RX8 Abuse
 

Hello all... New user here looking to see what your thoughts are on my current struggle with my RX8. I got mine after a long 5 month wait on Oct 16, 2003, and have been very satisfied up till now. I have the red/red int w/6 spd tranny with approx 13k miles on it and every option except the nav sys. On my way home from work the other night I was slowing for an intersection and when I downshifted from 5th to 4th, heard what I can best descibe and a "clunk" noise. I then was not able to put the car into gear at all, although I could still start it when I depressed the clutch. The cross street at this intersection is "crowned", so if you were going fast enough it is possible to launch your car if you wanted. I was in the 40-45mph range and my downshift corresponded with hitting the dip on the other side of the cross street. I drive this way to and from work daily and the speed limit on this road is 40mph, so I know about this intersection and have no interest in seeing if my Rex can fly.

The kicker for me is at the dealership they had to drop the tranny to check the clutch and pressure plate. Their position is that the center of the clutch plate is "blue" from extreme heat, and this is caused by what they term as "abusive" driving of my car, so the work will NOT be warranted. I take great offense to this as I consider my car my 4th child and do not race or abuse my car. I have spun the tires on a very few occasions(I think I can count them on one hand) and have driven fast in my car but if none of you have had these impulses then let me know I'm abusive. When I looked at the clutch plate, the center was indeed "blue" but the pressure plate was not grooved or pitted and looked normal to the non-mechanic. My previous car was a '91 Ford Probe GT with a 5 spd tranny.

I would like to know if anyone has heard of this problem with the RX8. I am under the opinion that this is a high revving high performance sports cars and is built as such. Shouldn't the clutch plate get heated up under normal driving conditions anyway or do I need to take RX8 driving lessons? Thanks for any info you can throw my way....

someone else on this fourm had a similar problem... his clutch exploded or something and the dealer said he was drivign argressive too.... his clutch was replaced w/o warrenty.... and he also mentioned something about the clutch being blue too...

Seems that many dealerships want to blame everything on BS "extreme use" claims. Find another dealership. Short of that, contact Mazda customer service... some people have had similar clutch problems, so it's a known issue to Mazda corporate - but not necessarilly to your particular dealership.

It's so sad... Mazda has some great products right now - RX-8, 6, 3, and Miata - and they are in a good position to overtake Honda and Toyota, who have both gotten arrogant. And yet, if Mazda doesn't fix it's problem dealerships, they'll never advance. Sad.

Isn't this like the 5th 10-15k clutch we've seen?

This really needs to be worked out.

:mad:

Just another reason to own an automatic!

Not having to put up with stealership BS concerning clutch and tranny claims being abuse and not covered under warranty!

:D

5 cars out of about 20000 RX-8 here is quite a lot.

See it this way we tend to hear all the bad prob about the car so the % failure is low.

They will not warrant wear and tear parts... it is the same as warrant tyres and brake pads

Oh oh oh oh... I will try that trick next time. My OEM needs replacing after 16000km (10000miles)...

hehe I just don't tell them I had 4 track days on those tyres :)

This is what i've been saying all along. If a driver shifts the manual tranny wrong and not into gear, the RX8 automatic can beat the shit out of the Rx8 manual. And then, there are warranty problems like this. So, those who have RX8 automatic have their reasons why they own one. Never regret choosing an auto over a manual.

Hear hear!!

Hey i've driven mine prety hard and no problems on 8k miles so far.

Dont U find that a bit suspect??

Similar thing happened with me....I was having grinding is second gear....took it to dealer...they said they'd have it for a week or so to tear out the tranny....1 day later they call me to tell me my car is ready.....

It was better.....my car is fine when "warmed up".....but it still grinds into second when cold

I literally drive out of my subdivision at 25 mph to help "warm my tranny".....

I think the dealers are "hiding" something.....

Jeff

Mazda is for sure hiding crap with the clutch/tranny. Got to be. I am taking my car into the dealership for the lastest TSB (been in Mexico since right after I got it) and I am going to have them check the clutch/flywheel. It just doesnt feel right. No grinding, but there is way to much "play" in the clutch. Ease out on the pedal, ease out, ease out, then WHAM, the clutch engages and Im in gear. Makes it a bitch to try and drive "normal" with family in the car.

Oh sooooo true!!!!!

JEff

Please don't flame me when I say it really doesn't work that way..

There is no dealer internet.(other than the TSB's and MRI's posted here) There is no way for one dealer to know what any other dealer is doing.

When the tech working on the vehicle runs into a problem they usually call the "tech line" and take instructions from them.

If the tech at your shop can't diagnose a problem with your vehicle...maybe it's time for a different dealer?

My Rx-8 has about 11,500 miles on it and I just had to have it replaced too!!!!!
And it was not cheap either, my clutch was blue also and they said that it was from driving it too hard and racing it! But I have driven it at some decent speeds but i had never popped the clutch or any thing!

Mazda really needs to get there act together. O r the public will look at them as YUGO's.

Did you pay for it or did Mazda?

Case of the bad blue clutch?

Yeah, this is a little rediculous. I understand what those of you are saying about us who are complaining giving the RX-8 a bad name, but look at what we are going through. I have been told the the "blue clutch" is normal. Someone please give any info you can!

When I took delivery about 4 different people at the dealership made a point out of telling me "Whatever you do, don't baby it"!

I agree with this completely. My car was taken in (5 days after getting the tranny and clutch replaced) becuase the clutch "exploded". The dealership didn't know what to do so they went ahead and ordered the clutch and tore down the transmission. They then called the "tech line" and sent them pictures of my clutch (which I have posted). By looking at the pictures the tech line decided it was caused by neglect or abuse or an outside influence. I don't agree that the dealers are hiding something, but I don't think Mazda has admitted that they might have a problem yet.

My Clutch Pictures

Keep in mind this is after 5 days!

That is one blue clutch. I have to say that any car getting to 9.5k rpms before shifting is going to show heat on the clutch. I can't see how this is our problem and 5 days after a repair? I was also told not to "baby" this car and that it "loves" the higher rpms. I have done a few clutch drops at 8k+ rpms and my clutch better be able to handle it.

Hey all.... Got a call from the dealership this morning(29th) and after talking with a Mazda rep they decided to go ahead and cover the repair in the interest of "customer goodwill". I am getting all the parts they replace and I am making sure that Mazda gets my info on this whole deal, just in case someone wises up and detemines that the might be a real prob and not "abuse" of the car. I agree that I was also told to "drive it hard" and not "baby" it when I took delivery and also when I test drove the dealers demo. The delearship also said that this part is usually only covered within the first 12k miles. So I guess they only expect their clutches to last 12k miles??? The car I sold when I got this one had a 5 speed and I had 235k miles on that clutch when I sold it. I hope this lasts a lil bit longer. Regardless I am still in love with this car and look forward to what the future holds for the 8. Thanks for all your comments, and look forward to talking to you in the future!!

The interesting thing, in all of this, is that when I replaced my clutch with the ACT set up the new disc was a very factory-looking Exedy unit. The old disc was slightly blue in the middle but isn't that somewhat normal for a heat-treated part? Also, the whole kit as purchased from SR contained stock bearings and seal. I compared the various stock and aftermarket parts I had before me and came to the conclusion that the only difference between all of the stuff was probably that the ACT pressure plate had heavier diaphragm springs in it. After speaking with my friend at Ilmor about it he told me that even the Indy cars use factory Honda discs. I can't see how the dealer can say that bluing on the disc is indicative of abuse when they should be looking for bluing on the friction surface of the flywheel.

Charles

Again, I was told that the bluing was normal or they came that way...whatever. I brought that point up and they acted like that was normal but said I was "shifting too hard". I just don't get it.

JTForcy - So now they are covering your clutch? I'm glad you had better luck than I am. My car is still parked. Congrats and good luck with the new clutch!