I've taken some photos of the damage:

A few more:

so sorry this happend.. eter to DIY for this reason

you can just replace that panel.. as well.. get me a compleat list of all your parts needed all get them for you at a better deal.

holy crap that doesn't look good...so what do you mean about the dvd being messed up again? you don't even have the dvd navigation???? very confused

actually this whole thing sounds really fishy...how on earth could an installer cause all of that damage...after they muck up one part they should stop...it looks more like your car got broken into and someone was trying to pry out the HU

please give more details also the name of the installer/company

sorry but I'm starting to feel this thread is no so truthful...just a feeling

Unfortunately this is very truthful. I have the NAV system, by the way.

I took my RX-8 to Freeman's in Gastonia North Carolina to have the Ice>Link installed, they said they could do it, so I took it down after work last Friday at 4:00. Around 6:30 they come out and say that it's not working, look on the internet some and the guy goes back to the bay (where the car is)... about 30 minutes later I decide to check on my car... when I got back there the installer pretty much had the entire center part of the dash taken apart. Had the hood up messing in the fuse box. I ask what is wrong - he says that the radio isn't working. So about 30 mintues later he pieces the car back together and tells me to take the car to Mazda and have them call them about getting another HU.

When I got back into the car to leave (it's dark by now) I noticed some damage to my trim panels attached to the HU - walk back inside to have the guy come out and take a look. He told me that he had never worked on an RX-8 before and wasn't sure on how to get the panels out so he had to use a tool to pry them loose and he would fix the damage with appoxy. I then told him that was not going to be acceptable. He again told me to take the car to Mazda and have them call. After leaving I notice that not only does my radio no longer work, neither does my air conditioning, defroster, display or anthing else associated with the HU. My DVD screen will no longer tilt. My check engine light is on. And after I get the car home in the garage with light I notice more damage done to the panels in the car. So that's my story. If you believe me great, if you don't - well I'm sorry but that's the truth! Now I am worried that I will have trouble getting my car fixed... I may end up in court with this one.

thanks for telling us more about the story...I do believe you now...all I said was I had a feeling well the feeling is now gone...but instead a sickness remains that someone could do this to an RX-8

g-damn people are stupid, and I can tell you the exact number of people too

The physical damage is unacceptable from a professional shop. No if's and's or but's.

The non-working stereo and a/c may just be the idiots not putting back a connector correctly -- I had the same symptom after I had a dealer install the CD changer. Pulling the HU panel and plugging in the connector fixed it. I hope your problem is the same and you "only" need to get all the physical damage fixed.

Somebody is incompetent and needs to get fired!

i feel your pain...
 

i have a civic along with my rx8. The civic was my very first car that i wanted to hook up. took it to an installer and got the same marks all over my trim just like you have on thoes pics you posted. They got the radio and stuff installed. But still, they had little scratches all over the trim. after that nightmare.. i cant trust anyone with my car. Especially now that i have an RX8, i'd rather try myself first, if i fail... then i'll take it to someone that "Knows" what they are doing.

Yeah, I have the same kind of marks on my 8. In my haste I forgot that I had not yet removed that "hidden" bolt and tried to pry the HU out too hard. Brain fart on my part, but at least I have no one but myself to blame. When you pay a pro to do the job you have every right to expect that this will NOT happen.

From the sound of it (AC not working, display, etc) they most likely cracked the mother board (main PC board) when trying to pry out the radio. That's where all the connections go from the heat/AC controls, emergency flashers, etc. Could because they didn't find the hidden driver-side 10mm bolt that holds the radio in and they over did the prying. Once that's replaced most of your dead controls should work again. But they did one heck of job on your car - good luck in getting it back to working!

Well, got some good news. They are going to pay to have it fixed, the dealer has been given the "go-ahead" to order the parts. Was talking with the service manager at Mazda and he is also thinking they could have damaged the mother board.

Here's hoping it doesn't take long to get the parts in and get the car fixed!

IceLink issues
 

I too have a similar issue - at least the first one you describe. My steering wheel controls do nothing. Sound is fine and iPod charges. HU is 9.55. What is really wierd is that if I shut off the audio with the iPod selected "EX-1", the Nav screen turns to japanese. this oes away when I turn the audio back on. Normal on/off works when i am on radio (AM or FM).

don't worry about the japanese...that is normall...the tv tuner crap is coming up

OK, I will ignore the TV Tuner stuff. I still cannot get the steering wheel controls to work. i tried reseting the HU by holding the text button - it came up clear - but no effect. iPod plays fin with EX-1 displayed ("1" flashes). Hitting mode scrolls to EX-2, EX-3 through EX-6. That cannot be right.

are you useing the ice link? if you are and its not working A you dont have the connecter in the HU socket all the way. and or your HU may need 9.67 firmware to work with the Ice Link. I Know that the PIE box will work with 9.55 but i am not sure of the ice link.

Fixing the connector in the HU made all the difference. Works great now

:):):):): :D :D :D :D :D

One last question:

After searching hard for that "hidden bolt" AND managing not to lose it, I can no longer find the place it goes to put it back. Do I need it?

a security measure...in theory no...but it can't hurt...I take mine out so often I don't always put it back, once I finalize some things it will go back in and stay

Hey guys! Great news! Today Dension announced new product called IceLink: Plus. The biggest new feature - ID3 tag information on your dashboard screen! Also IceLink itself will be programmable through the iPod! Check out the site http://www.densionusa.com/x/index.ph...407&Itemid=109

I called them and was told that this new product will be availble for RX8 by February 2005.

its already out ;)

it's out, but not for RX8. I just called them and they said that they will have the RX8 version only by February. Do you know otherwise?

Yah call em up and ask to talk to the guy who installed the iPod in Nick's RX-8 :P