Worn out - Can it be repaired?
 

Aux Port Shaft.

After taking off the retaining plate (having to cut a slot into one of the screws because it stripped), I noticed that the c-clip was not holding the shaft in.

In fact both the shaft and the clip look like they have been worn down.

Questions:

1. is this shaft worn beyond repair?
2. can the shaft be repaired by welding/grinding metal back onto the shaft?
3. does anyone have a good shaft they can sell?

I am soaking the other shaft screws in penetrating oil so I can try to get the other shaft out without striping the screws. Once the other is out, I will compare them to see the differences.

Was able to pull out the other shaft today (had to cut slots in the retaining screws).

Found that the other shaft is in great shape. Attached is a pic of the good shaft, a pic of the good and bad c-clips, and the cut screw heads.

Time to make a trip to the junk yard.

But I guess the question is why did this happen?

No sevens in the bone yards in my neck o the woods.

As to why...

Looks like the aux port sleve jammed at some time, and the actuator kept trying to move it... all that energy appears to have ended up wearing away the shaft.

But with 202K on the car, I'm not disappointed in it - just sorry that Mazda doesn't support parts longer - I may have to start stocking up on used parts.

Try and find a shop that puts v8's in fc's....
They always have more that enough stock engine parts to go around...lol.
Otherwise the "for sale/ wanted" tread will be around for a while too.

Happy hunting.