Please help potential new owner with question - MIAC?
03-03-2010, 11:09 PM
#76
Mars
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My dealer siad they have never heard about this MIAC, and they are not going to do it without a Service Bulletin.....so Im thinking doing this myself.
However, I have never done anything like this before, is there anything I need to be aware of? like....bleed the coolant after?
Also, did anyone experience any problem after putting the orifice in?
However, I have never done anything like this before, is there anything I need to be aware of? like....bleed the coolant after?
Also, did anyone experience any problem after putting the orifice in?
03-03-2010, 11:11 PM
#77
Yeah Sioux Sioux!!!
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lol orifice.... sorry funny word... Ya ive been getting miac occasionally but from what people are posting here dealers are clueless, so im thinking of just ignoring it...
04-22-2010, 12:44 PM
#78
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I had same strange sound from time to time on my 2004 6sp RX-8 but it was never that pronounced.
BUT right after I replaced whole cooling system (BHR radiator + samco hoses & clamps + Mazmart pump and t-stat) sound was extremely loud.
Now after few days of driving and dozen redlines it is gone completely.
I suspect that last time I heard it was when I replaced cooling fluid but it wasn't as loud and was gone after few days.
Perhaps it has something to do with an air in the system.
BUT right after I replaced whole cooling system (BHR radiator + samco hoses & clamps + Mazmart pump and t-stat) sound was extremely loud.
Now after few days of driving and dozen redlines it is gone completely.
I suspect that last time I heard it was when I replaced cooling fluid but it wasn't as loud and was gone after few days.
Perhaps it has something to do with an air in the system.
08-26-2010, 04:02 PM
#80
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Just had my "orifice" installed on my 2009 R3. Better than getting "my orifice" plugged, I guess. Noise gone 100%. Engine temp. same as before. Will test drive it more, will post if temp higher than before, but so far so good.
As for my dealer experience, here it is:
Went there two times to have the noise checked (under warranty of course). After the second time, noise is still there, no explanation (I did go get my car back both times when the service dept. was closed though). Went back right away after second time. Sales director told me to come back the next day to have a test drive with the technician to make sure we are talking about the same noise. Did so. The tech. guy tells me about to much coolant flow at high RPM, and they all do it (he offered me a chance to try the other 3 on the lot saying "we tried them all, and they all do it, it's normal"). Not being one to take that answer and go home, I found this forum and started looking for an answer. Didn't take me long to find it, pictures, p/n and all (thanks a bunch to everybody). Took all the info (pic and all) to my dealer, they said they would look into it and call me back. Altough I had to call them back myself after a week, they had ordered the part and we set up an appointment to install it. Work done under warranty. After the fix, the sales director came to see me and apoligized for the time I had "lost" running around to fix a problem that shouldn't have been there in the first place. "This is unacceptable, especialy on a car in that price range, once again I apoligize" he said. He asked if I had brought all the info (p/n, thread no. on this forum, pics) that they had asked me to bring, which I had with me. He took them, telling me that he was going to call Mazda and ask for an explanation as to why there is not a service bulletin on this, and push for one to be sent out. So, hopefully, there will be one soon. He said, and this is also my opinion, "this reflects very badly on us, having our client coming in and giving us the answer to the problem, when Mazda knows about it". And with the way he (the sales director) was talking, I wouldn't be suprised if he had them installed on all rx8's before selling them. By the way, the dealership is Élite Mazda in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.
As for my dealer experience, here it is:
Went there two times to have the noise checked (under warranty of course). After the second time, noise is still there, no explanation (I did go get my car back both times when the service dept. was closed though). Went back right away after second time. Sales director told me to come back the next day to have a test drive with the technician to make sure we are talking about the same noise. Did so. The tech. guy tells me about to much coolant flow at high RPM, and they all do it (he offered me a chance to try the other 3 on the lot saying "we tried them all, and they all do it, it's normal"). Not being one to take that answer and go home, I found this forum and started looking for an answer. Didn't take me long to find it, pictures, p/n and all (thanks a bunch to everybody). Took all the info (pic and all) to my dealer, they said they would look into it and call me back. Altough I had to call them back myself after a week, they had ordered the part and we set up an appointment to install it. Work done under warranty. After the fix, the sales director came to see me and apoligized for the time I had "lost" running around to fix a problem that shouldn't have been there in the first place. "This is unacceptable, especialy on a car in that price range, once again I apoligize" he said. He asked if I had brought all the info (p/n, thread no. on this forum, pics) that they had asked me to bring, which I had with me. He took them, telling me that he was going to call Mazda and ask for an explanation as to why there is not a service bulletin on this, and push for one to be sent out. So, hopefully, there will be one soon. He said, and this is also my opinion, "this reflects very badly on us, having our client coming in and giving us the answer to the problem, when Mazda knows about it". And with the way he (the sales director) was talking, I wouldn't be suprised if he had them installed on all rx8's before selling them. By the way, the dealership is Élite Mazda in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.
