Major Engine Issues
 

So after 33k-34k miles, while trying to sell the car no less, the engine seized. Just plain ol' died and won't start.

There goes trying to sell the car!! :banghead:

After having multiple tow-trucks refuse to tow the car...it's hella low, finally got 1 to do it. Towed to the dealer and dealer says I need a new engine.

Luckily it was under warranty, but come on! under 34k miles?!

So you won't believe what happens next. While they're testing the car with the new engine. IT BLOWS!! They blew a brand new engine :Eyecrazy:

So after weeks of waiting, they finally say the car runs fine.

So after a little over 34k miles, I'm on my THIRD engine. How the hell am I supposed to sell the car now? Even the dealer doesn't want to take it back!! Well they actually said they would, but that I wouldn't want to hear how much they're willing to offer :squint:

Then I get a letter in the mail about some extended engine warranty not too long after, then I discovered about the voluntary recall. Wish I had known about it before the whole mess! Never got the recall letter or had any dealership tell me about it. Wish they actually spotted something wrong with the car when I took it in for a regular checkup at 33k miles (I usually take it in every 3k miles (for oil change, etc.), and also had the 30k mile checkup)

Well I'm done venting. The 3rd engine runs fine, might even be better than the 1st one. I never got to try the 2nd one.

Anyone wants a 34k mile 2004 Mazda RX-8 with a spanking brand new engine with a 6yr warranty?

The oiling system on these engines is bulletproof right from the factory, so you either ran it low/out of oil, or it carbon locked due to you being too easy with driving it, making too many short trips, or running low grade gas consistently. "Locking up" is not a common mode of failure for any rotary engine, now or in the past...they usually either develop weak compression which leads to starting/idle/power problems, or they actually break apex seals which means half of the engine is dead.

As for selling the car, I dont see how this would affect you negatively. Most anyone in the market for an rx8 already knows about the engine issues and would not be taken aback by a car with a replacement engine. In fact educated buyers would probably be relieved that the engine replacement has already been done, versus buying an original-engine'd car.

Now, for those impulse buyer types, or those buyers just looking for a "regular car" that happen to see your 8 and become interested based solely on looks, then yes it could turn them away to learn that these cars have engine issues with low miles. That assumes you choose to advertise or divulge that engine swap information ahead of time, which is not necessarily a requirement for an honest sale.

so... long story short, you're saying the car is fine now? Why bother selling.

Yup. It's a well known issue. I'm on my 2nd engine as well. Swapped at 55k miles. Glad the dealer took good care of you.

Personally if I were buying a used RX8 I would WANT one with a new engine. I think for an educated buyer it will be a plus.

The other thing to consider is that many of the "dealer Mechanics" out there are replacing engines because they don't really know what the problem is.

I have heard of a couple people lately (several of them on this board) that the dealer replaced the engine when all that was needed was new coils. Galpin in LA did that most recently and they actually hooked up the fuel line wrong and the car ended up being a Car-B-Que a couple weeks after the guy took it.

So as Kevin mentions, I wouldn't mark down a RX-8 because it got a new engine.

Don't forget, re-manufactured engines have to meet the same tolerances(if not better) as brand new engines too.

We don't have the extendend warranty in italy because dealerships insist in changing engines when all they need is decarb\new coils\new catalyzer\MAF cleaning etc.
They don't even import the Mazda engine cleaner...

good luck with your sale though, an rx8 with a brand new engine and low miles on the chassis is a good offer.

How would that explain the second engine blowing?

Ken

Yeah, definitely try to use a dealer that knows what the heck they're doing for the major repairs. Interview the mechanics and get your impression of the mechanic from the service writer's point of view. If they know what they're doing the service writer should rattle off a couple of names who specialize in rotary.

The 2nd engine was built at Williams Tech. :)

im at 72K on engine #1, just recently dynoed at 190rwhp and still run 14's, and I honestly beat the piss out of my car. Drive this one harder and enjoy the car, these things dont need to be babied like 350Z's :lol:

if i were in the market for an rx8, having a fresh motor in the car would be a selling point.

yeah with a new engine what's the big deal even if u don't wnat to keep it ppl will see oh wow brand new engine that's liek a brand new car..i'll buy it

Yea honestly, Ive only got 13k on mine now... but I HOPE my engine blows at like 85k ^_^

sorry for not replying sooner, was at the SEMA convention :D:

anyhow, I always made sure oil levels were not low, and always used premium.
The fact that the 2nd engine blew is what scares me. It was brand new and the dealership blew it during testing!!

Now you can't believe what just happened. So been driving around in engine #3 for a couple weeks. Everything seems fine. Tried to start the car couple days ago, and it starts leaking gasoline from the engine! Turn key = gasoline pouring out from the engine....not the gas tank, not some pipe going from the gas tank to the engine, but from the engine itself.

Called Galpin Mazda and they told me to bring it in....f*cking hell, they wouldn't even get it towed to them!! Have to call Roadside Assistance seperately :P
Seriously thinking about flagging the Lemon Law if the problem is the engine again, cause that would mean 3 engine failures.

making too many short trips???
i do that all day long 8 hours a day, i work out of my car i drive to business to business, i hope the car can take it because i drive like 60miles a day with over 7 to 8 stops every 8 miles

IS this the same dealer that installed a reman in that other guy's 8 and then it burned to the ground on the freeway due to a fuel leak? Someone needs to get on the horn with mazda north america and either get someone fired from there or get their shit together before someone gets hurt in a fuel fire.

Edit...you told them it was pouring fuel from the engine and they told you to "bring it in"? I would have driven the mofo and hoped it caught on fire on the way so I could sue their asses for more money.

why not? if you think thats unbelievable ive got some stories for you.....

what makes you think that?:Eyecrazy:



You keep saying that. I do not think that means what you think it means.

You're right RR, it was rotary rasp who had his engine blow up due to leaking fuel. He had his engine replaced at Galpin too. From what I understand, they are dicks there.

yeah, galpin mazda forgot to connect a fuel line and rotary rasps car burned up.

galpin = fail.

PLEASE report this to mazdausa.

Well 1 would hope they gave a brand new engine...and I guess everything is believeable when it comes to Mazda eh?

They got a tow truck to bring the car to them today. The only good piece of news so far, so I didn't have to call anyone or pay for anything...yet.

I'm going to wait to see what they've got to say tomorrow.

I'd seriously call the big folks at MazdaUSA and tell them that your car starting pouring out fuel after a brand new reinstalled engine. Then tell them there was another person that had their engine replaced at the same dealer who had their car burn to the ground because of the same issue....

This is just too much, and scares me to think who else got a new engine from them and could be driving a time bomb.

call mazda usa.

do it now.

don't wait.

NOW.

their number is 1-800-866-1998

be sure to have your VIN number ready (it should be on your insurance card if you don't have the car available to look)

I know these modern plastic fuel lines and clips that push on and lock in place with a retainer clip are supposed to be a big step forward for the serviceability of the car, BUT I don't like them, and this just supports my ideas. This is why I put a ziptie around each of the plastic retainers once I have worked on the car. Why? Because you have to stretch those plastic retainers open to get the fuel lines off. Then when you put them back on, stretch them open again. You can't tell me that they hold the same clamping force after doing this twice during an engine swap, so by putting a ziptie around the outside of them, it forces them to stay tight. The only other solution (which would be a good idea for a dealer) would be to install new ones during every fuel line/engine service procedure.