Ahh understandable.
Do you know who worked on your car as in which technician?

Yes, the great Don Marvel... I think that is right. Everyone says he is good.

Don is very good. He's a master technician w/26 years of experience. This just doesnt sound right. Have you seen the pictures or had a first hand look at what they pulled out of your car.

Good point...I'd like to see those pics also..

Ok, for those of you who are interested in the pictues... I have created a quick album on Tripod: http://slims8tx.tripod.com/clutch/

These pics were taken by the dealership that has my car now.

If "dropping the clutch" at 7200 rpm as one of the magazines did to get their 0 - 60 times didn't "abuse" the clutch I don't see how you could in such a short period of time. It would be interesting to see what a testing lab could determine by checking out those springs for failure.

I have heard very good compliments on Don. I haven't personally met him. I just can't figure out what happened here. I drove this car very carefully since the first incident. I would appreciate any opinions.

SLIMS DO YOU HAVE A SCANNER? if not can you give me exact dates and mileage from your services and what exactly was done from their bills? give me as much detail as possible and email it to me with that link to your pics. use the email link in my profile

Call Don's shop today and leave a message: 972-475-6448
Tell him who you are and what the situation is, that he worked on your car and you really don't feel you abused it and you'd like to understand how it broke so that maybe you could find a resolution to the problem.
From looking at your pictures, there does not appear to be any wear on the clutch surface or the flywheel, just the spring plate (whatever it's called, i'm using the wrong terms) which appears to have come completely apart.

I'm not sure what could've caused this but with almost no wear on the clutch plate itself, i think something is up.

Here's why I really think something is up:
12,960 miles the car breaks down and the transmission is repaired but it's still not right
8 days later the transmission is completely replaced and it's still not right
5 days later it breaks again

What's obvious about this is there is still something wrong with the car beyond the transmission and clutch and whatever that is, even if they replace your clutch, is going to cause the car to break again.

So what was actually wrong with the tranny when you say it wasn't right?

Ajax, after the first repair it was grinding in 2nd, 3rd, and 6th occassionally. Also, it would grind in reverse all the time and had a whine going into 4th. After they replaced the clutch and transmission it was sill whining into 4th gear and grinding in reverse. I would have to let the car roll back to get it into reverse. (FYI, I don' t know if it matters, but I was shifting into 4th when it went out the last time).

My car does the same thing with reverse every so often, not all the time. I've had it in at town north before but they couldnt replicate it as it is sporadic.

I'm thinking about what could cause that and then cause the clutch damage and the only thing i can come up with is faulty hydraulics.

If that is the blueing that they are talking about from being overheated I have a brand new disc in my trunk that looks just like that! I want to start a class action law suit! anyone with me. It is very clear that the clutch disc are faulty. My clutch blew up but not as bad as that. You are getting fucked in the rear bad..... Well you can fly me down and I will put in a clutch free of charge if you can get a lift. :p

I appreciate the support and help guys. I guess I will try to get in touch with Don, although everyone else is telling me it's "over their heads". I need to get something going.

Also, send a letter to the president of mazda jim o'sullivan I think. Have a legal type person help you write it up and send it overnite fedex. Tell them you are going to go to suit if they do not react with in 30 days and I bet you get a call from a girl named michelle. Worked for me.

Interesting. I hope you get this worked out.

BAS, so how hard would it be to drop a different tranny in this car and totally replace the entire driveline? The differential and drive shaft seem to be OK, but the tranny has always been flaky if you ask me.

Ajax, I was wondering the same thing... but the last time I had it in they said they were replacing everything from the flywheel to the drive shaft.

yea, but they didnt replace the master cylinder or anything in that line?

True... they didn't. I see what you're saying. Well, I guess I'm going to tow the car myself tomorrow and take 'er make home. I left a message with Don at his shop so hopefully he'll return my call.

its not like this is the 1st clutch to go boom!! hell there are 2 in the similar threads below.

That is exactly my point, but I can't get in touch with anyone! The people I do talk to say "I understand, but it's over my head". I sent the service manager those 2 links earlier and asked him to take a look at them. I haven't got a response yet. There are many people in those 2 threads that have had their clutches go. I have to be missing something.

Don will return just about every call. He's a very cool guy. I hope he can supply you with some answers.

I am just brain storming here, but try this on for size.....Shift into 4th, let out the clutch and something in the tranny binds...BAD....Now your flywheel and clutch assembly are turning, but the tranny stops (even if its for a fraction of a second). Whats the weakest part of the drivetrain now?? I would say its those springs. The damn thing couldnt help but come apart at that point......
Before anyone asks..No, I am not a mechanic. Just seems like something that COULD have happened, given the fact that the tranny had had problems already.

"When all reasonable explanations have been exhausted, whatever remains, however improbably, MUST be the truth" (my fav quote of all time)

exactly! with the tiem frame we're dealing with it almost has to be something like that. sounds like the easy way out is to claim abuse rather than find the underlying problem.