All you need to know about the recalls here in Oz...
07-28-2005, 11:33 AM
#1
Shifty Bastard.
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All you need to know about the recalls here in Oz...
I've been asked a bit about these recalls by Oz forum members recently, so I thought I'd park some of this info in a dedicated thread. Some of you may have seen the recall threads in the Issues and Problems area of the forum......you'll find answers to many of your questions there too. I have friends closely associated with Mazda North America.....they were the source of a lot of the info I have posted on this subject in the last month.
Australian Government notice concerning the heat damage recall...
http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recal..._ID_Auto=13527
Australian Government notice concerning the lower control arm recall...
http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recal..._ID_Auto=13528
The repair info document issued to the North American dealers for the heat damage recall...
http://www.finishlineperformance.com.../pdf/3305G.pdf
Info concerning who knew what and when regarding the lower control arm issue....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V325-9406.PDF
Letter detailing initial batch of RX-8's for lower control arm recall....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V325-4548.PDF
Info concerning who knew what and when regarding the underbody heat issue....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V317-3678.PDF
US DOT letter to Mazda about the underbody heat recall....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V317-2389.PDF
The hasn't been any inspection/repair info sent to US dealers about the lower control arm recall as yet. I'll post details about that when it comes to hand. One point of difference about the recall here though...the North American cars have a different flash to us. Other differences in the inspection/repair procedures may crop up too, but it seems unlikely.
Cheers,
Gomez.
Australian Government notice concerning the heat damage recall...
http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recal..._ID_Auto=13527
Australian Government notice concerning the lower control arm recall...
http://www.recalls.gov.au/view_recal..._ID_Auto=13528
The repair info document issued to the North American dealers for the heat damage recall...
http://www.finishlineperformance.com.../pdf/3305G.pdf
Info concerning who knew what and when regarding the lower control arm issue....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V325-9406.PDF
Letter detailing initial batch of RX-8's for lower control arm recall....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V325-4548.PDF
Info concerning who knew what and when regarding the underbody heat issue....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V317-3678.PDF
US DOT letter to Mazda about the underbody heat recall....
http://199.79.180.162/prepos/files/A...5V317-2389.PDF
The hasn't been any inspection/repair info sent to US dealers about the lower control arm recall as yet. I'll post details about that when it comes to hand. One point of difference about the recall here though...the North American cars have a different flash to us. Other differences in the inspection/repair procedures may crop up too, but it seems unlikely.
Cheers,
Gomez.
07-28-2005, 06:26 PM
#5
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I am actually printing the material for the dealer when I visit them Saturday. That is tops 'Mez
EDIT: 'Mez is so good with the info, he is probably a spy in Mazda
EDIT: 'Mez is so good with the info, he is probably a spy in Mazda
Last edited by takahashi; 07-28-2005 at 07:02 PM.
07-28-2005, 06:44 PM
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Great post Gomez.
I hadn't heard anything about the heat issue before, but it doesn't sound like it would apply to my circumstances - not being one to sit still and rev the car for any period of time.
Definitely something to consider for those who do runs on dynos though, I guess.
I hadn't heard anything about the heat issue before, but it doesn't sound like it would apply to my circumstances - not being one to sit still and rev the car for any period of time.
Definitely something to consider for those who do runs on dynos though, I guess.
07-28-2005, 07:20 PM
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Good stuff
Meesta Gomez,
Jeezzuzz, what are you doing to me? :D Another day reading stuff that will get me further behind in my work!
It's a good thing my boss isn't as cool as me/us or he'd have an 8 and possibly be onto me (....slow down L&L). :D
It's an easy choice though, work (nah
) or educate myself as to how to get the most out of my fine investment (oh yeh 
).
Jeezzuzz, what are you doing to me? :D Another day reading stuff that will get me further behind in my work!
It's a good thing my boss isn't as cool as me/us or he'd have an 8 and possibly be onto me (....slow down L&L). :D It's an easy choice though, work (nah
) or educate myself as to how to get the most out of my fine investment (oh yeh ).
07-28-2005, 10:34 PM
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Make sure Mazda Australia have your latest address so you'll get the recall notice. Fill out the change of address form in your warranty booklet if you've moved since you purchased the car. Same goes for those out there who purchased secondhand.
07-28-2005, 10:57 PM
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Originally Posted by NicoRx8
Firstly, cheers Gomez for the info about recalls...
well my car falls in the "thermal damage/ overheating" category !!!
