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How to tell coils bad?

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Old 04-20-2007, 12:12 AM
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This week I had the dealer replace all 4 coils under warranty. They actually tested fine, but the service manager is really cool and was aware that mazda's simple "resistance" test procedure isn't really adequate so they just put new coils in anyways. There was clearly something wrong with the old coils as the replacement merited a night and day difference in performance. I guess using a scope is the only really good way to test as it seems most other methods yeild unreliable results.
Old 04-20-2007, 04:21 PM
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checked with local dealer here in Finland, and they were not aware of coil problems nor understood when I asked them to test my coils and told about multimeter testing... and also from the local 8 community none had heard anyone here having problems with coils... the list price for a new coil is ridiculous 157€ so I would assume that if coils were causing problems guys here would know about it.
Old 04-20-2007, 07:34 PM
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The coils which came with the 04 model year car were problematic enough for mazda to release a new part that is less prone to failure due to heat.
Old 04-20-2007, 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by eforer
This week I had the dealer replace all 4 coils under warranty. They actually tested fine, but the service manager is really cool and was aware that mazda's simple "resistance" test procedure isn't really adequate so they just put new coils in anyways. There was clearly something wrong with the old coils as the replacement merited a night and day difference in performance. I guess using a scope is the only really good way to test as it seems most other methods yeild unreliable results.
That's a good dealer. I tripped a check engine light at 40k miles - P0302 cyl 2 misfire while revving past 6k up a hill in 3rd. Sent the car in limp mode for a while. I already have new plugs and wires (less than 10k mi). Anyway, I brought the car in to Middletown Mazda, noticed the service department is under new management and they gave me a hard time about replacing all four coils. They only ordered the one for the #2 spark splug...WTF? I am betting money that all four are going bad and I am now worrying about other things like the new plugs I bought getting fouled or the cat going bad because of these damn faulty coils. I mean, it's not like they're that expensive (~30 bucks ea). It costs my dealership almost as much to give me a rental car from Enterprise than to replace all four coils. I would replace them myself, but it's just the principle of the matter of the car being under warranty and the fact that they should do what's necessary to fix the car. Just pisses me off.
Old 04-20-2007, 11:59 PM
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I'm pretty sure my coils are gone, because I can't even drive about 6000 RPM's without bogging my engine with unburned gas...

I think my warranty ended but I wonder if my engine warranty still exists... I have no idea what the cheapest warranty is for our 8's @ 53000 miles
Old 04-21-2007, 12:17 AM
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Well, if you have to replace your coils outside your warranty and you can do it yourself it won't set you back that much - maybe 120 bucks total.
Old 04-21-2007, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by rxtreme
Well, if you have to replace your coils outside your warranty and you can do it yourself it won't set you back that much - maybe 120 bucks total.
where too buy?
Old 04-21-2007, 12:54 PM
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http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...?siteid=214264
Old 04-21-2007, 03:24 PM
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www.onlinemazdaparts.com, they are $27USD, or $32CDN if you add shipping. Got mine in 5 business days.
Old 04-22-2007, 12:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Keef
I'm pretty sure my coils are gone, because I can't even drive about 6000 RPM's without bogging my engine with unburned gas...

I think my warranty ended but I wonder if my engine warranty still exists... I have no idea what the cheapest warranty is for our 8's @ 53000 miles
Have your cat back pressure tested at an exhaust shop too, chances are its gone if you've run it like that for awhile. Emmisions equipment is warrantied beyond the bumper to bumper so if it flunks, your dealer needs to replace it. If your dealer is not a moron they will as they will be rembursed by mazda for the parts and labor. Smart dealers like to do warranty work, which is why I don't understand why so many fight us so hard.
Old 04-22-2007, 07:45 AM
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Federal law dictates that emissions-related equipment such as the catpipe are warrantied for 10 years or 100K miles, whichever is LONGER.
Old 04-22-2007, 05:25 PM
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ya, only problem is that it's an aftermarket cat pipe... I'm going too take it too the dealership tomorrow though
Old 04-23-2007, 11:26 AM
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well my dealership said that my issue is either because of the coils or because of engine internals... He also claimed that coils wasn't covered under my drivetrain warranty, is that true?
Old 04-23-2007, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Keef
well my dealership said that my issue is either because of the coils or because of engine internals... He also claimed that coils wasn't covered under my drivetrain warranty, is that true?
what ?

Tell me how does the ignition coil NOT powertrain related ?

Tell them to do it, or going to talk with MNAO

(Unless you're out of warranty)
Old 04-23-2007, 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
what ?

Tell me how does the ignition coil NOT powertrain related ?

