Mazda Approved my replacement engine :D - now with swap pics!
 

My 2004 RX-8 GT just went over 30,000 miles. I thought it was time to request an engine replacement since the warranty expires soon. The mechanic worked with me and got approval for a replacement. It should be here on Friday or Monday :D

Update:
2nd page has the pics

was there something wrong with your engine?

I didn't think so, but the coils needed replacing. It would stutter on a cold start when driving briefly. There where times it felt must stronger than others. Since this is my first RX-8, I thought it better safe than sorry.

They did a series of tests and a compression test. I guess there was enough to warrant a replacement.

Geez, 30,000 miles and needing a new engine. This blows my mind. Did you not have any of the ECU upgrades done?

I hope you had low compression. The reman engines are pretty hit and miss.

Early models (04 and 05 mostly) suffers the most from lack of lube from early PCM calibration ---- Not like later version did a lot better. but better than nothing I guess ?

so 30K or 20 K doesn't matter. the ECU program will murder it no matter what

The ECU was flashed. Is this risky?

With the low mileage on the original engine and assuming you are the original owner. Where most of these miles put on early in life prior to the early PCM re-calibrations? Or would you say more like average 4,000 miles a year? Going on this assumption 8,000 miles for the first couple of years with low oil injection rates this engine sure went fast. Did you premix any at all the life of the engine? Was the re flash done upon first note or was it put off a bit? Just trying to gather more information why earlier models have been more prone to engine replacement as opposed to later. Thanks for any info you can give concerning your engine replacement.

Keep in mind we don't know why it was replaced.

I am the second owner so my history of the car is limited. I get the feeling that replacing a 30k mile engine with a reman is a bad idea now.

In order for Mazda to replace the engine, it must fail the Compression test and/or Vacuum test.

90% of the time depends on the compression test. but they still have to do a Vacuum test, on Mazda's system there is a page where you can input the test value, and it will tell you right away if the engine is a pass or fail. then they have to call and get approval (For most dealership)

Some dealership (rare) can self approve engine replacement. but that's rare and most of the time when that happens, the Region manager will come out and look at the car, just to be sure no one there is abusing the system (like giving free engine to friends, etc)

Even if remanufactured engines are hit or miss, you don't have much of a choice if it failed a compression test. Someone correct me, but as far as I know, that's the only justification for a new engine?

EDIT: Nevermind lol, nycgps explained... ;)

It really depends on what part is/are being re-use.

I can tell you Rotor housing, side and int plate will be new. E-shaft might be re-use, and some other stuff might be re-use.

a typical rebuild engine will have over 70-80% brand new parts

but there are couple of reason(chances) that a rebuild engine will fail. one is the re-use part is actually not good, someone overlook something and re-use a failed part.

another problem is the side seal clearance, each rotor side has stamp on them to tell you what seal you should use, if the builder put "wrong" seal there, it will be either too tight or too loose. too tight, when it turns, *boom* something breaks, either the seal itself or the corner seal will have a mark, not good.

if its too loose, no compression (or really low), cuz its leaking left & right.

many other factors can mess a rebuild engine up. I mean even brand new engines can be bad (ask our mod about it lol), its all hand build so the biggest factor is ALWAYS the builder. If he cares, he will notice and catches all the problem, but if he doesn't give a shit/overlook/had a bad day/hate Mazda deep inside, then yea, your engine gonna be bad.

30000 miles and a new engine is needed???wtf....that's a first in the record books....idk but something tells me someone just wanted to tell a story today

Yep, I asked him to check it out since the warranty was going to expire. He noted that the coils needed replacing. After they where replaced, he did a compression test. The only info I got was that a new engine was on its way. I wonder if he was just trying to help me out and I would have been better off with a 30k original.

It would cut the power for a brief second when I accelerated for the first time on cold days. That may be the coils speaking though. Some days it felt full of energy, while others felt a little sluggish. Not 100% sure it isn't mental on my half though :p

I replaced the sparks 500 or so miles ago. Didn't seem to make a huge difference.

On a side note, my dad's 26k mile 2004 Sport died in the heat all the time. He got the engine swapped. So low mile issues can't be that unheard of. Although we are both 2nd owners, so who knows what happened before we got them.

My issues where minor. I asked to have it checked for replacement since my warranty was going out. I may have been naive in thinking that a replacement would be better now than when it wasn't covered by Mazda.

I seen Piston engine blew on the spot, right after its installed and turn on for the first time.

so don't make it sound like this is something new. you have a lot to learn.

a replacement will always be better. I mean even if you have shit luck the first time, eventually you will get a good rebuild and can last you another 100K miles or more (someone already got 200K out of Original engine)

when my warranty is about to expire I will do the same, its not a bad thing you know.

:scratchhe:

Mine was replaced at 19k and 47k I thought that was normal for the 04-05s.

I had a engine replace for problems other than compression.

I took the car to the dealer in Aug 06 (24K miles). My complaint was that it sputtered in the morning for about 10 min. then it would be fine the rest of the day. Dealer found that coolant was leaking into the 2nd rotor overnight causing the sputtering. The engine was replaced.

Those are normal?! What?! I have 32k right now on a original engine. I heard news about engine being replaced 2, 3, 4 and sometimes more than that, must be mostly 04's. Anyway, scheduled and preventive maintenance is the key for longer engine life.

Thanks. Feel much better. Started to think I made a mistake.

Is there any warranty on these engines?

Engine core warranty(short block, means ONLY the engine) is warrant for 100K miles or 8 years, whichever comes first.

IF your engine warranty is about to run out (say, you got a replacement at 99,999 miles :rollingla) then your Engine will have a warranty of 12K miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. Same as buy & install an Engine from Dealership.

to me, that sounds reasonable.

I know I'll be trying when I hit it . :smoker:

I guess I am the exception to the rule. I have an 04 with almost 90k miles, no problems whatsoever with the car other than the subs in the doors cutting in and out.

I would always take a new engine. just make sure that you premix and drive it like you stole it once its broken in.

even if new engine turns out to be bad you will still have 12 months/12000 miles to replace it...