How to approach service with ignition problems
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How to approach service with ignition problems
My dealership seems to not appreciate me coming to them with probem and solution in hand. I'm not certain why that is exactly, but I often get comments like:
"You shouldn't trust what you read on the web"
"You never can tell what people are posting"
etc
Of course, there is a grain of truth in those statements, but for example, I've got some rough starts going on. I'd LIKE to have hotter plugs installed, a better battery, and maybe even a new starter. Of course, I expect they'll just flash the PCM and tell me to be on my way.
Anyone got any advice? Am I off-base for wanting these things installed?
"You shouldn't trust what you read on the web"
"You never can tell what people are posting"
etc
Of course, there is a grain of truth in those statements, but for example, I've got some rough starts going on. I'd LIKE to have hotter plugs installed, a better battery, and maybe even a new starter. Of course, I expect they'll just flash the PCM and tell me to be on my way.
Anyone got any advice? Am I off-base for wanting these things installed?
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: toronto
The problem you speak of is a known issue. Just tell the dealer you have hard starts eventhough you have been following proper warm up procedures and have never flooded the car. Let them come back to you with a fix before telling them what they should be replacing. If they are a good dealer they will at least replace the starter. The other two items will depend on thenumber of miles on the car and number of years you have owned the car. For example they are not going to replace the battery if it's already two years old. My dealer replaced my starter for the same issue. The difference is night and day.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Cape Cod
Originally Posted by Raevik
anyone got a link to the TSB on this issue? I just searched through finishlineperformance.com's list and I don't see it...
Black and B-E-A-UTIFUL!
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Wisconsin
My 8 is currently sitting at the local dealership. I told them to change the oil and filter, update my current ECU stickers (wasn't done when the recall work was performed), and investigate hard, cold-starts.
Dealer called me a few minutes ago and said they "could not replicate the cold start problem." Since the temperature is about 30 degrees warmer than it was a week ago, I didn't expect that they could. Should they be replacing the starter/battery/plugs anyway? Or do they have to replicate a "hard start" for me to qualify for this TSB?
Also, car is a 2004 with 40,000 miles if you think that might make a difference.
Dealer called me a few minutes ago and said they "could not replicate the cold start problem." Since the temperature is about 30 degrees warmer than it was a week ago, I didn't expect that they could. Should they be replacing the starter/battery/plugs anyway? Or do they have to replicate a "hard start" for me to qualify for this TSB?
Also, car is a 2004 with 40,000 miles if you think that might make a difference.
Registered
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 9,134
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From: Houston
Originally Posted by Raevik
My dealership seems to not appreciate me coming to them with probem and solution in hand. I'm not certain why that is exactly, but I often get comments like:
"You shouldn't trust what you read on the web"
"You never can tell what people are posting"
etc
"You shouldn't trust what you read on the web"
"You never can tell what people are posting"
etc
If these guys are so damn smart, how come not a single one of them has ever come on here and rebutted anything? Long ago we had 1 Mazda employee on here but he supported most of the things said here and told people how to deal with lazy dealerships. Unfortunately Mazda got too curious about who he was so he had to leave here before he was discovered. Who was that masked man?
well, honestly if I was a service manager and someone from off the street came up to me with a printed out TSB and demanding new parts for free, I'd tell him either prove to me your car actually HAS the problem the TSB refers to or else 
Shifty Bastard.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,835
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From: Melbourne, Australia.
Originally Posted by rotarygod
Unfortunately Mazda got too curious about who he was so he had to leave here before he was discovered. Who was that masked man?
Lubricious
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,425
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From: SF Bay Area, California
Originally Posted by wisconsinben
My 8 is currently sitting at the local dealership. I told them to change the oil and filter, update my current ECU stickers (wasn't done when the recall work was performed), and investigate hard, cold-starts.
