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2009 R3 Low Compression

Old 08-18-2017, 02:55 PM
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2009 R3 Low Compression

Hi All,

I was coming up on my warranty for my 2009 R3 with about 69,000 miles and figured I'd better get a compression test. Low and behold it came back just under passing. Rotor 1 was 6.6, 6.5, 6.5 and rotor 2 was 6.9, 6.9, 6.8. The dealership said my car was no longer under the warranty but after a call with corporate it is getting replaced.

I'm extremely grateful since my wife was saying there was no way we were going to pay to put a new engine in it.

-Pete
Old 08-18-2017, 04:40 PM
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Was your car showing any driveability symptoms?
Old 08-19-2017, 02:52 PM
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Not really. Occasionally it can struggle starting when hot but typically when I give it a second try it fires right up. I'm anxious to see if I notice a difference in performance on the reman.
Old 08-20-2017, 11:11 AM
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I put about 20,000 miles on my 2010 RX8 GT since I got it October 2016...Im at 64,000 miles now and my Warranty supposed to expire December 2018...im not having any symptoms or anything but might as well do it in December next year just incase
Old 08-23-2017, 01:33 PM
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Just got my car back from the dealership. They put the BHR coils and wires back on for me and all I ended up paying for (yes, even though it was way too much) the plugs. It runs like a brand new car.

I will say that I can see more symptoms I may have had now that I'm feeling what a good engine should be. It was idling kind of rough and I was noticing a lag in power until I got past 3000 RPM.
Old 08-25-2017, 02:29 PM
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Jorlanjm definitely get a compression test before your warranty is up. I got mine tested in 2016 just one month before the warranty was up on my 2008 model. It tested borderline low compression, and I got a Mazda reman engine under warranty. Others have had dealers hassle and delay them until their warranty is up. Don't know if you have a honest dealer but you can always shop around for another Mazda dealer for the test and always can contact MNAO if you get any runaround about the test, or any runaround about your warranty coverage with low compression number results. .
Old 09-20-2017, 11:55 PM
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I want to rebuilt my engine

I have a Rx8 2004 with 176k miles, I want to fix my car because I love it. The problem is when I start works great, but if I turn of the car I can't restart o
It again until the engine gets cold. Any suggestions or remomendatio8
Old 09-21-2017, 07:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Fran91
I have a Rx8 2004 with 176k miles, I want to fix my car because I love it. The problem is when I start works great, but if I turn of the car I can't restart o
It again until the engine gets cold. Any suggestions or remomendatio8
Definitely sounds like a case of low compression. Start shopping for a replacement engine. There is a lot of info here about reputable rebuilders, so depending on where you are from, you may have one near.
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Old 09-21-2017, 07:30 AM
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Just some of the reputable ones, there are others of course.

http://jprimports.com/
http://black-halo-racing.myshopify.com/
RX-7 & RX-8 Performance
Pineapple Racing
Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists
http://rotaryperformance.com/
Rotary Resurrection
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Old 09-21-2017, 10:11 AM
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I am located in Baltimore MD, as I said I really want to fix my car I loved it. If any one can help me with this, it will be amazing.
Old 09-21-2017, 12:32 PM
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Help you how? Do everything for you for free?

Come up with a goal, make a plan to achieve that goal and get help for the parts you can't do yourself.
Old 09-21-2017, 02:31 PM
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Fran91 I am happy to help.

Start here: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tro...t-here-222584/

Hot starting issues are a classic sign of low compression in the engine. You could pay a Mazda dealer or rotary wrench (with the proper rotary-specific compression test gear) to do a rotary-specific compression test to know if you have low compression.

If it is time for a reman engine (rebuilt) contact those on list above. The closest one in distance from Baltimore is JPR Imports in Runnemede NJ (southern new jersey). I know Jim personally and have used him for much work on my RX8. He is a top rotary wrench and rebuilder and could help you out. Tell him I sent you. There may also be a closer top rebuilder near Baltimore. Check with the MD folks on this forum.

http://jprimports.com/

Hope this is some help.

Starting the Engine
• Starter
• Battery
• Engine Compression
• Grounding Wires
• Ignition Coils
• Spark Plugs
• Spark Plug Wires
• Fuel Pump
• Fuel Injectors

BTW there are recalls for your 2004 RX8 for suspension parts fix ,and fuel filter assembly, resin pump rings ,and fuel tank insulation padding replacements. Contact your local dealer with your car's vin number. All recall work is done free at Mazda dealerships.

