Need a new coolant resevoir - Am I covered under warranty?
 

Quick question. I started having an issue where my engine coolant light would come on randomly while driving. When I brought my car to the dealership for the usual servicing, I mentioned it to them to take a look at. Anyways, they came back and said I need a new coolant resevoir as the pre 2009 RX-8's had faulty sensors in the resevoir leading to false readings. They are charging me $200 + tax for this fix.

I did some research and came across bulletin 01-040/10, describing the exact situation. At the bottom of the bulletin, it says the repair is covered under warranty through the New Vehicle Warranty term.

Even though I bought mine used, should I still be covered under this warranty? I mean, the bulletin to me is telling me this is Mazda's fault as the sensor they put in the car was faulty in the first place.

Trying to save myself $200.

What year is your car, and when was its original date of sale?
That's the only way you're going to know if it should be covered under warranty.

BC.

TSBs are only instruction sets for the dealer when a customer has a complaint that isn't really covered under anything else. If you have a warranty active that covers it, then it would be covered. Otherwise it's going to cost you.

However, you can do better than $200 for the reservoir, but if that is $200 for the parts and labor, then that is actually quite a good price. The bottle itself is $130ish from Mazmart, plus $10-$20 in coolant, they aren't charging much for the labor, quite fair. Just if they do it, warn them about how fragile the nipple on the top of the radiator is. It runs to the front of the bottle with a short hose. Highly recommended that this hose gets cut off and replaced. Snapping that nipple is crazy easy and if it happens it will require a new radiator.

Plenty of us have made that mistake :sad:

If you order parts yourself, Mazmart has an option with the bottle + that hose, specifically so you can cut the old one.

In Mazda land a service bulletin is how a certain problem should be repaired, its not a recall (unfortunately, i need a coolant bottle too), and since they say "through the New Vehicle Warranty term" and didn't use the word "extend" or "lengthen" its only covered for the 3/36 (or whatever it is) warranty.

you can always ask if they will cover it, and if you've been a good customer sometimes they will.

Mine has that coolant light showing...i should get it fixed before the warranty expires.

Monchie, you don't have a warranty on it. No series 1 still has warranty coverage for the coolant bottle sensor problem unless an aftermarket bumper to bumper warranty was purchased, since no Series 1 is less than 3 years old.


Think boy! :)

Thanks for the replies. Its an 05 RX-8, which I bought in 08.

I will ask them tomorrow.. if I can, cool, if I have to pay well no biggie.

RIWWP, I will mention that to them. It is the Mazda dealership, so they should know, but I will remind them in case they break the nipple and then they later on try to make me pay for a new rad. lol

Thanks for letting me know. No need to make an appointment. ;)