Mazda won't cover my engine!!!
10-19-2010, 03:49 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mazda won't cover my engine!!!
Let me start this saga by saying as a life long Rotary owner and deep Mazda loyalist this is endlessly frustrating. I have a 04 with 66k on it that has been my daily driver for about 3 year. It is stock with the exception of cat back exhaust. I have owned RX-7s my whole life starting with a 84 GSL-SE then a few FC that where N/A and still own a single turbo FD.
Well I was getting on my local freeway to start the traffic filled slog home when I lost compression on my rear rotor. I have been there before and new the sound and behavior from when my RX7s have blown(one apex, one coolant seal). So I parked it on the side of the freeway to avoid any further damage to housings, rotor etc. I got a uhaul and towed to to my work where I looked it over. After a day of trouble shooting(coils and plugs/wires because it was coding as a misfire so I thought I would try) and pouring over this forum I decided it was toast. I u-haul towed it to Lee Johnson Mazda in Kirkland where I had done my ECU re flashes and bought my parts. I said looks like another one for the extended warranty program.
Well.... My service provider(A small mom and pop shop in Bellevue Wa) had lots of records from my oil changes. The problem was the owners wife whom does the record keeping was very ill with a brain tumor. I spoke with her through out this and she told my she was having her assistant dig up my oil change receipts. As she was ill I was very patient with them. It did take her almost 3 months to get all of them to me but there where all there for 3 years worth of oil changes. Over this time Lee Johnson had switched Service Managers and sent me a bill for $400 to tell me the engine was toast. Really??? I brought it in on a stretcher. Okay cool, I paid it. Gave them receipts and thanked them for their patients.
A few days past and the New Service Manager called and blatantly said the records I provided where fake!!! I asked what would make them think that? His response was that they had no oil smudges and the price had not changed in 3 years. I said that is it? He followed up with that they all looked the same and when he called the shop the lady that was ill backed away from the records. I said there is not a chance she would do that, as she has absolutely no reason to. We argued back and forth on the merits of his reasoning and he said it was already a done deal. Needless to say I was really pissed. The gal at the shop was out again for some doctors appointments but got back to me within a day. She said she had spoken with the Service guy and told him she would be willing to do whatever he needed to prove the validity of the records. Well of course this was not told to Mazda. Mazda was told that the shop "backed down from the records". This was a unfortunate misleading by a new service manger, I am sure to keep warranty cost down and start off strong at his new position. I called a Mazda rep and explained what was going on and to call the regional warranty person and see what was going on. They stood firm on their decision and told me if unless I could produce different records that the outcome would not change. So unless my shop comes up with "new" records it looks as if I will be paying for a new motor and hoping Mazda tears it down and says it was the typical failure and I will be reimbursed for my cost. I can not afford to keep the RX-8 if I am paying for the engine.
So If anyone needs a Brilliant Black 04 with a new engine let me know. Its a 6 speed with cloth. I will let it go for $10,000 obo. I would think at the very least the burden of proof would be on Mazda to prove that my "lack of maintenance" was the cause of the failure. They will not even give me a reason for failure of the engine or the reason for denial of warranty in writing unless I take them to court.
Sorry for the novel, I just needed to vent amongst rotary brethren. I hope some can learn from this and avoid it in the future. I think my Rotary Spirit has a blown apex seal and will need a rebuild as well. Thanks all and Rotor on!
Well I was getting on my local freeway to start the traffic filled slog home when I lost compression on my rear rotor. I have been there before and new the sound and behavior from when my RX7s have blown(one apex, one coolant seal). So I parked it on the side of the freeway to avoid any further damage to housings, rotor etc. I got a uhaul and towed to to my work where I looked it over. After a day of trouble shooting(coils and plugs/wires because it was coding as a misfire so I thought I would try) and pouring over this forum I decided it was toast. I u-haul towed it to Lee Johnson Mazda in Kirkland where I had done my ECU re flashes and bought my parts. I said looks like another one for the extended warranty program.
Well.... My service provider(A small mom and pop shop in Bellevue Wa) had lots of records from my oil changes. The problem was the owners wife whom does the record keeping was very ill with a brain tumor. I spoke with her through out this and she told my she was having her assistant dig up my oil change receipts. As she was ill I was very patient with them. It did take her almost 3 months to get all of them to me but there where all there for 3 years worth of oil changes. Over this time Lee Johnson had switched Service Managers and sent me a bill for $400 to tell me the engine was toast. Really??? I brought it in on a stretcher. Okay cool, I paid it. Gave them receipts and thanked them for their patients.
