So I thought about it last week.. and knew that my warranty on the RX would be up within the next month or 2. The 8 yr/100k mile engine warranty. So I decided to opt for a compression test. A "Why not" kind of thing.. considering i'm an '05 on the original motor.

I'll let you know of the readings when it's all done, but I don't really expect them to be bad. Either way this is a good "peace of mind" thing.

but mainly wondering, have any of you decided, or have done, the same thing, considering the '05's are slowly going out of warranty and the '04's (I think) have?

 

I did right before my '04 went out of warranty. Got a new engine out of it :-)

 

Same here. I decided to take my 04 in for a compression test before the warranty expired and I was not expecting anything bad. I was surprised to hear that the test failed and I ended up receiving a new (remanufactured) engine from Mazda.

 

ill be getting one soon. my 04 is up at the end of april

 

I figure it's probably hard for someone who hasn't been the first owner to tell how powerful it's supposed to be.

I'm paying $180 for them to do a "Full circle report card" and compression check + 2 hrs. labor

 

Isn't that a little too much? What the hell is a full circle report card?

OP: good idea to do a compression test. If the engine passes, then the only loss for you would paying for the test. I think they will charge you a full hours labor.

 

I posted a picture of what it is. Pretty much a way for Mazda to say "oh hey this is wrong! We can go ahead and fix it if you want! $$$$"

It's the equivalent of a full inspection.

And yeah it seems to me a bit high in price, but it's the only dealership close to me. There are a lot in Pittsburgh, but considering I have to get there myself and this dealership is in walking distance, I chose it.

 

well what do ya know.. I have low compression!

I couldn't believe it haha... Showing in the upper 5's.. around 5.8

I'll get a full reading to you guys soon, but they had just called to tell me about it.. he said maybe "Zoom-Zoom" cleaner would bring the life back into it but that's a shot in the dark.. so he's checking into the warranty for me.

I just hope I don't have to make this a big fight....

 

nice, lucky you did it. whats your mileage btw?

 

90,022

 

I'll do the same when my warranty expires in 2013.

 

Just thought I'd share my test results:

Rotor 1: 5.2, 5.3, 5.2

Rotor 2: 5.8, 5.6, 5.9

crazy how off the numbers are. I'm not sure what speed they were performed at but I'm pretty sure no matter what speed they are terrible.

 

I don't understand why you thought your engine wasn't going to suffer the same fate as nearly everyone else's has so far.

I wish we could tally up the total number of forum members who have reported low compression engines, and how many actually got replacement engines under warranty from Mazda, just so we could see how staggering the numbers are on this forum alone.

But congrats, when the dealer is done, you should have a more powerful, and slightly more fuel efficient car on your hands.

BC.

 

ill need to do this before this years over...how much did it cost for you guys to get the compression test done?

 

It's typically around $180.00-$200.00. Just make sure you actually get the results and not just a tech telling you whether it failed or not. If they do it correctly then they should have data to give you.

 

thats not that bad. i was wondering, would they try to void my warranty/new engine because i have intake/exhaust/tune? i know they really couldn't because they would have to somehow prove that (a) modification caused the loss of compression, but do you think they would try to convince me otherwise?

 

They may not find the tune, but can totally void the warranty if the find it. Legally justified.

The intake and exhaust cant, but they can hassle you about it.

 

well, i will probably un-marry the cobb beforehand then to avoid that. thanks guys.

 

one more thing actually. IF they need to put a reman engine in, would i have to shell out any additional cost? (labor, spark plugs, coils, etc.)

 

It really depends on the dealer. It can vary from $0 to ~$600 or so.

 

0-600$ for just labor? or do the sparks, coils, etc. come with the reman engine?

 

more tricky then that, hopping in the car. ill respond when I get home and have a keyboard

 

it really depends. when i got my new engine, i also got the upgraded start, new oil neck tube, i ordered aftermarket engine mounts since they were going, and found out my clutch was going (which i believe) so it was replaced too. total was about $1000 bucks (excluding my engine mounts i bought, they installed them no labour fee).

It is night and day with a new engine, i couldn't believe the power i was missing out on.

oh sorry, i forgot, there are NO FEES for the engine or labour, but ya, expect them to "find" things. if there is anything you want installed, this is the time to take advantage of the free labour, that's what they told me.

 

i see. that isnt too bad. i will not need upgraded starter or any of that, i highly doubt i will need clutch, still feels extremely strong and tight. i only drive my car about 3k miles a year and it is an 04 with 49,8xx. do you know the compression data numbers that mazda considers "time for a new engine" by chance? if one rotor surface reads below that "new engine" number, then do they still replace whole engine? or do they go by all the numbers on each rotor surface added together, if that product is below spec, they replace?

 

if you have an 04, they are going to push the starter, especially with a new engine. as for the rest, i dunno, you'll just have to wait and see. the starter is only $299, and IMO was well worth it.