I got my rx-8 last friday and right away my CEL came on within a few hours. I took it in on Saturday they said I had a bad cat. They were going to order one. I went there on Monday and they said Mazda will not let them order one until further tests. So Tuesday the service manager calls and tells me that Mazda is going to have to take my car for a full day and flash the system and then Get this (they want to drive my car for 2 to 3 hours) and see if the CEL comes on again. I am not sure if I am to happy about this becuaes first of all I don't want anyone driving my car second of all the roads around here suck. I am just not a happy guy right now. Any suggestions of what I should do?

Can you take time-off or schedule the ride when you are free? Sorry for the bad news.

I GOT SHOTGUN!!! LOL...

yeah make them loan you an RX-8 while they run yours around. it's only fair.

Driving your car 2-3 hours NO WAY .
Go with them and make sure your car is driven correctly and not trashed.
Let them pay for fuel, and you should not be charged expenses of test.

michael

Or see if you can exchange it for one that isn't broken... you shouldn't have to accept a car which is proven faulty only hours after driving it off the lot.

Not sure if this is a realistic option though... good luck.

Originally posted by geffy
I got my rx-8 last friday and right away my CEL came on within a few hours. I took it in on Saturday they said I had a bad cat. They were going to order one. I went there on Monday and they said Mazda will not let them order one until further tests. So Tuesday the service manager calls and tells me that Mazda is going to have to take my car for a full day and flash the system and then Get this (they want to drive my car for 2 to 3 hours) and see if the CEL comes on again. I am not sure if I am to happy about this becuaes first of all I don't want anyone driving my car second of all the roads around here suck. I am just not a happy guy right now. Any suggestions of what I should do?

What was the basis for their conclusion? My car threw a couple CELs this week, and I took it in and they read a P0420 code. They cleared it and it retested fine. They also said there is no reflash available for that code. Can you dig a little deeper with your service dept?

what a load of crock.. I think the dealership is taking advantage of you.. take it to another dealership and I am positive they'll provide different service from what these schmucks are advising you.

Originally posted by Squidward
what a load of crock.. I think the dealership is taking advantage of you.. take it to another dealership and I am positive they'll provide different service from what these schmucks are advising you.

I would have to agree...

From what they tell me this is what Mazda is making them do before they can just replace the cat. So as far as I am concerned they are using my car as a test car. So when I go in tomorrow for my appointment there better be something in this deal for me or I plan on raizing hell. I would go somewhere else but closest place is over a 100 miles away.

No way let them drive it for 2 to 3 hours. If they have doubts, they should do the reflash and give the car back to you for you to drive and see if the light returns. Fifteen minutes is one thing but several hours is too much.

Is your Rx8 auto or manual? I have automatic and a service repjust discovered that mine needs to be replaced b/c it was causing the entire front portion of the car tovibrate violently on idle (like at stoplights). My car has 6000 miles on it now. Maybe our cats have the same problem onlything is my CEL never came up.

No It is a 6 speed.

I just talked to the service manager and as I think the plan now is to have them flash it and then I am going to drive it for 2 to 3 hours. I still think I am getting screwed but for piece of mind I want to be the driver.

Letting them drive 2 or 3 hours? I would refused or make them pay for gas and also charge them $0.75 for every mile they put on. It's not your fault.

Any update on your car? Mine set the CEL again, probably the same code.

If Mazda insists on the 2-3 hour drive, grab the tech or whoever and go for the drive - but you drive it, and the dealership pays for gas.

If they're not willing to do that, go to another dealer.

100 miles away, wow where do you live?!

I guess you're screwed either way then.. Sorry dude.

Under the terms of the lemon law, I think they would have to take back the car. Look it up! Especially a new car. Then go to another dealer and get you a new 1!

Well guys here is a update. I took it in (I think I mentioned this before) anyways they reset the ecu or flashed the system. They let me take the car I drove it for a couple of days took it back in it was fine. Now my airbag light comes on sometimes. Took it in for that they said it shot them a code they didn't know they were going to call mazda. I left it sit for 2 days came back and my battery was very low. Starter only clicked but some juice left (my lights would come on). Later that day went out to jump it and it was completely dead nothing at all. Jumped it drove it around for about 20 minutes to charge the battery. Next day I went to start it again and turned over a couple of times and then clicking from the starter. Took it in yesterday and really let the service department have a piece of my mind and told them to make sure before I get it back that I am not going to have any problems. So as far as now I am driving a dam mercury sable. I need and want my car back so bad. I will update you as the story progresses in the next few days.

My cat was replaced at 200 miles. The car came from a dealer in Ohio and they obviously had flodded it at one time and did not deflood it the proper way. All the fuel residue gets blow into the cat. The cat will the superheat and destroy part of itself. There is a read cycle time between the the front O2 sensor and the rear O2 sensor on the cat. The limits are 0-8 seconds(if I remember right). When the cat starts to degrade this cycle time begins to go up. Once it gets over 8 secs it produces a CEL. Mine was cycling at 12 secs and they had another in the shop with less miles than mine from another dealer that was cycling at 20 secs. I believe this is also being caused by a bad design/build of cats. Mazda uses letters at the end of their part number to denote newer versions. The cat I received was a version "J". They know they have a cat problem. I just want all you to be aware of what is going on with the cats and how a flooding issue can cuase a problem. Thanks.

Clay

Well I heard back from the dealer and it is not good. There is some sort of electrical problem with my car and they don't have the prints of the electrical system. Mazda is not sure when they are going to send them out to the service department hopefully very soon. Service guy really didn't have to many answers. I asked about the lemon law and it has to be the same problem three times before it is considered a lemon. Once again I will keep you updated.

Make sure and call mazda yourself and complain. this whole thing sounds fishy. i bet they messed up something.

Now I am having battery problems! My father got it jumped ( since I am at the south pole ), took it in and they said no problems found. Then it happened again. This time I made my father call Mazda and they are calling the dealer tomake sure they fix it right!

Originally posted by geffy
I asked about the lemon law and it has to be the same problem three times before it is considered a lemon. Once again I will keep you updated.

I'm not sure where you live but in CA the lemon provision of warranty rights are far more encompassing that just the same problem three times. Do some research on the law and any provisions in your state. For example in CA the fact that the CEL comes on for the airbag (safety feature) and that the car has already been serviced is enough provided you contact the manufacturer directly and express this to them.

My airbag light stays lit past the other lights going off for about 4-5 seconds, plus it beeps 4-5 times. I'll be calling the dealer come Monday (I assume thier open on prez day).

The lemon law is any 3 issues, doesn't have to be same item. I know, had to do it on a new chevy in 96. I soory your going thru this with the 8. It really is a great car.

Man - you guys are getting screwed over. Get them fixed or replaced. You sould not have to put up with something 2nd rate that you bought brand new. This is unnaceptable. These are well built, good quality cars. Unfortunately you lucked out. Make some noise. MNAO should get this sorted for you as a matter of urgency. And the bit about not having the wiring diagrams... What are they - a Mazda Authorised Service shop or what? And heck, you (they) can jump on to www.mazdatechinfo.com and access whatever they need.

Cheers,
Hymee.

Well they got my car fixed and I am not sure what they all had to replace but it for the last week I have had no problems and I am loving it. I know that they had to replace the battery but other than that I am not sure what they figured out. All I car is that it is working.