Battery rattle

I haven't noted this yet, but I noticed the battery isn't secured.  There's a universal kit from Advance Auto Parts that should work.

The stuff they wanted to fix is fixed, the stuff they've been ignoring is still ignored.

Rear defroster and temp gauge fixed. They've still forgotten to fix the center diff lock. I told them to work on it. Maybe they didn't understand what I was asking, but I think they do now.

One week passes in service

Called the shop after a week passed. The part ordered from Mazda (rear defroster switch) came in, which had taken a long time. The 'easier' part to get, the engine temp sender, is still not in. The part, ordered from both NAPA and CarQuest were the wrong part. Part is now being ordered from Mazda. Still no progress on the center diff motor, they were supposed to look at it today.

Summer Service update

Looks like a $300 repair so far.
This includes replacing the sending unit for the temp gauge in the dash (the fan and water pump are controlled by a different sensor, or so I'm told).
The switch for the rear defroster is bad. New switch ordered.

No progress on the center diff.

Back in the shop

This time it was optional. I wanted them to fix 3 things that I felt were keeping it from being a reliable winter vehicle:
1-Rear Defroster not working
2-Temp gauge not working
3-center diff lock not working

I drove it once this winter and not having rear defrost was really bad. I don't care what the temp gauge reads, but I want the car to know the correct temp, so it can turn on the fan and water pump for the engine. The center diff lock is a unique feature. I don't think you're supposed to use it unless it's real bad weather on low traction surfaces, or you get stuck. But, since it has it, I want it to work. It may also take some distance to lock the diff?

Strut pt 2

Replaced the other strut tonight. It was hard to get the ball off the hatch, and it wouldn't come off the strut, but I finally got it off. Put the new one on. The hatch now stays open when it's open, BUT still won't open correctly, there's nothing to give it that little push up when the key is turned or the lever is pulled in the car. Different mechanism maybe?

Job finished. Score +0.5 Stays open, but doesn't start opening correctly.

Strut p1

Picked up and installed the new strut for the rear hatch. Both the instructions, and a question from the clerk (just one?), said I should instill these in pairs. But, I ordered only one, as only one was not installed on my hatch. I assumed the other one was ok.
Installed the new strut, but there are two extra clips I couldn't figure out what to do with: they're like C-clips but made or wire and one end turns out 90degrees. No idea. So, I ignored them and installed everything else. New strut plus old strut is better, but still not enough to hold the hatch open. Going to order another $25 strut tomorrow.

The new strut had a new ball for the hatch side of the strut, but didn't have any screws to attach to the body side, and since my second strut was gone, I bought two new bolts and washers from the local ACE hardware. They worked fine, and I installed one new set on each side, with one old set (of the two that were on the original side) on each side.

SO, another strut another install. This one made slightly harder by having a strut already installed on the left side.

Ed