RolenImportsRX8

Did anyone receive this in the mail. It explains the "unique charateristics" of the rx8, including oil consumption, warming up the engine, starting a flooded engine, and fuel requirements. Do you think that this is in response to all of the complaints?

Aratinga

Yep, I just got mine in the mail today. I'm sure it's because MNAO is getting so many complaints about the same issues over and over again. I enjoyed watching it -- I recognized the inner courtyard of Mazda's R&D facility in Orange County as the setting for the "flooded engine" sequence. The roads looked a lot like our local mountain twisties too.

It does seem to answer the question about synthetic oils -- the DVD narrator says that although the seals on the Renesis are compatible with synthetic oils, the effects of long-term use are unknown -- therefore Mazda DOES NOT recommend the use of synthetic oil.

Hmmmm... I wonder if this is what's behind Mazda offering to give new engines to some of the high-mileage owners? Could it be possible that they all have used synthetic oil in their cars and Mazda wants to see if there are any problems as a result?

msrecant

I just got mine today and watched it.

Boy, it is sad state of affairs when the marketing department has to get involved to solve technical problems. Basically they have made four technical problems into "end user" problems, which means that won't have any technical solutions for these issues any time soon.

Actually, non-Mazda dealers could use this DVD as a marketing aid simply saying "Buy a <insert name here> and you won't have to worry about any of these problems.

BTW, did you see how clean the exhaust pipe chrome was in the video. They must have been wiping them down between takes.

IMHO Mazda just doesn't get it. They should spend their time fixing these issues, not "educating" the customer.

msrecant

You may need to take that with a grain of salt. They also explicitly said they do not recommend custom wheels.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

My car is in the shop getting its 2nd cat converter. No DVD is going to prevent these type of problems.

VikingDJ

This is quite strange to received sa cd like this. I'm about to play it myself. This also explains the amount of 04 models left in lot. Mazda is trying to save this car from failure, so they called on marketing department. I think it's a good idea, because the RX8 is receiving a bad rap, and it will deter people form buying it.

nomopistons

Got mine today, just got done watching it- no Nordic Green Mica cars in it

truemagellen

Viking DJ your comments are F-ing annoying

the RX-8 is beating sales estimates...how many threads on the subject and financial statements from mazda do you need

have you ever been to a dealership before? you ever bought a car b4...there are always the prior year cars on the lot...also it depends were you live...4/5 mazda dealerships I know sold their ENTIRE 04 inventory...and I live in freak'in minnesota...one dealership had a HUGE inventory...and advertised it as the largest in the midwest...now, all gone

I think it is great mazda is releasing this dvd...their are so many idiots out their who buy a sports car to have a sports car but performance requires attention

I always wanted a rotary engine...flooding is NOT a problem anymore unless it is under 10F degrees, even then the problem is usually owner error.

Oh damn it you got me all riled up about this...just read around

DVD is a good thing mazda...anytime the owner is more invovled in their car...is a great thing

truemagellen

hey guys did this arrive USPS? from 'lexacy or legacy or something like that? I missed a delivery today.

Deslock

I also got one of these today. Putting something like this out was a good idea... there's some marketing fluff, but for the most part it succinctly covers several common RX8/rotary questions in a simple way:

• how often to check oil
• how to add oil and what kind
• how to prevent flooding
• what to do if the car floods
• how to contact roadside assistance if it can't be started
• what kind of fuel is required
• how to check TPMS
• why TPMS comes on in colder weather

For the most part, what was covered in the video is inherent to rotaries and can't be fixed. The video was needed since it appears some dealers aren't consistently going over this stuff with new buyers.

brothervoodoo

I got mine, didn't get a chance to look at it.

army_rx8

hmm so if you hang out on the forum you already knwo all teh answers to what the dvd talks about.:D hehe that's good b/c i didn't or haven't gotten one yet:D hehe

VikingDJ

Talk about annoying. Listen PAL. If you don't like my opinions, that's just too F'in bad. I'll let this slide since you are likely a youngin with little experience in purchasing new cars. We all speak for our areas, so don't arguing with a guy from the NY, NJ, PA area when you live in Minnesota. I've been to more dealerships then you can imagine, and have owned and purchased too many cars to list. I've been buying cars for years, and I have never seen this before in what's happened to RX8. If you wanna get pissed off and offended by the truth, go ahead. Damn, now your annoying comments got me all riled up. We just can't win. It's all good man. You don't have to agree with what you read, but for god's sake, take it with a grain of salt, and don't create an argument. Keep the peace.

brothervoodoo

I found an easter egg on the disk!!!

