sferrett

Sometimes people get struck by lightning, but it doesn't mean that all clouds suck - just one every now and again.

Sounds like you got some bad luck and your car broke, and it's getting fixed. That's too bad, but it's a big jump to label the car a POS because you had a bad experience. Sometimes I buy stuff from the store and it doesn't work when I get it home, so I take it back and get another one. Luck of the draw.

8_wannabe

I knew this guy once he had a cousin who's friend was like driving a mustang and the brakes gave out so no way will I ever be caught in that POS ford.

sferrett

Actually, on the topic of writing things off as a POS...

I recently bought a cable modem from Fry's - I hate Fry's because a lot of the time the stuff I buy there doesnt work and I have to take it back (where, presumably, they just put it right back on the shelf again). So, being a typical hypocrite that I am, I wrote Fry's off as a POS store. Sometimes, however, it's an unavoidable evil so I go back.

Anyhow I get this cable modem home and after plugging it in and getting nothing other than a power light, I read through the documentation, everything looks normal but none of the lights are on (it says the cable light should flash when the cable is hooked in, and the LAN light should come on when the ethernet is connected - I get nothing). I talk with *** and they can see the modem on their network but it's not responding. So I chalk it up to POS Fry's and take it back and exchange it for another one. Bloody POS Fry's garbage.

I get the new one plugged in today and it does the same thing. Power light, no other lights. WTF??!? Anyhow - I do some further investigation and there's this black button on the back I didn't notice before - there are some symols on it that supposedly tell you what it does but they don't make any sense at all. Just for kicks, I push the button and low and behold the proper lights come on and it looks happy and starts working properly.

Intrigued by this mystery work/malfunction button, I scour the documentation for what this button is and it's not mentioned *anywhere* in the manual except on one diagram of the unit where there's an arrow pointing at it with "WAN Disable" labeled on it. What a nice feature to not have documented in the manual, a button which when pressed makes the unit look like it's malfunctioning. None of the setup or install documentation said "And make sure the WAN disable button isn't pressed", they just say stuff like "when you plug the coax in, the cable light will flash" and in the troubleshooting section of "no lights", there's no mention of it - just if that the lights dont come on, the unit could be defective.

So in this case it was user error on my part due to woeful documentation causing me to once again write off Fry's and everything they sell as a POS.

Not sure this story has much point.. but hey, I typed it all up I might as well press submit.

Topgun

They promised me a new complete engine last week. They only shipped a block of a new one and are taking the rest off the old one.It seems like a lot could go wrong after taking apart most of the engine.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

All there really is to swap is the manifolds.....relax pal, as bad as it seems, it's not really a big deal.

Topgun

Well the story keeps going. They put the moter in yesterday and they say it keeps putting out codes and do not know why. Waiting to hear from tech support. It may not be all bad if they keep it a few more days I can lemon law the car.

musclecarconvrt

Look, no sun should be shining where it shouldn't here. You had to take a brand new car back . That sux.
But at least they aren't just rushing to get you back into something that isn't right. They pulled the old and put in the new. Lots of wires and hoses could get forgotten. They just need to track down whatever they didn't plug back in. I've built several engines in my time and it's hard not to forget something. You fire it up and look for problems. That's what they are doing. I can't pretend to make you feel better about it and I would be plenty upset if it happened to me. I've been there though. It's especially tough when you do the work yourself and still have to debug. A little patience is in order. You made a big commitment in buying a new car. Now they are having to stand by their machine. Let them, You'll get a thoroughly tested car back. It's worth a few days of stress. Plenty of others have over 10,000 miles on their cars now and still love 'em. Canzoomer was a huge crybaby when he got his and now he makes one of the best mods for the car. Now he's having to stand by his boxes when something odd comes up and he is. I'm gonna buy one as soon as I can. Please hold out a little longer. You'll be a much happier guy in a few more days.

fxdsconv2000

Back on topic. Even if the topic is sarcastic

My car ran perfectly again today! As it has from day1.

Topgun

Thanks for your support musclecarconvrt. They called a couple of hours ago and said they got a reset procedure from Mazda. I should get it back tomorrow. I will let you know how it came out when I pick it up.

fxdsconv2000

So did the pinging start before or after the coolant leak?

