BOB219

I'm pissed. When I bought my car I knew it had a weak battery, so had new red top installed on the third day. Car starts great with this battery update (never flooded for my 1.5 years of ownership). Understand now that owners with the orginal battery are getting a new starter, plugs, and battery because of hard/weak starting issues. Does not seem fair that me, paying for a new battery, keeps me from getting the new updates. Is this new starter motor worth fighting for?

dazygirl415

Why did you buy a new battery in the first place? If you ran across any problems, you'd be covered under warranty and everything would be taken care of. You should have read the TSB's b/c then you would have known you could have had the battery replaced with a bigger one, at no charge to you.

And yes, the new starter is worth fighting for. There is no hesitation when you start AT ALL. One turn and within a second, you're running. It's awesome.

ezrider55

New starter is worth the effort. Was it a dealer who said you could not get starter and plugs because you purchased a new battery? New leading plugs have groves to lessen the chance of a flood. My dealer gave me the new battery first and then the new starter and plugs later when that TSB came out. Is your 8 covered under the TSB?

Zoom49

I also had weak battery and complained to my Dealer, this was before starter
TSB. Dealer comfirmed that battery was weak but wanted to prorate cost of new battery to replace it. I purchased and new larger battery for less and installed it myself to have a better battery at a lower cost. Later when the TSB came out I indicated that I needed the new starter and plugs and they performed it at my next service. Even though I only had starting issues with my old weak battery the
starter upgrade is WAY worth it.

DOMINION

Wow. My Battery went 1 week after I got my car. My dealer replaced it for free.

TheDosDog

Ditto

Foz'sRX8

in January my '04 RX8 w/35k miles flooded when my wife tried to start it. I qas out of town on business. I called the dealer, then called Mazda Roadside to tow it in. They replaced the battery, starter & plugs under warranty. Isaved about $350 because the dealer included the 36k mile tune up ashe was replacing the plugs.....

In April, it happened again, so they towed it in and replaced the starter again as well as new plugs. They said the starter was bad.

I had my 93 RX7 for 8 years and never got flooded.

I guess this is a prob with the renesis rotary.

If you're within your warranty miles, you should always check with the dealer first, before replacing anything.They have access to all the TSB's in an instant, saving you time and money.

BOB219

When car was purchased, new battery from the dealer was not an option. I purchased one myself because I did not like to gamble that it would fail, and I don't like the car being towed unless it's really necessary. Last week when I notified the dealer I wanted the new starter, they wanted information on what starter problems I have been having. I have had no problems starting the car with the new battery paid for with my money. I just want the new starter even though i have had no starting issues. Do I need to purposely flood the car, then have it towed to the dealer just to get the upgrade? Seems like my Mazda dealership is not being kind to me.

msrecant

My 2004 RX-8 battery started to go last December. I took it to my dealer, along with a copy of the "Engine Cranks No Start" Service Bulletin, and said the car was having a hard time starting after sitting a week, could I get this update installed, which they did.

I fully expected them to come back and ask me to pay for the pro-rated battery replacement, which I figured was the core of my problem, but apparently they had no problem doing the battery/starter/plugs replacement under warranty - justified by the hard starting complaint.

Yes, even with the new battery you still want to get the new starter and leading plugs.

beachdog

I am always very reluctant to bring the car in for anything unless it is really serious. My 04 purchased in November 03 has always been a slow starter and I had at least 3 no starts (no flooding, always started on its own the next time I tried) in cooler weather but never really bothered me too much because the 8 is not my only car. Yesterday, it barely cranked, but it did start thankfully. I immediately called the dealer and brought it in.

They had a very detailed 1 page questionairre on hard/no start for the rx8. I completed the questions and gave it to the service writer. He didn't even spend a half a second with it and said that they would replace the battery, starter and plugs under warranty. They did the heat recall while I was there.

No proration for a 2.5 year old battery. The difference in the start is amazing. Previously it sounded like you were trying to wake up the engine. I always made sure that I had a good comfortable grip on the key so I could crank it as long as it took. Now, just barely tap the key and it's running.

Definitely worth pursuing that starter.

416to212

I'm picking up a 2005 RX8 tomorrow. Does this TSB apply to me? Should I be concerned and have the battery, starter and plugs replaced before I even leave the lot?

Fanman

I have a new battery in my car, and I recently brought it in as I went threw a few batteries. They swaped out the starter only, did not touch my aftermarket battery or aftermarket plugs. Just tell them that your battery drains every few days, and you have to recharge it. That should get you the new starter.

juikster

my dealer did me right on all my recall complaints...they will see my business in the future...Its unfortunate that not all dealers remember the customer after the sale...to them "kiss my--->

BOB219

Thanks guys. Think I will inform dealer about battery drain/ long turnovers to get ignition (even though so far my car has had no problems). Also tell them if I don't get a new starter motor for free, they will not see me again (kiss my---). I might wind up buying it myself, but not from my current dealer.

dazygirl415

You should realize that if you're under warranty (<50k miles) you shouldn't have to pay for any repairs or replacements parts. It's covered under warranty. Don't go out and buy a new battery because you think you may have problems down the road. Don't buy the starter, especially because you aren't having any problems. IMO, both of these ideas are stupid. Either 1) go to the dealer and complain about hard starts, or 2) wait until you actually do have a problem and then go to get it fixed. The warranty and dealerships are there to help you, not get in your way. If you go to them first when you have a problem that's covered under warranty, they'll more than likely fix it at no cost to you.

Fanman

FYI, the starter by itself is $500. The "fix it package" with the new plugs, battery, & starter is only $450, under a different part #. Don't know why but that was what they had quoted me when I was there (before they replaced it under warranty).

msrecant

Before buying anything yourself, try calling the Mazda 800 number. Mazda USA has authorized the "Engine cranks no start" service bulletin in a number of cases where the individual dealer refused.

solito77

Where can I get the TSB's for my 2004 "8"? THANKS!

msrecant

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...4-05-1448e.pdf