DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

I do!

So this is where the **** hit the fan. When I brought it to Star Mazda, I told the service rep, in great detail, that 1) the nose was low and 2) the skirts are ornamental and the car must be lifted carefully. He understood, made the note on the workorder and then highlighted it. The tech skipped it completely.

This what I saw toaday. The service manager said they'd replace them....common guys, its not that hard. Next time I'll put post-its all over the skirts and bumpers.

<shouting>Mazda are you out there? See how your dealers treat your products and more importantly customers!</shouting>

Ktreece777, tell me you're having better luck.

Brice-RX8

The rep is kinda right, if you "ride" the clutch you wouldn't burn the tires up but would kill a clutch, but you say you don't do that so I believe you. The clutch looks like it has a little bit of life left in it, but that might just be the picture. Anyways, the clutch should not have gone bad at 16k miles, and if they don't replace it for free, I would order a new lightweight flywheel and probably a stage 1 clutch set somewhere and be done with it.

Also, what kinda idiot lifts the cars by the damn side skirts like that. He/she should have noticed them giving in like that and quit. I guess they figured you wouldn't come by to see it lifted up, they guessed wrong.

dmp

Read in my linked thread - The PRESIDENT/OWNER of ACT Clutches weighed in. Don't let them tell you your clutch disc was 'blued with heat' either.

Fockers...

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

I think that's really the issue. Mazda nor its dealerships really have no incentive to believe me or any customer for that matter. Here's how I laid it out for them:

1) Been driving manual for 12+ years. Put 135,000 on an accord and changed the clutch once at 80k.

2) My fiance was in the car with me when the tranny made a horrible clunk then lots of grinding (I was slowing to a stop ~25mph trying to get the car into neutral when it failed)

3) The clutch showed no signs of wear before failure. No slippage. No sounds. No issues at all. It went from 100% fine to flatbed.

4) I offered to take the tech and the service manager for a ride. No takers.

5) I've taught other people how to drive manual. They all think this is crazy and won't touch a mazda now. Especially after recalls a battery issue and now this.

Yet, Mazda believes I have clutch issues because I don't know how to drive. What I'm really concerned about is that this may be a design issue and another 16k from now I'll be right back here.

chrism

you sure its just the clutch?......cuz my trans blew apart after 12k miles on it.......and originally mazda tried the abuse **** on me too but i fought and got a new trans....here is my full story

http://www.rx8web.com/showthread.php...0&pagenumber=1

and the part i posted here.....

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ighlight=trans

rodrigo67

This makes me feel great . between the clutch issues and the engines starting to bake again this summer, I'm sure glad I leased this car. 9 more months and I may be opting out of this group...

Ktreece777

OK NEW NEWS!!

Just got done talking to the guys at the service shop and they said they are having to completely rebuild the transmission... Anyone know how long that takes?... Not having a car is terrible!... Oh also the lady at mazda yesterday told me that she thought my CV joints were out... hahahahahaha

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

anyone have case numbers? According to my Service manager my case# with Mazda USA is 46949. They also informed him this was the first case of its type.

I'm sighting these posts as precedence, but I'm sure they'll disregard.

On another note, this clutch exploding crap can be dangerous. I was at 25mph, but what if the tranny locked up like this at highway speeds. I filed a claim with the nhtsa.

Mazda needs to be held accountable.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

lurch519

to me, (ive seen it done it before)this looks like damage from flat shifting

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Damn now you guys got me scared .....

I'm about to hit the 15K miles mark .....

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

what's that, shifting without the clutch?

here's how i shift: clutch goes down/gas comes up (same time), shift, clutch comes up/gas goes down (same time).

and could I put 80k on a honda clutch "flat shifting"?

here's what I don't get: the accord clutch is not made for spirited driving and it lasts 80k. I drive the same way with my new Mazda RX-8. Its clutch presumably should be made for spirited driving. craps out at 16k. same person same driving style different cars unacceptable results.

what really pisses me is that for the last 6 months I've been religiously keeping the rpms under 3.5k. I paid $3.51 on my last tank. maybe that's abuse.

i started compiling some related threads:

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...17&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...63&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...5&postcount=19
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...2&postcount=37


https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...9&postcount=34
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=73


https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...11&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...08&postcount=7
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...6&postcount=22

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...7&postcount=84
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...8&postcount=85

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...91&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=12


https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...28&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...44&postcount=4

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=169
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=172
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=164

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=117
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=118
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=119
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=120

5 posted clutch failures and this was back in 11/04
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...74&postcount=4
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...77&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...44&postcount=2
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...02&postcount=4
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...4&postcount=21
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...7&postcount=85
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=19
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=33
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...77&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...76&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...49&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...75&postcount=3
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...05&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...01&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...43&postcount=1
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...61&postcount=9

alcimedes

I'll look through the records of the previous owner and see if I can find a case number for the clutch replacement he had done. His was done at about 7k miles.

chrism

dont do the rebuild.....fight it...get a new one!

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

much appreciated!

lurch519

flat shifting is shifting without letting off of the gas between shifts. i have owned 3 hondas myself, and i did the same thing as i saw in your pics to my clutch on my first by flatshifting it. the car had about 90k on the car and about 50 k on the clutch when i bought the car, and the clutch finally bought it after about 40k of me abusing it. i chalk that up to the fact that it was an after market clutch and the car was making about 50 hp less than the 8.

the clutch in the 8 CAN stand up to abuse, as long as it is not every day.

my tranny went out on me, where i lost first and reverse, and before i could get it to the dealer, i was locked into 6th gear. as it was a weekend, and i wasnt going to leave it or pay to have it towed, i got it home, using only 6th gear. the clutch took it, and still had better than 50% left, though my service writer got some strings pulled and got it replaced under warranty.

i am just stating that from what i see from your clutch, and what i have experienced in the past, that looks like abuse.

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

I'd think the tires would take some abuse from flat shifting too. Did your tires stand up to flat shifting (ie does flatshifting or the circumstances where you would flat shift, contribute to tire wear)? My tires are in great condition for having 16k.
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=78115

I'm assuming someone would flat shift when pushing the car and not at 3500 rpms.

Anyway, something went pop/clunk in the tranny under very little load (coasting to a stop in 3rd from 25mph) and whatever clunked or caused the clutch to go clunk is the problem.

Ktreece777

Call them today and im out of a car for..... Yeah 2 weeks

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

Gary B. at Star Mazda helped plead my case to MNAO and they're covering the clutch replacement. What we're not sure about is whether the transmission will be an issue and I'm still concerned I'll have the same clutch problem another 16k from now.

step1) install new clutch

step2) verify the tranny still works

step3) address the busted MS side skirts.

Gary's been great so far. Hopefully the matter of the damaged $800 side skirts won't rock the boat.

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

So I got my car back. Mazda covered the clutch under warranty, but now the tranny sounds like crap. At 5k, its louder than the engine.

Anyway the tech took a ride and admitted it was noisy. His solution is to put a thicker insulator in so I won't hear it as much. WTF.

I called MNAO and that was a waste of 5 minutes.... except for part where I said something about common sense and how I had no noise or extra insulation before the clutch explosion and making it so I can't hear the tranny problem isn't a solution....and his response being: "common sense isn't always the right answer."

You can't make this stuff up.

dmp

LMAO Dude - that's horrible.