Mazda Axela - 2010 - Help

[Mahasona]

Hi All,

I'm about to purchase a Mazda Axela 2010 vehicle. I would be extremely glad if anyone could help me with the following:

1. What is the ATF oil type recommended
2. Does anyone know a good place to get it serviced
3. Who are the agents of Mazda right now (i know it s dumb question but noob here)

The 2nd thing i need to figure out is the language. The screen that is supposed to display mileage and stuff is in Japanese. How do I get it changed?

Thanks is advance...

Edited March 22, 2015 by Mahasona

[Mahasona]

Any captains please?

[matroska]

Who are the agents of Mazda right now (i know it s dumb question but noob here)

for this question just run a simple google search ... you will come up with even results from this forum itself

[rangerover]

Owned one for about 8 months now.

What is the ATF oil type recommended

Since the Axela comes with a CVT gearboxx you need the genuine MAZDA oil. I got it changed from Mazna motors in Pepiliyana. Costed me about 15k. You need to change it every 15-20k KM

Does anyone know a good place to get it serviced

I buy the genuine filters from Mazna motors and get it serviced Pitstop as their service quality is top notch. Don't use mobil.Use either Castrol or Shell helix

Who are the agents of Mazda right now (i know it s dumb question but noob here)

Colonial motors and Carmart. Haven't gone to either

[The Don]

And for your final question, as far as I know you can't change the language in JDM vehicle displays/ computer systems. The only options you have are

1. Check if the versions sold in English speaking countries had a compatible unit and swap for that.

2. Replace with after market unit, but not possible for all functions (like definitely not for the control system, so called Informatik computer).

[Crosswind]

Well, I can confirm that OP will never be able to convert his japanese displays to english. All non-JDM mazda 3 came with a differnt engine and electronics.

[Mahasona]

Owned one for about 8 months now.

What is the ATF oil type recommended

Since the Axela comes with a CVT gearboxx you need the genuine MAZDA oil. I got it changed from Mazna motors in Pepiliyana. Costed me about 15k. You need to change it every 15-20k KM

Does anyone know a good place to get it serviced

I buy the genuine filters from Mazna motors and get it serviced Pitstop as their service quality is top notch. Don't use mobil.Use either Castrol or Shell helix

Who are the agents of Mazda right now (i know it s dumb question but noob here)

Colonial motors and Carmart. Haven't gone to either

Thank you very much, I'm going to try Colonial motors for the 1st service round. I will comment on the service level they provide. For engine oil do you use synthetic or petrolatum based once?

[Mahasona]

And for your final question, as far as I know you can't change the language in JDM vehicle displays/ computer systems. The only options you have are

1. Check if the versions sold in English speaking countries had a compatible unit and swap for that.

2. Replace with after market unit, but not possible for all functions (like definitely not for the control system, so called Informatik computer).

Well, I can confirm that OP will never be able to convert his japanese displays to english. All non-JDM mazda 3 came with a differnt engine and electronics.

Thank you both for taking time to answer. Now I understand the situation. Well maybe I should find a decent manual that explains each screen so i could understand what is what.

[SamG]

Thank you very much, I'm going to try Colonial motors for the 1st service round. I will comment on the service level they provide. For engine oil do you use synthetic or petrolatum based once?

I get my car serviced at Colonial Motors. Their service is excellent. Not that expensive compared to Mazna Motors either. Only worry I have is that they take so long to finish the service (probably a full day). If you hand over your car at 8am, the earliest you can expect to get your car back is by 3pm. But it's worth it considering the amount of care they give to your car. Just try it once for yourself and see.

[Mahasona]

I get my car serviced at Colonial Motors. Their service is excellent. Not that expensive compared to Mazna Motors either. Only worry I have is that they take so long to finish the service (probably a full day). If you hand over your car at 8am, the earliest you can expect to get your car back is by 3pm. But it's worth it considering the amount of care they give to your car. Just try it once for yourself and see.

Tried Colonial motors. Service was fine. And you are right, they took more than 5 hours for the service. But they did a good job.

