tcmers

Got the call from the dealer yesterday. New warranty replacement engine is on the way. 04MT with 57,000 miles. Have been seeing some of the warning signs....hard starts when outside temps are high, occasional stalling and hard starts after stalling, rough idle and intermittent power loss at highway speeds. Thursday night after work my car wouldn't start. Tried again Friday morning, but still no go. Had it towed to the dealership on Friday, they checked it out and determined that the engine needs to be replaced. Don't have the details yet, but have to stop by today to pick up some things, so I'll see what they say.
So far, they have been great. Didn't require any service records (which I have), Mazda is covering the tow and a rental car. They said it would be 5-10 days to receive the engine and two days for install. They did say that I need a starter (don't think it was ever upgraded) and a battery, so I'll have a couple hundred bucks into it, but not bad overall. I have to say that I am very pleased with the way Mazda has handled the issue. I've read a couple of horror stories on here, but this has gone well so far. Guess I'll wait to see how the replacement engine runs before I get too excited!

Old Rotor

Sounds like they are taking care of you. I have not seen them cover many car rentals. You might want to get your own starter it will save you about half price. Whats your location?

Texas RX8 R3

Tough situation going smoothly, without very much stress to you. Just the way it should be.

Glad everything is working out, and hope it continues this way.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I have gotten two motors from Mazda and they handled me pretty well. They tried to BS me about coils and stuff the first time but once they knew, I knew more than them they stopped. But all in all they have treated me pretty well.

tcmers

I'm in Indiana. I thought about getting my own starter, but will probably let them do it just to make things easier. I'm almost an hour from the nearest dealer, so I'd rather jsut have them take care of everything while they have the car. The service manager has been great, and I don't think they will try to sell me parts that I don't need, but I am prepared to deal with that if they do.

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the club 9k and I are multiple engine club My first motor went at 52k and the 2nd motor went at 1400 miles (declared a bad build).

tcmers

Are the replacements covered up to the original 100,000 vehicle miles?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yes. I got one at only 22,000 miles, and then another one right before the deadline at 96,000 miles. My third engine now has about 20,000 miles on it and when it fails it will be replaced on my dime.

tcmers

Since mine is an 04, I guess mileage really isn't the issue any more. I'm running out of time on the 8 year warranty.... Maybe it's time to trade it in!

terch1

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the club! Gotta <3 getting a new engine for free. Sounds like an early Christmas present for you my friend.

tcmers

Are all of the required replacement items (gaskets, fluids, etc.) covered when they replace the engine, or is this something I can expect them to hit me with a four or five hundred dollar charge for?

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

I was thinking there is a separate warranty on the reman motors for cases where the extended warranty runs out.

Old Rotor

The starter alone is about $400 with tax...

tcmers

Yep...already got a price from them on a starter and battery. Just curious about all of the general assembly stuff. I'll just give them a call and ask.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

You will not have to pay for anything related to the motor swap. On my last engine I had them go ahead and put a new clutch in. They tried to BS me and charge me for labor but I talked to the service manager and since it was an OEM clutch kit he didn't really have a good argument to charge me since they had to remove the old one anyway. But in the end I paid the "diagnostic fee which was like $80.00 so I thought that was fair since a clutch replacement later would be a PIA and money if I paid to have it done.

I also went back and chatted up the tech himself and asked him to make sure I got the old clutch parts back so that I knew for sure it was done. He was really cool so I slipped him a 20 spot. when my car was done the box was on the front seat with old worn clutch and parts in it

I also had an extended warranty which paid for the coils and wires they said were needed before the engine replacement which was BS but the extended warranty covered it so i didn't make a big stink about it.

TALAN7

I just replaced my stock engine at 128,000 miles this August. Cost me about $4800. That price included a lightweight flywheel installed with it (prolite). I went with JPR imports in South Jersey. A week later the cat and starter went. I purchased an aftermarket cat (my 2nd), and had the starter rebuilt at $500 for both. About 4 weeks later much clutch blew out on the Garden State Parkway, cost, over $1700 including tow for new clutch. All in all I put over 7 grand in my 8 in the pass 2 months.
I worry about these reman engines. Just how reliable are they.? It seems that peoples 2nd engines gets much less mileage than their 1st. I put too much money into her just to have a 2nd engine go at 20,000 miles. To me, if it can't go at least 75,000, it's not worth the price.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yep it's tough, it all comes down to your personal business, finances, wrenching ability, convenience, etc. My car has 117,000 miles on it and has been paid off for a while. I also do all of my own wrenching when it is on my dime so I don't pay for labor and I love doing it myself. There is a limit to what I will put into my car but at the same time I am the type of guy who keeps my car for years and babies them until it just isn't worth it anymore or I lose interest.

Of course now my car only sees a 1/4 of the mileage it used too so it should last a while if I don't blow it up. If I do, then I am committed to one more motor and that is all. After that hopefully the RX-9 will be available.

But I do understand why people bow out of rotary ownership, I almost did.

tcmers

The dealer called and said that the car would be ready today. Two weeks to the day from when I had it towed in. Not too bad. It will be good to have it back. Driving the Hundai from the rental place just isn't the same!

Old Rotor

Great let us know how it goes..

yulandop

Just a confirmation.
I had my engine replaced, so am i correct in believing that the replacement engine is warrantied for 100,000 miles also????
the dealer told me 12,000 miles.
Also with the new engine do they reset the odometer???
sorry for my ignorance.

Old Rotor

The warranty starts when the car was first sold. It last for 8 years or 100K miles what ever comes first. If your first engine fails at 80K then you have 20K miles left if you have time left. So even if you bought one in 2003 like I did you still have some time left. No reset of speedo...

mkmike103

iTrader: (3)

I was curious if you had done all (or some) or your maintenance at this particular dealership. Maybe that's why you didn't need service records?

Also for the record, where are you from, and which dealership?

tcmers

I used the dealership for maintenance a couple of times, but not for the last year or so. It's almost an hour drive to the dealership, so routine oil and filter changes are much easier (and time and cost effective) to do at home. I'm in Indiana, the dealer is Basney Mazda in South Bend. The service guy said that mazda had originally asked for service records, then said that they didn't need them. I don't think that the dealership had a lot of say in the matter.

tcmers

Didn't go well...lol. There was an SSV error and low power at high RPMs when they drove the car. This isn't covered by the warranty. Should have the SSV valve replaced today. So...with a new starter, battery and the latest issue, my "free" engine is going to cost me $1400. Hope to pick the car up tonight. (Monday).

Old Rotor

Did you get any info on how your clutch looked?