I think the momentum is building -- the word is getting out. Mazda should be willing to replace the starter/battery/plugs for any 2004-2005 owner who asks for it. I think a lot of dealerships are realizing it's simply the "right thing to do."

 

I am running with the new starter engine for a few months now, no issues.

Until last week, the engine didn't start. GRRROOWWWLLL.

I got it started after about 20min and took the car to the dealer, I decided to let them check the spark plugs. I could not believe the state of the two "ignition" plugs. I should have taken pictures.(. grrr.). They were all brown/yellow and when I pressed the top (outer circle) it just went to pieces. (the top seemed to be made of some ceramic material..) They installed new plugs and we found the tops (outer circle) of those where made of metal(!) We checked the other plugs aswell and they all have a metal top ring.

The spark plugs in my RX8 are still the original ones; and as I found out ; different from the new plugs.

I hope this new plugs will solve the problem.

If Mazda put in the wrong plugs, maybe others will have the same issues.. could be worth checking it out...

 

When they replaed my starter, they replaced the battery and the new spark plugs. I thought it was was standard procedure for hard starting. Replace them all!