Last edited by gwilliams6; 09-21-2017 at 02:49 PM.
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Old 09-21-2017, 04:26 PM
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Thanks

Originally Posted by NotAPreppie
Help you how? Do everything for you for free?

Come up with a goal, make a plan to achieve that goal and get help for the parts you can't do yourself.
I didn't say I want anything for free, sorry if my English wasn't clear. If you read the other post from great people, those are helpful not like you Tim. If you didn't understand it, you don't need to reply it. However, thank you for nothing Tim.
Old 09-21-2017, 06:09 PM
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That had nothing to do with language barriers and everything to do with you not bothering to actually articulate what it is you are looking for.

Search my posts and you'll find I'm very helpful when people actually ask specific questions rather than open-ended pleas for help.

What about Loki and Gwilliams' posts do you need help with?
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Old 09-21-2017, 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by jorlanjm
I put about 20,000 miles on my 2010 RX8 GT since I got it October 2016...Im at 64,000 miles now and my Warranty supposed to expire December 2018...im not having any symptoms or anything but might as well do it in December next year just incase
Take it in 3 months prior, in case they want to hassle you. That will give you plenty of time to escalate to Mazda NA or find another reputable dealer.
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Old 09-22-2017, 10:00 AM
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I am actually taking my 2009 R3 back to the dealer Monday.

It received a re-man under warranty dec 2016. Warranty expires Oct this year

'New' engine has about 6k on it. I am paying $120 for the compression test; quite curious how it will come out. If it fails, they will replace it no hassle; they were really good about this last year (through they did damage my paint, grrr)
Old 09-22-2017, 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by acroy
I am actually taking my 2009 R3 back to the dealer Monday.

It received a re-man under warranty dec 2016. Warranty expires Oct this year

'New' engine has about 6k on it. I am paying $120 for the compression test; quite curious how it will come out. If it fails, they will replace it no hassle; they were really good about this last year (through they did damage my paint, grrr)
Damn car shops can't ever get anything done without screwing something else up, eh?
Old 09-28-2017, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by chasepetere
Hi All,

I was coming up on my warranty for my 2009 R3 with about 69,000 miles and figured I'd better get a compression test. Low and behold it came back just under passing. Rotor 1 was 6.6, 6.5, 6.5 and rotor 2 was 6.9, 6.9, 6.8. The dealership said my car was no longer under the warranty but after a call with corporate it is getting replaced.

I'm extremely grateful since my wife was saying there was no way we were going to pay to put a new engine in it.

-Pete
What was their logic in saying your car was no longer under warranty?

Did you call corporate or they did?
Old 09-29-2017, 07:02 AM
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TheKDog, unfortunately some dealers have told RX8 owners there car wasn't under warranty, when it still was. Some are clueless to the 8yr/100,000 mile warranty. Go figure ?
Old 09-29-2017, 09:38 AM
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The service rep had a sheet and he claimed that if there was a warranty left on the car it would have shown up in that section. He made it sound like that was information directly from Mazda, which seemed to be the case since it had all the recall work and other warranty work that had been done listed on there.

I called up corporate myself. When I talked to them they verified the information and the warranty and called the dealership up while I was still on the line to straighten things out with them.
Old 09-29-2017, 10:03 AM
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Dealers suck. All of them.
Old 09-29-2017, 11:54 AM
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In a few instances Mazda Corporate has sided with me - that tells me Mazda is at least customer centric.

Dealers act that way because in general they get the short end of the labor time to reimbursement stick. If it really takes 0.75 hours to replace the oil pump, Corporate says 0.50 and the dealer only gets paid for 0.50. That's 0.25 hour that could have been reimbursed on another job.
Old 09-30-2017, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
Dealers suck. All of them.
Absolutely true (from my experience anyway)

Anyway... compression test showing lower compression than the ideal numbers but the car has no symptoms whatsoever will probably be turned down for engine replacement under warranty.
Old 09-30-2017, 10:02 PM
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Well they might try to pull that, but if low compression is formally documented before the warranty period is up they're legally obligated. Symptoms or not is subjective, but not a compression test.
Old 10-07-2017, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by TeamRX8
Well they might try to pull that, but if low compression is formally documented before the warranty period is up they're legally obligated. Symptoms or not is subjective, but not a compression test.
Agree.

It is just that without symptoms the drama kicks in a lot sooner

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