Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

Before I even tell the story, keep in mind that this happened on 7/28/08. I've waited two months to tell the whole story because I'm just barely getting everything sorted out now.

I owed a 2005 VR RX-8 MT w/ GT package. July 04 build date.

I never had any serious problems with it until June of 2008. In early June I started to notice that the car had no power below 5k rpm. My car had 56k miles on the odometer. As the month went on the problem got worse. Towards the end of the month I finally took my car to Galpin Mazda. Since I was out of the basic warranty I had to pay for the rental car and if the problem wasn't covered by the power-train warranty I would also have to pay a $150 diagnostic fee. (plus repairs)

After a day, my service writer calls me an tells my that I need a new engine. I was very happy because it confirmed my initial thoughts and Mazda would be covering a new motor in my 4 year old car.

It took the dealer 15 days to install the new motor. That's twice as long as they claimed when first agreed to install a new motor. The first thing I noticed upon pick up of my car was that it was very dirty. The dealer is far from my house, about 40 miles, so I drove the car home and imeditaly noticed that the car wasn't any better then before the new motor.

When I got home I checked to see if it was in fact a new motor. After close inspection I concluded that they did replace the motor. I also noticed many small scracthes on my front bumper and fenders. I did some research online related to my power loss issues and it seems like bad coils could be the cause. The next day I went to mazdatrix and bought 4 new coils for a total of just over $100.

I installed the coils when I got home that night and right away I could feel the difference. The car had twice the power and ran great. Basically, the dealer replaced my engine for no reason....

By now I have about 400 miles on the engine. It's been about 7 days since I got the car back and it has been running great.

I was driving about 70 mph on the 405N going home from work around 6pm. I hear a loud BOOM and quickly look behind me thinking I blew a tire. To my surprise, I see cars serving to avoid the smoke and crap coming from my car. As I turned back around I glanced down at the gauge cluster and notice my power steering light is on, then the abs light comes on, and finally the check engine light comes on. I lifted my head to look at the front window, and noticed flames, not little flames, massive flames coming from the where the hood seals to the fender and from the wheel wells.

At this point I started to merge off the freeway and head towards the off ramp. Smoke started poring out of the A/C vents and and made it hard to see and breath. By this time I couldn't roll down the windows and the power steering went dead. I cracked open the door to let some air in. (I'm still doing about 45 mph) After making it almost to the off ramp the breaks went out and I had to use the parking break to stop the car. (It's been about 20 seconds from the boom)

I jumped out of the car and called 911. Some motorist came running up with a fire extinguisher. Using my shirt I was able to open the hood while he muffled the flames until the fire truck came. My shirt burned up. The firemen finished the fire off with their trucks.

The fire totaled the car in less than a minute. If that motorist didn't help me, the car would have melted to the ground. As I looked back at the off ramp I could see a trail where the car was leaking fuel and scorched the payment.















I called the Galpin Mazda the next morning and explained what happened. The general manager was a complete ******* and gave me the impression that he did not give a ****. I then called MNAO and they told me that this was an issue between the dealer and me, not mazda. After several calls got me no where, I decided to call my insurance.

State Farm, my insurance, picked up the car a few days later and took it to a inspection lot. The car sat there while they conducted an investigation. They concluded that the car caught fire from a fuel light that was not properly tightened. Galpin Mazda claims its not there fault.

Fortunately, I have full coverage on my car so my insurance will give me something. But either way, right now I'm without a car and the money I will get won't be able to replace my beauty. I had a lot of time and money invested in the car that my insurance will not cover.

As a result of all this, I am starting to sell my custom LED footwell lights to help with the down payment of a new car.

https://www.rx8club.com/group-buy-center-85/gb-led-footwell-lights-156512/

quazmosis

iTrader: (2)

Wow!

rglbegl

WTF!!!!!

I would still keep going after the dealership. They were the last one to touch the failed part.

Sorry to hear about your loss

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

You should be happy that you're still alive to post this.

Damn ! if **** like that happen to me I swear Im going to sue that dealership till they're dead. !!!

Before it happen, you never notice any gasoline smell in the cabin anywhere ?

it sounds like they didn't clip the quick release connector right, and it came off when the system is pushing more fuel.

Deathcraft

I'm sorry for your loss....but...You should get a lawyer and file a lawsuit against the dealer.......It wasn't some minor failure.....your car caught on fire and your whole engine melted...., and it's obviously the dealer's fault.. You were on freeway when it happened....you could have died in that accident........

I don't understand why you don't want to fight for it?? Just find a good lawyer and start suing already!

