I saw someone gripe about this before; now it's my turn. Please jump on the bandwagon if you have a story, good or bad.

I called Roadside Assistance (RSA) cuz my 8 flooded. Called at noon on Dec 31 and requested flatbed (that's what the operator recommended.) They promised 45-minute service. 90 minutes later, a tow truck (NOT a flatbed) shows up, and then to the wrong address (the operator called me and said he was knocking on my door, but he was 2 blocks away. I ran down and got him.)

Sent the truck back. The driver called his dispatcher for a flatbed; I called Mazda and AAA (whom Mazda uses) for a flatbed. Got various promises on when it would arrive; all promises were broken. Long story short, by 4:00 pm, no truck. I cancelled the call, put in a formal complaint with AAA about the local tow firm they were using, and went to New Years celebration with the wife.

New Years Day my dealer was closed. Jan 2, I called RSA at 0730. They promised 45-minute turnaround. Two hours and six phone calls later here comes the truck. More complaints to Mazda and AAA about their local contractor.

The truck operator is real nice and gets my car on top despite difficulty getting it out of my garage (strange terrain and contours to deal with.) He says, Can you help me out. I gotta stop on the way and give a guy a jump. I say, go ahead; I've already been waiting 2 days, what's another 30 minutes. So what does he do? Goes the other way, gives some guy gas (after getting lost awhile.) Then finds the other guy for the jump (he never asked if he could make 2 stops enroute; he played dumb.) The 2nd guy didn't want a jump, he wanted a tow due to bad fuel pump. Couldn't tow since my car was on top. So, around 11:15 we finally get my car to the dealer. What an ordeal! I'm pissed at the driver, pissed at the dispatcher, pissed at AAA, pissed at the world. Plus endured the humiliating stares and sneers all over town with people spying my shiny new '8 sitting on a flatbed.

That was Friday; they had to order plugs and oil pan from Irvine which means they don't start work till Monday and I'll get my car Tuesday, six days after it flooded.

But my real point is the towing service. Does Mazda RSA in general suck? Does AAA put them (meaning us) at the bottom of their list? Or did I just get burned twice? I didn't mind the flooding near as much as the outrage I felt from getting jerked around for two freakin' days waiting for a tow. Anyone else?

Have you ever gotten anything "free" that was worth a damn? I don't have any personal experience with MRA to share, but your story is EXACTLY what I expected from the service. I'd rather they gave me free Zaino and I just called my own tow truck.

Hey, big news. Turned out I didn't flood after all. This was puzzling, cuz I didn't shut down cold and I couldn't figure out why I should flood.

Dealer just called and said the flywheel got damaged somehow. It engages the starter, and being damaged the starter is spinning but not really engaging. They have a flywheel on order. I've been without my car since Weds, but as long as they treat me right and I can keep the loaner I'm not gonna rush them.

8_wannabe, I'm sorry your flywheel is damaged, but I confess I'm relieved your problem wasn't flooding. After you said you definitely didn't shut it down cold, it bothered me quite a bit. At least, I still feel like I know how to avoid flooding.

Hope your 8 is back in your garage soon!

As for Mazda Roadside Assistance - I wonder if AAA members would be better off just calling AAA to begin with if we ever need a tow?

Actually, I have an acura mdx and have had roadside assistance once, took a 1/2 hr and evrything went great. Made me get rid of the asistance through my insurance, but you never know.

Wow.. how do you damage a flywheel? 8000rpm clutch drops?

I just wanna be sure mine dont blow up.. imagine getting parts to Hawaii if yours is on the slow truck......

Originally posted by RX-Nut
Wow.. how do you damage a flywheel? 8000rpm clutch drops?

I just wanna be sure mine dont blow up.. imagine getting parts to Hawaii if yours is on the slow truck...... I have no freakin' idea; I don't do clutch drops. I drive pretty serenely. I first heard the sound of the bad flywheel two days before it failed. I let my brother drive; I was with him and thought he did ok. He stalled once at a red light, but restarted; it was nothing dramatic. He parked for lunch, then I drove after that and heard what I now know to be the flywheel failing to engage (in other words, the starter spinning.) It caught after a second or two, and had no more such incidents until it finally failed two days later. I'm not really sure I can blame this on my brother; not sure how he coulda wrecked the flywheel. I guess I'm just that statistical anamoly, or I could start a whole new thread called "Warning -- Bad Flywheels" and try to get our members all stirred up about this. ;)

Originally posted by 8_wannabe
I could start a whole new thread called "Warning -- Bad Flywheels" and try to get our members all stirred up about this. ;)

The Flywheels are bad too? I'm outraged! OUTRAGED!

Seriously, MRSA was pretty good with my recent problems. The woman I first spoke to did tell me that I should leave my flooded car sit for a few hours before getting too upset (Dumb answer - rotary cars don't unflood themselves). She did show some common sense in recommending that I not tow the car from my driveway to a closed dealership. Another MRSA phone call was with an operator that helped look for an open dealer and went through a list of six dealerships that might be open. He didn't have a list of dealers... he was just Googling as we talked and seemed to be really trying to figure out a way to help.

Once I called on Friday to order the truck, it took over an hour to get to me, but I was really happy to get a call from an AAA operator checking on whether the tow had been completed. It wasn't. She called me right back and said, "10 more minutes." Ten minutes later, the truck showed up.

