zoom44

oh and this thread is going to get even weirder especially for mods. ive begun deleting the miscellaneous posts from the other "its true " and "i heard a bout a recall" threads and im going to merge them in here. to you guys there will be just a few more posts- to the otehr mods they will see a post followed by 27 "deleted post" lines

clyde

So, as I post this, it's post #660 in this thread.

Any clues on finding needles in the haystack?

zoom44

everything that is a available to know can be found via the link to the AN article or over at Autoblog

DemonRX-8

I tell you, this is all just an Al Qaeda plot to strike fear and hysteria into the hearts of RX-8 owners. It's part of their weapons of mass transportation development program!

Clavius

So your saying our unfaultable president invaded the wrong country we should of invaded Mazda HQ in Japan?!?! It all makes sence now!

ZOOMNRX8

I finished!!!!!! wow, the whole morning 8-1 in/out reading this thread.... quick questiong, I bought my car in Michigan, will I receive the letter since I never went in for service for anything? Will the dealership in Michigan tell Mazda to issue all recalls, ext. to me? in NY

zoom44

i updated the first post with a couple links as well as this commentary from Automotive News Today

RX-8 engine problems go round and round

Edward Lapham | | Automotive News / August 24, 2006 - 11:51 am




Advertisement

The much-anticipated recall of Mazda RX-8s to replace faulty rotary engines will be a mixed bag for dealers and owners.

There's the whole question of sincerity. Since the problem dates back to 2004 models -- as documented by owner and dealer complaints -- you have to wonder what took so long.

What did Mazda engineers know, and when did they know it?

You would think it's obvious when engine oil leaks are destroying a car's catalyst, especially since the integrity of engine seals has been an issue for rotary engines dating back to the days of Felix Wankel.

By the time Mazda's brass ruled that dealers wouldn't be marked down on customer-satisfaction surveys because of bellyaching by RX-8 owners, there was no alternative.

Still, Mazda execs seem to have responded marginally better than their counterparts at Toyota, who immediately blamed the customer for engine sludge problems that put 3.3 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles at risk for engine failure. Toyota extended engine warranties under certain circumstances, while Mazda will replace any engine that fails a vacuum test at the dealership.

Way to bond

Dealing with issues in a timely, forthright and equitable manner is a good way to bond with customers.

Remember when hundreds of early Saturn engines were ruined at the factory because of bad antifreeze? If the engine was bad, Saturn replaced the whole car. It became a case study -- as well as something of a legend -- for over-the-top customer relationships.

But face it, the RX-8 is not some milquetoast sedan. No, the RX-8 is a powerful, throbbing sports car that's propelled by the wondrous Wankel engine. RX-8s are owned and driven by enthusiasts, not by simple consumers who hate cars but like to be treated well at the dealership.

So what?

Here's the issue: Many enthusiasts, especially collectors, like to keep their cars original, making sure that all the numbers match. That pretty much is ruined if you start yanking engines and replacing them *****-nilly.

Worse, Mazda says it intends to rebuild the faulty engines and put them back in service.

Heartache on horizon

Can you imagine the heartache that will cause when collectors want to sell their cars or just prove their pedigrees?

The written descriptions saying that the numbers match will need an asterisk, just like the home-run totals of Roger Maris, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds.

Mazda may find out that it's one thing to want to make things right with your owners and quite another to accomplish it.

After all, even RX-8 drivers know which road is paved with good intentions.

You may e-mail Edward Lapham at elapham@crain.com

Tirminyl

That was a better article than the others I've read. Serves a reminder that other manufacturers have had engine manufacturing issues, and their response to it.

zoom44

hahaha in th eautobytel video i linked to inthe first post and now here

http://www.autobytel.com/content/res...0146&vcat=News

the guy calls me "some wise guy" who leaked the video

Gomez

You need to tell Mazda Head Office that you live in NY. Check your owners manual for the address.

RevTo9K

You are, indeed, a very wise guy.

phroztbyt3

i gotta have the worst luck ever around here.

I get my 2004 8 the 25th (2morrow), and thats if the "second inspection" goes through because of these frign speculations. We just rebuilt it with 45k on it. I hope I dont have to replace the engine, and if I do, hopefully it'll b japanese and hopefully I wont have to drive a malibu for 3 months.

BAH.

PhotoMunkey

Finally! Comments as intelligent as some of Ike's!

ROFLMAO!

Tirminyl

And apparently, yours.

zoom44

LOL photomunkey

orbist

OK so here's a UK perspective...

I've been running semi-synth oil for the first 18 months of my cars life. I had 2 cat failures dring this time. 1st down to faulty O2 sensors from the factory. 2nd unknown.

We had put it down to me doing short journeys, and here we have the EURO4 compliance crap that warms the CAT up to optimium within 1 minute. This is done by over-fuelling for the first minute and burning off the excess fuel in the pipe before the CAT with a heater / blower. I do lots of short journeys so my CAT disintegrating was put down to this resulting in excess fuel in the CAT causing premature failure.

For the last year or so I have been making sure I don't switch off when I drop my son at nursery school (1 mile from home) and take it easy during initial warm-up of engine.

After each CAT failure I've had a compression test performed (well at least I've asked for one and been told its fine by the dealers....?!) and both have passed fine.

Since these failures I switched to Motul fully-synth oil, have seen an increase in MPG, sorted out soe rough spots around 4-5K RPM and seeing less sooting on the exhuast tips.

Mazda Delexia as recommended from day 1 (2003) was A1 spec... its now A5 spec.... I was using Fuchs A3 spec (better than A1) and now on A5...

We are all waiting in the UK to hear what the score is after their recent "mineral oil" 5w-30 TSB (WHICH DOES NOT EXIST) and see if there is a recall being done here.

I'm an active member of the UK owners club and our Mazda Liason has requested info from the company. I am unhappy with their bull about oil and want to know what the actual problem is.

My personal opinon is they f**ked up the CA re-work of the ECU mapping for CAT life and they also f**ked up the EU EURO4 compliance and are destoying cats as part of the ECU mapping here in Europe.

It also worth noting the "power-loss" issues we've recorded since very early on, this was cured by an engine flash post M-flash wich increase oil injection at high revs. I suspect that is all that they are doing for you'all in the US.

RX-8fan01

What happens if im turbo .... would i be SOL

New_Guy

dont know they havent released the recall yet

otherside

Yes...

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

It's not 75 degree out yet - that means I have to walk home!

jjm004

i havent read this whole thread yet but my wife's rx8 has already had the cat replaced with only 6000 miles. they never said what caused it. i do run synthetic oil too.

Jackallll

that guy is such a boob.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Hard to say. The manual states that your warrantee is void if you modify the engine. However, a recall isn't a warrantee issue - it exceeds and supercedes your warranty.
Personally, I'd just take the couple of hours and remove the turbo. However, if you are not inclined to do so, it would be a real battle of will over the legality of denying you service under a recall since NHTSA makes such things a safety issue.

There goes your talking *** again.

Raptor2k

Zoom is famous!

otherside

I'm not talking ***, its true...