For those who received their cars, did you have a plastic bag in the glove compartment with four soft rubber plugs? The picture on the bag shows that they have to be installed under the car. If you did, do you have any idea on their purpose? I read the book the other night and do not remember reading about those. Also there is a black flat metal object with a hole at one end and a stud at the other end, I dont have any idea what it's for either.

A picture would help. If the "stud" item is threaded on one end and has a hole in the other it may be the tow hook that you would thread through the bumper somewhere. In case you get stuck and need a yank out when you go off-roading. :)

No this is a flimsy bent sheet metal piece that is about 3" long by 1 inch wide and is bent in the middle almost like a crank.

...a flimsy bent sheet metal piece that is about 3" long by 1 inch wide and is bent in the middle almost like a crank.

Maybe to manually retract the moonroof in case of motor failure? Wild guess :confused:

Yeah, I had the same bag of 4 plastic plugs. If you got a copy of your PDI prep report there is a line item that says something like "install plugs in chassis rail tiedown holes" (para-phrasing from memory).

I assume that those holes are used to secure the cars on boats/trains during shipping.

It is easy enough to install them -- just follow the diagram on the bag and it is pretty obvious where they go.

Re: the metal hook -- I have that too and don't know what it is. Sunroof retractor is a good guess, but I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere else.

Could the hook be part of the front license frame (I had them not install my front plate).

--mike

No I have my front plate on, I'll check tonight for those holes, it seems to make sence. I looked at the sun roof but I could not see where I could put that black crank looking object. I guest the people who get to have their cars first have to put up with uncomplete PDI procedure while the techs learn how to PDI properly. No biggy.

well if it is a crank for the moonroof then there should be a plastic cap somewhere in the headliner that would be removed to access the spot that the crank hooks into the gear that you will close the mooonroof. i read your post as saying that tool was in the glove box but after re-reading it i don't think you meant that. just the plugs were in the glove box right? if this crank thing was in the tool bag with the lug wrench and the jack handle then i think it probably is for the moonroof.

I didn't get the bag of rubber plugs, hopefully they're installed already. I'd like to check, where exactly do they go? I too found that metal thing in my glove box, I can't see where it goes either:

ohh see thats the toll for putting the plugs in. you hold up to the holes they go to and then you beat them with that thing ;) :p :D

j/k that does not appear to be like any moonroof crank i have ever seen.

is it for the floormats?

it reminds me of my old Mazda Protege's floor mats ... so that they wouldn't slide forward in the foot well ...

Hey that looks like the towing package we are all waiting for. Looks like we get the baby sized towing package as a replacement for the 6 disc changer and auto climate control. It's small size is because it's in relation to how much your are allowed to tow with the RX-8...... :D


PS.... this is only a joke, please take it as one and don't try to blame me if you duct tape that on your car and try to tow something. :D :D :D :D :D

[guess="completely wild"]
Maybe it has something to do with the spare tire kit? Some sort of clamp or fastening device?
[/speculation]

Maybe it's an emergency start handle for when you've flooded the engine...you attach it to the front of the car and crank...and crank...and crank...:D

Either that, or it's for prying the handbrake up when you've smashed your fingers in there. :p

That part has to be a "floor mat restraint". My wife's Protege 5 and previous Protege sedan has/had a part just like that for the driver's-side floor mat.

trunk prop?

That is slightly different from my floormat restrain. But the size looks abt right though... maybe the shape differ slightly for different mats. Mine is the sports mat (the one with the aluminium trimmings.

i'm pretty sure that's the floormat restraint. i have the same piece on my probe. it screws in under the seat and the "crank" end loops through a hole on the floormat to keep it in place.

It is the floormat holder, mine is installed. Good call guys.

how does it attach under the seat?

Thanks for clearing that up guys. There's a screw under the seat that locks it down, but I'll need to borrow something like a SkewDriver to access it, the seat doesn't move far enough to expose it. Else I'll bug the service guys at the next trip to the dealer.

Can someone tell me about where on the undercarriage those 4 plastic plugs are supposed to be attached? I'd like to check if mine are in place.