How difficult is it to change the starter?
 

Just had my 04 RX8 de-flooded (3rd time in 3 years :Eyecrazy: )

The car has 50700 miles on it so I was 700 miles over my warranty, so I had to pay $95 for the deflooding. My service rep told me I had an extended warranty up to 100k, or January of 09, but that extended warranty does not cover flooding. She told me that eventually I will need a new starter, and that my starter's condition, in a scale from 1-10 is a 5. The problem is, she tried running it through the warranty and they told her it would not be covered until it was dead. So she told me it would cost around $650+ to get the starter replaced, or I can use it until it goes dead which would mean I may get stranded somewhere.

So my question is how hard is it to install a new starter, so I can save a few bucks, if my starter is really that bad. Thanks

I don't get how they can tell your starter is a 5/10?? Usually they wear out...brushes etc...but the only way to tell if that is the case is to pull the starter apart and look. It might be cranking slower?? But if that is the case...it should be covered under the Cranks/poor start TSB for 04/05's with the slower first rev starters

Sounds a bit like BS to me...

As for the starter re/re...2 bolts..and the wiring...about a 20 min job...includes putting the car up on the jack stands

http://www.turborx8.ca/pictures/starter.jpg


http://www.turborx8.ca/pictures/starter2.jpg

you can't use the TSB for new battery and starter?

tsb's arent done for free to vehicles out of factory warranty

Thanks for the replies guys, looks like a pretty easy job to do if It comes down to it. I guess they made the determination of 5/10 because it was slow at cranking at times. Does anyone know where to get a good deal on the faster/stronger starter? Along with the starter, she told me I would also eventually need a new battery and leading/trailing spark plugs.

wasn't your factory warranty extended by 10,000 miles due to the major recall last year?

According to the TSB if you have problems they are suppose to replace the starter, especially if your in Winter snow states.

^^^ yup

Wasn't the new starter part of the recall?

I would like to find out if the 10,000 mile extension would apply to the deflooding/starter service. Is there anything I can print out to bring to the dealer when I pick up the car tomorrow? The second time my car flooded they had told me they did the ECU flash, but I don't recall them changing out the starter/battery. Thanks again for the help guys.

The 5 year / 60K mile powertrain doesn't cover the starter at all according to this. Thats the letter that Mazda sent out to owners regarding the warranty extension and what is covered.

I'm in the process of getting a starter myself due to slow starting, but as I'm beyond the bumper-to-bumper warranty I'm having to do it through my third party extended warranty. I suppose whether or not the dealer will replace it before it actually dies depends on the dealer and warranty company.

The starter itself is a ~$360 part at onlinemazdaparts.com

Interesting, I didn't know the engine mounts were covered under the extension.

I'd call MNAO and explain your situation. They may not cover the new starter but they might help out. I've read instances where they'll pay for the part but you have to pay for the labor.

How about approaching Mazda with the obvious? This is the third flood in three years, weren't the previous two floods under warranty? Why wasn't the starter motor replaced under the TSB at that time? This should be especially true if you still have the original 04 starter (which spun slower than the replacement that is cited in the TSB).

I still have the original starter in my 04. Flooded once under warranty but before the TSB so they just deflooded it. No floods since, I tried to get the new motor under the TSB but dealers wouldn't do the TSB unless flooded. I did however get a new stronger battery when I complained about slow starts in the cold.

It may not even be a starter problem, if it starts the car it works. A slow start doesn't cause the flood, shutting down cold floods it. It is just that a slow starter/ weak battery makes it hard to recover from a flood or near flood with the self de-flood procedure. You may want to consider a new battery at this time of the year if your's is the original (and smaller battery). The original battery didn't have many cold cranking amps. I haven't had any floods since the first (now 76K miles).

has anyone tried to replace their starter themselves?

those directions seem straight forward enough but i was just looking for any pointers from those who did it themselves.