Dealership flooded the engine
 

Hey,

I purchased a 2005 RX8 with 80,000kms (Canadian) from a Ford dealership. I was supposed to pick up the car today, but the battery was weak so they were going to replace it. When they replaced the battery, the technician said it was still having starting problems. When I test drove the car it started immediately and ran very smoothly. I test drove 3 others, and the one at Ford drove the best. So, the car was having starting problems, and then the car wouldn't start because they flooded the engine. They said they flooded the engine.

I have signed all the paper work for the car, but technically I purchased a working car whose engine was not flooded. I am going to go to a Mazda dealership to get them to detail out what problems can and have occurred to an RX8 after flooding. I will get them to sign it, as proof against Ford, if any problems can occur. My plan is to get them to knock off a few thousand dollars from the car, or I won't take it.

Anybody have comments, questions, concerns I should have? Any advice? I could use all the help I can get.

TIA,

Jag

You signed the papers, but the papers require them to provide you a working car. I'm unsure if you can get the price knocked down based on the paperwork, but you can certainly threaten them on the basis that the car wasn't what they advertised (working).

Get them to put new plugs/coils/filters on the car.
That's what I got at a last attempt hookup.

Right. Instead of a break on the price, Id just make them replace the plugs, coils and wires.

Hey, could you be more specific. Would you know the part numbers for each of those items?

Thanks for all the help. This is really great.

I really bitched and got them to replace the coils with MSD Ignition Coil 8202, MSD Wires and NGK Spark Plugs /Part Number: W0133-1627285
Although my 8 wasn't flooded I still got this done from the Mazda Dealership I got the car from. I would sure hope this would be done by the Job1 guys.

edit - the spark plugs also have this number on them RE9B-T NGK

Coils:

SKU: N3H1-18-100B-9U
http://finishlineperformance.com/sto...cat=273&page=1
Need 4.

Plugs (Set of 4):

SKU: N3Y3-18-S30A-9U
http://finishlineperformance.com/sto...cat=273&page=2

Wires:

SKU:N3H1-18-140B
http://finishlineperformance.com/sto...cat=273&page=2

Good luck.

n00bs.

I figure rather than being a jerk and yelling SEARCH!!111 I would help the guy, as I'm sure he's already up to his neck in problems with buying this car.

dealerships suck i had a question for youll anyone feel free to answer do dealerships charge for compression tests?

non working car on delivery means they pay to fix it. You need to bitch all the way up the chain of command at the dealership until they fix properly. Don't take any of their shit.

The dealership got the car running, but I don't know if I want the car anymore. I didn't buy a car with a flooded engine. They are telling me I have no choice but to take the car. They replaced the battery and the spark plugs. They are going to take it to a Mazda dealership to get a final authorization saying the car is fine. I don't really want a car that's been damaged because it will never be the same. Comments?? Will a flooded car be the same as a non flooded car?

You don't want a car because it's been flooded?! :banghead:

flooding does not cause permanent damage.
They've replaced plugs and battery (which should prevent flooding) so now your car is in BETTER shape then when you brought it in.

I do not understand your logic.

Well I've done my own research. The starter and catalytic converts can be damaged when an engine is flooded. I also read this,

"Also flooding can cause the trochoid chamber to become “washed.” This means the film of oil on the cylinder wall is washed away and this prevents it from maintaining compression."

So, all the guys with crappy compression, well it can be caused by an engine flooding. That sometimes means a new engine. Flooded engines can cause major problems to the car. Did I know this before I bought the car, yes. However, I did not do the flooding, the dealership caused it. Is there anyway I can get these parts checked for sure. Ford can tell me they checked them, but that doesn't mean they did.

Like I said before, they are going to take the car to Mazda to get a final approval. Can I tell them that I want to see on the approval those parts have been checked and are fine?

alright, if we want to really delve into this then, yes the cat CAN get damanged by flooding.
All you have to do is loosen a couple bolts, drop the cat down far enough to look inside and you'll be able to tell if the honeycomb has been damaged. It's a pretty straight forward inspection for the most part.

Is the Cat warrantied by some federal mandate in Canada?
Here in the US, Federal emissions cover it past the typical manufacturer bumper to bumper warranty.

as far as the troichid chambers; don't read into that too much. Honestly, the odds of killing your engine because of flooding are very slim. I've seen plenty of membes flood their cars and their engines are still running fine.

Was the engine warranty extended in Canada as it was here in the US? (8 years, 100,000 miles)

Honestly, the car should be fine with new coils and a battery. I know your'e a bit concerned and I can understand that but the rotary engine is not as fragile as some make it out to be.

^ listen to Jedi he knows his stuff

The car has 8 year, 160km warranty on the engine, but you need paper work to prove the car was serviced properly, which the dealership does not have. I purchased 4 year 80,000km warranty on the car in case the engine does crap out. I'm not sure if Canada has extended warranty on emission parts.

This is so frustrating. I just want the car to be fine. I love it. I was looking at one in February, but I didn't buy it cause it had been in an accident which cost $10,000 to fix. Now I'm dealing with this. I guess the car will be better with all the new parts.

Everyone's help has been great.

I wouldn't worry about it. Mazda would most likely replace the engine as long as you keep records from the time you bought it forwards.

I feel for you though. When I bought my used 8 and got it home, we noticed some things we didn't see at first when we examined it on the lot. Bumper had a crack in it which the fixed rather poorly. I went through like 10 days of shit to get the car back. Luckly they fixed it without question but when you buy a new car you just want to enjoy it so its rather frustrating.