BLACKOUT

I am glad that I read this page b/c I was going to give the lowdown from Falkner mazda in Philadelphia and before I start let me say I have NEVER had a problem with these guys and they are really helpful so if you are in the region I recomend them...

BTW. It sounded like the first time you put the car in they uploaded the reflash just prior to the newest one that is coinciding with the recall. Falkners MECH. told me when I went in like 4 months ago that there was a new flash out but that they weren't going to give it to me b/c of this over cranking issue and they told me to just hang out for a little while and stay with the one I had.

I did until the recall came down and then the new reflash along with it and WOW what a difference. as you said when I picked my car up they had installed a stronger battery, a higher capacity starter that cranks a hella lot harder and faster, replaced spark plugs, and of course the newest flash that as was said earlier in this thread. it seems to have a much faster response and more ponies. If I was to venture a guess I would say that they uped the fuel mapping by leaning it out to allow better burn. since the reflash my exhaust doesn't POP as much when I shift.
Happy customer

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

I contacted Mazda when I was refused service, "due to mods" and asked them if they could help with this situation. This is the answer that I received:

Thanks for contacting Mazda.

Please understand recalls are mandated by the Federal Government, not by individual car manufacturers. Also, Mazda dealerships are all independently owned and operated and need to ensure the recall is performed correctly. In order to for them to be compliant with the recall requirements, some modifications may need to be brought back to original specifications before the recall can be performed.

You may locate the contact information to other Mazda dealerships by visiting our website at www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/loadDealerSearch.action

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda.

So I guess I'll just have to find a dealer that will proceed or remove all my "mods". Does anyone know of a dealer in Orange County area that will do the recall - I'll be there for SS9 so I could leave a day early.

george

Dropped my 2004 6sp velocity red off at the dealer yesterday. They gave me a pontiac vibe as a loaner, whoopie,. Went in for the check engine light on, drivers airbag light on, broken rear defrost switch and squealing brakes. Of course both lights were off when I got to dealer. I told the dealer that I didn't have the recall leter yet but they told me not to worry as they would go ahead and performe it anyway. They call me later and told me they were going to install the new starter, battery and new plugs pluse take care of everything else. This dealer service deartment has always been more that willing to take care of any problems with no questions ask. Also gave me a free key return service in case my keys get lost. Never had any starting/flooding problems with the car (22,000 miles). Get 20-22 miles a gallon. I drive the car about once a month and my wife drives it to work every day. She like to have had a cow when she found out she has to drive a vibe until we get the 8 back (56 year old grandmother). Will let you know how it runs after the reflash. Hope it dosen't mess anything up as this car has always run great.

Babo4u

i hope i can get a cx7 when i go for the recall

KAtC10

It wasn't all it's cracked up to be Babo.

Long time no see anyway.

BoomerBurt

I wasn't that impressed with the CX7 loaner either. My Explorer has more utility and my RX8 has more sport. The CX7 looks good, but it is a compromise. I also don't care for the turbo or the front wheel drive.

What is the story with the RX8 starter & battery warranty replacements that several people have mentioned? What causes Mazda to replace these? That must be unrelated to the subject recall, right?

dmc27

^Right. The starter & battery were not a recall - they were part of a TSB b/c of flooding/difficulty starting. Check the finishline perf. site for the TSB.

Racer X-8

^^ Yeppers. There's the https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...8&page=1&pp=15 "Engine Flooding Info/Questions" Thread that goes into the starter, battery, plugs issue pretty well. Out of 92 pages, you might want to start at about page 80 to find that info (?)...

Yep, page 80 is about right. You can read where I got my stuff on page 83, that was 4-28-06.

george

Just got a call from my service manager and she said they repaced the brake pads with new upgrade versions and that the check engine light was caused by the O2 sensors. The were replacing both sensors when the second one sized up so she said they replaced the exhaust manifold along with both sensors. She said the airbag light was caused by a faulty wiring harness and they were replacing it. The defrost switch will be in Friday and I should get the car back Friday afternoon. It's great, I get new brakes, new plugs, new starter, new battery, new exhaust manifold, new wiring harness, new O2 sensors and a new defrost switch. She also told me the car passed all the recall engine test. Car will be like new. I am very impressed with the way Mazda is handling the warranty issues on this car as well as the way my dealer is treating me. This souds like I have had a lot of problems with this car but this is only the second time in two years that I have had to take the car in. The first time was just to get the upgraded flashes.

otherside

Phil, if you were passing through San Luis Obispo I would do it for you.

zoom44

hahahahahahaha otherside


wait george. they had the exhaust mani airbag harness in stock but not the defroster switch? that doesnt make sense. also if the o2 sensors were no good how did they determine the cat passed the recall inspection? hmm.. i suppose they could have found the sensor problem started to change them , broke the one, changed the mani , installed new sensors and THEN did the recall check

Clavius

Hey Zoom.. hey otherside haha.. got a apt. on Monday to take my car in for the recall and possibly the 30k mile maitence (still unsure why a "Corporate Lease Vehicle" didnt have it done when I bought it with 31.5k miles). I'm fully prepared to walk out with my keys if I hear one stumble one degrading remark to me about the recall work when I ask a few questions and make a few comments. Only going to them because last time I went to get my taillights replaced my service dept rep was nice enough to owe up that he was wrong 'bout the recall and replaced both taillights.