A few days past and the New Service Manager called and blatantly said the records I provided where fake!!! I asked what would make them think that? His response was that they had no oil smudges and the price had not changed in 3 years. I said that is it? He followed up with that they all looked the same and when he called the shop the lady that was ill backed away from the records. I said there is not a chance she would do that, as she has absolutely no reason to. We argued back and forth on the merits of his reasoning and he said it was already a done deal. Needless to say I was really pissed. The gal at the shop was out again for some doctors appointments but got back to me within a day. She said she had spoken with the Service guy and told him she would be willing to do whatever he needed to prove the validity of the records. Well of course this was not told to Mazda. Mazda was told that the shop "backed down from the records". This was a unfortunate misleading by a new service manger, I am sure to keep warranty cost down and start off strong at his new position. I called a Mazda rep and explained what was going on and to call the regional warranty person and see what was going on. They stood firm on their decision and told me if unless I could produce different records that the outcome would not change. So unless my shop comes up with "new" records it looks as if I will be paying for a new motor and hoping Mazda tears it down and says it was the typical failure and I will be reimbursed for my cost. I can not afford to keep the RX-8 if I am paying for the engine.
So If anyone needs a Brilliant Black 04 with a new engine let me know. Its a 6 speed with cloth. I will let it go for $10,000 obo. I would think at the very least the burden of proof would be on Mazda to prove that my "lack of maintenance" was the cause of the failure. They will not even give me a reason for failure of the engine or the reason for denial of warranty in writing unless I take them to court.
Sorry for the novel, I just needed to vent amongst rotary brethren. I hope some can learn from this and avoid it in the future. I think my Rotary Spirit has a blown apex seal and will need a rebuild as well. Thanks all and Rotor on!
Last edited by pred8or; 10-19-2010 at 04:43 PM. Reason: Wall of text
10-19-2010, 03:55 PM
#2
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That is complete BS. I would contact Mazda North American Operations (949-727-1990) and tell them the complete story. Your engine should be covered under warranty and the reason they are giving you is not right. Call the number above and they should take care of you.
On a side note, I do all my own oil changes and probably only have a few of my oil receipts. Does that mean that my engine will not be covered if it fails?
On a side note, I do all my own oil changes and probably only have a few of my oil receipts. Does that mean that my engine will not be covered if it fails?
10-19-2010, 03:56 PM
#3
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
holy great wall of text.
paragraphs are your friends.
alright, now onto actually trying to read that giant paragraph.
brb...
paragraphs are your friends.
alright, now onto actually trying to read that giant paragraph.
brb...
10-19-2010, 04:00 PM
#4
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
back...
take it up the chain at Mazda, remember to stay calm and professional throughout your dealings and explain the entire story.
It would also help if you had a signed affidavit from the lady at the shop proving the validity of those records. With all that, I'm sure you can find someone at Mazda who will make the right decision.
take it up the chain at Mazda, remember to stay calm and professional throughout your dealings and explain the entire story.
It would also help if you had a signed affidavit from the lady at the shop proving the validity of those records. With all that, I'm sure you can find someone at Mazda who will make the right decision.
10-19-2010, 04:39 PM
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks all for your support but I called Mazda Operations to try to voice my side of the story but they are really sticking to it. Its been about 2 weeks since I first contacted them and talked again today. No luck. The lady at my shop is trying to find some proof of payment. It looks like they want to take it to court. Its really a crap situation. That's why I posted it was just to vent and try to get others to save every record and piece of service history as if you are going to have to go to court. I admit being careless with mine and having to rely on the shop for back ups. Thankfully they are very cool and I am a very loyal customer. After a bad experience at a local oil change chain I figured stick with one place even if its a little more money. Thanks again and sorry about the "wall of text" lol
10-19-2010, 09:16 PM
#9
weeeeeeeeee
iTrader: (12)
still hurt my eyes... fortunately was able to read the responses to get caught up on your issue. Lawyer up or eat the $3000 or so to do your own rebuild.
I seriously doubt MNAO or the dealership wants to go to court. Call their bluff and see what happens.
I seriously doubt MNAO or the dealership wants to go to court. Call their bluff and see what happens.