I rang Mazda Australia and they seemed to just rehash a prepared statement that they appear to give all people enquiring about the recall i.e will get letter if affected bla bla, still trying to find out problem and what needs to be done etc !!!! They suck!!!!
Rang my dealer who were "too busy to talk at moment" still waiting for a call back!!!
So I was wondering if you masterminds on this awesome site could help me clarify some things.
I read the info Gomez posted and have some questions
1. Basically to "fix" this problem it seems mazda will reprogramme the inbuilt computer to drop RPM if throttle held above certain RPM levels for a certain period of time to prevent overheating. That right???
i.e default to idle if +8500 RPM for >10sec or +3000-8500 for >2 minutes.
SO the questions I ask
2. will this affect performance ?
3. any problems in future ?
and most importantly
4. WHY DOES THIS AFFECT MY CAR AND NOT ALL RX8s!!!!!!- is mine built with plastic!!!!
I don't know if they are fixing the problem or just avoiding a premature deterioration in the vehicle.
We will see I guess.
NicoRx8
well my car falls in the "thermal damage/ overheating" category !!!
I rang Mazda Australia and they seemed to just rehash a prepared statement that they appear to give all people enquiring about the recall i.e will get letter if affected bla bla, still trying to find out problem and what needs to be done etc !!!! They suck!!!!
Rang my dealer who were "too busy to talk at moment" still waiting for a call back!!!
So I was wondering if you masterminds on this awesome site could help me clarify some things.
I read the info Gomez posted and have some questions
1. Basically to "fix" this problem it seems mazda will reprogramme the inbuilt computer to drop RPM if throttle held above certain RPM levels for a certain period of time to prevent overheating. That right???
i.e default to idle if +8500 RPM for >10sec or +3000-8500 for >2 minutes.
SO the questions I ask
2. will this affect performance ?
3. any problems in future ?
and most importantly
4. WHY DOES THIS AFFECT MY CAR AND NOT ALL RX8s!!!!!!- is mine built with plastic!!!!
I don't know if they are fixing the problem or just avoiding a premature deterioration in the vehicle.
We will see I guess.
NicoRx8
I'll answer your last question first. This heat recall affects all Australian RX-8's with the exception of those built since 1st July 05. Cars built since then have been sorted at the factory prior to shipping. All RX-8's have plastic fuel tanks.....the first time I remember there being a fuss about this was in 1979. The XD Falcon came with a plastic fuel tank and Grandma's everywhere freaked out. It's a non-issue. Back to the RX-8.....I have info from California that one tank there melted to the extent that the top sagged and the capacity was significantly reduced. It didn't leak though. Only two tanks have been found to have leaked.
Will this affect performance? First off, I don't know if we are going to get a re-flash here. We probably will. As I believe the only changes to the firmware will relate to the Free Rev and Throttle Failsafe modes.....I very much doubt there will be an effect on the performance.
Any problems in the future? Yes.....your paint will fade one day, your leather trim will scuff and you'll wear a hole in the floor mat where your heel rests :D :D
Cheers,
Gomez.
07-28-2005, 11:30 PM
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Shifty Bastard.
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Originally Posted by NicoRx8
Thanks Gomez.....
you can close my other thread now
you can close my other thread now
You can go back and delete the first post.....and that will delete the thread, or we can wait for zoom44 to trip over it....
D
07-30-2005, 03:48 AM
#17
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Oh Mez I think there is something very obvious that is missing in the recall issue, but I am sure everyone knows.
Recall will cost us nothing! totally free! :D
Sorry I am being silly :p
Recall will cost us nothing! totally free! :D
Sorry I am being silly :p
07-30-2005, 05:06 AM
#18
Registered User
Originally Posted by takahashi
Recall will cost us nothing! totally free!
Then there is the doozy, where the dealer accepts the car, has no parts and you (after travelling all the way across town) find out that the car is not ready and may not be back for days as Mazda ran out of recall parts - and yes yours is the car with the fuel tank that is about to explode...
Then there are the new rattles, the bolts that were cross threaded and the fuel tanks that fall off the car.. My guess is that the apprentices will be given the recall jobs as the dealers will lose buckets from the warranty..
Never totally free...
Last edited by xxup; 07-30-2005 at 05:11 AM.
07-30-2005, 05:32 AM
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Geez xxup, I take it you're a "the glass is half empty" kind of guy....... :D
I've found a good dealer, I'm sticking with them. It's for times like now (recall time) that I started the Scheduled Service thread. I'd love to have that thread posted in every time someone goes to the dealer. If we all do that, then we all benefit from the experiences of the many. How many of us ask for the left over oil at service time now? I wouldn't have thought to do that until timbo mentioned it somewhere. Everyone does it now. Enough of us ask for the last litre and a bit, and the dealers will do it as a matter of course.
