build quality
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
build quality
so I'm at a crossroad with rx-8...
I have a 2004 GT automatic not under warranty with 37k miles. currently, the following things are wrong with it:
* check engine light is on; a harbor freight obd2 code reader doesn't return a valid code for it
* the heater doesn't work/is intermittent (super annoying seeing as it's 30 degrees outside right now)
* the motor mounts are probably cracked (vibrations are very noticeable on cold mornings)
* the driver's side sun visor broke
* both tail lights have condensation build up
* the driver door rattles, probably due to vibrations from the cracked motor mount
* the 12v adapter (cigarette lighter) is dead/intermittent
I love my car. the rx-8 is brilliantly engineered, even with a weak 4-speed automatic geared much wider than the power band. but honestly I cannot go a month without something breaking, which should not be happening at 37k miles.
so my question is, is it worth getting raped financially trying to get these things fixed? given the history of little things breaking, is it really worth the money, or would that just be a band-aid until something else breaks (coil packs are due)? are all rx-8s this prone to little annoying things breaking?
I have a 2004 GT automatic not under warranty with 37k miles. currently, the following things are wrong with it:
* check engine light is on; a harbor freight obd2 code reader doesn't return a valid code for it
* the heater doesn't work/is intermittent (super annoying seeing as it's 30 degrees outside right now)
* the motor mounts are probably cracked (vibrations are very noticeable on cold mornings)
* the driver's side sun visor broke
* both tail lights have condensation build up
* the driver door rattles, probably due to vibrations from the cracked motor mount
* the 12v adapter (cigarette lighter) is dead/intermittent
I love my car. the rx-8 is brilliantly engineered, even with a weak 4-speed automatic geared much wider than the power band. but honestly I cannot go a month without something breaking, which should not be happening at 37k miles.
so my question is, is it worth getting raped financially trying to get these things fixed? given the history of little things breaking, is it really worth the money, or would that just be a band-aid until something else breaks (coil packs are due)? are all rx-8s this prone to little annoying things breaking?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
honestly, I'm thinking of doing that or for a mercedes clk320. I'm just hoping to hear some words of encouragement that if I did get a newer RX-8, I'm not just postponing build quality issues for another year or so.
...and I forgot to mention that the parking brake light kicks in when I corner at "moderate" speeds.
...and I forgot to mention that the parking brake light kicks in when I corner at "moderate" speeds.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: Rohnert Park CA
You could probably get the dealer to replace the visor under warranty was well since there is a TSB on it for the updated 06+ visor.
But first year models of any car, will have issues with less issues as the production run continues.
But first year models of any car, will have issues with less issues as the production run continues.
Never had a problem. for real. i've hit like two curbs and my car still corners like a champ. everything that's gone wrong has been me. **** i took it on a road trip where i prolly drove 4k miles. just did my rear brakes last night on the original rotors i think. ive put like 4 sets of pads on these rotors, the rotors were a little fucked cuz the ceramics on there were down to the metal. I threw on generic semi-metalics and it brakes amazing, no noise or vibration at all. i really think this is a well built car
so I'm at a crossroad with rx-8...
I have a 2004 GT automatic not under warranty with 37k miles. currently, the following things are wrong with it:
* check engine light is on; a harbor freight obd2 code reader doesn't return a valid code for it
* the heater doesn't work/is intermittent (super annoying seeing as it's 30 degrees outside right now)
* the motor mounts are probably cracked (vibrations are very noticeable on cold mornings)
* the driver's side sun visor broke
* both tail lights have condensation build up
* the driver door rattles, probably due to vibrations from the cracked motor mount
* the 12v adapter (cigarette lighter) is dead/intermittent
I love my car. the rx-8 is brilliantly engineered, even with a weak 4-speed automatic geared much wider than the power band. but honestly I cannot go a month without something breaking, which should not be happening at 37k miles.
so my question is, is it worth getting raped financially trying to get these things fixed? given the history of little things breaking, is it really worth the money, or would that just be a band-aid until something else breaks (coil packs are due)? are all rx-8s this prone to little annoying things breaking?
I have a 2004 GT automatic not under warranty with 37k miles. currently, the following things are wrong with it:
* check engine light is on; a harbor freight obd2 code reader doesn't return a valid code for it
* the heater doesn't work/is intermittent (super annoying seeing as it's 30 degrees outside right now)
* the motor mounts are probably cracked (vibrations are very noticeable on cold mornings)
* the driver's side sun visor broke
* both tail lights have condensation build up
* the driver door rattles, probably due to vibrations from the cracked motor mount
* the 12v adapter (cigarette lighter) is dead/intermittent
I love my car. the rx-8 is brilliantly engineered, even with a weak 4-speed automatic geared much wider than the power band. but honestly I cannot go a month without something breaking, which should not be happening at 37k miles.
so my question is, is it worth getting raped financially trying to get these things fixed? given the history of little things breaking, is it really worth the money, or would that just be a band-aid until something else breaks (coil packs are due)? are all rx-8s this prone to little annoying things breaking?
