Hello guys this is the first time I have posted I hope you guys can help me out. I have my RX-8 for 3 weeks now, and I love it. However today on my way home, my A/C stopped blowing cold air. I thought that maybe a fuse blowned or something of that nature. I took it to the Mazda dealer and they checked the car over and said that there was a hole in my A/C condenser. It looked as if a rock flew up and punched a hole in it. They also said that it will NOT be covered under warranty, and that the parts and labor of the removal/installation will be somewhere between $700-800 dollars. The A/C condenser is located where a normal radiator is. Has anyone experence anything like this?? Am I responsible for the hole?? They also told me that NO ONE in the Houston Texas area has one, and probably no one in the state of Texas has one. They will probably have to get on shipped in from Japan. Oh by the way, Mazda will only pay for 2-3 days of the rental that I am driving now, after that I will be responsible for it as well. I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN CHEATED!!!! I have never owned an import. All my other cars were Mustang Cobra's. Any advice????? Please help!!!

 

thats BS
how is that not under warranty????

 

Sounds like shitty luck to me.I find it hard to believe that a rock could get up there with that kinda force to punture compressor.After i read your post i went out and looked i cant see how the hell it coulda happened,i would make some calls go over dealers head or try another.

 

Hey guys, after I talked to the service guys, I went over and talked to the sales guy that sold me the car. You see, when I picked up my car, there was a deep scratch on the back of the driver's seat (looked like someone large tried to get into the back seat and scratched it with their belt buckle). I complain about it, and they told me that they have a guy that can fix it I even showed it to the General Manager. I NEVER got another call about it. So what I told them was "Fix my AC condenser and I'll forget about the seats, otherwise I want a new seat, and oh by the way, I haven't received my customer servey from Mazda yet, you guys better make this right....." He told me that they will talk to the service manager to see if they can work out something...... Wish me luck!!!

 

Ask them for the exact reason they believe it is not under warranty, and get it in writing. Document everything they say to you and you say to them, keep any and all receipts. It could just be that dealer doesn't want to pay and is hoping you will just take it. Happens all the time regardless of car manufacturer (unfortunately).

And if they say it looks like a rock hit it, ask them to prove it. What makes it look like a rock did it ? How could it have gotten up there ? etc etc.

 

That happened to me once (long time ago in another car) and was NOT covered under warranty. They want to change the whole condenser, that's why it's so expensive. I fixed it myself with some epoxy, just find the hole and carefully plug it. Give it a long time to fully cure, remember it's gonna be under pressure. That was in 1995 and the A/C is still working perfectly. A better solution that didn't occur to me at the time is to have the hole plugged by welding it.

 

That's a good idea, couldn't they just weld it??? I'll call them tomorrow and see. Thanks again.

 

How much for the repair? Can it be covered under your insurance? Maybe they will pay the deductible.

 

Mag,

I checked with the insurance co. and they told me it will be covered if I choose to claim it. However it will be under comp. instead of collision even though the rock "collided" with my condenser. My deductible is only 250.00 but I don't want my insurance to go up.... It's already high enough!!!

 

Weird - there's a thread almost exactly like this in the Australian regional section:

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...threadid=12313

Looks like it wasn't a warantee option for them either.

It could very well be worth implementing some rock protection around the condenser if it's going to be susceptible to getting rocks flung up in it.

Simon
(yeah, I'm an Aussie.. so I like to lurk into the Australian section from time to time...)

 

I saw that thread as well. I think that there should be something down there to protect the a/c condensers. It is just wide open down there.....

 

Seems like a good market for grills.

 

Sounds like something mazda should sourt out.

 

Update:

Talked to the dealership today. Apparently Mazda has NOT released the air condenser to the USA yet. The planned date of release is October 16, 2003. and the dealership will not have one until the following Monday Oct. 20th.

Talked to my insurance agent again, and they said that they will cover the damage with NO rise to my insurance (since it was unavoidable, kinda like a rock in the windshield) , on top of which, since I have rental car coverage, I can just leave my car at the dealership and drive a rental for a few weeks.

Kinda upset that I can't enjoy my RX-8, but then again, think about all the mileage I'd save, especially since my RX-8 is a daily driver 60 miles a day.....

 

That is what insurance is for. If you don't use it, you are wasting your money.

If you only want insurance for those large accidents, change your deductible and save some money.

My 2 cents... Feel better?

 

BTW, be glad that it is comprehensive; your policy rates don't go up for comprehensive claims, only for collision claims...

 

Yep - it can happen. The quote for mine is $810. I understand that includes the dryer/receiver and labor as well. And the parts have arrived at the dealership already

I tried repairing the tiny hole with some metal epoxy, and we will try that first tomorrow. If that doesn't work, will probably just get the new condensor installed. And I might get the old one welded and keep as a spare

I put up a post on removing the bumper as well:
http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...941#post137373

Here is what the damage looks like:


And my attempt at bogging it up with QuickSteel:


Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Feel ALOT better!!!!! Thanks for all the support..... I'll post some pictures of my "hole" tonight when I go to the dealership.

 

The "bog job" has survived its first pressure test, and I am on the road again.

Will see if it holds, and report back.

Cheers,
Hymee.

PS - Texagi95,

There is a new condenser unit sitting here in Australia if you still need it!

I am told it incorporates the dryer/receiver as well.

 

anyone still looking for an aftermarket screen DIY project? I would be interested to put SOMTHING in for protection given decent air-flow.


I used the Wal-Mart Craft screen on the oil-coolers with great results, but I would think protection for the condenser will have to be metal and much larger.

 

good work hymee

 

Anyone interested in a screen/grill kit to protect ther condensor - please PM me. If there is enough interest I will make up a batch of them complete with all hardware and fitting instructions.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

count me in

 

me too!!

 

Maybe I'm missing something here, but why would this damage fall within your factory warranty coverage? If a rock hit your windshield, would that be a warranty item? How about if a bird sh*t on your seat and bleached it? How about a motorcycle hitting the bumper? No? Then why would a rock hitting your condensor be any different?