I don't think oil is supposed end up here

[Big_Burd]

I've searched around a bit, but being that I'm an idiot when it comes to cars compared to you folks I don't even really know where to start. My buddy who's a mechanic is coming by tomorrow to give it a look and help me out but being that you guys are mazdaspeed guru's I hope you can help us narrow this down.

Gist is my 08 ms3 has funky brown stuff on the passenger side next to the tmic (honestly could be dirt but i don't see how it could end up there, when I was gone for the last couple weeks on vacation we were hit by a massive haboob/ dust storm)

Also I have what appears to be motor oil on the driver side on top of something that I can't identify because I haz no mechanical skills. I've cleaned up the oil before to see if it came back..and it does

Background on the car, 91xxx miles no engine problems except I replaced the thermostat 1500 miles ago and when the car over heated I still went on my way home since I was just a couple miles away (probably a dumb move on my part and my only assumption is my head gasket went). Only mods are a hks sri and a cobb ti
Thanks guys, and here are some pics

[snailD]

the pictures wont get bigger for me but i almost guarantee its your passanger motor mount

[dpolseno41]

That motor mount is shot, thats the easy one. The oil on the linkage looks like a transmission leak to me but that's a blind guess.

[CW42]

I was going to say mount as well. If it is a transmission leak could that be associated with a failing mount as well since the motor and/or transmission could drop somewhat? Do you get a lot of vibrations in the car through the pedals, steering wheel etc.?

[pzr2874]

Have you pulled your intake to see if it's pooled up in there?

That's not the PMM.... It's on the wrong side to be a PMM

[Big_Burd]

I do get some vibes but off and on, it's hard for me to tell because I know my struts are shot and I"m waiting to get my koni's slapped on. My clutch definitely does not feel as precise as it used to be but I just assumed that it was from wear and tear of 91xxx miles

Originally Posted by pzr2874 Have you pulled your intake to see if it's pooled up in there? That's not the PMM.... It's on the wrong side to be a PMM

I'll go yank the intake now and check

[dpolseno41]

Your PMM blew. That's without a doubt.

[pzr2874]

Shiiit, I didn't even look at the 3rd pic. Sorry guys, yeah... the pmm.

[Dmurray06]

Originally Posted by pzr2874 Shiiit, I didn't even look at the 3rd pic. Sorry guys, yeah... the pmm.

i was just about you flame you too, lol

[Dash08]

As others have said, that crusty brown shit right near the PMM is the fluid they fill the mount with. It busted and shot its load. Replace mount with an aftermarket piece and never think about it again.

That reddish fluid is most likely gear oil. Not 100% sure how it got there, but check that black rubber boot just above where the fluid has collected.

That part may be fluid filled as well and broke, spilling fluid directly below it. Squeeze it and see if you spot any tears in the material or if any further fluid comes out.

Check it out.

[kimura]

is the Gen 1 PMM inevitably destined to fail?

the only upgraded mount I have is the RMM. I like to replace things before they die to avoid the potentially disastrous repercussions of fail

[claudio]

The oil on top of the transmission is probably caused by a bad pivot seal: HOW-TO: shaft pivot seal replaced

[Dash08]

Originally Posted by claudio The oil on top of the transmission is probably caused by a bad pivot seal: HOW-TO: shaft pivot seal replaced

That's most likely the problem.

It was verified by a reputable member that it is not the boot, but the seal underneath the boot.

[Big_Burd]

Originally Posted by claudio The oil on top of the transmission is probably caused by a bad pivot seal: HOW-TO: shaft pivot seal replaced

Boom thanks man! That's what it has to be..there's no oil anyhwere else except right under that boot. Seems like an easy fix that I could do on my own . How difficult is it to get the motor mounts out? I'm probably going to replace all of them since the RMM is probably right behind the PMM.

[alphasaur]

Originally Posted by Big_Burd Boom thanks man! That's what it has to be..there's no oil anyhwere else except right under that boot. Seems like an easy fix that I could do on my own . How difficult is it to get the motor mounts out? I'm probably going to replace all of them since the RMM is probably right behind the PMM.