Heater - yup, solder connections are busted... DIY fix is in the DIY section... some take under an hour to fix. ($0.00 if you have a soldering iron)
Check Engine light - try going Autozone and they'll use a better code reader. Perhaps O2 sensor or something simple... or not, best to check it. ($0.00 to have the code read)
Motor Mounts... My car shakes pretty hard at idle also, but is fine above 1k rpm, I think this normal for the car, but inspecting the motor mounts is pretty easy. (I don't know the cost of motor mounts, but I think its normal because it doesn't vibrate at any other engine speed)
Driver Door rattles - mine does that too. There is a DIY called "rattle hunt" and could pick up some "fat mat" or dynamat which would reduce these annoyances significantly.
Cig lighter - I have the RB pod in my ashtray... so I can't answer about this one... but even if you need a new lighter and ashtray, you can get them on here for 15-20 bucks...
I do hear you about the breaking thing... something new on my car annoys me at least once a week. But I know the rotary needs more attention than a piston engine. (check oil, be careful where you take for service, etc)
Also, the '04s are the first model year for the car, so its going to have its share of design flaws that have not been resolved until '06. Personally, I hate the rattles, but they tried to make this car as light as possible, so plastic tabs instead of nuts and bolts were used all around the interior.
I will say that I've never had a love/hate relationship like this with a car before. When its good, its amazing, but when its bad... its awful. This isn't a Honda and needs monthly attention (IMO). But it doesn't have to cost you a fortune with the help of these forums and some internal motivation... its hard too be unique, or else everyone would do it.
幹他媽!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 3
From: San Gabriel Valley, CA
sorry to hear about all the woes with the 8... but, honestly, u think u'll fair better with a mercedes?
if the engine on the 8 is still okay, which it sounds like it is, then i'd say get quotes for the total cost of fixing all the small stuff & compare that vs. what u'd have to pay for another car. it seems like that it's worth fixing the small stuff in stages to spread out the cost over time. shop around and get quotes from different places. with the economy down, i'm sure dealers & repair shops aren't likely to turn away business easily.
if the engine on the 8 is still okay, which it sounds like it is, then i'd say get quotes for the total cost of fixing all the small stuff & compare that vs. what u'd have to pay for another car. it seems like that it's worth fixing the small stuff in stages to spread out the cost over time. shop around and get quotes from different places. with the economy down, i'm sure dealers & repair shops aren't likely to turn away business easily.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
From experience. Buying anything even remotly exotic is the WORST idea ever! Exotics are designed to sit in garages and nothing more. (yes mercs are not exotic but close enough) First time you get a fix bill you will be like "wow I could have bought 2 rx8's new for the cost of this mirrior"
Fix your car or stick with the brand.
Fix your car or stick with the brand.
Grand Chancellor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,733
Likes: 62
From: Home of the NIMBYs
Your list of things going wrong in your current rx-8 will pale in comparison when you get a used Benz. 
Of all things that went wrong with your 8, you forgot to mention the worse of them all.... AUTO tragic tranny! That is the sum of all that is wrong in an automatic rx-8.
Of all things that went wrong with your 8, you forgot to mention the worse of them all.... AUTO tragic tranny! That is the sum of all that is wrong in an automatic rx-8.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
This is like reading of list of problems with my car - 04 GT MT.
Heater - yup, solder connections are busted... DIY fix is in the DIY section... some take under an hour to fix. ($0.00 if you have a soldering iron)
Check Engine light - try going Autozone and they'll use a better code reader. Perhaps O2 sensor or something simple... or not, best to check it. ($0.00 to have the code read)
Motor Mounts... My car shakes pretty hard at idle also, but is fine above 1k rpm, I think this normal for the car, but inspecting the motor mounts is pretty easy. (I don't know the cost of motor mounts, but I think its normal because it doesn't vibrate at any other engine speed)
Driver Door rattles - mine does that too. There is a DIY called "rattle hunt" and could pick up some "fat mat" or dynamat which would reduce these annoyances significantly.
Cig lighter - I have the RB pod in my ashtray... so I can't answer about this one... but even if you need a new lighter and ashtray, you can get them on here for 15-20 bucks...
I do hear you about the breaking thing... something new on my car annoys me at least once a week. But I know the rotary needs more attention than a piston engine. (check oil, be careful where you take for service, etc)
Also, the '04s are the first model year for the car, so its going to have its share of design flaws that have not been resolved until '06. Personally, I hate the rattles, but they tried to make this car as light as possible, so plastic tabs instead of nuts and bolts were used all around the interior.
I will say that I've never had a love/hate relationship like this with a car before. When its good, its amazing, but when its bad... its awful. This isn't a Honda and needs monthly attention (IMO). But it doesn't have to cost you a fortune with the help of these forums and some internal motivation... its hard too be unique, or else everyone would do it.
Heater - yup, solder connections are busted... DIY fix is in the DIY section... some take under an hour to fix. ($0.00 if you have a soldering iron)
Check Engine light - try going Autozone and they'll use a better code reader. Perhaps O2 sensor or something simple... or not, best to check it. ($0.00 to have the code read)
Motor Mounts... My car shakes pretty hard at idle also, but is fine above 1k rpm, I think this normal for the car, but inspecting the motor mounts is pretty easy. (I don't know the cost of motor mounts, but I think its normal because it doesn't vibrate at any other engine speed)
Driver Door rattles - mine does that too. There is a DIY called "rattle hunt" and could pick up some "fat mat" or dynamat which would reduce these annoyances significantly.