It might take a while til you get comparsated....but..you will eventually.....better late than never ..right/

My cousin ...when she was rear-ended in an accident.....she got a lawyer and filed a claim cuz the insurance company refused to comparsate her for the time she was not able to work cuz of her accident related pain ,..etc,..... they only fixed her car.
It took 3 years for her to get $3000 from the insurance company ....but she got it in the end.... The lawyer took care of everything.....she didn't have to do anything during that time.....and since they lost, they paid for her lawyer fees ..etc,..

quazmosis

iTrader: (2)

Yes I would go after the dealership also. 400.00 for spark pulg change is rediculous. What happened to your car way past crossing the line.

bose

iTrader: (5)

So that's how you get the 'new' Charcoal Red. huh , I am glad you were okay. Nice of Mazda to give a **** though huh? I am so sorry for your loss.

kvndoom

Glad you survived, but I wouldn't let them off that easy. No damn way. Much as I hate lawyers, I still think you should, at minimum, get a consultation. The dealership's negligence cost you your car, and ALMOST cost you your life. And they don't even pretend to give a ****? I personally wouldn't be able to let that go.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Rodger: you know my thoughts on this.
still painful to see those pics

Didn't MM say he thinks some fuel line connection was put on upside down? Apparently they can go on that way but don't stay very secure.

+1 for seeking legal action. I know it might be expensive but there HAS to be someone out there who will take the case on contingency.

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for your support guys. I'm not sure what I want to do. My insurance says that since I installed the coils after I got it back from the dealer Galpin has probable deniability. According to them, it wouldn't be worth the risk of losing the case.

In the mean time, I urge you guys to check out my footwell lights. It's the only sure way that I can get some cash for a new ride.

linky:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=156512

Deathcraft

There are some lawyers who give out free consultation..if the case looks good enuff for them to take on............and with some..you don't have to pay unless you win.. You should ask around or start looking in the phone book..lol

Deathcraft

Did you already tell the dealer that you installed new coils? If not, you don't have to tell them...since the coils are melted beyond recognition..nobody will know..lol

Your insurance company is not going to tell your dealer....cuz they don't care...they're not the one who you are suing...lol...

rotary.enthusiast

Wow... just wow.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

installing coils does not = fuel leak.
Your insurance guy probably though that "ignition coils" was something really complicated and required you taking stuff apart.

You could have the coils improperly installed and the wire hanging off and that still wouldn't cause a fire!

deathcraft makes some REALLY good points regarding coils

DoubleGoose

iTrader: (10)

yeah man that totally sucks. i agree with going after the dealership. Ridiculous of them to not care like that. Id be so pissed. I say fight it out. I feel good supporting you by buying those footwell LEDs. im pretty excited for them to come in. Good luck on the new car, whatever it may be, and hopefully something like that wont happen again.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Oh, and I'm going to answer this for Rodger since I know it's ONLY a matter of time before someone asks:


NO, he is NOT getting another RX-8 or any other Mazda. (our rotary passions aside; can you really blame him)
I'm sure he'll post pics of his new car at a later time.


Back on topic...

expo1

The coils were Mazda OEM's right? You installed Mazda coils on a Mazda what can the dealer say? If you did it incorrect you would have know the first time you started it.

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

Yes, they were OEM coils. I should add that before I took my car in, I bought new plugs and installed them. They didn't make a bit of difference so put the old plugs back in and took it to the dealer.

After they installed the new motor they said that the car had a rough idle because the plugs were shot. They wanted to charge me $800 for new plugs and wires. I declined and said that I will do it on my own. (since I had new plugs at home anyway)

So the dealer knows that I was going to "work" on the car after I got it back.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

dealer knows you "were going to work" on your car; they do NOT have proof that you DID work on your car.

You however have PROOF that they were the last one to touch anything fuel related. The insurance company also has that proof.

what does the dealership have on YOU? that would be a big, fat, NOTHING!

Marklar

OMFG! That is scary. I can't believe the dealership is denying all responsibility.

Create a web site with all the details, photos, etc, and the dealership's name all over it. Give it a week or two for the Google spiders to find it. Then any time someone googles that dealership's name, they will find your site. See how they like that.

You could also contact the local TV stations and see if they want to do a segment. There's a station here in town that regularly does bits about people who have been screwed over like that. Get the word out so at least people can be warned about these asshats, and make them pay in lost business.

If it were me, though, I'd definitely talk to every lawyer in town.

CyberPitz

Yeah, you have everything you need to win this case. They will prolong it and do what they can to screw you over, but they endangered your life and every motorist on the road at that time. Kick their ***. I, for one, don't see why you should get another Mazda, that's some ****.

SlayerRX8

Amazing. Sorry to hear that, man.

Rhawb

I'd still run this case past a lawyer. I'm not one to cry "lawsuit!" every time someone does something wrong, but their negligence could have killed you. That's NOT okay. Mazda - Galpin Mazda in particular - should be walking you around car dealerships helping you look for a new car that they will buy you, kissing your *** the whole way. Don't let them slide, at least make their life difficult, if nothing else.

chrism

wow total crap from these damn mazda dealers.......i think every one of us has been screwed hard at least once since owning this brand....its sad

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

I would look into the California Consumer Affairs Bureau and look for the Automotive Repair Division or whatever similar name it is. Takes a week after filing the complaint but they will get back to and if it isn't already resolved, will contact the dealer. These things are a matter of public record so its in the shops best interest to be on the level here.