Gonna reread the recall info with what they do and ask the rep a few questions then mention the "white glove service" if I hear a stutter or a "Um.. hm I havent heard about that" I'm out. Christmas season for me is coming up so patience is very damn thin!!

Silverarrow

HAHA, goodluck, I've struck out twice already...

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

Thank you but San Louis Obispo is a little out of the way - at least for now. I'll try a couple of places in Orange County/Long Beach and see what they will do. I may have to put "quick connects" on my mods.

dmc27

Holy chit, man. Nobody told you the sky was falling??!! lol.

Clavius - took my 8 to the place in Newport (Autocenter). Fill up, cleaned, rental car & once again I was a little late getting there after work and the service guy waited for me. Just in case . . .

alecks

I plan on purchasing a rx8 from the dealer, will they have performed all the recalls before I purchase it or do I have to tell them to do the recalls?

dmc27

All recalls should be done. Key word = should. Ask the dealer, and if it's used you should get a carfax report anyway, which will have that info listed as well.

hagar852

I had my RX-8 serviced there also. That is also where I purchsed my RX-8 and the guy who sold it to me is now the manager.

bubbasuwannee

Just got the recall work done at Westside Mazda in Cleveland. I actually took it in because the engine light had came on last weekThey ran their tests and flashed the pcm. No spark plug change, but my car only has 6700 miles on it. I mentioned the white glove treatment when I brought it in, the lady said that's only for engine replacment candidates. I said that if they're not gonna fill it up and wash, then I'll take it to the dealer I bought it from. I got the car back and it was washed and filled up. She said it's gonna use more oil now. It seems a bit peppier than previously. I was in and out in about an hour.

patrick_andraste

I had an interesting thing happen. I took the car in for the recall, all was well. They replaced the spark plugs the coils, did the compression test and reflashed the ecu. they also fixed a clunking noise in the passenger door, washed it filled it with gas etc. the car ran great when I got it back. then last week when i started it up it would only run on one rotor for a minute or so then slowly start firing on both rotors. and would run fine after that. The Check Engine light started flashing then came on steady.
The car is still at the dealership. They say they have changed the coils again and changed the sparkplugs and ran the compression test again and whenever they start it up, rotor one will not fire at first.

any ideas?

Clavius

Just had mine done today. Got the flash and my cat tested. No new Cat which sadly deepens my horrible gas mileage mystery. The guy who handled me was alright but no car washing or full tank of gas, but it evened out since he knocked off $40 on my 30k mile maitence so I didnt bitch. I also go the recall sticker on my firewall which made me happy just knowing it was done.

Although I almost shyt myself when I was leaving with my rental. I ended up getting a Jeep Liberty as a rental for the day and as I was leaving they where pulling my car out. My car followed me out halfway BUT problem was I went behind the dealership which is having construction at the moment. My baby was being driven on dirt/rocky road thankfully the guy was driving slow like very slow. If I seen one hint of wheel spin I would of stopped and beat the guy senceless. I'm patience in person but when it comes to the bodily welfare of my car I'm a over protective father haha.

danielk015

iTrader: (1)

i just took my car into Tustin Mazda this morning and hopefully all goes well. I dont have any problems, but i wouldnt mind getting a new cat... also, i got a nice grey CX 7 as a loaner... it is pretty sweet overall... not my style and the seats are not that comfy, but it does zoom zoom

zoom44

something is wrong with the eshaft position sensor or its harness or with the profile stored in the memory. they could try just resetting the eshaft profile in the PCM (20 brake stomp thingy) but its probably the sensor/harness is dirty or damaged

patrick_andraste

They called this morning. According to the shop, there is a small leak in the water seal allowing water and antifreeze into rotor chamber #1 so when i initially start it up, the plugs are fouled with water then they guess the process of initially turning over with air and fuel cleans up the plugs enough to start firing and running.

They are replacing the engine with one of the remanufactured motors for the recall. I am not so happy about getting a remanufactured motor. I was very releived when I initially took it in for the recall and they determined I did not have to have the motor replaced.

How have the remanufactured motors been running? any issues with them?

zoom44

fine i think i have seen one or two small issues noithing major.

there was a problem with a series of original engines some time ago that caused a water seal leak. it was a casting issue if i remember right.i havent heard of one in over a year probably 2