MegDecker

I have an 04 RX-8 that is in the shop right now needing massive repairs.
I had a short in my IGNITION COIL PACK and when trying to start the engine was flooded. So here is what the shop is charging me:

DIAGNOSTICS: Includes DEFLOODING, COMPRESSION TESTS, CLEAN INTAKE & CHANGE OIL & FILTERS
$190 Labor
$24 Parts
Sub Total: $214

REPLACE IGNITION COIL PACK-Shorted
$205.16 Parts
$142.50 Labor
Sub Total: $347.66

REPLACE PLUG WIRES
$88.34 Parts
REPLACE SPARK PLUGS
$81.96 Parts
$47.40 Labor
Sub Total: $217.70

Rotary TSB (When Engine is/has been Flooded): FLUSH ENGINE TO CLEAN APEX SEALS
$25.87 Parts
$380 Labor
Sub Total: $405.87

REPLACE BATTERY (Tests at 100 CCA)
$107 Parts
$24.95 Labor
Sub Total: 131.95

$100 Deductible from my extended warranty which is covering the following repairs:
REPLACE R&L ENGINE MOUNTS
REPLACE COOLANT TANK
($700 Warranty Work)

SHOP SUPPLIES: $39.90

TAX: $94.72

My Out-Of-Pocket Expense TOTAL
$1551.90

HELP!!!! Does this sound right?? Is there anything I can do without having done right away or can have mechanically inclined friends do cheaper??

Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank You, Thank You for your time!!!!

invasion08

iTrader: (7)

I would not let them do the repairs. When my car flooded the dealership only replaced the battery and spark plugs since they were fouled.

The battery go to your local auto parts store or upgrade and get a optima red top battery. You can find them for 150 shipped on the net

For the spark plugs go to
www.autopartswarehouse.com has them for 85 dollars shipped.

Go to www.finishlineperformance.com for the:

Coils are 26.95 so 107.80 for all four
Spark plug wires are 59.95
Mazda Engine cleaner is 20 bucks and find a DIY on the rx8 club

All these repairs are simple to do. You can find all the DIY's on the rx8 club

staticlag

Yes, you can just replace the coils www.finishlineperformance.com $100, and sparkplugs.com for the plugs, should cost around $160 and maybe take an hour of work.

staticlag

ah, beat me by a few seconds with the post!

invasion08

iTrader: (7)

Where did you take your car?

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

The coils (4) are available on-line for $25-$30 a piece. The plugs & wires seem to be priced right. Replacing the coils, wires & plugs should take less than 1 hr. What are the shop labor rates? The battery may be priced a little high. But, hey there is a mark up. Why the "Rotary TSB"? If it's the one I'm thinking of, that has nothing to do with flooding.

MegDecker

The local Mazda dealership here in Daytona FL

Thank you guys so much for your replies. I've been so stressed about this! I think I'm going to just have them fix the issues covered by my warranty and then tow my "baby" home!

MegDecker

They told me that anytime a rotary engine floods it needs to be flushed and they said it is a "TSB" on the RX-8?

Their labor rates are $94.50/hr is that standard?

I don't think I even really need a battery...the car wouldn't start due to the ignition coil pack but all my lights/guages were bright as day...and no clicky sounds indicative of a dead/dying battery...what do you think?

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

I have a t-shirt from that dealership.
The labor rate is $30 higher than that here, in Chicago. Battery probably just needs a charge. You probably drained it while cranking. The quoted times for repairs are probably the book times for each item. The actual time will probably be less.
Here (link) is the actual Service Bulletin (TSB) the they are referring to. It is for carbon removal from the engine interior that may or may not be necessary. You can do it yourself with a product called SeaFoam (available on the shelf at many major autoparts stores). All TSB's can be found here: http://www.finishlineperformance.com....php?pageid=11
I would have done (dealer or other mechanic) the coils, wire & plugs first and see how the car runs after that. Then run the tests described in the bulletin to see if it is needed. There will be raw gas in the cat that will have to be burned off first. There will be smoke from that.

Remember "A redline a day keeps the carbon away."

Good Luck

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Replace the coils wires and plugs yourself...about $250 in parts and maybe 2 hrs work if you have never done anything like this before.

If the battery is over 3 years old...save yourself the grief and buy a new one...

The rest of it is crap and padding.

When you start it..use the deflood procedure..and be willing to put up with a bit of smoke...but that will be it.

MegDecker

You guys are so awesome. You have no idea how much I truly do appreciate your time and input! I would so give y'all a hug right now!!

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Don't get all mushy on us.

zoom44

the engine core extended warranty should cover the flush for free- they bill mazda for that TSB.

everything else- as per everyone else

staticlag

Hmm, Daytona Beach?...

I could possibly come over and stay for a week to replace these coils and plugs

MegDecker

lol It's toasty warm here

MegDecker

How do I go about convincing the dealership of that? He seemed pretty firm

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Call the Mazda customer service 800 number found in your owners manual. Don't have a manual, go to www.mazdausa.com, register & you can download one.

MegDecker

Thanks! What do I tell customer service? Just what I need done and ask if they're covering? Do I tell them the ignition coil short caused the flooding issue?

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Tell him to do what YOU want or you will take the car somewhere else

I have this problem with my wifes vehicle all the time..they tell her a bunch of crap...and she doesn't know enough to say no. I solved the problem by having a very firm conversation with the service manager and the owner about not paying for anything not expressly asked for......

I would also ask them why they think all four coils just happened to quit at this specific time See what they say on that....

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Zoom is suggesting the TSB should be covered under the extended powertrain warrenty. The coils, plugs & wires are considered consumables and wouldn't be covered. When you call Mazda, tell them about the situation and ask (not demand) about the scope of the extended drivetrain warrenty and how it would work with this TSB. Once you have your facts straight, then you will be able to handle your dealer.

Bastage

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, definitely call Mazda. That dealership is especially sneaky. I drove about 100 miles with a 2 year old and a 2 months pregnant wife to buy her a Mazda5. I was planning on buying it using the supposedly non-negotiable S-Plan plus some incentives they had. Anyway, their numbers were consistently $800 above what I was expecting to pay, and they insisted they were giving me the S-Plan price with the incentives as I expected.

After wasting several hours going back and forth, I asked them to show me how they came up with their price and it turns out they were trying to charge me for an overhead DVD entertainment system that wasn't even in the car...

MegDecker

What's the difference between Ignition Coil that I can buy online & an Ignition Coil Pack

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Coil pack = 4 coils...that's it

MegDecker

lol Thanks....this is exactly why they are trying to charge me $1500

MegDecker

I told the dealership to fix the warranty items only and that I was going to have my car towed and the remainder fixed elsewhere. The next day they called and said they can now do everything for $950 total out-of-pocket. That's $600 less. Do you think with that reduction that it would be worthwhile to go ahead and have them do it??