MACS Service Reports - 2016 - MAY3

THOSE REALLY SPECIAL DEALER TOOLS - GETTING THEM IN TIME

May 2016

into a recess and unlatches the retaining tabs. The
job has to be done on the car, unless you want to
remove the entire HVAC case, a major job.
We've heard of a technician claiming to have successfully done the job with a large tomato juice can

Mazdaserviceinfo.com

Unless a special tool is in the aftermarket (and
companies like OTC Tools, Lisle Corp. and SP Tool
do have a number of popular ones), your only
source is via OE and the car dealer. In theory you
the independent can get any dealer special tool -
it's part of some regulatory agreement somewhere,
with Massachusetts Right-to-Repair just the latest.
But the OEs have been compliant for years and have
the OE tools cataloged on their service info websites. And in many cases, the dealer is the source,
although the OE service info website also may have
links to their special tool providers. But as a practical matter, consider this: the car comes into your
shop and unless it has a common problem with a
well-defined need for specific special tool(s), what
are you going to do? You likely don't have the tool.
So will you order the tool(s) from a dealer and wait
for them to come in, while the car goes without A/C
in hot weather? Not realistic, of course, when you
understand that the special tools that are required
will come into the dealership service department
as an automatic required purchase from the OE
source. So from the special tools standpoint (and
OE service training and information) the dealer is
ready for the car from Day 1. Of course the car is
not likely to have the service issue until it's well out
of warranty and an aftermarket customer.
We've looked at the dealer special tools lists.
Most A/C service tools on the OE lists are really
just their approved/recommended, occasionally required equipment, purchased from the same A/C
equipment/tool suppliers with whom you've been
dealing.
However, there are exceptions and the tool may
be something you really need, and let's assume
there's no tool immediately available from your
regular aftermarket sources, with a job you're unlikely to see very often (if ever again). If you have
a great relationship with the dealer (i.e. buy your
parts from him and/or even do A/C farm-out work
for him), you may be able to arrange a loan. Or
get the dealer to do just that part of the job that
requires the tool. You may be thinking in terms of
reprogramming and other electronic services, but
sometimes it's far simpler.
Example: the blower motor on a Mazda 3, a rather
tricky job that at a certain point requires a helper to
hold the motor so it doesn't fall back into the HVAC
case. You have to transfer the blower wheel to a
new motor, and if you get that job, you'll see that it
takes a special cylindrical tool (there are two variants on the tool that are available) that goes down

Mazdaserviceinfo.com

Figure 5: One of two Mazda 3 special tools for separating blower wheel
from motor. This one is No. 49 B061 025, and you can see why it might
be possible to make something out of a large tomato juice can. But we'd
rather avoid the struggle by using the right tool.

Figure 6: Second of Mazda 3 special tools for removing blower wheel from
motor. This one is No. 49 B061 015A, and like the other looks like a modified
tomato juice can.

and a clamp to hold the motor. But unless you are
likely to see a lot of Mazda 3s (or find the local dealer uncooperative), just send the job to the dealer.
We know of no aftermarket source for either of the
special tools. (Figures 5, 6). ■

MACS Service Reports

http://www.mazdaserviceinfo.com http://www.mazdaserviceinfo.com

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