help!!!
 

New to this club and need lots of help. Bought an 04 Rx-8 with 95000 kilometers that was imported into Canada, off of a friend. Had the car less than 6months and engine went. (low compression) Mazda Cananda replaced the engine under warranty. 8 months later engine lets go again and Mazda once again replaces it under warranty,but tells me I need new inition coils.The car now has 109000 km. Now for the bad news, just after the second engine went the DSC light came on and mazda says that I need a new DSC computer and my power steering has failed. I have read through the forums on some of these problems, but I am a witts end trying to figure out where to start. I Absolutely love this car, but I am going to College and don't have the cash to keep going back to mazda for more repairs. Any advise on where in Calgary Canada I can have the car looked at that knows what they are doing and won't cost me a fortune?

Sell it or trade it in and buy something reliable. You're in college and the last thing you need to worry about is the car.

I find it highly suspicious that the engine died within 8 months. You did the proper break-in for it, correct?

Other than the dealership I can't really think of any place special to take it for repairs, but I would try a different Mazda dealership if you can. I do recall someone saying something about someone who used to work on rotaries in the Black Diamond area. I cannot confirm that.

One thing I would suggest is to order your parts online and bring them to the shop to get it fixed. Most times buying the parts your self is much cheaper than the dealership will charge you. Pick up your ignition coils from RaceRoots.com and do them your self; its a 10 minute job.

We could organize a meet as well and trouble shoot it. Some of the other people the area probably know more than I do.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, why the crap didn't they do the sparks and coils before giving you the first engine? That's usually the first thing they check, and its doubtful they burnt out in 8 months.

Thanks for the replies. Ya maybe I should have bought something more reliable, but i really love to drive this car. As far as a break in, Mazda said that it was not required and to drive it like you stole it. Going over an old invoice from Mazda they did find that the steering angle sensor could not find center. Could this have something to do with the DSC not working? Anyway I will order the wires and coil set from the people that you refered and go from there. Thanks again for the advise.

this makes me sad. by any chance did you wait till it warms up before driving it like you stole it?

Yes I always make sure the engine has run for a while before I start reving it hard.

I don’t know then. do a lot of reading and realize mazda really doesn’t seem to know how to make these engines last. many opinions on how to extended its life on this site some are bullshit while other seem to make sense. Just read, read, and read soon you will be able to diagnose many of the rx8’s common problems and save your self thousands of dollars wasted at the dealer who seem to have no idea what’s going on with the car anyways.