Oil Pump Belt Failure

[Paul Ashtead]

I really liked driving my CX-5, even compared to my previously ever so reliable Honda CRV.

However ............. has anyone else had a problem with the oil pump belt snapping and catastrophic oil pressure failure?

The vehicle is marginally beyond the warranty period and Mazda UK are refusing any goodwill contribution because the last two services were not done by a Mazda Dealer!


This implies that Mazda UK consider this failure to be acceptable wear and tear after 68,000 miles in a vehicle that is less than three and a half years old, which is frankly beyond me and causes serious concerns about further significant mechanical failure.

[ROCKETRON]

Never heard of an oil pump belt. Some cars with oil pump in the sump drive the pumps with a chain from the crankshaft. If it has a belt then it should really be in an easy accesible position as it will require changing at some point. I have not really seen any cutaway drawings of the sky activ diesel engines so not familiar with the engine layouts inside.

[Paul Ashtead]

Hi, sorry use of the term belt was misleading, it is a chain, looks like a bicycle chain that has been broken.

[Anchorman]

I've only ever heard of a chain breaking if the engine hasn't had proper oil changes or something has locked up and forced it. I doubt whether an oil pump is sufficient to do it.

Who has stripped the engine down?  What is the full story?

[Paul Ashtead]

Vehicle has been properly serviced within service schedule, with last service and oil change just in March by my local garage, who I've used for nearly 15 years on 4 different vehicles.

Low oil pressure light came on and I coasted downhill for approx 200 meters, then called for vehicle recovery.

Currently vehicle is with local Mazda Dealer who have confirmed the reason for this oil pressure failure and are back in dialogue with Mazda UK Technical Team on my behalf, as I don't pretend to be a mechanic.

But after 30 years of driving Hondas, Mercedes, Audis amongst others I have never experienced anything like this.

Hope to have more detail later this afternoon.

[BigAl]

Can't think of any obvious reason why a oil pump chain would break unless something attached to it had seized? One good reason for chains over timing belts in general - they stretch, they rattle, they can damage their tensioners or sprockets as they wear, but they very rarely break. I've had two cars in the last 20 years with cambelts, both of which broke prematurely. I've two 33 year old Honda bikes which have oil pump chains and chain driven camshafts. The camchains stretch, get tensioned, and eventually need replacing. The oil pump chains don't even have tensioners, they rattle a bit but have never needed attention. I know its different technology, but still...

Alan

[ROCKETRON]

If its a chain that has broken then i can only assume that it was either faulty or the oil pump seized due to poor manufacture.

[BigAl]

If its a chain that has broken then i can only assume that it was either faulty or the oil pump seized due to poor manufacture.

Possible a seizure related to the known problem on early engines with improperly hardened camshafts shedding material into the oil (which was the cause of my turbo failure)?

Alan

[xtrailman]

I'm a chain fan myself but they do break.
My sons BMW chain broke after the tensioner failed, £800 of engine repairs.

Mazda are really poor on the reliability in my experience with them.
My advice is always use the Mazda garage for servicing and take out an extended warranty after the 3 years.

My phone no longer connects via BT again since it failed on holiday this week, but the wifi still connects. 

[Paul Ashtead]

Latest update suggests the concept of good and appropriate customer service has kicked in at Mazda UK!

[PJ]

Latest update suggests the concept of good and appropriate customer service has kicked in at Mazda UK!

Did they pay for the work to be completed  in full?
Have my car in garage at the moment with similar problem. Oil pump failed with no warning and broke the chain, flywheel and gearbox.