ALMOST8IT

Got mine today.
Nice, but nothing new.

For those that haven't watched it....
1) OIL
a. Check oil often and keep the oil level up. (No brainer)
b. Use Dyno not Sythetic only because Mazda isn't sure of the long term effects of synth on the seals. (Mazda CYA)
2) Engine Flooding
a. To avoid don't shut the car off cold
b. If you flood it... Press gas p. down all the way (actually kills fuel flow on start up) and dry crank engine for 7 seconds. Turn ignition off, and try a no gas p. start.
3) Fuel
a. The engine is designed to use 91 octane or better
b. 87-90 Octane may hurt performance
c. below 87 it may cause engine knocking and engine damage
4) Tire Pressure
a. Attend to the tires when the light is on (No braier)
b. Check tire pressure anyway regardless of light (Mazda CYA)
c. Mazda doesn't reccomend aftermarket wheels (Mazda CYA) plus not all wheels are TPS compatible (rumor has it the Mazdaspeed wheels are not)

That is the whole video in a nutshell.

Almost make you feel like they care....and who knows, maybe they do :D

msrecant

My impression was different. I don't think Mazda did this to make our lives better. I believe that Mazda is getting what they consider to be excessive service calls in the following 4 areas:

- "low oil level" lights
- Engine flooding
- TPMS warnings
- problems caused by people running regular gas

I also believe that Mazda thinks that by educating us, they will reduce service calls (and their expense) in the above area. I am actually suprised they didn't address the gas mileage issue in the DVD, but that may be too hot an issue to bring up.

Rotary Nut

Just got mine today!

Its a shame since I don't own it anymore!

Gomez

Man, I'm not getting the disc....don't tease me. Tell me what it is!!!

msrecant

[QUOTE=Mazda Monkey]Looks like a marketing piece to me. The cover letter was from MNAO. All that cool footage of RX-8s on the track and on the open road looks like their advertising footage. Very slick, down to the sootless tailpipe chrome and the visuals of the oil pressure guage that we all know isn't one.

G8rboy

But aren't they "end user" problems? Rotaries consume oil... not a technical problem, and if the end user monitors the oil level, not a problem at all. Rotaries flood if shut off cold... another end-user problem if not followed. It needs high octane fuel, it needs wheels that are meant for TPMS, etc... I don't see how any of these things are technical problems. If the owner follows directions, life is peachy.

I personally think it's sad they have to release a video to visually demonstrate what's in the owner's manual... people spend $30k+ on a specialty sports car, you'd think they'd read the friggin' manual. Nope, us lazy Americans need to see it on the boob-tube to understand it

Deslock

In your first post, you wrote "Mazda just doesn't get it. They should spend their time fixing these issues, not "educating" the customer." to which I replied "For the most part, what was covered in the video is inherent to rotaries and can't be fixed. The video was needed since it appears some dealers aren't consistently going over this stuff with new buyers."

Anyone who buys a rotary-powered car needs to understand that they require a little more attention than piston engines. Obviously, Mazda is not trying to make our lives better, but wants to educate us to reduce service calls.

mikeb

I thought it was ok

I haven't had any issues with my rx8 but oil consmuption which is normal

Gomez

This is one of the reasons for the DVD....

-----Original Message-----
From: Technical Services Department
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 6:17 PM
Subject: Contacting MSP 04 Customers
Importance: High

"We recently mailed letters to 2004 MY RX-8 customers about bringing their vehicles in for PCM reprogramming for the hard start/no start concern. With a completion ratio of about 60%, we have not received enough response. We are aggressively pursuing strategies to reach 100%."

So.....the DVD has gone out as part of an information program. Mazda is trying to help those who won't help themselves.....don't come down hard on them.

Gomez.

Zaku-8

does the dvd address the "hard/no start-PCM" issue?

Gomez

Yeah, that's Mazdaspeak for flooding.....