Mounts are easy, I did all three on my own with my buddy handing me tools while under the car. Supposedly transmission mount is a bitch but idksolol, just beast that motherfucker into place.

[Big_Burd]

So I called the mazda dealer and they're ordering the shaft pivot seal for me, I also ordered the James Barone 88 durameter trilogy mounts. I decided I'd just replace them all while at it. I can't wait.

I was even tempted to order a tranny mount but I don't think I could do that on my own and fuck paying for labor.

Depending how easy I can get the motor mounts in I still might end up doing it. I have another car to drive around for a few weeks so if I end up taking while I don't have to worry. I might even get the balls to do my struts on my own, but I don't want to fuck up with a spring compressor and end up with a wild one.

[Sid3wayS]

If you ordered the trilogy then its all 3, the rmm, tmm and pmm.

[CW42]

I just looked down by my battery box at my driver side mount and I can see that dried rusty looking liquid as well. This could explain my crazy vibes and rough idle I guess. I thought they replaced my mounts but I guess I was wrong. From what little I can see it doesn't look new but my passenger's side one is pretty nice. They must have just replaced my pass side mount and transmission mount. I was under the impression ALL mine had all been replaced recently. Could a bad motor mount in that location also cause a rough exhaust from all the shaking? I assume that's the key mount since it's the one with the recall for the number 10 bolt (was told that was done when it was new by Mazda).

[Big_Burd]

Originally Posted by Sid3wayS If you ordered the trilogy then its all 3, the rmm, tmm and pmm.

See like I told you I'm a noob..I'm mechanically inclined but I've yet to work on cars a whole lot, and thankfully my ms3 has been a saint when it comes to reliability.

That being said from what I've read the rmm and tmm are the one's that noticeably improve performance, and the pmm is the one that's blown.

Just to make this idiot proof as possible, this is what I ordered Trilogy Mount Package 88 Durameter [MZ3MS3TRILOGY8088] - $430.00 : James Barone Racing, Custom Fabrication

Also CW42, sounds like it is a mount, but don't listen to me. I also don't understand why they'd fill them with a splooge other than it makes it clear as day when it splooges.

[pzr2874]

^Good stuff.

[Dash08]

Originally Posted by Big_Burd See like I told you I'm a noob..I'm mechanically inclined but I've yet to work on cars a whole lot, and thankfully my ms3 has been a saint when it comes to reliability. That being said from what I've read the rmm and tmm are the one's that noticeably improve performance, and the pmm is the one that's blown. Just to make this idiot proof as possible, this is what I ordered Trilogy Mount Package 88 Durameter [MZ3MS3TRILOGY8088] - $430.00 : James Barone Racing, Custom Fabrication Also CW42, sounds like it is a mount, but don't listen to me. I also don't understand why they'd fill them with a splooge other than it makes it clear as day when it splooges.

Good shit, man. You're doing it right.

Do it right the first time and never do it again.

If you need help with wrenching, reach out to your local Nator chapter, they can really be invaluable. Make a thread, ask for help from fellow members. Make a meet out of it. Someone is always willing to help.

[CW42]

I'm confused now. The transmission mount is the one they supposedly replaced which is the one that has dried fluid around it. Must just be residual gunk. I think the rear motor mount is fine. I would have seen fluid on the ground from it at some point wouldn't I? Wish I could figure out what could cause vibrations and a rough idle like this. I actually wish it was a mount so this would make some sense.

[Big_Burd]

Originally Posted by Dash08 Good shit, man. You're doing it right. Do it right the first time and never do it again. If you need help with wrenching, reach out to your local Nator chapter, they can really be invaluable. Make a thread, ask for help from fellow members. Make a meet out of it. Someone is always willing to help.

I might end up doing just that. My buddy that's a mechanic is a honda owner so needless to say he can sometimes turn into a bitch. He will tell me it's a piece of shit (hates how cluttered the motor is), however he'll jump on any opportunity to drive it lol

I really want to give it a go on my own though, I feel that it forces me to know what's going on verses someone else just wrenching and me watching, I'm also one of those assholes that hates working in groups if possible.

