Broken Seat Belt Buckle - Don't Do This!
12-08-2003, 02:43 AM
#28
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Here's perhaps the most frustrating part of the "rotary flambe"...
I had taken my RX-7 into this Mazda dealership to have it checked out because I smelled a gas leak. They charge me $35 in labor to tell me that the fuel hose feeding the injectors is cracked. I'm thinking that this is a simple fix. They tell me that as a matter of policy, they REFUSE to fix old cars like mine.
A Mazda dealership refusing to fix a Mazda?!
...and this is the same dealership that had charged me >$12,000 to fix the engine on my RX-8 that had sucked water into the intake. I politely remind them of this not-so-insignificant fact. They still refuse to replace the fuel hose.
I plan to pay the owner a visit.
I had felt burned with the RX-8 five-figure non-warranty repair job. I had felt burned a second time with their refusal to help me with what should have been a minor repair job on my RX-7.
Now I have pictures about being burned.
Ironic to see these words on the repair (make that non-repair) slip they gave me:
"...THANK YOU FOR USING OUR SERVICES..."
I had taken my RX-7 into this Mazda dealership to have it checked out because I smelled a gas leak. They charge me $35 in labor to tell me that the fuel hose feeding the injectors is cracked. I'm thinking that this is a simple fix. They tell me that as a matter of policy, they REFUSE to fix old cars like mine.
A Mazda dealership refusing to fix a Mazda?!
...and this is the same dealership that had charged me >$12,000 to fix the engine on my RX-8 that had sucked water into the intake. I politely remind them of this not-so-insignificant fact. They still refuse to replace the fuel hose.
I plan to pay the owner a visit.
I had felt burned with the RX-8 five-figure non-warranty repair job. I had felt burned a second time with their refusal to help me with what should have been a minor repair job on my RX-7.
Now I have pictures about being burned.
Ironic to see these words on the repair (make that non-repair) slip they gave me:
"...THANK YOU FOR USING OUR SERVICES..."
12-09-2003, 08:29 AM
#30
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Rotisserie? Ha! If the smell wasn't so horrendous, I might have been tempted to get some marshmallows.
My insurance company is talking about totalling it out. No surprise there. I may ask to buy it back from them so that I can pluck the rotors out before it goes to the salvage yard. I've been wanting to have a rotor for a desk display for a long time. It will take a good bit of wrench bending to get them, though.
Eccles, if you had roadtripped to Houston for the Rev-It-Up, I'm sure that I met you. You and I both got Blue8s (with custom tags) and both did the buyback. I'd be interested to know if you are planning to get the exact same options second time around. That's the way I'm leaning, though I'm toying around with alternatives. I even took an automatic out for a spin yesterday.
My first 8 was a SPT-6spd-mp3. My second may be a SPT-6-3+NAV. I've got two dealerships offering me great deals, but I'm in no rush. If you wait until the 2005, that might be the smartest move.
My crystal ball is too hazy right now for me to hold out for that. I may be back in the saddle within a month. For the interim, I'm driving my mom's Saturn!
I'm hoping the best for your job situation. I preordered my 8 way back in January, two weeks after getting laid off. It turned out to be a much longer break than I expected. I was preparing to buy my new car on plastic!
Here's the ironic part...
I was able to feel more productive working solo for those months without a paycheck than I was working for "The Man". Now that I'm back in big business, I'm still working those solo projects on the side with huge market potential.
I hope everything's going well on your end, and whenever you're feeling those rotary withdrawl symptoms coming on strong, you can always run off to Roger Beasley and go out for a spin!
My insurance company is talking about totalling it out. No surprise there. I may ask to buy it back from them so that I can pluck the rotors out before it goes to the salvage yard. I've been wanting to have a rotor for a desk display for a long time. It will take a good bit of wrench bending to get them, though.
Eccles, if you had roadtripped to Houston for the Rev-It-Up, I'm sure that I met you. You and I both got Blue8s (with custom tags) and both did the buyback. I'd be interested to know if you are planning to get the exact same options second time around. That's the way I'm leaning, though I'm toying around with alternatives. I even took an automatic out for a spin yesterday.
My first 8 was a SPT-6spd-mp3. My second may be a SPT-6-3+NAV. I've got two dealerships offering me great deals, but I'm in no rush. If you wait until the 2005, that might be the smartest move.
My crystal ball is too hazy right now for me to hold out for that. I may be back in the saddle within a month. For the interim, I'm driving my mom's Saturn!
I'm hoping the best for your job situation. I preordered my 8 way back in January, two weeks after getting laid off. It turned out to be a much longer break than I expected. I was preparing to buy my new car on plastic!
Here's the ironic part...
I was able to feel more productive working solo for those months without a paycheck than I was working for "The Man". Now that I'm back in big business, I'm still working those solo projects on the side with huge market potential.