I suspect we both ran into a bit of bad luck in timing our breakdowns, 8_wannabe. Just before New Years Eve is not good for any type of service work. Again, glad to hear that you don't have an unsolved mystery -- except, of course, the mystery of why your flywheel crapped out. There's a lesson here somewhere. Perhaps it is that brothers and wives need to stay away from our cars!

Originally posted by Speed-ER doc
Have you ever gotten anything "free" that was worth a damn? I don't have any personal experience with MRA to share, but your story is EXACTLY what I expected from the service. I'd rather they gave me free Zaino and I just called my own tow truck.

The the only RSA i've used was with my old car BMW (but i believe they also use AAA). They were great, got there fast. They even call back after like the ETA they gave me to make sure that the Tow Truck was there already. First thing they always ask too is if i'm safe... wonder what they would do if i say i'm not.

I've used rental car RSA, which in turn uses AAA, and been stuck for hours. I've called AAA directly, and gotten help within minutes (or 30 at most). Maybe the RSA contract with AAA tow truck drivers isn't very good. I got an idea. Try both, and then ask the driver "who sent you". Want service in less than 2 minutes? Tell them you have a child locked in the car. WAIT. Don't do this unless you really do!

Originally posted by Zeltar
Want service in less than 2 minutes? Tell them you have a child locked in the car. WAIT. Don't do this unless you really do! Great idea. Next time I break down, I'll quick get the neighbor's kid, lock him in and call for service. I could even use my 15-yr-old; they won't know he's old enough until they get there in under 2 minutes, and by then I won't care. :D

Originally posted by meeh
First thing they always ask too is if i'm safe... wonder what they would do if i say i'm not. Must be a liability thing. They couldn't get me a truck but they did ask each time if I'm safe. I oughta just say next time, "No', I'm dangerous" and see what they do.

Well, I was the guy who didn't know any better and let them tow my '8 tail-first when it flooded. I think the concern is very little ground clearance for the nose that way -- but the guy was real careful and there was no contact.

I should have known to check -- when my wife's 2001 BMW 325xi was towed the second time the radiator fan motor burned up (the part was recalled, but BMW of Fairfax put in the old number fan unit again the first time), BMW's assistance did not send a flatbed either. And towing an AWD car that way is REALLY a no-no. Of course the dealer swore no harm was done.

By contrast, the dealer from whom we bought the 325xi, Tischer in Gaithersburg, MD, when we had a check-engine light flicker on a few days after purchase, sent a flatbed with a 330i loaner on it and then delivered our car back the same way. (But too far from the house -- same old story, they were the ones with the right car in stock.)

He stalled once at a red light, but restarted; it was nothing dramatic. He parked for lunch, then I drove after that and heard what I now know to be the flywheel failing to engage (in other words, the starter spinning.) It caught after a second or two, and had no more such incidents until it finally failed two days later. I'm not really sure I can blame this on my brother; not sure how he coulda wrecked the flywheel Was the car cranked over already running? Did the first start attempt end with the starter motor completely still? Flyqheels are case-hardened parts and take serious abuse to break. You might have chipped off a few flywheel teeth. Very much a possibility because the car idles so smoothly/quietly also.

Originally posted by Toadman
Was the car cranked over already running? Did the first start attempt end with the starter motor completely still? Flyqheels are case-hardened parts and take serious abuse to break. You might have chipped off a few flywheel teeth. Very much a possibility because the car idles so smoothly/quietly also. SSShhhh.... this line of questioning is making me very uncomfortable.

Man do we call AAA RSA or what because when I did they asked me for an ID number and I told them that my 8 come with RSA and they said it was a different policy. What did you guys tell the operator to get them to come out? :rant:

I haven't needed MRSA yet, but my past experiences with AAA have been really good, every time. I kept them just in case even after I got the free RSA with my car. Now if I need help I don't know if I'd call Mazda or just skip right to AAA!

I called Mazda RSA once shortly after I bought the car. After being on hold for 45 minutes, I gave up and called AAA. End of problem and the last time I even thought twice about Mazda RSA.

I called Mazda RSA twice. First time it took about 1 hour and 1/2, the truck came then the driver told me he has to go pick up "another" car down the road because its an accident car left @ the middle of the street. I was like ok, then I waited another hour and 1/2 before the 2nd truck come.

the other time maybe an hour.

Remember this is Mazda, not Lexus or Inifiti, They probably get their tow contract by the lowest bidder, so dont expect any ultra fast service.

Anyone have this "so-called Mazda RSA number" because I look all over my owners manual and couldn't find it.

EDIT: Never mind I google'd it, this doesn't help me when I am on the road it should be in the owners manual. Putting in my phone now.

I've had to use it twice. First time took a while and I got a tow truck then a flatbed like you. Second time was really quick took 30 min flatbed right away nice guy.

Depends on when you call I guess, if you call during rush hour times it probably going to be crazy. I think around 8-9pm is the best time to call.

AAA - I swear by them. I haven't used Mazda RSA, and will never bother with the 100% positive experiences I've had with AAA.


The only time I've ever waited more than 45 mins for AAA was a Monday after a holiday weekend. They told me they were behind and it would be 1.75 to 2 hours. They were there in 1.5 hours.


That particular driver confirmed that Mondays are always insanely busy b/c people will put off dealing with stuff on the weekend. Holidays are crazy, too, b/c everybody is just crazy on holidays to begin with. :lol:


IIRC, the MSRA set up varies by region. I remember discussing it with the reps when I bought my car, but that is working on the (often foolish) assumption that the guys at the dealership were not talking out of their collective arses.

holy ancient bump, batman