Dealership wants to charge me $10.5K???
 

Hi All,

Had my 2005 RX-8 Auto for 9 years. I'm the 2nd owner, it was purchased with 45K miles and having just had a warranty engine swap. It's now up to 115K miles. Enjoyable drive. Love it :love:.
Only problem I've had was a few years ago, a CEL light came on and threw up an error code (P0661). Dealership charged me $1K to sort it out. I got some advice here to DIY-it but ultimately was beyond my skills and competance.
Other than that, regular oil changes and checkups at the local Mazda dealership. No problems.

Recently, I've had some issues starting up when the engine is warm. Typically starting the engine again after filling up with gas or buying groceries. It will crank but doesn't "catch" (sorry for the non-technical jargon). I will try again intermittently and normally after 5 mins or so, it will start with a struggle, and I go on my way.
On taking it to dealership, they diagnosed low compression (they also said I have getting misfires) and the remedy was to do an engine swap with coils + plugs, along with a new catalytic converter. $9K for the engine, $1.5K for the cat. $10.5K total.

Seems like I have 3 options:

1. Call it a day. Get another car (maybe a used RX-8 :ylsuper:)
2. Get the repairs done at the dealership. Cost $10.5K
3. Get the repairs done somewhere else (in the Ventura County/Los Angeles County area). Cost???

Not really a new member anymore but certainly not knowledgeable about engine swaps. Any forum members have advice?

Much Appreciated!

Wow... $1k just to change out that solenoid? It’s like $300-$400 max parts and labor. If you got small hands or can enlist your kid you can change them out without unbolting anything lol. I’d run far far away from that place if I were you. I wouldn’t even trust their compression test unless they can show the readout sheet here. Also, if you didn’t notice your engine light flashing it wasn’t misfiring.

Make 100% sure compression is low. It could just need new plugs, wires and coils. For $10.5k you could get an R3 with low miles lol.

Are these US dollars?
It's a little high, but basically, yes, this is how much it costs to get a replacement engine out of warranty (+ cat + coils). The prices went up recently, and the early autos are the most expensive ones.

Misfires do sound like ignition problems, so that makes sense. Ignition problems take out the cat, which takes out the engine. The scenario isn't suprising, but the ignition coils should have been tested/replaced preventatively. Not sure every Mazda dealer would volunteer to do that, but around here it's highly recommended.

+1 to the above, what are the actual compression numbers?

You'll never get your money back on replacing this engine, so that might decide what you want to do here. You can buy a newer RX8 with a better engine for the same amount.

Obviously it was a rookie error on my part not to ask for a copy of the compression test results :uh:

They showed me a print out where they indicated a desired/baseline reading in the 7-ish range and my measurements were in the 5-ish range.

FYI, my current thinking is strongly against having the replacement engine done at the dealership.

What about a rebuild? Would that work for low compression issues? And at a reasonable cost? Anyone have experience with that? (Finding a trustworthy place in the SoCal area to get that done would be another issue.)

Cheers for any additional thoughts :)

Yes, those are US dollar :(

If your compression is low look for another car. You got a lot of use out of this car and maybe it’s time for it to go. Sell it and use the money to buy another Auto RX8. They are far less desirable than the manuals. Good ones with good compression can be found for $5k.

edit: just change out plugs coils and wires and put it up for sale. A running RX8 with low compression sells easier than an RX8 that doesn’t start at all. 5ish the car will still run with a good ignition system. Just buy the parts and tools needed and do it yourself. Buy cheap. Can be done yourself in an hour for under $200.

You can call around to Pineapple Racing in Oregon, Rotary Resurrection in Tennessee (and member here), Pettit Racing in Florida and a few other rebuilders to get a quote. It won't be 10k, but maybe 3-4k and you'll need it shipped to you, ship your engine to them and have someone install your replacement engine in your car.

To be clear, they will not give you your engine back rebuilt, they'll give you an engine built out of good parts of many engines and new seals. Which is fine, they have good reputations. Some other shops offer the same service without the reputation or skill to do this right.

Surely you can call the dealer back and get the numbers they recorded?

In my opinion, unless you LOVE this particular 8 with all your heart, an automatic transmission model is not worth the money to rebuild.
You can buy 4 or 5 ATs with $10k.
You can buy a really nice 6 spd. with a good engine and they're worth rebuilding if you should ever need it.

Definitely find a good quality 3rd party builder. FWIW my quote from the dealership for a 2011 S2 came out to $13,934.20 :uh:

Thankfully I was still covered under the rotary core warranty, so ended up only paying $600ish for while-you're-in-there clutch parts.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...076c37ece7.jpg

I'll take curtain / option #1

there is a 4th option for a auto 4 port It'll run you about 6 grand, tops since you're not doing the work yourself, but will net you a much nicer ride.

Swap out your 4 port motor for a 6 port motor (make sure you get the ABS module and ECU)
Buy a 6MT transmission
Buy a master cylinder / clutch kit.
Another grand or so in other odds and ends
A trip to the dealer to flash your new ECU "as built"
MazdaEdit or similar to suppress a silly TCM code

When you can go out and just buy an RX8 with a working engine for $5k, why even bother with all that? If the engine ever goes in any of my RX8's it's being sold and I'm just buying another one.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=236266442

Can you though? ;)
I know around here it's basically raining snowing working rotaries ;)

If you dont mind transporting them to where you live they aren't hard to find.

"Working" and 'good' engines are 2 different things.
I drove mine around for 2 years with a 'working' failing engine.
It was working great, ran great, but every time I shut it off hot I could plan on sitting around for a half hour at least waiting for it to cool off.

Finding an 8 with an engine that has proven good compression numbers is another story.

I'll admit it's a bit of a hunt but it's certainly easier than attempting a rebuild/swap in my opinion. Especially if you are in the market for an automatic.

Why would anyone be in the market for an automatic RX8, absent ADA needs? Worst decision car decision I ever made was settling for an auto 8 in 2008. I do agree the value has dropped dramatically since then, but I think we're a bit beyond the point where folks are trading in / selling their 8s chasing the next big thing. Chances are, it's on the market because something is wrong with it, IMHO.

Agree completely about the autos being less desirable. I am not a huge fan either. It's the OP that wants it as an automatic to replace his current broken automatic. There are good examples still out there, just requires some hunting. If he can get one with a good transmission with good compression it's still a better alternative than spending $10k trying to fix his current RX8.

LFX swap and never worry about that engine again.

Yeah because that's an inexpensive solution.

I assume RX8 FAN HAS GIVEN UP?

About $12-13k if you DIY... I may however try to do this one day. Hopefully someone writes off their Camaro around here haha.

Honestly, who care about resale value? If the OP had the car for 9 years now and still loves it and still wants to keep driving it, freakin rebuild it or swap in another block and keep her rolling.

obviously not for 10 grand worth. Lol.

if mine was worn out and in need of a rebuild, I’d never sell it and go try to find another clean shell. Why would I want someone else’s beater when I can fix up mine, which has been babied and garage kept, out of snow, clean, stench free, dent free, everything works, etc etc.

shows how much you guys actually love your 8s. 😒🤨

At the end of the day it’s just a machine. You don’t fall in love with your washer and dryer so why fall in love with any one particular car. I’m not saying go out and buy a crappy RX8, you go out and you buy another good one and take good care of it. Cars are disposable once they are no longer worth it to fix. We love RX8’s, just don’t like sinking thousands into them when they have lived a good life and not worth fixing anymore. An automatic is definitely not worth the cost of a new engine.