olddragger

iTrader: (3)

In testing the carbon removal properties of Seafoam, Mazd's stuff, Carb cleaner, and ATF. This is a casual test with an old rotor that has a lot of carbon on it---just applied the stuff and let it sit for an hr---the advanced auto carb cleaner won. Take it for what it is worth.
olddragger

Old Rotor

Did you do compression test?

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

huh?
OD

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

well my idle vacuum came up slightly after some run in, still lower than I'd like; 17 in/hg

haven't been able to locate a rotary compression tool anywhere except at the stealership and I won't even drive into their lot, let alone touch my RX-8

guess I may have to spring for one of the lower cost digital testers

Old Rotor

Sorry disregard that question.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Team ---call Mazcare--he got one from somewhere.
olddragger

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

unfortunately we're on opposite sides of the country now

2tone

iTrader: (3)

ADVICE

just got a call back from mazda (dealership, not na). they talked to na, and na said that the dealership needs to replace the spark plugs and de-carb FIRST ... THEN do the compression test, and if the numbers are low, put in a re-man.

na said if the comp #s are still low after the de-carb, they will replace the motor and pay for the intial de-carb/spark plugs. if the comp #s are good/better after that, they will not replace the motor, obviously, but I will have to pay for the de-carb/plugs! guy said that'll run about $360. fyi - i'm in my 5th year, only have powertrain warranty left.

so i guess i could clean it out myself, for a fraction of the cost, but i don't think na would "allow" that, saying a certified dealer has to clean it. so i'm between a rock and hard place - don't do it, risk the power loss again, or do it, but risk having to pay $360 in the event that it DOES help my engine. i guess that's not too high, but i'm broke, so it sounds terrible.

the only thing i can think of is to wait it out a bit. i've had 2 power loss's inside 10 months, but i have about 10 more months of powertrain left, so i could wait it out and milk this last year, then take it back in if/when it happens again.

comments? advice? can anyone tell me about the likelihood that the de-carb process will correct the issue??

dmc27

That sounds shady. Call MNAO and confirm that nonsense. Basically the dealer (and very possibly NA) is saying that despite your complaint that the TSB is supposed to cover, they want you to pay? That's kind of F-d up.


EDIT: Seems like a compression test now would show if you need either. And if the numbers are low and the de-carb clears it up then it was absolutely necessary. If still low you get a new engine. Either scenario seems like the work is warranted and should be covered by the TSB.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

yeah, it seemed weird to me too. i asked and he has YET to even do a compression test, so they'll have no way of knowing if it's "better", just if it's good enough to not warrant a re-man.

also, b/c i'm out of warranty, other than powertrain, he told me up front when i first asked that i would have to pay for the tsb, i said bs, but it's probably stemming from that...

Haze

Yeah, you know if there is a low compression test then anything necessary to fix that should be covered by the power train warranty. That seems right to me. Normally, a TSB would have to paid for by the customer, but if you have low compression and you are still under the powertrain warranty, I think that you should have that covered under the extended warranty. I'd argue it.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

^^but should the initial compression test be covered? they haven't even done that, na is just telling them to to a de-carb first and (possibly) charge me. i guess i'll find na's # online and call them -- doesn't help i'm out of town right now...

dmc27

Yup - it really should be covered under P-T warranty. The only reason I can come up with for them to pull this is to prevent people from just saying "power loss" and getting a free cleaning. But even if that's the case it should be a test first that you pay for if it's normal. So you would pay for the test only, no cleaning b/c it would be deemed unnecessary by some measurable means.

There's a chance that the cleaning makes it better, but w/o knowing how bad it is before the test how the f8ck can they then say it wasn't necessary and make you pay?? Did I mention that is sounds shady??

robrecht

They were supposed to have done a compression check today already. Are they now refusing to do this or are they still going to do this today prior to any TSB that they want to charge you for? Definitely call MNAO and ask them if their position is that they only honor their powertrain warranty if maintenance is done by Mazda dealers. Ask for that in writing. I'm not a lawyer but that sounds wrong to me.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

yeah, i'll try to call na today.

i don't know - they SHOULD have already done a compression test, they had my car for 2 days already. it sounds like they just took my original complaint (power loss) and just called na directly and said 'what do you want us to do?'

this seems like a COMPLETE waste of time if they don't do a compression test FIRST, to see if my power loss was a fluke or a serious problem...

dmc27

^ It doesn't sound like that is the issue. They're willing to cover the re-man, but only if the compression is bad after the cleaning.

The story really sounds more like a stealership game, rather than MNAO. You should ask the service manager who they spoke w/a MNAO and then try to talk to that person. Try to clear it up by going through the dealer rep first. But you should absolutely confirm that MNAO really said what the dealer said they said - by talking to MNAO yourself.

Man, that's a lot of 'saids' in one sentence.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

anyone have that number handy? or is this correct, the "customer assistance center" 1-800-222-5500

2tone

iTrader: (3)

that was a lot of "saids" haha.

good idea. i just think they'd do a compression test first and say 'oh, it's good, just an ambient heat issues, here's ur tsb and keep an eye on it' OR ' whoa, low compression numbers, but we think a de-carb will help, so we'll try that then do another compression test'.

Haze

Keep us informed as to what happens.

It is an interesting question since you fall into that small 10,000 mile window where the extended warranty still covers, but the bumper to bumper is over. For me, I have no warranty left, and I am not looking forward to the day that this happens to me.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

I will. I'm at a work seminar so it'll be hard for me to call this week. Hopefully i can call later today, or tomorrow during lunch. but i'll definitely post what's going on, not only to help everyone else, but to VENT. ^%$^%&#&!!!


side question: say worst case they won't listen to me, and want me to possibly pay out for that and i refuse ... i'll read up on it but is the de-carb something i can do myself? i could de-carb myself to save money, maybe check my spark plugs myself too, coils even. and maybe even pay for a compression test myself -- all of which should be cheaper than the dealer's $360 fee. Like i said, i still have about 10 months on my p/t warranty, so if that's helps, great, if it doesn't, i could wait it out for 8-10 months and if it happens again, i'm not worse off than i am now ... just thinking "out loud"...

dmc27

You can do the procedure on your own. You can also buy the official Mazda cleaner and testing kit from Tommy.

Plugs should run ~$20 each and can be done on your own as well. I'm not sure about coils.

There are DIY threads on plugs and de-carb. My guess is there's one for coils, too.

The whole thing just screams dealer scam to me, though. You can ask them to do the compression test first even if you have to pay. It should be less than $200.

Nubo

So this fellow feels that the engine is not part of the powertrain?

robrecht

You can do the decarb and change the plugs yourself. They still owe you a compression check as part of the basic diagnostic they said they would do as part of investigating your warranty claim.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

the more i think about it, the shadier it seems! he's (they?) saying the de-carb process is not covered ... but it should be because of my complaint of power loss. it's documented at 2 different dealerships now. it's not like i just showed up and say, 'de-carb this bad boy and give me a new engine too.'

anyway, i guess i'll call na directly and take it up w/ them. i told the dealer to just wait until i call him back.

i'm real tempted to just pull the car from them, do the de-carb, plugs, etc. myself, and wait it out, maybe that'll solve the issue -- maybe try to get a compression test too.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

I agree - I think they're trying to weasel out of THAT. f@ckers!! thanks for the input guys, i'll post tonight if i get a chance to call, or tomorrow morning if not.