My drivers side rear had a slow puncture last week which I did'nt notice and has now cost me a new tyre. I had no indication through the TPMS. The tyre was down to 12 psi from the required 32 psi. Any clues as to why I had no warning light?

Regards

 

About a month after I got my car the low tire light warning came on. I was on the way home from work so stopped at the dealer and ask them to please check my tire pressure. The mechanic checked the tires and said they all had 32. He went on to tell me that alot of RX-8/s have a malfunction in the tire warning light and its a common problem. He said I would need to bring it back in and leave in for a full day so they can fix it. I live close to an American Tire shop and because the tires felt low I stopped and ask would they check the air for me. Well the tire pressue was 18 in two tires and 20 and 21 in the other two. Once the guy there put air in the tires the warning light went off and I havent had any more problems. So it wasn't a malfunction in my case but obviously it is in yours. I would ask the dealership to pay for a new tire, the mechanic I talked to seem to know this happens alot.

 

There is a malfunction. The mechanic you spoke with (at the dealership) is an idiot if he couldn't get the right pressure readings... or he wanted your car for 24 hours so he could take it home for the night.

I'd report this to the service manager at the very least... his "dealership" grease monkey needs his eyes checked if he thinks 18, 20 and 21 looks the same as 32psi on his gauge.

We gotta get these dealships straightened out. If I bought a yugo, I wouldn't expect this kind of service either, but would understand. For a 30K+ car, I'd expect that the people who work on the car know how to read.

 

What Wankler said!

 

Location: uk

Is this a joke? You're in the UK, so how do you have TPMS? Oh, wait, you don't. TPMS is only available in US RX-8s.

rx8cited

 

Thanks for that, I think. Why have we missed out (UK) on TPMS I wonder?

 

Canadian RX-8s also do not have the TPMS. It's required by law in the US (well, it will be very soon), so Mazda US wanted it standard on their market's cars. The other regional Mazda offices (like Canada, UK) didn't feel it was necessary in their markets.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Some reasons why you might not care to have TPMS:

If you want to get snow tyres on a second set of wheels, you must buy the TPMS wheel units (sensors) which cost US $400 for 4, else without the TPMS sensors, the TPMS yellow light constantly flashes. Some have taped over the flashing light, others don't seem to be bothered by it.

The sensors only warn you if your tyre pressure is lower than 26 PSI or higher than 49 PSI, so one still needs to check the tyre pressure at least once a month.

I think you chaps have automatic climate control and headlight washers standard? We cannot even get them as options.

cheers,
rx8cited

 

The headlamp washers are smart, impresses the kids every time. The only other real problem I have with the RX8 is the increasing numbers of the car, it would appear that Mazda have identified a pocket in the UK which the RX8 has filled perfectly. Two of my neighbours (honestly two) have very recently purchased a silver and a titanium.

Regards

 

Just for a laugh......................Tyre is spelt Tyre not Tire..........

Thanks for the help all who commented.

Regards Peter

 

yes, chump ... i use to live in Exeter, UK ... ha ha ... do you eat fish and chips inside your RX8, mate? I miss that and the vinegar. Have to go back to England :D

 

that explains why the spare donut I orderd from the dealership cost so much

 

I'm missing your point - what explains it?

rx8cited

 

The spare does not have a tpms sender. The donut is expensive because it is a low production limited market product.

 

Got ya' .

 

Yes, they're common as muck here...

...which is why I bought a yellow one. The dealer tells me no-one else in the NW has yellow yet... and Mazda have killed the colour off in Europe. :D

Just got back from a driving holiday round Europe and I saw, er, two - so it's just us lot in the UK that like 'em. I had a lot of conversations in broken French / German / Italian in petrol stations - good way to learn the words for "doors open backwards" and "rotary" :D

It has filled a niche here - there are SO many people in the UK who want a rwd car that looks like a coupe but they can get their kids in. Just about every salesman / rep ever...

 

Er, and to stay on topic, it's really sensitive about tyre pressures. I check mine once a week now, because if they drop even 1 PSI you lose 25% of the handling. I've heard people say that about Bridgestones on other cars too though so maybe come 10000 miles I'll try something else.

PS I ate fish and chips in my last car ONCE and it still smelled of vinegar two years later... so they're banned from the 8. Although the bottle of Ricard I bought in Lyon leaked so I have an aniseed effect at the moment.