If a dealer out there duds you on this recall, post about it in the other thread. My advise for you xxup.....read the other sticky and pick the dealer you trust the most. I know Hymee is happy with his dealer. Oh, and try to have a word with the guy who'll be overseeing the work. Let him know you know what's involved during this visit.
Gomez.
I've found a good dealer, I'm sticking with them. It's for times like now (recall time) that I started the Scheduled Service thread. I'd love to have that thread posted in every time someone goes to the dealer. If we all do that, then we all benefit from the experiences of the many. How many of us ask for the left over oil at service time now? I wouldn't have thought to do that until timbo mentioned it somewhere. Everyone does it now. Enough of us ask for the last litre and a bit, and the dealers will do it as a matter of course.
If a dealer out there duds you on this recall, post about it in the other thread. My advise for you xxup.....read the other sticky and pick the dealer you trust the most. I know Hymee is happy with his dealer. Oh, and try to have a word with the guy who'll be overseeing the work. Let him know you know what's involved during this visit.
Gomez.
07-30-2005, 05:54 AM
#20
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I am not normally a half empty type of person, but I felt a need to dampen Taka's obvious excitement at the recall...
It is not the current dealer that I distrust it is another... The Finance Director and I have vowed never to return there.. However, there have been signs this time around that the current dealer is being seduced by the practices of their competitor..
It is not the current dealer that I distrust it is another... The Finance Director and I have vowed never to return there.. However, there have been signs this time around that the current dealer is being seduced by the practices of their competitor..
07-30-2005, 06:00 AM
#21
Actually, the dealer doesn't miss out just cause it is warranty work. The get paid by mazda for their shop time. Sometime it is good money.
You got to remember... Mazda provides the Warranty. You Mazda Dealer is not Mazda, they are just a franchise. The dealer does not cover the warranty, Mazda does. It is just set up in such a way that we "think" the dealer is Mazda, and the dealer provides the warranty.
Cheers,
Hymee.
You got to remember... Mazda provides the Warranty. You Mazda Dealer is not Mazda, they are just a franchise. The dealer does not cover the warranty, Mazda does. It is just set up in such a way that we "think" the dealer is Mazda, and the dealer provides the warranty.
Cheers,
Hymee.
Last edited by Hymee; 07-30-2005 at 07:17 AM.
07-30-2005, 06:05 AM
#22
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I guess no dealer -- of any make -- has ever totally satisified me, but I am as satisfied with my Mazda dealer as any.
OK, they don't valet the car (as the Honda dealer does to the wife's new Accord), but I do get a free loan car...and she doesn't. And I know which I prefer
OK, they don't valet the car (as the Honda dealer does to the wife's new Accord), but I do get a free loan car...and she doesn't. And I know which I prefer
07-30-2005, 06:06 AM
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Originally Posted by xxup
I am not normally a half empty type of person, but I felt a need to dampen Taka's obvious excitement at the recall...
07-30-2005, 12:58 PM
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To me the main concern is not which particular dealer you go to but who within that dealership will physically carry out the work on your car .
As we have seen how can you trust a dealership if their staff are not properly trained , ??.
Look at the idiot at the mazda dealership who fitted the rear sway bar to an RX8 upside down and when the owner complained of knocking sound from the rear he blamed the aftermarket whiteline sway bar
The only person i am happy with working on my car will be the head mechanik at the Goldcoast dealership Daniel and i want to be present to see the work being done .
Otherwise i am more than happy to collect the parts needed and get my mechanick to do the work , and charge mazda head office the same cost they would have given the dealership .
I wont be trusting the apprentice grease monkey to rectify the lower control arm and ball joint , on my ride
Wrongly fitting this part could cause a serious accident
B...free
michael
As we have seen how can you trust a dealership if their staff are not properly trained , ??.
Look at the idiot at the mazda dealership who fitted the rear sway bar to an RX8 upside down and when the owner complained of knocking sound from the rear he blamed the aftermarket whiteline sway bar
The only person i am happy with working on my car will be the head mechanik at the Goldcoast dealership Daniel
and i want to be present to see the work being done .Otherwise i am more than happy to collect the parts needed and get my mechanick to do the work , and charge mazda head office the same cost they would have given the dealership .
I wont be trusting the apprentice grease monkey
to rectify the lower control arm and ball joint , on my ride Wrongly fitting this part could cause a serious accident
B...free
michael