Dealer called me a few minutes ago and said they "could not replicate the cold start problem." Since the temperature is about 30 degrees warmer than it was a week ago, I didn't expect that they could. Should they be replacing the starter/battery/plugs anyway? Or do they have to replicate a "hard start" for me to qualify for this TSB?
Also, car is a 2004 with 40,000 miles if you think that might make a difference.
Dealer called me a few minutes ago and said they "could not replicate the cold start problem." Since the temperature is about 30 degrees warmer than it was a week ago, I didn't expect that they could. Should they be replacing the starter/battery/plugs anyway? Or do they have to replicate a "hard start" for me to qualify for this TSB?
Also, car is a 2004 with 40,000 miles if you think that might make a difference.
So, if you can afford it my suggestion would be replace battery and plugs on your own. Starter probably is the least important part in this equation, imo.
sparkplugs.com has a good deal on the plugs.
Check the DIYs for Optima battery solutions.
The shadows of an 8
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 66
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From: Louisville. KY
The mechanics at my dealship do not like being told what to do as far as TSB's. I personally have not had any issues with the dealership at all. I think it depends on how you approach them as well as what kind of day they have had, obviously Friday's and Monday's are usually the worst days.
I had the cold start package install a few weeks ago, very good idea by Mazda starts in like 2 seconds now.
I had the cold start package install a few weeks ago, very good idea by Mazda starts in like 2 seconds now.
Black and B-E-A-UTIFUL!
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From: Wisconsin
I guess the only thing I was looking for is the starter. I have 4 new plugs at home waiting to go in, as soon as the weather warms up a bit...and the batter IS probably due for a replacement. My thought was that if Mazda has identified a weakness with this starter, I would like to get that rectified BEFORE my warranty expires.
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DO THIS: Call Mazda North America and explain that you are experiencing the hard start issue and that you have seen the TSB that is suppose to help minimize hard starts and flooding. Explain that you KNOW it won't eliminate it, but it will help prevent it. Tell Mazda NA who your dealer is and let them call the dealer.
I went through this exact same thing last month. It was explained to me by the dealer that the reason they can't just do the TSB is because doing the TSB before you flood is considered Warranty Upselling, that is, the dealer is charging Mazda for parts and labor to fix a problem that hasn't yet occured. This does make sense to me because TSB's are NOT recalls. That being said, the Mazda NA rep who answered the phone when I called didn't give me one ounce of crap and as soon as I hung up and called the service manager at the dealership, he was already talking to Mazda NA who gave him the go ahead to do the TSB. I think Mazda NA is approving all these requests, but arent making it a recall because they would rather deal with this on a case by case basis so they dont have to spend a fortune to replace batters, plugs, and starters for every body.
I went through this exact same thing last month. It was explained to me by the dealer that the reason they can't just do the TSB is because doing the TSB before you flood is considered Warranty Upselling, that is, the dealer is charging Mazda for parts and labor to fix a problem that hasn't yet occured. This does make sense to me because TSB's are NOT recalls. That being said, the Mazda NA rep who answered the phone when I called didn't give me one ounce of crap and as soon as I hung up and called the service manager at the dealership, he was already talking to Mazda NA who gave him the go ahead to do the TSB. I think Mazda NA is approving all these requests, but arent making it a recall because they would rather deal with this on a case by case basis so they dont have to spend a fortune to replace batters, plugs, and starters for every body.
FX8TED on my RX-8
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 815
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From: San Antonio
Originally Posted by samyv2
The problem you speak of is a known issue. Just tell the dealer you have hard starts eventhough you have been following proper warm up procedures and have never flooded the car. Let them come back to you with a fix before telling them what they should be replacing. If they are a good dealer they will at least replace the starter. The other two items will depend on thenumber of miles on the car and number of years you have owned the car. For example they are not going to replace the battery if it's already two years old. My dealer replaced my starter for the same issue. The difference is night and day.
I've been very pleased with my new service dept. after getting royally screwed by the last one.
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