I hope everything's going well on your end, and whenever you're feeling those rotary withdrawl symptoms coming on strong, you can always run off to Roger Beasley and go out for a spin!
12-09-2003, 09:44 AM
#31
Prodigal Wankler
Yep, when I get back into an '8, it'll be exactly the same as the one I had to give up - MT Sport w/MP3 & spare. No joy on the job front yet, but at least the wife is back behind a desk and keeping the wolf from the door. I could get used to this househusband gig if the pay wasn't so crappy. 
12-09-2003, 09:55 AM
#32
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I saw that Roger Beasley has a Blue-MT-Sport. I've considered buying it since it's the closest one to Houston that I've found...
But I thought that it was curious that it's been sitting around since October, by my info:
"Date received 10-3-03"
One other issue is that it has fender strakes. I don't expect that these are difficult to take off, but I'm concerned about the marks left behind.
Also, there is this "AUSTIN ASSESSMENT" invoice charge of $232. I would hope that a Houston dealer could get this knocked off for a dealer trade.
But I thought that it was curious that it's been sitting around since October, by my info:
"Date received 10-3-03"
One other issue is that it has fender strakes. I don't expect that these are difficult to take off, but I'm concerned about the marks left behind.
Also, there is this "AUSTIN ASSESSMENT" invoice charge of $232. I would hope that a Houston dealer could get this knocked off for a dealer trade.
11-08-2004, 10:02 AM
#33
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I remebered seeing this thread a year ago and laughing about it wondering how it could ever happen. Well, damn if this didn't happen to me over the weekend. A friend and his wife came into town and as we were driving out into the west Chicago suburbs when I stopped at a gas station in the Loop. The wife got out for a second and when she came back she got back into the rear passenger side and put back on the seatbelt. I guess after struggling with it a bit, she clicked it into place only for me to discover that it was the front seatbelt. And the damn thing absolutely will not budge. I'm going to try and order the part and just do this one myself...More proof that Karma does exist.
11-08-2004, 12:56 PM
#34
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After ten minutes of struggling, I ask my son, "Can you go and tell mommy I'm trapped in the RX-8?"
LOL!!!!!!!!!! I’m sorry…it is just so funny…LOL!!!!
This is very freaky, sitting in my driveway with all the doors open, the motor running, all alone and trapped inside the car.
By the way, it's very cold with the wind whipping across me. I can't hear what my son says at the front door to my wife, but I heard her say, "He's What?!?!"
I help my son go back in the house and I help get him ready for bed, then come out and get ready to go for a drive, only to discover that I have no belt -- then I realize what I did... I put the driver's belt in the rear-passenger's buckle.
Although for 85 bucks its not worth it, the embarasshment costs more!
Don’t feel too bad, I could see myself making mistakes like that…just too funny…but that’s the only way to respond to that because the other option is PURE RAGE!!! LOL…
Mazda RX8, $28,000
Gas to drive home, $20
Getting trapped in your car while your wife and son save you…and the look on your face and theirs…
PRICELESS!!!!!
LOL, thanks for making my day…I’m going to share this story with everyone…LOL, sorry again…
REMEMBER, we laugh with you…LOL!!!!!
11-08-2004, 12:58 PM
#35
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The wife got out for a second and when she came back she got back into the rear passenger side and put back on the seatbelt
"FRONT!!!!! SEAT BELT ONLY!!!!!"
You might want to put it on the back connection also...LOL, sorry...sorry...
11-08-2004, 02:10 PM
#36
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I'm implementing a new rule from now on, anyone in the backseat cannot put on his/her seatbelt until the front occupants have first done so...now I'm going to be paranoid about it every time.
11-08-2004, 02:26 PM
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Poor RED...poor poor RED...
Thanks for the story because I now know that I have to be careful about what happend to you. I know the fruit does not fall far from the RX8 Tree....
Thanks for the story because I now know that I have to be careful about what happend to you. I know the fruit does not fall far from the RX8 Tree....
11-08-2004, 05:34 PM
#39
thats sorta silly i can see how they can make a mistake like that but..... if anyone has ever sat in the bakc of a sedan b4 knows the seatbelts are laying to your side not 1 1/2 feet infront of you srry but dumb things happen when you dont pay attention. lol i would have mad e this mistake eventually so thanks for the friendly reminder.
11-08-2004, 06:11 PM
#41
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There's an old axiom goes like this:
"Right after you build something that's idiot-proof, the world will build a better idiot."
Funny story, and thanks much. When I have rear passengers I'll now know to keep an eye on them as they belt in. I used to only worry about them shutting the front door first when they got out....
"Right after you build something that's idiot-proof, the world will build a better idiot."
Funny story, and thanks much. When I have rear passengers I'll now know to keep an eye on them as they belt in. I used to only worry about them shutting the front door first when they got out....