Tell them to do it, or going to talk with MNAO

(Unless you're out of warranty)
Maybe they're considered a wear item? I'd like to know about this too, as I suspect my coils may be bad/failing. I haven't tested them yet, but have experienced some top-end sluggishness at times. Doesn't hurt to ask, I guess; and I'd rather save the $100!
Old 04-23-2007, 11:01 PM
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ya, well right as I left for work my dealership also asked if they could add a possible 260 something too the bill for me too pay because I have too much after market stuff... They said that they would pay the 260 if the issue is warranty related... I told him too just check the CEL and he should be able to figure it out from there... Something tells me that this dealership might be attempting to gain a couple bucks outta my pocket... because he said he had too "look up" and see if the coils were under warranty (which I still don't know if they are)..
Old 04-24-2007, 08:15 AM
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Coils are Covered under your basic Warranty unless something caused it to fail outside of normal failure becasue of a faulty part. If you put unofficial wires or something, they can deny it.

As far as under powertrain warranty, dont think so. Power Train Warranty covers anything Internally Lubed of Engine or Transmission.

I think Ive ran into my first bad coil, need to replace first to see if problem still exist though.
Old 04-24-2007, 08:19 AM
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Originally Posted by redeyes13
Coils are Covered under your basic Warranty unless something caused it to fail outside of normal failure becasue of a faulty part. If you put unofficial wires or something, they can deny it.

As far as under powertrain warranty, dont think so. Power Train Warranty covers anything Internally Lubed of Engine or Transmission.

I think Ive ran into my first bad coil, need to replace first to see if problem still exist though.
great... I thought they were under warranty, and now they aren't... My dealership is too much of an idiot too know how too diagnose a CEL and I could've done the whole damn thing for less than the cost that it takes his mechanics too simply "remove the intake"....

This whole situation is totally bunk, I can't believe Mazda wouldn't cover something I have no control over. Even if you got new wires, that doesn't support the fact that Mazda's coils only lasted me 50,000 miles... Complete junk... And when they fail the engine only destroys itself? Cool I'll pay for a faulty design of Mazda's....
Old 04-24-2007, 08:33 AM
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cool, it's not even a coil related issue...

my new intake is eating my cat... And as my cat sent shreads all over my exhaust, it melted everything!
Old 04-24-2007, 10:35 AM
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Well Im not saying that they should not cover it but if you have anything aftermarket or non-original OEM parts they can use that as a excuse.

Ive heard of dealers doing that but I would either take it back and say I know that part is covered, give me a reason why your not fixing it or just call Mazda.

A coil is covered for your basic warranty, not power train. If they want you to buy a coil ask them why and why its not covered.

Im about to warranty one on a vehicle that has 48K.
Old 04-24-2007, 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Keef
cool, it's not even a coil related issue...

my new intake is eating my cat... And as my cat sent shreads all over my exhaust, it melted everything!
WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?
Old 04-24-2007, 11:14 AM
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tell them explain how can an intake *melt* your CAT. in a scientific term, not *because the tech said so*, dont buy this kind of bullshit.

new set of coil cost about 120(w/ shipping) , I got mine from OnlineMazdaParts.com, or you can get them from finishlineperformance.com. both forum vendor both extremely helpful.

These new coils gave me better respond and less idle virbration. Updated part from Madza.

You can have aftermarket stuff on your car, but you have to make sure that in case they're being a dick about it, you have to know how to counter their bullshit.
Old 04-24-2007, 12:36 PM
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Powertrain warranty covers everything involved in making the car move - all subsystems of the engine and everything controlled by the PCM is covered.
Old 04-24-2007, 12:50 PM
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Sounds like you need to find a new dealer friend. There should be no way your intake is affecting your cat. Unless you mean your Kitty cat is physically being eaten by your intake. In that case my advice is don't take the brown acid.

My advice:
1)put your stock intake back on.
2)take the car to a different dealer
3) get coils replaced under basic warranty and cat replaced under powertrain warranty.
4)Put intake back on when you get home
5)keep your kitty cat away from intake.
6) Zoom Zoom!
Old 04-24-2007, 02:08 PM
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I got charged 179 bucks so the tech could figure out that my aftermarket cat is dead.

The service advisor, "advised" me that since I changed my intake my car is running differently, and eating my cat. My rx8store cat has been eaten anyway, and isn't related too my intake at all...

I just wasted 179 bucks for some mechanic too tell me something that I should've figured out myself...

Now that most of my stuff is aftermarket I think I've learned the lesson that dealerships are just going too use what I have as excuses to take my money.
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