williamngRX8

not my baby that's getting a new engine, its a red 8 i described. i was in a rush this morning and didnt have enough time to ask further what the heck is wrong with that car till it needs a new engine or sort. i was told that's the first 8 they will spank with a brand new engine since this recall.

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

Yep - have had mine for about a week now.

corvus13

iTrader: (2)

Hey,
Just took my baby in today to U Mazda (saw the red one on the lift in need of a new engine) They ended up not being able to get to it as soon as they were supposed to (they had a LOT of 8's in the bays) so they gave me a loaner car for the night...a Mazda6. Not too bad, but drives like a fat drunk in comparison to the 8. Anyway, I didn't have to book the car, they just told me it was part of the recall to give out a loaner (that was even when they thought it was only going to take two hours). Can't wait to get her back in the morning...

jisoo26

Had mine in yesterday for the day. Got the flash and new sparkplugs. No gas but I was already over 3/4 full in the tank (guess I shoulda driven it hard for a couple days before going in ). Had a rental car for the day to get to work, a 2007 Ford Five Hundred. It's like driving a sponge, floaty and spacy ride. I guess I wouldn't mind it if I were 60

gribblet

Recieved my letters last week (recall and warrenty extension). Scheduled for 8:00am tomorrow (Thursday 9/14) in Pasco (I live in Walla Walla). I will repost after the appointment and let you all know how it went.

Gribblet
2004 MT - GT- Nordic Green - appearence package, front mud guards, clear corners
17K miles

cebat

got my letters too, mc curley mazda will be looking at my car as well, except it wont be until Monday. My car has been studying hard, so hopefully she will pass her test.

fishnhard

Well we got ours back today the 14th of Sept. And what a surprise, there is nothing wrong with my car. Even though they cant answer one of my questions. I will look to see if they did the plugs or not. I know I already had the current Flash from the last time I took it in. They told me they even tested my engine twice just to see if it would fail and it didnt. I have had my car in several times before this with some issues. They know me by name there now. They have been great to deal with. This would be Miliam Mazda in Puyallup. Good luck to the rest of you. Hope so see you on the road somewhere!

dmp

I hope you fare better than I w/ Miliam's Svc Dept. Those guys did all kinda wrong to me.

psu15582

got the letter last wek, went today to royalmoor, the dealer provided a free loaner car (07 camry), a free wash and a free tank of gas. actually the dealer advised me to come in with an empty tank when I made the appt. last week.
suppose to get the car back tomorrow since I'm also having the 30.000 mile service done the same time. and as some of you know I have an auto 04, so we'll see how it goes!!

fishnhard

dmp, who did you deal with? I have only been dealing with one service advisor and one tech the entire time.

dmp

Brian, mostly. He was always nice and professional - sometimes we'd chit-chat for awhile; just bs'ing.


You want the long version? Here's a partial cut and paste of letter I sent to MazdaUSA a few months ago, 3 weeks AFTER I sent a letter to the GM of Miliam w/o hearing back:


__________________________________________________ ______6 April 2006

5 December 2004 I purchased a 2004 Mazda RX8 from your dealership. I don’t recall the name of the salesman, as I’ve had no contact with him since. I do remember the people in your Service Department however, as I’ve had dealings with that part of your dealership on several occasions.
Bottom line up-front:
Your staff in the Service Department has been very cooperative, professional, and courteous when I’ve taken my car in for “little things” such as having rattles fixed, and oil changes. When “big things” happen, I’ve been on an emotional roller-coaster of “We won’t cover your car under warranty” then relenting after putting me through much angst; “Okay, we’ll do you a favor and honor the warranty”…which was included in the $28,500 you spent at Milam. This past week, your Service Department failed me in a most outrageous way.
Details, which will illustrate my frustration, follow. These are in chronological order, oldest to newest events:

