Hi All

I am/was a proud owner of a 2004 built rx8.
After 11 months and 20000km - I noticed a "belt like" sound coming from my engine. The performance of the vehicle also felt somewhat compromised.

Last week I put the car in for the 20k service and outlined my concerns. To my surprise and horror - the dealer has replaced the starter engine, plugs and battery (and that's not the horror)!! I was also informed that the sound was caused by leakage in the apex valve.

The car is booked in next week for a new engine replacement. I am concerned with this action and its impact on the value and integrity of the vehicle.

Would really appreciate some feedback. The dealer also indicated that this was the first engine problem identified to date.

Cheers

 

Ian
As far as i know there have been a few bad engines around , but they were replaced by Mazda with no further problems , as far as the starter motor and the larger capacity battery it certainly cannot do any harm to your car .

The only downside apart from not having your car for a few days while your having the engine replaced is that you will have to run her in again :D

Your re-sale value and intergrty of your car i believe wont be affected .

B...free
michael

 

Hi Ian, sorry to hear of the problems you're having with your car. What you have is a loss of compression and damage/wear to your Apex seals, I suspect. These are akin to rings on the piston of a conventional engine.

This has occurred to a number of automatic RX-8's in the US, and is generally attributed to the car not being thrashed enough......resulting in carbon build up and "carbon lock". Don't suppose your car is an auto?

Gomez.

 

Hi Ian

Welcome to the forum...probably not the way you wanted to come here.

First, where are you located and who is the dealer?

On the starter, plugs and battery, that has been a remedy for cold start problems Mazda has been doing under warranty, so there's a few that have had that done.

On the apex seal (I think you mean, not valve), I've not heard of much in that area on the Renesis motor, although it has been an area of weakness for rotaries in the past. I suspect this sort of problem shows up in the diagnostic system, and -- because the repair requires a fairly substantial rebuild -- the best cost option is for Mazda to do an engine replacement, and rebuild the engine back at the factory.

It's not going to harm your resale value at all....unless it starts happening to us all

Just saw Gomez's response and forgot about those US auto trans problems ^^^ what he said

 

Thanks for your feedback...much appreciated.

A few follow up points...
The car is a manual and NOT and auto
In relation to the potential "carbon build up" - noted point. I have been known to drive the car a bit like my grandmother. I will address my driving habits with the new engine.
Bought the car from Gary Smith Mazda in Springvale (Melbourne). Assessment was also conducted here.
Agree that this isn't the ideal way to enter the forum - but I must say, a valuable forum to gain a better understanding.

Very happy to hear the opinions...and somewhat relieved!

Thanks Again for the prompt response.

 

Welcome Ian

Gary Smith is very close to the Mazda Australia head office, I suppose an engineer would have been notified or may have inspected your car. Ian, I have heard that a lot and a few car here with starting problem will have the starting motor replaced (hint: lexic??).

Gomez have told you to trash the car once in a while, yes sir, I will do that and send you the speeding ticket :p j/k. :D

 

Hi Ian, welcome to the club!

A number of us subscribe to the theory that once the motor is warm a redline a day keeps the mechanic away.

And that rev limiter beep is good for your soul too!

So drive like Grandma most of the time if that's your thing but every now and then...drive it like you stole it. :D

By my reckoning your new motor should be well and truly run in by October. Any chance of seeing you at the Nats? Taka - take over from here... :p :D

 

Dont worry about scratches and so forth, they take the engine out from underneath. They remove the suspension and take it right out, that was one of my concerns. No it hasnt happened to me, nearly though.

 

Thanks Again Guys.
Car is booked in for two days (Thursday/Friday) this week.
I'll let you all know how it goes...and how my new formed driving style is shaping up.
Just quietly...i have been practising over the last few days knowing that the engine is going to be replaced. I think I'm appreciating the car more now!!!
Cheers

 

Welcome to the new engine club ian, (I've also had starter, battery and plugs). My new engine is 3000k old and the car is running better than ever, and starting better than ever. I went through a trough there where I had no confidence in the car, but now that it is run in again and I am back having fun and I am reminded every day of why I just had to have this car. All this with the knowlege that my car is now really only 3000km old, not 47000km. Good luck and dont worry, I am sure you will back zoom zooming around in no time.

 

Good to hear you are bouncing back...was worried we'd see a WB 4 sale before long

 

ian, can you please explain the symptoms of the failed engine. I mean where did it lack power? overall or through a certain rev range, or did it miss-fire, idle wierd etc..