For the first time the Mazda CX-7 appeared in 2006 and immediately became a very desirable car, many bought such a crossover. But for some reason, after some time in the secondary market CX-7 did not use special demand. And now we will find out why.
It has been 10 years since the appearance of this car, and apparently it still looks good, but much depends on the previous owner. The paintwork is not particularly durable, and chrome elements also lose their gloss over time. On some cars by the age of 10, corrosion may appear at the bottom of the doors.
It happens that the headlights mist over, if a lot of moisture accumulates inside the headlights, this can negatively affect the ignition unit, which is located under the headlight. New such unit costs 300 dollars. A new xenon headlamps will cost $ 1,000, but you can take a high-quality equivalent for 450. The rear lights also sometimes need to be replaced, the original will cost $ 350, and the original can be taken as 150. The reason is a constructive flaw, with long work on cars until 2009, the body of the rear lights does not stand up to excessive temperature and starts to melt, sometimes it even burns through. But to prevent this from happening in the future, you just have to put diode lamps instead of standard ones. Diode lamps emit significantly less heat.
Electronics
With electronics, problems usually do not happen, it rarely happens that the CD changer starts to get bogged down, and sometimes the standard alarm system itself turns on. There are cases that the climate control stops cooling, which means that the clutch, including the air conditioning compressor, has failed, a new one will cost $ 140. On the run of 120,000 km. the bearing may end up worn out, after which the shaft will jam, this will lead to the replacement or repair of the compressor. If the compressor is restored, it will cost $ 200, and if you buy a new one, you will have to spend $ 380. But it is better to simply change the bearing in advance, and such expenses can be avoided.
On the earliest turbocharged cars, the high-pressure fuel pump usually costs $ 500. If suddenly the Mazda CX-7 begins to twitch during acceleration, and the fuel consumption increases further, it means that the oxygen concentration sensor in the exhaust gases is wrong, this sensor is in front of the converter. The original one costs $ 300, but it’s better to take a non-original, which costs much less. The complexity of the situation is that even replacing this sensor for a long time does not always help, especially as regards cars manufactured after 2008, despite the fact that the lambda probe was made more reliable.
The thing here is in the layout of the car, if the fluid from the brake system tank leaks, then it immediately falls on the wiring harness of the motor control system. Brake fluid corrodes the insulation of the wires, causing a short circuit in the oxygen sensor connector. There were quite a few such cases, so this problem was recognized as a guarantee and dealers changed the wiring harnesses and the sensor itself under warranty. But in order to prevent this from happening, sometimes you have to look under the hood and see if nothing flows anywhere.
If the cars of 2006 during the acceleration also twitch, starting with low revs, then the reason for this may be "raw" software motor control. And if the signal is turned on that the motor is faulty, then the VSC intake manifold valve may be to blame. Especially during frosts, the vacuum drive did not have enough power to move the damper. After 2008, this problem was eliminated by installing a more powerful drive.
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Already after 4 years of operation, the steering wheel and gear selector look worn. The leather on the chairs is quite durable and retains its appearance for a long time, but on the sides of the chairs and in the back is used not so durable leatherette. The fuel consumption of the Mazda CX-7 is quite large, if you drive slowly, it will be about 16 liters per 100 km.
Motors
Most of the difficulties delivers turbocharged engine with a volume of 2.3 liters. It was installed on the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6. For Europe, this engine remained as it was originally - works on 98th gasoline, gives a power of 260 liters. with., and for America and Russia this engine was tuned to 95th gasoline and reduced its capacity to 244 and 238 liters. with. respectively.
These engines are equipped with a BorgWarner K04 turbocharger, which rarely serves more than 40,000 km. Moreover, it is also expensive - $ 1,800 for a new one, and for a refurbished one - $ 800. But there have been cases when this turbocharger has survived to 150,000 km., But they are very rare. A large amount of smoke will tell you that problems started, especially if the car has been working at idle for a long time. This applies to cars produced before 2008, because they have an unsuccessful design of the cartridge unit of supercharging. After restyling this situation was corrected. But still there was a threat that the oil supply pipes would coke. So, it is best to put a turbo timer on the car, and change the oil every 8,000 km. run
You also need to monitor the level of oil, because the 2.3-liter naturally aspirated engine consumes a lot of oil, and the turbo version eats even more - 0.7 liters per 1000 km. If there is little oil, the connecting rod may break or the crankshaft may crack. This engine can not survive a serious repair, because you can break the threads in the aluminum cylinder block, tightening the steel bolts.
A chain is used in the drive of the gas distribution mechanism; there are cases when it stretches after 50,000 km. The faster to drive a car, the faster it will wear. The new chain is worth 70 dollars. If the chain stretches a bit, then the load on the VVT system phase coupler coupling will increase and it will also require replacement to 80,000 km. Its cost is 300 dollars. The symptom will be a crack in the first seconds after starting the engine.
If you ignore, there will also be a sound that resembles the sound of a diesel engine, the chain will continue to stretch, blows will appear on the head cover, then the gear can break, and its fragments fall under the chain. Then the valve will meet with the pistons. But such a sad outcome happens only in very neglected cases. By the way, on cars until 2008, the key was considered a weak link in the coupler of the phase shifter, after 2008 it was made durable, then the gear wheel began to fail faster, and in 2010 the entire assembly was made durable.