• Returned Car for service work regarding: Dealer Repair Information #0003559 – Repaint rust on brake rotors. After a second treatment sometime later, a point was made to tell me the re-painting was done out of the goodness of their hearts, as “Mazda doesn’t reimburse them for the labor involved.” Milam Auto is Mazda to customers.
• HVAC/Radio display unreadable and garbled: (thread) Before any other diagnosis I was told “there was no way that will be covered under warranty” because I had installed some basic aftermarket audio components. Milam did NOT prove or illustrate how the aftermarket parts caused the display to go bad. After some frustrating hours, the part was covered under warranty because Milam/Mazda Tech line found ONE OTHER car, in California, with the same problem – which was a radio unit overly sensitive to heat. Had my car been the first case they could find, the display would NOT have been covered.
• Catastrophic failure of the Clutch Disc:(Thread) After removal of the damaged parts, your Service Department called me, accusing me of abusing the clutch. I was told the clutch disc has been “abused and over-heated”, as the clutch disc had “turned blue, from overheating.” The clutch disc had EXPLODED – the metal rivets holding the clutch disc together simply failed. I suggested to your Service Department to open a brand-new Mazda RX8 clutch disc if they had one in stock, as ALL have a blue hue to the metal pieces. Begrudgingly, the clutch was replaced under warranty with the caveat no future replacements would be done as the clutch is a “part” and “parts” only carry a 12,000 mile warranty. I was told “(Milam is) doing you a favor in honoring the warranty” as my car had just over 13,000 miles when this happened. Your Service Department worked well with me in holding off a few days on the repair, as I had ordered a Mazdaspeed (MS) Flywheel for installation. Had your parts department not told me “No.” when I asked if Milam can order MS parts, the install would have been completed a few days quicker.
• Hard Starting Issue: per Mazda TSB 01-019/05. This problem was not fixed; I was denied warranty coverage. I had cut a VERY small notch in the side my battery cover to allow the pass-through of a ½” diameter power wire for an audio amplifier. I was told by a Service Rep “That small hole is causing the battery to overheat. Therefore the hard starting won’t be covered as your modification lead to the problem.” I was not offered data to support the claim. The “diagnosis” was made only by calling the Mazda Tech phone line and concluding the tiny notch in the cover “must” be the cause of the hard-starting. I also asked your Service Department to look into re-fixing a driver’s airbag rattle which was fixed at one point, but has since returned with a vengeance, per Mazda TSB 08-004/04. I have to keep a wadded-up piece of paper in the gap between the airbag cover and the steering wheel to maintain sanity during driving. The car is now “past the warranty period for rattles.”
• Gradual, severe power loss:(Thred) Last week, your Service Department gave me untold amounts of ulcer-inducing stress and grief. My car could barely accelerate. The car bucked and shuddered – the only way I could drive the car is by keeping minimal pressure on the throttle to gradually build up speed. When I dropped the car with your Service Department I said that I’d been researching the symptoms online, and thought the power loss was likely the result of ignition coil failure or a clogged catalytic converter. The reaction I got from your Service Department was disbelief; “if the cat-converter is bad, [my car] would have a Check Engine Light [illuminated].” The next day was told by a service representative that Milam would not diagnose the problem with my car. I was told “…we called Mazda Tech line – they told us we are to not touch the car because of a performance intake and exhaust system which may have caused the power loss.” I was effectively denied warranty coverage based on speculation without any determination of the cause of the problem. I had purchased and installed Racing Beat brand intake and exhaust system last year. Racing Beat has a well-documented, established history with Mazda. Your service representative told me he’d never heard of Racing Beat. When I brought up the quality of the parts I’d chosen I was questioned on the brand of air filter. I was told “the air filter might have caused the car’s Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) to malfunction.” After two days, I was asked to return to Milam and pick up my car. I was to expect a call within a few days to see if they could convince Mazda to cover the car under warranty. When I expressed my frustration, and asked if he thought Milam was in violation of the Magnusen-Moss Warranty Act, I was patronized with the comment “If it’s not a MAZDA brand part, it will void your warranty!” Also, suggestion was made that if I’d have brought in my car with the Original Equipment re-installed, I would have had no trouble getting diagnosis and repair for the car.

It is a shame that I’d be forced to be dishonest, just to ensure fair treatment.

As of the writing of this letter, I have not received the promised phone call.
Monday of this week, I called a different Mazda dealer and explained the problems with my car, and my frustration – at this point I just want to know what’s wrong with my car. I was honest and upfront to the service representative on the phone, telling him of my Racing Beat products. He told me “We’ll take care of you – bring it in.”
No more than 3 hours later, I got a call from the actual technician who worked on my car. He told me he drove the car and suspected the catalytic converter was at fault. He removed the converter to find “…pieces of the catalyst broken and in chunks – falling out all over.” He told me he’d get a new converter as soon as possible.
I asked him if I’d be charged for the converter and if my use of other-than-Mazda parts may have lead to the failure. He wondered if the car had any history of hard-start issues – which, in his opinion, does lead to such a failure of the catalytic converter at times.
When I told the technician of Milam Auto’s refusal to fix the hard start problem my car had been experiencing, he told me he’d absolutely fix that too.
Denying warranty coverage without cause is a violation of Federal Law to the best of my understanding. Speculation is NOT enough. To invalidate a warranty, aftermarket parts must cause a failure of another part. And IF an aftermarket part is shown to cause a problem, only that area of the warranty is voided – e.g., new wheels causing the ball joints to go bad would not invalidate a warranty on the ignition system. At this point Milam Auto’s Service Department hasn’t actually invalidated my car’s warranty – but the threats of such action, coupled with the unwillingness to even just research the current problem borderline on unethical in my view.
At this point, I’ve been driven away from Milam Auto and found a new dealership. Milam Auto gave me a very fair deal when purchasing my car. Milam’s Service Department has left me jaded, and frustrated, however. If I had not found the other dealership I’d absolutely boycott Milam Auto and Mazda, and do what I could to ensure all those I’m in contact with would stay very very far away from your store. I would have also seriously considered legal action and letters to the FTC, BBB, and anyone else who would listen. I would LOVE to frequent Milam Auto for all of my car’s service and maintenance needs, as it’s less than ten miles from my home.
___________________________________________