Cig lighter - I have the RB pod in my ashtray... so I can't answer about this one... but even if you need a new lighter and ashtray, you can get them on here for 15-20 bucks...
I do hear you about the breaking thing... something new on my car annoys me at least once a week. But I know the rotary needs more attention than a piston engine. (check oil, be careful where you take for service, etc)
Also, the '04s are the first model year for the car, so its going to have its share of design flaws that have not been resolved until '06. Personally, I hate the rattles, but they tried to make this car as light as possible, so plastic tabs instead of nuts and bolts were used all around the interior.
I will say that I've never had a love/hate relationship like this with a car before. When its good, its amazing, but when its bad... its awful. This isn't a Honda and needs monthly attention (IMO). But it doesn't have to cost you a fortune with the help of these forums and some internal motivation... its hard too be unique, or else everyone would do it.
everything on your list except for the lighter has a TSB: http://www.finishlineperformance.com....php?pageid=11
try the dealer first and try to get them to fix them all.
try the dealer first and try to get them to fix them all.
The Former PSNTLSS
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 0
From: South Plainfield, NJ/ Center Valley, PA
So to answer JasonStern's questions
I believe Vyndictive hit the problems on the head with viable solutions
The cigarette lighter, check the interior fuse box, I had the exact same fuse. Pop the fuse panel off and I believe there is a "CIG" or something. I attempted to charge my phone on the cig lighter and would not work. But I checked the fuse and it was blown.
I mean its unfortunate you are experiencing these type of problems. The RX-8 is a higher car to keep maintained. I love mine even though I've had a major problem right after getting it.
Registered
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia
If you can fix the dinky things yourself, then fix them and stay with it. You'll even wind up with a degree of pride every time you look at the not-broken stuff.
If you need to pay someone else to fix that kind of stuff, then sell it and buy something new.
I have fond memories of the day the one year warranty on my wife's AMC Hornet was up. I had pissed away more time than it was worth taking it to the dealer to get odds and ends fixed - which they never did. With the warranty up, I fixed everything myself. I wish the car had come with no warranty, so I could have just gotten to it immediately.
Ken
If you need to pay someone else to fix that kind of stuff, then sell it and buy something new.
I have fond memories of the day the one year warranty on my wife's AMC Hornet was up. I had pissed away more time than it was worth taking it to the dealer to get odds and ends fixed - which they never did. With the warranty up, I fixed everything myself. I wish the car had come with no warranty, so I could have just gotten to it immediately.
Ken
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: temecula, California
* check engine light is on; a harbor freight obd2 code reader doesn't return a valid code for it
* the heater doesn't work/is intermittent (super annoying seeing as it's 30 degrees outside right now)
* the motor mounts are probably cracked (vibrations are very noticeable on cold mornings)
* the driver's side sun visor broke
* both tail lights have condensation build up
* the driver door rattles, probably due to vibrations from the cracked motor mount
* the 12v adapter (cigarette lighter) is dead/intermittent
* the heater doesn't work/is intermittent (super annoying seeing as it's 30 degrees outside right now)
* the motor mounts are probably cracked (vibrations are very noticeable on cold mornings)
* the driver's side sun visor broke
* both tail lights have condensation build up
* the driver door rattles, probably due to vibrations from the cracked motor mount
* the 12v adapter (cigarette lighter) is dead/intermittent
2) had same prob with my heater, got it fixed from dealerno charge
3) not had prob with mounts
4) both my visors broke, same day, cost me a little bit.
5) have had to replace my drivers light 3 times, no charge
6) same rattle, does not bother me to much, usually mine goes away
7) never used the cig lighter so no clue if it even works
Registered
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia
The AMC dealer was two or three blocks from where I worked, which made it really easy to keep bringing it back. It still wasn't worth it. Also a contrast to nowadays, where I have generally been very happy with the quality of service at most dealers.
Ken
It's a Cavalier
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 5
From: Austin, TX
honestly, I'm thinking of doing that or for a mercedes clk320. I'm just hoping to hear some words of encouragement that if I did get a newer RX-8, I'm not just postponing build quality issues for another year or so.
...and I forgot to mention that the parking brake light kicks in when I corner at "moderate" speeds.
...and I forgot to mention that the parking brake light kicks in when I corner at "moderate" speeds.
everything on your list except for the lighter has a TSB: http://www.finishlineperformance.com....php?pageid=11
try the dealer first and try to get them to fix them all.
try the dealer first and try to get them to fix them all.
I bought my 8 last april with 21k miles and now have 64k miles. I've only done routine maintenance like about 10 oil changes, done my front and rear brake pads twice or thrice, machined both all the rotors like once, and I've done my spark plugs. I've checked my transmission fluid a good few times and it's always looked fine (clear and pinkish and full). I'm thinking about doing a flush but worried that flushing it might make it worse. As it is now my tranny is perfect from what I can tell, it shifts perfectly.