fault.

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by HyperMOA

But how is the Toyota you replaced it with costing anymore? It’s an impossibility.

Not sure what you mean...I replaced with a Trailblazer.
In 1/2 million kms with the Previa I replaced the serpentine belt twice and one water pump. Replaced the shocks once and I think did the brakes four times.
In 45 years of driving that van gave me by far the least problems.
In the 70000 kms I owned the Trailbazer I think I had more repairs.
Got an Acura MDX now...hope it is as dependable as the Toyota 🤞

[HyperMOA]

Originally Posted by bobtodrick

Not sure what you mean...I replaced with a Trailblazer.
In 1/2 million kms with the Previa I replaced the serpentine belt twice and one water pump. Replaced the shocks once and I think did the brakes four times.
In 45 years of driving that van gave me by far the least problems.
In the 70000 kms I owned the Trailbazer I think I had more repairs.
Got an Acura MDX now...hope it is as dependable as the Toyota 🤞

Trailblazers were fairly notorious duds too bad. I was just making a joke assuming you bought another Toyota. If you speak to any Toyota owner on here they never need anything but tires every 475,000 km. So I was just teasing that your new toyota must be as cheap to operate as your old Toyota. Just bustin chops, nothing personal.

[Ken07AOVette]

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by HyperMOA

Trailblazers were fairly notorious duds too bad. I was just making a joke assuming you bought another Toyota. If you speak to any Toyota owner on here they never need anything but tires every 475,000 km. So I was just teasing that your new toyota must be as cheap to operate as your old Toyota. Just bustin chops, nothing personal.

Hey, no offense taken...I assumed you thought I'd bought another Toyota
But you're right, when I first got the Trailblazer I thought it the perfect size and such for what I needed. I wouldn't say it was bad...but it was in the shop every few months for something or other.
I've had the Acura only eight months now...but other than an oil change it has been great (fingers crossed).