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There are still cases that noise appears from under the hood of about 90,000 km. This means that the right hydraulic support of the motor requires replacement, in the original it costs $ 100, and an analog can be bought for 50. It can fail not only because of the leak, but also from overheating, since the viscosity of the fluid will decrease and the efficiency work too. Modification gidroopor engine was several times, changed the types of oil. Also, we must not forget that the 2.3-liter turbocharged engine does not like overheating either. If the fan is constantly running and does not turn off for a long time after turning off the motor, then this is a reason to be alerted.
The cause of overheating can be clogged with dirt radiator. Therefore, every 2-3 years you need to clean it. Also, the cause of overheating may be a thermostat, which seizes after 140 000 km. run The new original thermostat costs $ 40, analogs cost about the same. In 2011, the thermostat was significantly improved, it changed the material from which the valve is made.
There is an alternative to such a problematic motor, but it is very rare in Russia - a diesel engine with a volume of 2.2 liters, which is installed on the Mazda CX-7 for the European market. In 2009, they began to install a more reliable engine in the CX-7 - an atmospheric 2.5-liter L5 engine. This engine has 4 cylinders with a larger diameter and piston stroke, more reliable timing, modified intake system. Problems with this motor is really small. The chain serves not less than 200 000 km. run After about 120,000 km. adjust the valve and clean the throttle.
Transmission
To the 2.5-liter engine is a 5-speed automatic transmission FS5A-EL, which was established in 2004. Initially, she had problems - after 150,000 km. worn out aluminum back cover. But all the problems were fixed and in the CX-7, this box was already installed in perfect order, so it can serve at least 250,000 km.
The 6-speed automatic transmission - AW6AX-EL, which goes to a 2.3-liter engine is also reliable and serves as much as a 5-pounder. Unless a 6-pounder doesn’t like frosts, if the temperature is lower than –30 ° C, the oil will begin to thicken and the friction clutches may slip. But after 2011, the thermal valve was improved, and the problem was solved by itself, and the car could drive in any frost. In nature, there are also mechanical boxes, 5 and 6-speed. 5-pounder, which goes to the 2.5-liter engine does not cause problems. A 6-pounder, which comes with a 2.3-liter engine can cause some problems - if you drive too hard, the synchronizers will wear out by 100,000 km.
On vehicles manufactured before 2010, the power steering was also not frost-resistant, with severe frosts there was an overpressure due to which the hoses could break. In 2010, this problem was forgotten, because they began to use more reliable clamps and shortened the pipeline. In the transfer case, the oil seals in the rear gearbox also begin to flow after about 90,000 km. run After about 8 years of operation, oil may leak from the transfer case housing, because by this time the sealant has become obsolete.
But despite this, the transfer case has a rather large resource and it rarely breaks, therefore, with all-wheel drive in the Mazda CX-7, everything is in order. By the way, all the cars with the 2.5-liter engine are front-wheel-drive, they have everything in order with rear wheel bearings, but on vehicles with a 2.3 engine, rear wheel bearings begin to buzz after about 80,000 km. Original bearings go along with the hub, such a node will cost $ 250.
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In general, in the Mazda CX-7 strong suspension, but after 30 000 km. The front stabilizer bushes may start to creak, but still continue to work. They are inexpensive, so if the creak is annoying, you can change them. Shock absorbers serve approximately 80,000 km., The front ones cost $ 80 each. Together with the shock absorbers fail on the same mileage and support shock absorbers, they cost $ 30. All the other elements of the suspension serve quietly up to about 140,000 km. After this run, the ball bearings fail first, but you have to buy them assembled with levers, each such node costs 400 euros.
The front brakes are rather weak, especially on cars before restyling, the discs required replacement after 20,000 km. not because of wear, but because of the heartbeat. Discs changed under warranty. The problem with the discs was solved on cars produced after 2009. Original discs cost $ 260, but for 80 you can find high-quality counterparts.
Which car is worth buying and which one is not worth
As a result, the CX-7 with a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine is not the best option to buy, despite the fact that the prices of such cars are quite attractive. In the secondary market, even Honda CR-V is more expensive for substantial money. If you still have a desire to become the owner of the Mazda CX-7, it is better to look for a car with a 2.5 engine, so that it would be no more than 5 years old. Such a machine will cost about 850,000 rubles. Of course, this car is not so fast and it does not have all-wheel drive, but it is reliable.
Sensations from driving a Mazda CX-7
Если под капотом все-таки стоит турбированный мотор с объемом в 2,3 литра, то автомобиль довольно шустрый, несмотря на то, что автомат не самый быстрый. Suspension довольно жестковатая, но информативный руль, минимальные крены и быстрые реакции на движения рулем делают автомобиль приятным для водителя. Если есть желание подрифтить, то можно выключить систему стабилизации, но на скорости, не превышающей 40 км/ч. В занос машина входит по классической схеме – сначала сносит все 4 колеса, а потом в плавный занос уходит задняя часть.
Driving sensations are quite pleasant, but since the suspension is slightly stiff, comfort on rough roads leaves much to be desired. Also, insulation could be better, you can hear the engine, tires and other road noise.
Further test drive Mazda CX-7 with mileage:
