RX8 Engine Recall
 

Hello all - my first post here

Name is Rob and I live in Las Vegas.

My local deal just told me that he has "28 RX's on the lot with problems and AT LEAST 13 of them have BLOWN ENGINES"

Here is my story:

I have a 2004 Rx8 with 13,000 miles on it - manual stick.

Last week my 8 went into the shop

I was losing power and I was hearing a "metallic rattle" coming from the engine compartment.

I took it to my local deal "Courtesy Mazda" at the Valley Auto Mall in Henderson, NV.

The car was in the shop for 5 days. The service tech told me the problem was I needed new ignitor plugs and I needed to have my computer programs updated.

Got the car back and it was ok for about 2 days.

On the 3rd day as I was driving home from work, the car lost power again and then about 10 mintues later it died while I was at a stop light.

I called Mazda roadside and they came and towed the car to a different local dealer - "Magic Mazda"

When the car arrived at the dealer the service tech called me and asked what was wrong.

I told him about the power loss and the rattle/grinding coming from the engine.

He said "I have 28 Rx's in the shop right now with THE SAME PROBLEM and 13 of them need new engines."

He said the problem is "the temp sensor is reading normal, but the temp on the engine block is off the chart"

"The engines are burning up and they are also not getting enough oil"

He told me he had 13 motors on order and I was looking at "at least 3 weeks"

He told me to get a rental car and Mazda would pay up to $35 a day while I waited.

That was last Friday.

I called him today and asked how things we coming along.

He said "Mazda just issued a recall on ALL 2004 Rx's for the engine problem."

He said "there is NO FIX for it right now. We are to take the cars and park them on the lot and WAIT for Mazda to let us know what to do next"

He said he had already replaced 3 of the first RX's to come in with new engines and all 3 have come back in with the same problems.

So the current replacement engine does not even fix the problem.

The current temp in Vegas for the last 10 days has been around 112-118

Apparently the RX8 can not operate in this type of heat and as of now Mazda does not know how to fix it.

If you live in a HOT climate, BEWARE. Call your dealer ASAP and ask them about this.

Has anyone else heard more about this or had this problem.

Bummed

Rob in Vegas

Currently driving a Chrysler Pacifica rental car - WEAK!

wow...amazing...they put an 05 engine into those first 3 they replaced that have had the problems come back again?

Known problem, but your service guy is confusing your problem with the current recall.

There is a recall on all RX-8s, there IS a fix for it, and Mazda is currently attempting to get all the necessary parts to dealers.

Your problem however is quite different although it may arise from a similar problem.

Read this thread on info on the ongoing recall:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/recall-thread-mnao-suspend-rx-8-deliveries-66002/

Recall
 

I just call the dealer this moring inquiring about one I saw on the mazdausa webpage and he informed me that he could not sell me nor allow me to test drive any of the RX-8's. He said that Mazda had issued a recall and no dealer could sell nor allow test drives of the RX-8 but he didn't know why. Wow that sucks.

It's not an engine recall.

They're having to install heat shields in the recalled 8's. My dealership also told me today that it's only being done to the 8's with manual transmissions.

It is NOT an engine recall.

to start I have the M flash but I am reluctant to get the upgrade so far,my car seems to run ok thru the gears with no hesitation and it idles ok and my temp gauge is reading normal(slightly below 12:00 oclock but my fan is working overtime to cool it down when I shut it off leading me to think that the motor sensor needs changing or h2o flow sucks even tho I let it cool down slowly. I don't dog the car hard at all, but I also think there is something odd at work. I certainly don't need my engine frying .if there is a real problem it will not have been from my normal driving habit. :(

Hmm my 8 has been acting up lately too, with intense vibrations and rattling a idle, and recently the lights stopped flashing when I use the remote. (EDIT: THIS WAS INCLUDED DUE TO THE RECALL CONCERN OF REAR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO HEAT AND IS THEREFORE RELEVENT). I'm starting to think I'll be in the blown engine club. If thats the case, I want MNAO to buy back the car. Peace out on this bullshit. I don't want a new engine, to me that lowers resale value and raises concerns.

engine problem
 

My service tech told me that the problem is that the engine temp sensor is reading the "engine coolant temp" BUT that there is NO sensor that reads the temp on "the engine block"

The coolant is within tolerance, BUT the engine block is "burning up"

Also, he said that once the engine block gets super hot the oil level is not as high as it should be because the computer does not know that the engine is running super hot. So it does not compensate.

Computer thinks everything is great.....it's not.......engine burns up.

Recall.


Wait and see.

We got it the worst here in Vegas.

The word will spread soon.

Sucks.

Rob in Vegas

If anyone gets a Recall or TSB on this problem, please post a link. Also, has anyone actually emailed Mazda USA about this and asked them?

I know its very far from happening, but what happens IF they buy back all Rx-8's, and you have a lease.. do you get reimbursed for the time of lease you have payed or since its a "rental" of somesort money in so far is gone.... Cause i was planning on buying cash later on.....

the number one reason for the lights not flashing when using the remote lock is that your trunk lid is not completely closed. It is down but not latched.

It couldn't be the trunk, I am with Ryan, it is the pre-engine failure warning, like a CEL but way less annoying than that pesky light in the dash. :D

Perhaps this thread covers your issuses?

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=66002

If you have other factual recall information please post it.

Apparently you guys arent to up do date with the concerns of the recall. One of the concerns is that the heat is causing the rear lights to malfunction. thats why I mentioned it.

No remote lights.....
 

Mazda knows, but isn't saying - no remote/lights means SIDE seals are gone! :rolleyes:

S

ha...there goes some wishfull thinking right there. :)

When you're leasing you're paying for the right to drive the car, you don't own it...it's basically like renting a house. Your intentions at the end of the lease don't matter, not your car...money lost.

Anyway, they will never do a mass buy back like that. :)

Yes and when you use the remote and the horn doesn't chirp that means a blown motor. Rotor housing is warped.

OMG! :eek: I wish someone would merge all the credible recall info into one thread. This is getting ridiculous. :mad:

To all the jackasses thinking they are funny with the lights comments, do some more homework.

But anywya to the dude who posted about the trunk, I'll be damned you were right, looks like my lights are flashing again. But there are plenty of other things going on that still indicate a possible future blown motor.

^ Like what, interior lights not working?

C'mon nigandahu, it's a joke. It's obvious you left yourself open with the lights comment. More than a few people jumped on it.

sincerely,

jackass #31

$
 

Homework.....$0,

Being called a jackass....$0,

Closing your trunk to get your lights working.......priceless!

S

Pretty damn funny Stealth, I am amazed at your comedic skills.

i find this whole story very hard to believe. the statement that does it in for me is the tech told me i would have to pay 35 bucks a day for a rental.

if a tech told me that and i owned a rx8 i would laugh. i think the techs now a rental is covered, and i think all but the dimmest buld owners would too.

beers

Agree 100%.

And to all of you who want to get rid of your 8 because of this problem--shame on you. This is a GREAT car. Personally, I don't want any other. No other gives me the feeling that I get when I get inside. No other makes others ASK to ride in it because they like her so much. No other can hug curves the way she does. No other can go "a little more" in first gear because the RPMs run so high. No other performs BETTER above 4k RPMs. No other gives me sexy winks when I walk towards her. No other begs me to stay when I have to walk away. No other catches eyes on the road like she does. No other gets compliments on the paint job alone. No other looks just as sexy stock as it does with aftermarket kits. No other car can hug you back like she does. No other car has brought so many people different people together like she has.

I don't care if my engine has to be replaced or if a head shield for my gas tank has to be installed. I picked her out for a reason and I'm keeping her.