[Mahasona]

Any idea where to buy a car setup like this in Colombo?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Car-HD-DVD-Player-Radio-Stereo-GPS-Sat-Nav-Navigation-For-Mazda-3-2010-2013-/281349464341?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item4181bc2115&vxp=mtr

[Kavvz]

I get my car serviced at Colonial Motors. Their service is excellent. Not that expensive compared to Mazna Motors either. Only worry I have is that they take so long to finish the service (probably a full day). If you hand over your car at 8am, the earliest you can expect to get your car back is by 3pm. But it's worth it considering the amount of care they give to your car. Just try it once for yourself and see.

Okay I'm sorry if I'm bursting your bubble, and I'm not trying to be rude but they don't spent 7 hours working on the car. The total time spent working on your car was probably only 30-60 mins.

The reason they have you drop the car off and pick it up by 3pm is for their convenience. This way they can line the cars up ready for their mechanics / drivers to quickly move the cars in and out of the service bays as soon as the service is done and have the mechanics move on to the next car without wasting time.

Servicing a car takes one hour at most. On a simple service, they change the oil, check the battery condition and check the tyre pressure. Most often this type of service is done in 20-30 mins. During a secondary more comprehensive service ithey would also run through a list of visual checks (check part A, B and C visually for cracking etc), check parts X, Y, Z for tension and check fluid levels 1, 2 & 3. This type of service would talk longer and depending on the car could take up to an hour. (The exception being the Audi A8 and some Mercs etc, where they stick the battery under the passenger seats and it requires the seat to be taken out to service / check).

The rest of the time the car sits on the side waiting for a mechanic to come over.

Trust me that's how it works 95% of the time. If you don't believe me go hang out there one day while they service your car and you'll see that the whole process is quick and can be done at any garage and that there is no special service that gets performed which can't be done at any other garage. The only difference at the agents is probably the fact that they have the service manuals specific to your car at hand; and that they probably know off hand what type of service needs to be done at each odometer reading...

Edited March 27, 2015 by Kavvz

[Mahasona]

Okay I'm sorry if I'm bursting your bubble, and I'm not trying to be rude but they don't spent 7 hours working on the car. The total time spent working on your car was probably only 30-60 mins.

The reason they have you drop the car off and pick it up by 3pm is for their convenience. This way they can line the cars up ready for their mechanics / drivers to quickly move the cars in and out of the service bays as soon as the service is done and have the mechanics move on to the next car without wasting time.

Servicing a car takes one hour at most. On a simple service, they change the oil, check the battery condition and check the tyre pressure. Most often this type of service is done in 20-30 mins. During a secondary more comprehensive service ithey would also run through a list of visual checks (check part A, B and C visually for cracking etc), check parts X, Y, Z for tension and check fluid levels 1, 2 & 3. This type of service would talk longer and depending on the car could take up to an hour. (The exception being the Audi A8 and some Mercs etc, where they stick the battery under the passenger seats and it requires the seat to be taken out to service / check).

The rest of the time the car sits on the side waiting for a mechanic to come over.

Trust me that's how it works 95% of the time. If you don't believe me go hang out there one day while they service your car and you'll see that the whole process is quick and can be done at any garage and that there is no special service that gets performed which can't be done at any other garage. The only difference at the agents is probably the fact that they have the service manuals specific to your car at hand; and that they probably know off hand what type of service needs to be done at each odometer reading...

Yes, you are exactly correct. And it's same reason I would take my car to the agents. If its a very common brand you fund under each rock and leaf then any service station could manage but on this case i think its bit rare.

[Kavvz]

Yes, you are exactly correct. And it's same reason I would take my car to the agents. If its a very common brand you fund under each rock and leaf then any service station could manage but on this case i think its bit rare.

Well if it makes you happy, sure. Why not, I don't see how it would hurt. I'm the total opposite though, I only go to the agents/dealer when its absolutely necessary and do all the regular repairs/service elsewhere.

Edited March 27, 2015 by Kavvz

[Mahasona]

Well if it makes you happy, sure. Why not, I don't see how it would hurt. I'm the total opposite though, I only go to the agents/dealer when its absolutely necessary and do all the regular repairs/service elsewhere.

I don't think you got my point mate...

[Kavvz]

I don't think you got my point mate...

I did. I was just being polite, as I disagree with you.

( IMHO: The 2010 Mazda 3 isn't really that rare or complicated to service. However if you think so, and if you like going to the agents / dealership to service it then that's fine as it makes you happy and there's no harm in doing so. Everybody's different and everybody has different opinions and budgets. I understand that, and can respect your decision.)