10-20-2010, 02:40 PM
#15
Sunlight Silver Bias
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's why I have stopped going to Lee Johnson for anything. They're absolute morons over there! Takes them 8 hours to fix my PCM under warranty and that whole time they didn't shuttle me anywhere or give me a loaner...I had to sit there waiting for them to finish my car!
After they finished it I noticed a funny sound on my wheels so I bring it back and ask them if they made sure everything was tight and drove their "Lead Tech" around to see if he could identify the noise...He tell's my it's creaking plastic...Which leads me to assume that they're even MORE retarded because I later went home and took the wheel off and noticed that my brake pin on my caliper was broken! Round 2 of their stupidity.
The final thing that makes me never go back there is that when I was doing a quick lube there the guy tells me that I had the "wrong plug bolt" in my oil pan. HOW THE HELL DID IT GET THERE? I sure as hell didn't pick up some random bolt and plug it in?! So they charged my 16 bucks for a new one because I wasn't about to drive off with that thing on my car.
They are absolute morons and incompetent ********. My advice is to go test drive their cars and abuse them, but never buy or service your car there. Take all of your problems to University Mazda because they know how to get a customer to come back! ****, I'd go to Jiffy Lube before I'd go to Lee Johnson for another oil change.
Sorry to hear about your car man, that's just dumb on their part. There's absolutely no validity to what their saying about your car. If you do take it to court, they can't win because the fact that you won't have Oil Sludge build up would prove that the oil was regularly changed. When my engine failed I didn't even bring any receipts. Just told them there was something wrong with my car..Can they run a compression test....They did, it failed, I danced!
Hopefully everything turns out for the better!
After they finished it I noticed a funny sound on my wheels so I bring it back and ask them if they made sure everything was tight and drove their "Lead Tech" around to see if he could identify the noise...He tell's my it's creaking plastic...Which leads me to assume that they're even MORE retarded because I later went home and took the wheel off and noticed that my brake pin on my caliper was broken! Round 2 of their stupidity.
The final thing that makes me never go back there is that when I was doing a quick lube there the guy tells me that I had the "wrong plug bolt" in my oil pan. HOW THE HELL DID IT GET THERE? I sure as hell didn't pick up some random bolt and plug it in?! So they charged my 16 bucks for a new one because I wasn't about to drive off with that thing on my car.
They are absolute morons and incompetent ********. My advice is to go test drive their cars and abuse them, but never buy or service your car there. Take all of your problems to University Mazda because they know how to get a customer to come back! ****, I'd go to Jiffy Lube before I'd go to Lee Johnson for another oil change.
Sorry to hear about your car man, that's just dumb on their part. There's absolutely no validity to what their saying about your car. If you do take it to court, they can't win because the fact that you won't have Oil Sludge build up would prove that the oil was regularly changed. When my engine failed I didn't even bring any receipts. Just told them there was something wrong with my car..Can they run a compression test....They did, it failed, I danced!
Hopefully everything turns out for the better!
10-20-2010, 03:09 PM
#16
Still Zooming...
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The 'Couve
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow, what a nightmare.
Why would a dealership go out of their way to deny your warranty? Why wouldn't they want to get paid by Mazda to do your warranty work? Morons suck! I didn't have to show or prove anything with either of my engine replacements.
Why would a dealership go out of their way to deny your warranty? Why wouldn't they want to get paid by Mazda to do your warranty work? Morons suck! I didn't have to show or prove anything with either of my engine replacements.
10-20-2010, 03:36 PM
#17
<3's Bunnies
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murdaland
Posts: 1,690
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is freaking horrible. I feel so bad about what your going through. I wish you could just take it to another dealer, but unfortunately they already posted it to Mazda what f**king ********.
I wish you the best and keep fighting it man. But keep your cool. We would hate to loose another life long rotor head because of Mazda's incompetence.
I wish you the best and keep fighting it man. But keep your cool. We would hate to loose another life long rotor head because of Mazda's incompetence.
10-20-2010, 06:49 PM
#18
Registered
Yes, it is important to keep all your records, but some dealers are much more reasonable. When my engine blew, I left it at the dealer while I went on a business trip. They called me while I was in the airport, letting me know that I would need records of oil changes. So I sent them an Excel sheet from my phone with the mileage and dates of all my oil changes (& oil top offs & gas fill-ups) and told them to pull their own records of every oil filter I'd bought from them as the dates would correspond with my record of personal oil changes. Sure enough, the next day they called and said that Mazda had approved the warranty engine replacement.