11-08-2004, 09:43 PM
#43
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Originally Posted by RedJade
I was riding with my Mom in the backseat (she loves getting in and out of there) when I discovered another seatbelt issue. When you are riding with someone in the backseat, don't open your front door without unbuckling your seatbelt first. Your seatbelt is attached to the back door, which, when opened quickly really does 'take your breath away'.
11-09-2004, 07:40 AM
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I just ordered the part, does anybody know, or have any ideas on how to remove the back seat cushion? I'm not sure if I"m going to have to, but I should get to it this weekend...
11-18-2004, 08:16 AM
#45
Goh Mifune
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Nice to see this thread back from the dead... it was one of my first (obviously). At the time I wrote the original, I was sure I was going to be the first among many... guess there are just two of us
11-18-2004, 09:21 AM
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I was glad to read this thread in the last week. I had people in the back seat last night and I was panicked that they were going to use the wrong seat belts. I'm pretty sure they thought I was insane when I described which seat belts to use. Then I told them this story and they understood completely.
03-06-2005, 08:03 PM
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Just did the same thing last weekend.
Taking my parents for a ride. My Mom tries the correct rear seat belt and it won't engage. She gets out and I try to "fix" it by trying it myself. It must have been her fault right?
I hastily kneel in the back seat and grab the front seat's belt. After a little work it engages.... and you know the rest of the story. It's stuck in there and I can't drive it without a front seat belt!
My wife and I try quite a few ways to get the buckle undone, but no cigar. We finally used a screw driver and snapped it off.
Like the other "victims", I'm feeling stupid, however....
The original reason this started was because the correct seat belt wouldn't engage. Now the other side is having the same problem. I'd feel a little more embarrassed if I wasn't so pissed that the primary safety devices for my kids have both failed within one week of each other. My wife tells me later that when she was driving, my daughter told her that her seat belt came open.
My kids have been very well trained from a young age to never mess with seat belts and that we don't do anywhere without being buckled. For example, just once did we pull away without someone buckled and they screamed and cried so bad I thought we were running someone over.
Bottom line - these were mechanical failures and not "user error."
I'd appreciate any thoughts before I go ballistic on the Mazda dealer. I didn't see any posts on similar problems.
Taking my parents for a ride. My Mom tries the correct rear seat belt and it won't engage. She gets out and I try to "fix" it by trying it myself. It must have been her fault right?
I hastily kneel in the back seat and grab the front seat's belt. After a little work it engages.... and you know the rest of the story. It's stuck in there and I can't drive it without a front seat belt!
My wife and I try quite a few ways to get the buckle undone, but no cigar. We finally used a screw driver and snapped it off.
Like the other "victims", I'm feeling stupid, however....
The original reason this started was because the correct seat belt wouldn't engage. Now the other side is having the same problem. I'd feel a little more embarrassed if I wasn't so pissed that the primary safety devices for my kids have both failed within one week of each other. My wife tells me later that when she was driving, my daughter told her that her seat belt came open.
My kids have been very well trained from a young age to never mess with seat belts and that we don't do anywhere without being buckled. For example, just once did we pull away without someone buckled and they screamed and cried so bad I thought we were running someone over.
Bottom line - these were mechanical failures and not "user error."
I'd appreciate any thoughts before I go ballistic on the Mazda dealer. I didn't see any posts on similar problems.
03-12-2006, 06:56 AM
#50
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Happened to a friend of mine ...
This happened to ... a friend of mine, just yesterday, on a test drive with a 3-year-old in the back passenger seat. Sales person was so paranoid about liability with the installation of the car seat, he didn't even offer ... my friend any instruction whatsoever about how to install car seats in the RX-8, didn't even come outside of the dealership at all to offer advice about which seatbelt to use. It just so happens that ... this friend of mine has driven a Miata for the past 10 years and never ever thought that a seat belt attached to a rear door could be anything but a rear seatbelt. This poor guy, before realizing that there was a problem, drove his 3-year-old son home in the RX-8 to show ... his wife how this car is really a family car and NOT A SPORTS CAR AT ALL. Of course this is where the problem is discovered and ... they tried to get the car seat out of this FAMILY FRIENDLY SEDAN for quite some time. My friend is a really nice guy so he even offerred to pay the dealer for the repair if they wouldn't tell his wife what the problem was. 
BTW, I hear that the RX-8 handles really well for a family sedan that incorporates many new safety features such as a revolutionary pistonless engine, an extra large tachometer and an audible rev limiter to help discourage 9.5k rpm.
BTW, I hear that the RX-8 handles really well for a family sedan that incorporates many new safety features such as a revolutionary pistonless engine, an extra large tachometer and an audible rev limiter to help discourage 9.5k rpm.