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Re: costs to fix bounty head.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:24 pm
by Roydus
:evil: Mazda Bounty...What a LEMON
I bought mine at 125k, next day developed rear diff whine, the bearings had collapsed...Cost $2500.00 to fix
Nine months later at 198k gearbox bearings collapsed on 3rd and 4th gear shaft, not worth fixing box, parts too expensive.Gearbox replaced with second han one cost $3500.00
Three weeks later at 200k it tossed a rod.
But Wait there's more, now at 205k the front diff bearings have collapsed.
All of the above problems are apparently common.
I know mine has been serviced every 5000k since new, I'm the second owner and I bought it off the father inlaw.
He's absolutely anal about maintanance, as am I.
I've been talking to a number of companies that run fleets of these and the FORD Courier.
THEY ARE A LEMON !!

Re: costs to fix bounty head.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:51 pm
by sibainmud
Hey Guys,
I have had a Bounty Dble cab 2wd for about 5 years, 2001 model.
Bought it with 214,000 on the clock. The dealer service book had every single stamp on the history. I have done a head in the last 6 months, because it was showing all of the above symtoms :roll:
Talked to a mate and he said to buget on a head every 160,000 k's. I got a "pirate" chinese head and with machining and new valves, head studs (torque yeld), and gasket set for about $1400.
Did it all myself. Have done the cam belt myself a few times, got this down to under half an hour :mrgreen:
It just turned over 333,000 k's last week and runs like a clock. No drive train issues at all :? :?
They are ok in my book. Just the head issue to deal with :( :(

Here's how the boar looked at 315 km's.

Image

Image

You can see the water marks. Took 2 years of adding coolant occasionally before it became an issue, (peeled through No 3 glow plugs tho).

Cheers, Hope this helps.

Re: costs to fix bounty head.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:23 pm
by Roydus
I think a lot of the drive train issues are in the 4wd models.
I have also been led to believe very common for the thrown rod at around 200k(leaves very nasty hole in block),
Also there are a lot of 4wd ones around that have had multiple gearbox issues.
My mechanic has done 7 engine replacements due to throwing a rod and has swapped out/ rebuilt 14 gearboxes.
Do the math on that one, he is just one mechanic out of how many out there. You try to get a second hand diff for one of these, they don't exist, they get snapped up as soon as they land.

Re: costs to fix bounty head.

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:28 pm
by sibainmud
Where are you at Roydus?
One of my clients owns a ford wreaker up in Aucks and parts to me aren't an issue :mrgreen:
Agree all drive problems may be with 4wd model.
Same engine and box, just under more load.
Mine at 300+ is mint, just drive it easy and don't rev them too hard.
Cheers,

Re: costs to fix bounty head.

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:13 pm
by Roydus
I'm in ChCh
I have been driving mine like I'm 98yrs old , I'd heard about the gearbox problems and have driven it accordingly.
I only rev it to around 3700rpm
If you ever see the inside of one of the gearboxes you'll see that it's about as strong as a 1984 Starlet !!
These should NEVER have been sold as a commercial vehicle they are not up to it.