Last week i blew the engine on my 2004 Mazda rx8. I towed it to the nearest shop to diagnose the problem . The mechanic said that the engine compression dropped to 20 psi and he will put the brake fluid in to the engine and leave it over night , to see if the compression will go up. Next day he called and said that nothing worked. I picked up the car and towed it to Mazda dealer of Oakland. They put oil in the car tried to start id and the engine caught on fire . They had my car for 5 days , they didn't return my calls as they said , they didn't give me a rental car while they are trying to fix the problem. Today after waiting all day for the news i just went there. My car is sitting there burned and no one is doing anything about it. After a long argument with manager and a worker who is responsible for that . They asked me for an AUTHORISATION - which means they want me to pay for all the burned parts and labor in order for them to be able to diagnose the engine failure. I think its redicilous... what should i do ? Call corporate ? Sue them ? Write to the news ? Call insurance ?

 

Notify Mazda USA but be prepared to answer questions as to how you knew the motor was blown. If they can prove you caused the engine failure...ie, lack of maintenance, racing, etc it may not be covered. I think Mazda should be on the hook for the burned items if they caused the fire. Good luck contacting your insurance company cause they will not cover the engine. Coupled with the fact that early models are known to have engine problems, mechanical failure is not covered by most.....well any insurance policy I have ever seen. Your insurance company may cover the burned items under your comprehensive coverage then go after the dealership for reimbursement.

Good luck!

 

I've never heard of putting brake fluid into an engine especially overnight. Your supposed to put some oil in to help restore engine compression. Isn't brake fluid highly FLAMMABLE???

SO the dealer tried to start your car full of flammable fluid and your blaming them? Did you even inform them of the previous work? Sounds like you need to sue your mechanic?!?!?!?

 

The brake fluid was drained ! and they put oil in the engine ... May be a Mechanic did a dumb thing but that was smart to his knowledge but mazda burned the car , & did NOTHING about it. The engine was dignosed with compression 20 psi from the same dumb *** who put brake fluid in... & yes i informed the dealer and showed them the invoice.

 

^ Sure it wasn't ATF?

Anyway...they are responsible for the fire...and likely the car is totalled if it burnt the engine compartment...so the failed engine is likely a moot point

 

well if the car burnt on their lot then their insurance should cover it.

looks like they're playing the blame game again

how the **** they even have the ***** to ask you to pay for the burnt parts so they can run diagnostics on the car? WOW ~!

 

Not another one...

As I see it ,it is not Mazda NAO at fault..

It is the Privately Owned Mazda Dealer, they have Insurance, they should make good.

Sounds very strange that they put in Brake Fluid internally, as Dan said, normally it is Seafoam, ATF (Red Auto Trans Fluid) or 5W20 engine oil overnight....all that really will do is try and free any stuck Apex Seals.

I really doubt Brake Fluid...what is the dealer like, large small, hicks-ville??..

But yeah...WOW...
Sorry to hear this...

I would approach the Dealer Principal (Dealer Owner), go straight to the top, don't get mad, they must make it right.

If he tries to worm his way out after saying to him "don't you have Insurance"??, then politely say, I am referring all this to Mazda NAO.

 

they are insured make them pay up.

 

Id follow exactly as Ash said, that sounds like your best bet for success.

 

Its no surprise that the dealership doesn't want to take blame, remember, they pay out of their own pockets, not Mazda USA. So they will try and play hardball to try and get you to walk away and say "looks like i ened to pay for this myself". Like ash said, just go right to the top, explain what happened in a polite matter, and worst comes to worst, contact Mazda USA.

 

Don't you have comprehensive insurance? The argument over who pays for the fire damage should be between your insurance compamy and the dealer's.

Ken

 

"authorization"? for what? an authorization to work on the car? an authorization to replace all the burned bits? did they say "we want you to pay to do x"?

did they say this in person ? in writing?

 

I may be able to offer services of a persuasive nature in order to resolve your current difficulties...

 

Any updates?

 

aaaaand this is why I take my car to a shop where they park the Ferraris next to each other, and the guy who does my oil changes drives a modded FD to work every day.

 

Guys, I had a similar problem with my local Nissan Dealer. I own an 08 XTerra, and I purchased Stillen Supercharger Kit for it. I asked the dealer to do the install because it required putting the car on a lift to get the gas tank down to replace the fuel pump. Dealer agreed, did the install.

First I thought everything was great, the blower made a big improvement. Then, I started looking at the actual installation and noticed that the splice connections required for the piggyback fuel control unit had been done with vampire clips, not solder, even though the instructions stated in big, block letter specifically NOT to use crimp splices because of the chance of poor connection and consequently poor fueling. But before I could get back to the dealer to ask who couldn't read and why they had cut corners on the install, the engine cut out at a stop light. It would barely restart, was obviously missing on at least one cylinder. Checked it myself and could not find a cause. Towed to the dealer, whereupon a postmortem determined that a bolt securing the new intake plenum to the block had loosened, never been tightened, or was just left rattling around in the plenum and eventually ended up jammed in one of the intake valves, bending the valve, cracking the guide, and just generally effing things ups.

The dealer wanted me to pay for the new engine, saying I assumed liability for any damage the supercharger might do to the motor (not likely, but they're morons). I then told them politely the damage was not caused by the supercharger but by "mechanical misadventure" by one of their "professional car technicians". To be honest, I wasn't pissed at the loose screw; **** happens. I was pissed at how they tried to make it my problem.

Long story short, I visited my lawyer, who paid them a brief visit, whereupon my Xterra, with a new engine and supercharger installed, AND the damaged engine were delivered to me at no charge.

Don't let anyone feed you any legal garbage that makes it seem the dealer was not liable. It was on their lot, they were working on it, and they own the problem. It would be worth an attorney to remind them that their liability extends not only to the damage to your car but also the inconvenience they have put you to by burning your car and depriving you of its use. The fools would have been better off to not touch the car and say they can't help you, but now that they worked on it, they own it. Literally. Get a lawyer. A mean sumbitch who hates care dealers. It'll be the most worthwhile money you ever spent, trust me. "Uh, Mr. Manager, there's a lawyer from the Bendemover and Breakitoff Law Firm in the lobby to see you

 

^....I shall keep that firm in mind if I ever need them!

Wonder what the update is from the OP, hope he didn't just walk away with his tail between his legs?

 

This is just like what they did here. They were cleaning and repainting the parking garages. It actually became viral in Dallas and a couple of places did it. Well they put out a letter that said they aren't liable if you don't move your car out before they start. Needless to say I had a buddy on vacation at the time and his car got over spray on it. They had to pay to repair the vehicle. If you can be liable for someone falling on your property from waxed floors because they were in heels, then you can be liable for anything.

 

They F&*^ with anyone ignorant enough to believe their BS

 

^ From what I've noticed, that is so true...