rX8 coil issues
 

I had a the engine replaced in my 2006 rx8 3 months ago by a dealer under warranty. They did not replace the coils at the same time. While I was driving it the rear coil went out which caused the one next to it to go bad also. To make a long story short this all caused $3700.00 in damages to the wiring and motor. Any suggestions. Help please

Ignition coils are a known point of failure on our engine. There are unfortunately many factors at play here ranging from initial design, to location, to just use and abuse due to the high rpm operation of the engine. You can find a ton of information on this forum just by performing a search:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rx8+...ignition+coils

Alternatively, check the links in my signature.

As far as suggestions go, I would go with:

1. BHR Ignition - Trusted, proven, reliable, great customer service, forum presense
2. OEM Mazda - Must get from a trusted vendor (not ebay), will require replacement. For the cost of 2-3 sets of OEM (depending on market price) you could just get a BHR ignition and be done with it

Charles, the owner of BHR, can be found on these forums, and they even have a Vendor section. Feel free to contact him directly as well @ Charles@blackhaloracing.com (preference over forum PM)

Hang on, coil failure is common, but "rear coil went out which caused the one next to it to go bad also" sounds a little extreme. Can you specify what amounted to $3700 in damage? That sounds excessive.

Also what were the symptoms that lead to the original engine replacement?

^ I am also curious to hear the answer? Sounds hectic.

^+1

Yeah, it's possible for coil failure to lead to engine failure, but it isn't a direct 1:1 causal relationship that happens instantly. It requires persistant ignorance on the part of the driver to occur. I suspect whomever told you that it killed the engine was feeding you some BS.

According to the dealer the front coil went out causing the second coil to go out that cause the engine to pump fuel into the catalytic converter it got so hot that it melted the wiring harness to the that goes to the motor. In everything that I have read the dealer should have replaced the coils when they replaced the engine.

Hmm.

1) No, the engine itself gets replaced, they transfer every single item they can. Anything they can't transfer, they will charge you for. They wouldn't even test the ignition coils to know if they need replacing, and even if they did test the coils, the official Mazda dealer coil test will pass a failing coil.

2) They are correct that a failed coil will blowtorch the cat. Car fires have happened. Ignition Health is a major section of the New Owner's Thread

3) However, there is only 1 part of the engine harness which passes far enough down the transmission tunnel to be near the cat, and that harness holds the wiring for the rear O2 sensor, the neutral switch, and the reverse switch. NONE of them could possibly damage the engine from a wiring problem. Worst case would be a blown fuse that prevents the engine from running, best case is just that you have some idle hunting or a CEL for the rear O2. So they are just feeding you a story there, and one that is not possible to be true.

+1, harness is the really fishy part here. For all the damaged parts, you have the right to examine/take them. I would ask to see the harness damage.