If I end up in a bind though I'm definitely down to nator it up. Shit even if I don't need help I've still never met any of the AZ dudes. I have raced a bunch of the fuck heads tho

Originally Posted by CW42 I'm confused now. The transmission mount is the one they supposedly replaced which is the one that has dried fluid around it. Must just be residual gunk. I think the rear motor mount is fine. I would have seen fluid on the ground from it at some point wouldn't I? Wish I could figure out what could cause vibrations and a rough idle like this. I actually wish it was a mount so this would make some sense.

Ha that's no bueno, my problems are solved so go ahead, I give you permission to jack my thread and post up some pics. Without them I have zero clue what you're talking about.

I'd honestly just take it back to them and bitch that they didn't fix it properly.

[CW42]

Sorry. Didn't mean to go off point. It just got me thinking about my mounts when I saw your exploded pmm. Just odd that things always seem to be 100 times worse after a dealer repair.

[Big_Burd]

Yeah never go back to a dealer unless it's for warranty work. They charge you ridiculous prices for oem shit and labor.

[jack_hammer]

Passenger mount it's the only liquid filled mount. Transmission and rear motor mounts have no liquid.

Going from all stock mounts to 88 duro trilogy is going to be vibe city. Don't get nervous and pussy out. Give it a couple thousand miles and it'll settle down a bit.

Probably sent from a toilet

[mikeblackspeed3]

Originally Posted by claudio The oil on top of the transmission is probably caused by a bad pivot seal: HOW-TO: shaft pivot seal replaced

Totally this! I had to replace mine a few months ago. There's a thread here somewhere with the part # and how-to. Costs about 5 bucks, and not too tough, just a bit fiddly to put it back together.

[LatinKraze]

If the tranny moves to the point where you can't muscle the bitch into position use your scissor jack in between the tranny and frame to move it. RMM and PMM are easy. The TMM is where most of my time was spent. The bolt that goes to the tranny was loose from the factory. Fucking faggots. The vibes WILL be rough. Damn near pussied out and went OEM it was so bad. Three thousand miles later and the 88 duro mounts are the shit! My rear view mirror is blurry due to the vibes but not a bother to me. Make sure you retorque you bolts after a few hundred miles

[Big_Burd]

I've read about a lot of people complaining about the vibes, I'm not worried about it. I've had the car since march 2010 with 18k miles, now I"m at just about 92k, and it's gone really stale. I no longer drive the piss out of it 24/7, I want it to feel different.

After I get my struts done and the mounts I'm definitely getting an AP and FP internals. I'm almost done with my car payments, and my financial situation has turned around in a great way . What I'm getting at is after I can get more of a handle on tuning and how all that works, I want BT racecar lol

[pzr2874]

To be totally honest with you, if you're going to be putting 40k a year on your car and almost all highway the mounts won't play a factor. If its almost all city driving and you put 40k a year on it,they will drive you crazy but as bronco stated, stay with it and you will get used to driving a blender.

Good luck

[Big_Burd]

Originally Posted by pzr2874 To be totally honest with you, if you're going to be putting 40k a year on your car and almost all highway the mounts won't play a factor. If its almost all city driving and you put 40k a year on it,they will drive you crazy but as bronco stated, stay with it and you will get used to driving a blender. Good luck

I can't wait, it's kind of the same reason I like motorcycles, you feel the vibes and it has that raw feeling. Although I put a shit ton of miles on my car they're mostly on backroads not the highway.

My commutes just a few miles and I don't drive my car nearly as much as I used to. For a while it was the only thing keeping me sane, driving up north and ripping thru the sweepers near bartlett lake. I'm putting my struts and motor mounts and fixing the pivot seal this week, I also got solid shifter bushings. It's time to resurrect it back to the beast lol

[Big_Burd]

I finally got my car up and going..and it is the tits. Most people normally post when there having issues and its rare you hear someone say it's running absolutely orgasmically, so I thought it was worth reviving this.

I haven't driven my car in over a month and I've been driving a slowwww Acura TSX and between putting on the JBR trilogy mounts, solid shift bushings, new sway bars, and my koni yellows it is planted like no other.

BTW people that bitch about the vibes from the motor mounts, should probably not be driving a mazdaspeed.

But big thanks to msf for steering me in the right direction! couldn't be happier

/ end of faggy rant