ddub

I got mine a week ago, still debating on going in as well. I have a catless midpipe, aftermarket exhaust, lowered, pulleys, aem intake, tpms light due to aftermarket wheels, etc. I can just see them giving me tons of issues and trying to void my warranty and refusing to do work if I go in.

fishnhard

wow dmp that is shitty. Brian is also the one I have delt with. He also knows I am a mechanic. Everytime we have taken our car in, and described the problem, and I gave my expert opnion, I have been correct. The rattle/popcorn issue has yet to be solved. My wife put him on the spot by asking him, "If the rattle noise is normal, then how come you can minupulate it?" His response was,"thats a really good question, and I dont have an answer for you." So you if all want to have some fun with the dealers, the next time you take it in and you have that engine rattle that Mazda says is normal, ask them that question and see what your response is. I want to know.
Thanks all

gribblet

Took my 8 in for the recall, all came out good, no new engine, fixed a small warrenty problem (sunglass storage door wouldn't open), gave me a new MPV for the day, washed the car and vacuumed and filled the tank with gas. Very happy with the whole process.

Anibal

took my 8 in today at 7:45, by 8:45 i was driving home;

1 re-program
2 new leading plugs
3 inspected cat converter; good
4 $37 dollars gas, premiun i took the car my self
5 wash and vac, i told them no thank you
6 battery test; good
7 check brake; good
8 tire check; good

so i am good to go!

ps; it was done at Russ Dunmire in Tacoma, i have been going there for the past ten years!!!

fishnhard

Miliam didnt fill my tank, did a half azz wash job, and I still have to take it back for a brake clunk. This is getting really old fast!!!

d23

did my recall yesterday at lynwood mazda...

-replaced spark plugs
-reprogrammed ecu
-tank refueled
-washed

engine feels little smoother and a little increase in acceleration...

Mwexler

Was that in Eugene, OR??

I got a new cat conv. on Tuesday this past week. There was a sad little VR 8 on stands right outside the service bay doors. One of the unfortunate few is what I was told.

I was also told they've only had to replace two engines out of about 30.

Anibal

Miliam didnt fill my tank, did a half azz wash job, and I still have to take it back for a brake clunk. This is getting really old fast!!!

take it to Russ Dunmire, in tacoma. they fix my clunkin noise on my front brake, it was the dust sheird. i was with the service guy, wend he bent it out, and it stop making the noise!!!

JamesBaud

Great... I scheduled service with them for Monday to fix several TSB issues. I told them on the phone I had a bunch of these bulletins and they didn't even want the numbers which didn't sound good to me.

What dealership did you end up using in lieu of Milams? I might cancel my appointment and switch.

dmp

Mazda of Olympia now, although considering Russ Dunmire for this particular service, because it's SO Much closer.

Cam

iTrader: (1)

Just got back.

New flash.
Cat checked out ok.
No new plugs.
Washed and filled up.

Done at U Mazda.

Impressions.

Engine feels smoother. Feels at though it is more responsive (throughtout RPM's). Does feel as though it pulls harder at 7k and up.
Engine at idle seems smoother as well. (never had any idle issues.)

Side note: It seems my tranny is smoother now too. 1st to 2nd is as buttery smooth as every other gear. (Manual tranny).

JamesBaud

Ugh... Olympia is too far for me. Anyone have experience with Pinnacle Mazda in Renton? They're the next closest to me, then Russ Dunmire.

RXMATE

Also just had mine serviced at University Mazda in Seattle. Pretty much the same experience as Cam. Highly recommend. When looking for the RX8 I did a Google search on Pinnacle Mazda, seems like they had some bad reviews out there.

fishnhard

the only experiecne with Pinnicle Mazda I have had is when I bought the car. Anibal say russ dunmire is doing good work for him. I might try there. I heard at one point they had a really good rotory tech working there. Dont know if still there. I might try there next time if Miliam doesnt get with it and fix my car!! Like I posted before, just getting tired of always haveing to take it back for the same thing or something new. I do like the fact I get the same Tech everytime. I know I liked it when I get the same customer each time, just not for a repete problem.