Hmm, well as long as it works I'm not sure I would care to much how its fixed.

But not knowing anything on the subject, I would like to add from past experience that I have replaced a battery myself and did not have this issue. I'm not saying however that its not possible, just that it didnt happen to me.

Either way your wife's car is fixed :P

 

That is definately interesting.. I had my battery replace by TNM, so maybe they reset all that stuff while it was there. Who knows. But like Thomas said, I'm just glad its running for you again!

 

...well, so much for the re-programming theory.
At least it happened at the dealer this time. Called Penny to tell her I was on the way - she went out to just "check" - started it up...and it died. Needless to say they're keeping it and checking more in the morning.

will keep you posted.

 

OK, now I'm OFFICIALLY frustrated. Today they're telling me it's the starter. As I mentioned earlier when it's cold it seemed to start fine. but did have some rpm fluctuation. - initially higher. After being driven awhile it then would initially start but rpms would immediately drop and it would die. After doing this once or twice it then would not start at all. ???
Per Penny "it only seems to do it every 10th time we start it. - we've run several more compression checks and all have come back fine. Tech guy has been on the phone with California several times and everything is pointing to the starter..."

So after diagnosis of:
1. being out of gas due to the gas gauge relay not working.
2. new spark plugs, coils, all filters cleaned, new battery
3. reprogramming/setting of the crankshaft (?)

...ordered a new starter today (+ $500 - it is the newer larger one)

Like I've said before, I'm basically a mechanical dummy, but this isn't making sense to me....

Joe have your problems disappeared?

 

My warm start issues were eliminated with the upgraded starter, so if they say the compression is good and you're on the original weaker starter, I wouldn't worry.

 

So far so good. I'll know better by the end of the weekend when I get to drive it more. Trying to get the new, upgraded started out of TownNorth is like pulling teeth. It seems they would rather rebuild the entire car than replace the freakin starter. Not sure why they have such an issue with it. Although it is interesting, I asked Penny if you had the new starter and she said yes. Now you don't? lol My faith in TNM is wavering at this point. If I so much as have a hesitant warm start this weekend.........

I'm holding out hope that this does resolve your issue. I hate that anyone has this kind of trouble...

 

Man, after reading everything in this thread, I dont even use TNM and I'd have to agree with you despite all the accolaids I've heard in the past about them. I guess you can't stay on top forever.

 

town north mazda dosen't even have rx-8s, seems like they hate it, if out of warranty, replace the starter yourself. still don't see what starter got to do with car "dying" after it started.

 

1. They didn't even have one in stock. Had to order it and have it shipped priority (+$50) to get here by Monday, otherwise was looking at Wednesday of next week...
2. ...now this is really making me feel "confident"

I really do hope this is just a glitch w TNM and this works out. We'll see...

 

Well here is what I've heard about Town North Mazda...

Angela has told me they are awesome...
They know Scott by first name
Jeff (Spool) loves them, he knows several guys back there and gets hooked up etc. No problems at all
Ahad has got his tranny fixed several times and no problems there...

Town North is where I'm headed next, Hiley Mazda sucks... Never go there...

 

It all depends on who you deal with there. Honestly Penny is not very knowledgeable and will give you the run around... I mentioned that in one of my other threads. Have they looked at your CAT? maybe its clogged?

 

I would agree that Town North is great with most everything. They know me by name as well. They typically go above & beyond with their service. But, for some reason, they have a problem acknowledging starter issues. I've been fighting this battle with them for over a year. They flat refuse to check the starter... It's like the think if they ignore it, the problem will go away. Outside of a starter issue, they are top notch.

 

Good news is that if you ever need a new engine TNM can pull and install one it a day

 

SURPRISE!!!...new starter didn't solve the problem.

...TNM tech's still talking with California techs......

 

Not cool! But don't feel too bad, my issue isn't resolved either. Got an appt on Wednesday. Went out today and bought a telescoping mirror, put the car up on jacks, crawled under there just to see which starter I had.... No real surprise, I have the non-updated one....

Although, it does concern me that even the new starter didn't resolve your/possibly my issue.

 

well........looks like I'm getting a new engine!!! Just briefly talked to Penny who called and told me they ordered it today.
Between TNM and CA techs they can't figrue it out...after all the compression checks that turned out fine before, now they say after it's been running awhile etc. - they checked compression again and numbers are down in the 6's.

Won't be here till Monday...

 

Lol well one engine isnt bad... I had 3 new ones...

 

New starter on Monday! I love Penny again... lol

 

AYE AYE AYE!!

 

Hey Wayne.. when do you get your 8 back?

 

How did u get a new starter? I have an 04 and mine probably needs replacement.....mine just struggles during warm starts but besides that it starts just fine........

 

Picked it up Tuesday evening....but still having issues.
When it's cold, it starts, pretty quickly but (with foot ofrf the gas) it will rev all the way up to 3K drop, and then struggle revving up and down and then might eventually die. After going through this for several (maybe a full 5-7 minutes or so rpm's might eventually level out and you can drive it. but there is some hesitation when you do accelerate at times. Then to compound things after it gets warm, and you restart it, it does the same thing as before - starts and dies. but no wild rpm fluctuations. Thursday after driving it for awhile it took me about 10 attempts to restart before eventually getting it running and could drive home. Called Penny Friday and it's going back in again.
I have to say I'm a getting more than a little upset with TNM. When I spoke with Penny Friday, she admitted the tech had problems starting it after they put in the new enginge too - but they let me drive it out Tuesday without ever even mentioning it. They said they were hoping the check engine light might come on cause the tech now thinks it could be the catalytic converter but they can't change them unless the check engine light comes on ???

Will keep you posted.


Did the new starter clear up your issues?

 

Dude, that really sucks. I can't believe they sent it home with you knowing it wouldn't start. That would really **** me off. I cant blame you for being mad at TN! I'm not sure any of the other dealerships are any better though, at least from the comments I've heard from the guys.

You wouldn't believe the difference the new starter made! I guess I know how the other half lives now! HA HA. The hard starts seem to have disappeared, its been a week and I havent had any issues.

 

Well, went out to start it yesterday and sure enough - the check engine light has come on....
imagine I'm getting a new cat converter Monday..."

 

Man, that's lucky. My CEL has never illuminated for the cat and I know for a fact that it's shot.. and now that i'm sitting at 89k miles, it doesn't matter.
I had my car compression checked at 80k by Rotary Performance and it came back

front: 8.7, 8.6, 8.8
rear: 8.8, 8.1, 9.0

which isn't bad for 80k, but the engine has never been seafoamed, so i might do that one of these days.