I think you should get an affadavit and take these morons to court. You have the law on your side. By law, they have to prove that lack of maintenance was responsible for your engine failure.
I think you should get an affadavit and take these morons to court. You have the law on your side. By law, they have to prove that lack of maintenance was responsible for your engine failure.
10-21-2010, 11:31 PM
#20
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Puyallup, WA
Posts: 670
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Millan Mazda change my engine and I did not buy the car from them, and I do all my oil changes my self. I don't buy part from them on less I have to. I buy them online. But I have taken it in for re flash and recall or any check engine light. I did have only 43,000 miles went it happened, but they have never giving me any crap. now they do know that am picky went it come to my angelica and that I do work on her myself and if they need to do any type of work, I will drive the car in to the spot were the work is going to be done and if they need to start it I have to be there!!! The only time the car was out of my site was went I got the new engine, because I had to work and even that did not take long. I waited for one week, only to get the engine in and two days for the swap. So I do have to say, that I have been very happy with them!!!
10-22-2010, 06:22 AM
#21
Why is a dealership trying to turn down warranty work. I know it doesn't pay as well as normal service, but are they so busy that don't need the extra money?
A dealer should be your advocate. Anyone that isn't, are telling you they don't want your business. It's just too bad that these negatives are now on your record.
A dealer should be your advocate. Anyone that isn't, are telling you they don't want your business. It's just too bad that these negatives are now on your record.
10-23-2010, 01:47 PM
#22
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No Luck with Mazda changing their minds. So they will want $3500 which they claim in half price or "Warranty price". If I go that route they claim Mazda will do a tear down and if the failure is not due to lack of maintenance they will refund my $3500 + tax. I don't think there is much hope of Mazda doing that.
My other option is a motor from a local wrecking yard that is $1550 and comes with a 90 day warranty. It has 57k on it. So I am sure its another time bomb. When that one blows I will be right back where I started. I think I may try and rebuild my core though or I could sell it to Atkins for as much as $900(most likely a lot less though). So is seems to be a gamble no matter what. I could try and out fit my garage with the rest of the tools I will need to swap the motors and do it myself or have my shop do it for $500.
I would like to do it myself but I am a small business owner and literally work 7 days a week.
I could put in a few hours a night and get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Sounds fun, until I have to really do it.
So anyone have any advice for me on what sound like the better way to go here?
Thanks in advance, and thanks for all the support I have already received on here. You guys are bad asses.
My other option is a motor from a local wrecking yard that is $1550 and comes with a 90 day warranty. It has 57k on it. So I am sure its another time bomb. When that one blows I will be right back where I started. I think I may try and rebuild my core though or I could sell it to Atkins for as much as $900(most likely a lot less though). So is seems to be a gamble no matter what. I could try and out fit my garage with the rest of the tools I will need to swap the motors and do it myself or have my shop do it for $500.
I would like to do it myself but I am a small business owner and literally work 7 days a week.
I could put in a few hours a night and get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Sounds fun, until I have to really do it.
So anyone have any advice for me on what sound like the better way to go here?
Thanks in advance, and thanks for all the support I have already received on here. You guys are bad asses.
10-23-2010, 01:56 PM
#23
Power!!
You can try University Mazda. They did my engine a few years ago with no problems. Things are different now though.
Other thoughts are get a lawyer. The burden is on Mazda to prove that the warranty has been violated. A consultation and a letter to both the dealer and Mazda NA plus registering the suit in small claims court would only be a couple hundred bucks. Much less than the price they are quoting.
If you truly get stuck and are going to pay for the rebuild yourself PM Charles R. Hill. He owns Black halo racing and can fly up and rebuild your engine for probably less than Mazda will charge you. And it won't be a ticking time bomb.
Other thoughts are get a lawyer. The burden is on Mazda to prove that the warranty has been violated. A consultation and a letter to both the dealer and Mazda NA plus registering the suit in small claims court would only be a couple hundred bucks. Much less than the price they are quoting.
If you truly get stuck and are going to pay for the rebuild yourself PM Charles R. Hill. He owns Black halo racing and can fly up and rebuild your engine for probably less than Mazda will charge you. And it won't be a ticking time bomb.