DaGnome

I went into the dealer today due to having problem starting the car, replced the battery 2 weeks prior with no difference.

Turns out they claim they couldn't reproduce the problem (They didn't let the engine cool down), but they put in a new 'bigger' starter and plugs.

That fixed my issue, though the new starter sounds very oddly high pitched to me. (Hoping that's just how they sound).

My question is he also wanted to sell me the 30k maintenance package that I haven't done yet (I was originally planning on dropping the car in Feb when my lease is up). I'm now thinking of keeping it actually since I can't afford a new RX8 at the moment.

They wanted to charge me something like $450 for the package which he said included sparkplugs, trans oil and a few other things.

Since they just put in new plugs with the starter, I'm thinking I should not have to pay to replace them again so soon. Thus we're only talking about Trans Oil, an Air Filter, Brake Fluid and Rear Differential oil according to the manual.

The dealer is quite far from my house, so I'm thinking of going to a local mechanic chain to do the fluid and air filter stuff... are there anything on an RX8 that might make this 'difficult' for a normal mechanic?

Also I've seen quite a few threads about checking/chainging 'coils', yet there is no mention of it being a part that needs to be replaced in the manual, ever.. I'm guessing these are ignition coils... I don't race with the car or anything, so wondering if I really need to bother with them on a regular basis as some have suggested, or should I treat it like the clutch and only worry about it as it gets old and gives me issues.

ken-x8

Spark plugs are pretty pricey at a dealer. They'll charge a couple of hundred for the plugs themselves. When the time comes that you need them, check out sparkplugs.com or some of the forum vendors (like Charles R. Hill) for the same plugs for about $80 a set.

IMHO, coils should be treated like a clutch. All those threads about changing them regularly do have me wondering. But my originals will stay in until there's a misfire.

Fluids are nothing special to change. Any mechanic can do that. Make sure they use the exact oil types specified in the owner's manual, not just whatever's in their "gear lube" dispenser.

The air filter is a little weird, not at all obvious, and not how the owner's manual describes it. You need to lift the back of the box up, then shove it back harder than you'd think, then lift the whole thing, before you can lift the lid and get to the filter. Search this site for instructions, especially the video that expo1 posted.

Ken

CyberPitz

The dealer will anally rape you hardcore if you try to get ANY maintenance through them. Best bets are, on things like this, do them yourself. Ken has the right ideas on everything...

On that note, I've STILL yet to figure out how to open that damned air filter box. Every time I try, I hurt myself. I'll just take a hammer to it....

04RX8man

do all work urself