i go by what racingbeat says http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda4.htm they tell you what your manuel says for brake in and also what racingbeat recomends for brake in. enjoy

Very thurogh, i got mine done today. new sparks plugs, inspection of cat and a new flash. plus topped of gas which was sweet, becasue i didint know i was going to get that. i didint need a rental

I was under the impression that you got the gas and wash if your car failed and the Dealer fixed it (replaced engine) under warranty.

you can go to the recall only if you have your car in warranty right?

Valley Mazda, in San Louis Obispo, California ( central coast) did a recall on my Blue 8, then the next week asked me to bring it back in - the first time, the topped the gas, gave me free spark plugs, checked everything, reflashed the computer

The second time they reflashed the computer, gave me a free oil change and set my clock so the time is finally correct - No complaints on these guys

I don't had no indication that the engine was going bad. I did know that the engine mount was bad due to all the vibrations at idle I was having.
33600 miles, 70/30 mix of Reg & Prem
Oil, whatever the dealer used during an oil change.
I had some pinging & loss of power in hot weather and that was with Reg gas.

I also asked the service manager about break-in, and he said mazda gave them no information on breaking in these "new" engines. He said drive the new engine like I drove the old one. He was a Mazda tech back in the day and has been around rotories for a while, so I took his thoughts into consideration. But I will still go easy for the next 1000 miles.

I voted no on this poll, but found out this morning that my engine is being replaced after all.

Took it in Monday morning and got a call saying the engine checked out fine, but that the cat needed to be replaced. Went down yesterday morning to pick it up after they replaced the cat, the spark plugs and flashed the ECU and they flooded the engine and then couldn't get the car to start. They put me in a CX-7 and then called a few hours later to tell me they were ordering me a new engine. They said it should take 6-7 days to get the engine and another day or two to put it in. In the meantime I'll drive the CX-7 gladly. Fun car. :)


2004
6spd MT
58,000 miles
Dino oil 5-20 only changed every 3000-4000 (to be perfectly honest)
Premium gas only

I had one serious ping issue a long time ago, but it ran fine after that until 3 or 4 months ago when it started running really sluggishly.

I also specifically asked my dealer if the engine they were putting in was new or remanufactured and he said without a doubt that it would be new...

If this poll shows even a hint of reality it shows that there is a significant number of enginines being replaced. The salesman at my Mazda dealer told me he actually had customers back out of sales because of the recall.

Back again
 

Got the recall check and only got new leading plugs, reflash, car wash, vacuum and gas tank topped off. Car runs flawlessly and did so before I took it in so I didn't expect any problems and I was right. Gotta love that Shinka.

Yep,

I am worried how many of these things are going south after the paultry 60k warrany they gave us..... and so will the rest of the buying public.

No cofidence from Mazda = even less from everyone else.

New engine not needed. Mazda 6 V6 wagon was loaner. Fuel topped off, car washed and waxed by dealer.

i left my bright, shiny velocity red "8" with my dealer at 7am friday. i got a call at 11.30 saying they were done and my "8" is ready for pickup, with a topped off tank and washed. after getting my bright, shiny velocity red "8" back, i noticed an extra addition to my left front fender. yea, a big scratch on the top of the left fender. i was a little irritated. (read fuming mad) needless to say, i leave it thursday morning and will hopefully get it back thursday night minus the scratch.

yamajj

04 MT, 27K miles; 08/03 build.

Felt sluggish when I brought it in; got a call 2 hours later that everything checked out--asked for but didn't get any compression numbers. Replaced plugs and got a new flash. Ran better out of the box.

Hi Everyone,

Just got off the phone with my wife, she drives the 8 and the dealer asked her to bring it in for a new engine. She said the dealer told her there was a recall on her engine and that they would need the car for about 5 days to replace the engine.
So I came here to get more info and it seems they need to do a test on the car before they replace the engine.
I found it odd that they would tell her over the phone that she was getting a new engine right off the bat.

History:

We bought the car used. It was 10 months old when we bought it. It had 8,000 on the clock and looked brand new. I have changed the oil every 3000-3500 miles with 5-20 dino grease.
About 6 months after she had it it started to run rough, bad enough to where the steering wheel was vibrating pretty good. She took it to the dealer and they replaced the plugs and flashed the computer. It ran OK for about another 4 months same symptoms again, same "fix"

She has been dealing with it for the past 8 months or so. She said this morning that the car was running sluggish and almost died on her twice to work. She works about 15 minutes from the house.
Several times she has complained that "the engine had no power".

So this afternoon she calls the dealer and she had had enough. She told them that she didn't want the car back until it ran smoothly. She test drove an 06 last time she was in there and wondered why her car didn't run like that one. So she stated that when they "fix" it to test drive her car, get out of it, get in an 06 and test drive that one. If it didn't run and idle like the 06 she told them to keep it.

That is when the dealer told her that her car was under a recall to have the engine replaced. And now here I am.

Her 8:
2004
Auto
Dino Fluid changed 3000-3500.
Sluggish running at times
Stalled on her twice
No start once
Very rough idle last 1.5 years

She said the dealer was very nice, even offered her a loaner car, we didn't know that was part of the recall, dealer made it seem like he was doing her a favor.

So she takes the car in this coming Monday for "an engine replacement".

Anyone else talk to a dealer and immediately get "we are going to replace your engine"?

Alex

Maybe because she has repeatedly had the same problem over and over and it is documented at the dealership that they figured she needs the replacement? :dunno:

Just got mine back. 2004 Titanium 6spd. 31k miles

I just got the spark plugs replaced, flash, free tank of gas and a free wash. It looks like I got out easy.

The rental was an enterprise Jeep Liberty. I guess they want to make sure you don't keep the rental to long. Don't get me wrong it was a ok vehicle, but it's just not what I'm used to.

no new engine needed, but noticed they didn't take the car out for the test drive-
i got a new flash and they said everythign was cool-

(no problems in 04 6spd, 29K miles).
have had semi low idle 2x in 2 years.

no problems yet post recall...

this is correct, if you have had the car in for power loss and the tech has felt it. you get to skip the tests....

on a side note. my new motor got ordered today...

beers :beer:

Just got mine back from the dealer, new engine, plugs and a Taurus for three weeks. I had been having problems with powerloss when the temp got over 85 and running the AC. Car seems to drive better, little more power on the low end. Will not no the power differance till the break-in period is done(SUCKS).

i also feel the powerloss with the temp is hot and running the AC. but i didnt get a new motor!!
should i bring it to another dealership to get it check, just to make sure?

what kind of powerloss??? have you had the recall done?

beers :beer:

I'm going to call tomorrow to set up my appointment for the recall and my sunvisor replacement. I should only need the new flash. I haven't had any problems except one time, which I feel is due to the driving situation of idling for two hours (moved maybe five miles during that time) and the ambient temperature reading of 114. Bella felt a little sluggish getting up to speed when I was finally able to accelerate up to 55 mph but was perfectly normal after that initial sluggishness and I have had no problems at all since.

pm me if you need some help with this.

beers :beer:

i already got the recall done!
i feel the powerlost when the weather is hot!! maybe around 75 degree!

They replaced my engine because it had been in the shop like 5 times anf the idel was falling below 750 RPM with the AC on.