08-26-2010, 04:35 PM
#81
Super Moderator
As I have said before this orifice was Factory Installed on the very first S1 RX-8's (up to Dec 1st,2004 production), then the factory stopped putting them in, because the orifice "restricts" coolant flow through to interior Car Heater, the factory had complaints in Winter that Heater was not very efficient so they stopped the install of orifice...so for those who do not use their 8's during Winter it is not an issue.
BTW: the exact orifice was used in all 1992 FD Rx-7's Heater.
BTW: the exact orifice was used in all 1992 FD Rx-7's Heater.
Last edited by ASH8; 08-26-2010 at 04:38 PM.
09-18-2010, 02:13 PM
#82
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So is this a serious issue that needs to be fixed or is it just a slightly annoying yet harmless noise? My car isn't near as bad as the one in the video, but I do notice it.
I also get this slight hesitation sometimes, too. It sounds like orifice fixed that too, right? or just the noise?
01-25-2011, 06:19 PM
#83
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I have a 2009 r3 that is scheduled to have this problem fixed tomorrow. I'll post the results tomorrow. Also thanks to this post I was able to show the service manager this post after we went for a ride.
01-25-2011, 08:52 PM
#84
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So is this a serious issue that needs to be fixed or is it just a slightly annoying yet harmless noise? My car isn't near as bad as the one in the video, but I do notice it.
I also get this slight hesitation sometimes, too. It sounds like orifice fixed that too, right? or just the noise?
I also get this slight hesitation sometimes, too. It sounds like orifice fixed that too, right? or just the noise?
04-12-2011, 02:06 PM
#94
Also, it did not resolve my problem until thoroughly burped the coolant, including squeezing the rad hose while warmed up. Installation of this part will probably introduce air bubbles in the heater core, but once they are out it seems to prevent them from returning.
04-12-2011, 03:00 PM
#96
Warm up the engine with the car pointing nose up on a hill with the radiator cap off and heat on full.
For some cars that is all you need to do, but there seems to be some variability.
I have to overfill the coolant reservoir by putting a funnel in the reservoir, filling it up with water, reving the engine repeatedly, and giving the radiator hose a few squeezes. I wear long, thick rubber gloves. Ymmv.
For some cars that is all you need to do, but there seems to be some variability.
I have to overfill the coolant reservoir by putting a funnel in the reservoir, filling it up with water, reving the engine repeatedly, and giving the radiator hose a few squeezes. I wear long, thick rubber gloves. Ymmv.
04-19-2011, 02:07 PM
#98
Veho Ergo Sum
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Here's a trivia question: what's the messiest way to find out if your engine has cooled enough?
Answer: Disconnect the hose to install the "orifice"...
It wasn't too bad, as coolant sprayed for about 1/2 sec before I re-connected the hose; but lesson learned.
Other than that little mishap it was a quick an easy mod, and the noise is now GONE! Thanks a lot to all who contributed to this fix!
Answer: Disconnect the hose to install the "orifice"...
It wasn't too bad, as coolant sprayed for about 1/2 sec before I re-connected the hose; but lesson learned.
Other than that little mishap it was a quick an easy mod, and the noise is now GONE! Thanks a lot to all who contributed to this fix!
Last edited by RX-ed; 04-19-2011 at 02:09 PM.
04-25-2011, 08:14 PM
#99
I FAILED to do it. I had the battery tray removed. I had access to the hose coming from the engine core, but there isn't enough room/leverage to pull the hose out of the nipple. So I traced that hose back to where it actually goes into the heater on the passenger side. That required removal of windshield washer container. I removed that, was able to access the hose, even pulled it out of the nipple. But damn, that orifice is too big to fit in the hose hole. The diameter of the orifice is at least 3mm larger than the inner diameter of the hose. I checked that the hose diameter does not change from the engine core to the heater core side. It's the same hose. I don't know people say they could do this in 20 minutes. I can't do it. I put everything back together. I have the part, I can't put it in my hose.
Last edited by Footman; 04-26-2011 at 10:42 AM.
04-26-2011, 07:44 AM
#100
Veho Ergo Sum
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It can absolutely be done in under 30 mins:
- Remove the battery
- Unclip the top half of the battery holder (no need to remove the entire tray)
- Pinch the hose clamp with pliers and pull it back 3" to 4"
- Grab the hose with the pliers (see pic below; do not use regular pliers to ensure you do not crush the hose)
- Gently twist back and forth while pulling out
- As soon as the hose comes off, plug the opening on the engine side (I used a re-useable wine bottle stopper)
- Insert the "orifice" about 1 1/2" into the hose as indicated in this thread
- put everything back together and voila!
The steps above worked for me on my 06, not a problem once the engine was cool enough.
- Remove the battery
- Unclip the top half of the battery holder (no need to remove the entire tray)
- Pinch the hose clamp with pliers and pull it back 3" to 4"
- Grab the hose with the pliers (see pic below; do not use regular pliers to ensure you do not crush the hose)
- Gently twist back and forth while pulling out
- As soon as the hose comes off, plug the opening on the engine side (I used a re-useable wine bottle stopper)
- Insert the "orifice" about 1 1/2" into the hose as indicated in this thread
- put everything back together and voila!
The steps above worked for me on my 06, not a problem once the engine was cool enough.