NHTSA Complaint #738381 — 1989 MAZDA 323

MECHANIC WAS INFORMED BY MAZDA TO CAREFULLY OBSERVE BELT TENSION. MECHANIC FEELS THAT MAZDA'S DESIGN ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAS TOO LITTLE METAL LEFT AFTER THE FRONT JOUNAL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRENGTH FOR CRANK NOT TO BREAK OVER LONG PERIOD OF TIME. CRANKSHAFT IS CUT DOWN A LOT FROM THE JOURNAL SIZE. MECHANIC NOTED THAT MAZDA HAS A SERVICE BULLENTIN IN REFERENCE TO ACCESORY BELT TENSIONS AND FEELS THAT MAZDA IS NOT WANTING TO ADMIT THAT CRANKSHAFT IS TOO SMALL. DIAMETER OF SHAFT LENDS ITSELF TO PERMATURE FAILURE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. MECHANIC NOTED OTHER REPORTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. FELT NOTICE NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE. PROPERLY SIZED CRANKSHAFTS WITH PROPER LUBRICATION DO NOT BREAK. THEY ARE REUSED IN MOTOR CORES FOR REBUILDING. THIS RESULTED IN A PURCHASE OF A NEW ENGINE, NOT A REBULIT, FROM MAZDA.*AK