Topgun

It is hard to say because I only noticed coolant on the floor on one weekend. I checked the level of the coolant and it never even looked that low. When I brought it in to have the airbag recall done I just told them I had some coolant on the floor a few weeks ago and to check it out. That is when they said it needed a new engine.I have only put gas in 3 times and it was Costco premium. Maybe that was my pinging problem.With only 580 miles on the car in 3 months who knows if it leaked from day one.

fxdsconv2000

The reason I ask is, the coolant leak my be a result of the pinging.

I think of it like this: The rotory spins around on both the x and y axis. Now if detonation is happening it is possible for the rotor to move on the z axis only slightly. This movement would just be a small vibration that would put stress on the seals between the rotor housings. This is only a theory.

If the above is even close to being right then your dealer might be "fixing" the wrong problem. The pinging could have been cause by a bad sensor or ECU malfunction.

Did you tell the dealer about the pinging?

Topgun

Yes I did and they say it might have been the coolant leak. I am looking forward to trying the new engine tomorrow.

musclecarconvrt

Any coolant in the fuel mix will reak havock with combustion, and could certainly cause pinging due to poor ignition.

I had an old Camaro once that cracked a head so badly it turned the oil into a miklshake like sludge in a hurry. When I took the oil filter off,, the "oil" actually stayed right where it was in the block and did not drain! When I tore the block down there was heavy galling on all surfaces and even rust inside the cylinders. It was a real mess. After all that, All had to do was remachine the block, replace the internals and pony up for a new head. After a couple of weekends my car was running smoothly again.

fxdsconv2000

Make sure they flash your PCM to at least the "L".

Let us know how things go.

I'm looking forward to a post from you saying "I drove my 8 today and I didn't have any problems"

Topgun

Well I got my 8 back today! It runs the same as the last engine. Good news bad news. It runs strong but still has a fair amount of pinging in the engine. The dealer said no problem found with pinging.I put a full tank of Shell 93 octane in with the tank about empty and drove it a hundred miles today no change it still pings.Any thoughts on this. FYI the engine cost 7832.00 plus labor total 8460 paid to dealer by Mazda.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

My friend works at a Mazda dealer...he offered to change my oil for nothing, he even reprogrammed my PCM to the L.....I did notice a waaay smoother idle. Not much else has changed....Anyway, all is still very well with my car. Topgun...hang in there pal...things will work out.

fxdsconv2000

Check to see if they upgraded your PCM.

tap the brakes 20 time in 8 seconds while the key is in the on position but the car is not running. Watch your Oil pressure, it should sweep from low to mid back to low.

If it does not sweep it your PCM is not at "L" or above.

Topgun

I did the test andI have the L flash. They did the flash when they did the engine. I just got off the phone with the service manager and he said they all ping and it is the nature of the engine and I am still new to the car. But he did say I am not the only person he has had complain about this problem. He said he is on the quality control board and will bring it up at the next meeting with Mazda next month in Las Vegas.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

You can literally hear the knocking? Whoah....that's not good. The new engine probably won't last too long either.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

Oh, I did the test....yep oil pressure needle did its thing....

fxdsconv2000

That Service manager is a dumba$$. They do not ping at all. Actually if you read in one of the Canzoomer threads I think RX8friend stated the RX8 has a really good knock sensor.

If you can, take your car to another dealer and report that one to MNAO.

Something is wrong with your car and I'm willing to bet its not the engine, its got to be a sensor or something else.

Topgun

Yes it sounds like a piston engine with the timing advanced to far.It pings the most at 3-4k rpm in third and fourth gear. It is not that bad at highway speeds in 6th or above 5k rpm. Trying not to beat on the new engine.I guess I will have to live with it until it breaks again because they say it is normal. I am about ready to take my lumps and trade it for something else.That kind of blows. It is a fun car to drive. I would just like to have one that works right.

fxdsconv2000

Don't live with it!!!!! It is not right and the Service center is fu**ing you over!!! Don't put up with that! Take it to another dealer, ask around on this forum for some advise on good service centers in your area and take it to one of those.

And report that crappy dealer to Mazda!!!

Topgun

Thanks for all the help on this guys.I called Mazda the other day and they said I had to write a letter to the consumer dept before they can do anything for me.So I will do that tonight and see if I get a reply.I only have one other Mazda dealer in town and I hear they are even worse.