Spark Plugs?
04-09-2007, 02:58 PM
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Spark Plugs?
I just hit 30k miles. The engine flooded and I took it into the dealership to get everything checked out. The sales rep at the dealership told me that I should get my spark plugs changed every 15k, which is incredibly boggling to me, considering the owners manual states every 37.5k.
I'm going with the possibility that the sales rep at the dealership is trying to sell such things to customers who are least expectant of these things. I'm female, I may not know EVERYTHING about cars, but I know how to read my owners manual and these are things that I keep checks on.
What has been your experience with spark plugs? When do you change them, etc?
I'm going with the possibility that the sales rep at the dealership is trying to sell such things to customers who are least expectant of these things. I'm female, I may not know EVERYTHING about cars, but I know how to read my owners manual and these are things that I keep checks on.
What has been your experience with spark plugs? When do you change them, etc?
04-09-2007, 03:03 PM
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when your car flooded, did you get it towed to the dealership? If SO, they should be replacing the plugs FOR you under warranty...
04-09-2007, 03:03 PM
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I would change them at 30000 miles . The 8 does tend to lose a bit of power in the high revs if your plugs aren't 100% .
There are some vendors on this site onlinemazdaparts , DPE etc that I would recommend you get the plugs from . Dealer prices can be excessive .
Edit: even better - go with Jedis' suggestion
There are some vendors on this site onlinemazdaparts , DPE etc that I would recommend you get the plugs from . Dealer prices can be excessive .
Edit: even better - go with Jedis' suggestion
04-09-2007, 03:08 PM
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04-09-2007, 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Jedi54
when your car flooded, did you get it towed to the dealership? If SO, they should be replacing the plugs FOR you under warranty...
04-09-2007, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Take a look at the TSBs which are posted at finishlineperformance(.com). In those TSBs you'll see what Mazda's policy/procedure is regarding flooded RX-8s. One of them includes new spark plugs. If you want to buy them yourself I have read of good deals at "sparkplugs.com". You want to get a pair of RE7C-L(Mazda #N3Z4-18-110 and a pair of RE9B-T(Mazda #0000-18-N3Y1). BTW, which dealer do you visit?
04-09-2007, 03:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Mordacity
Norco Mazda in Norco/Riverside, CA
04-09-2007, 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Jedi54
You should check out the San Bernardino thread....those guys know all the good and bad dealerships in your area.
I'm actually moving to Austin in the beginning of May, so.. I'll be looking for a new dealership there. Guess I could always just take it to the dealership near my work (near UCI) until then.
04-09-2007, 03:28 PM
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yes, it is possible. I changed mine out 2 weeks ago and it was pretty easy.
1) get your floor jack, and lift up the front left side of the car.
2) remove the front driver side wheel
3) straight ahead you'll see the spark plugs.
4) get a 13/16 spark plug socket, an extension, and go to town...
1) get your floor jack, and lift up the front left side of the car.
2) remove the front driver side wheel
3) straight ahead you'll see the spark plugs.
4) get a 13/16 spark plug socket, an extension, and go to town...
04-09-2007, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Jedi54
yes, it is possible. I changed mine out 2 weeks ago and it was pretty easy.
1) get your floor jack, and lift up the front left side of the car.
2) remove the front driver side wheel
3) straight ahead you'll see the spark plugs.
4) get a 13/16 spark plug socket, an extension, and go to town...
1) get your floor jack, and lift up the front left side of the car.
2) remove the front driver side wheel
3) straight ahead you'll see the spark plugs.
4) get a 13/16 spark plug socket, an extension, and go to town...
04-09-2007, 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
My guess is that sexism was at play when they said you couldn't change them. We have plenty of ladies on this forum who are well-informed on the RX-8. One I know is getting a supercharger put on her car. You'll also have a lot of positive support in TX.
04-09-2007, 03:37 PM
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My plugs had 26,000 on them, had never been flooded but they looked pretty darn bad! 
I'll try and post pics later tonight.
I'll try and post pics later tonight.
04-09-2007, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Speaking of sexism, look at how many of us hollered at you to do a search before asking such a newb question. 
04-09-2007, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Mordacity
So glad I joined these forums.. Guess I'll be doing this next weekend >:]
I've leared SOOOO much about my car because of this forum, it's sometimes nice to return the favor...even if it's something really minor like changing out plugs.Just keep in mind that the standard 5/8 spark plug socket found in most ratchet sets will not work on our plugs... I found this out as my car was up on stands with the wheels off!
Thank goodness my GF was over and let me take her car to the parts store... 
04-09-2007, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
As you get more involved in this forum you'll discover a few hard truths;
1) The dealerships know far less about these cars than we here on this forum,
2) Mazda North American Operations knows as little as the dealers do,
3) The dealers try to tell anybody using a part that doesn't have a Mazda number on it that they have voided their waranty,
4) Thousands of us experience the exact same problems in all regions of the U.S., and sometimes the world, but Mazda likes to say that some of these problems are isolated,
5) Despite all of this, none of us wants to get rid of our RX-8s!! That's how you know you've been bitten by the "rotary bug".
1) The dealerships know far less about these cars than we here on this forum,
2) Mazda North American Operations knows as little as the dealers do,
3) The dealers try to tell anybody using a part that doesn't have a Mazda number on it that they have voided their waranty,
4) Thousands of us experience the exact same problems in all regions of the U.S., and sometimes the world, but Mazda likes to say that some of these problems are isolated,
5) Despite all of this, none of us wants to get rid of our RX-8s!! That's how you know you've been bitten by the "rotary bug".
04-09-2007, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
I mentioned the search because we have some guys whose greatest contributions are to bitch at others to do searches. That usually comes at a point where they have learned a bit about flywheels, clutches, intakes, exhausts, etc. and are a little too over-confident regarding their own knowledge. I haven't yet forgotten that I wasn't born with a rotor in my hand.
04-09-2007, 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Mordacity
Everyones gotta start somewhere, right?
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
I mentioned the search because we have some guys whose greatest contributions are to bitch at others to do searches.
04-09-2007, 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
The coolest part about this forum is when a bunch of us get together for various things like picnics, street meets, and race events. Two years ago I drove from Detroit to ATL to race with a really nice group for two days at Road Atlanta. A couple months ago I drove to PA to install a nitrous oxide kit for somebody and got to meet a bunch of other really nice people there, too. In both cases my lodging and food was covered by the host group. That's how it is with we RX-8 owners.
But I refuse to do anything like that with my car until I get my trunk lid fixed. Just swapped a cracked/injured passenger tail light assembly yesterday, by myself. Funny how the men in my life are thoroughly impressed. Ha.
04-09-2007, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Make sure you hit all of the sub-forums and network with others so you can get what you need and be the most informed about it.
04-09-2007, 04:19 PM
#23
Originally Posted by Jedi54
My plugs had 26,000 on them, had never been flooded but they looked pretty darn bad! I'll try and post pics later tonight.
I'll try and post pics later tonight.
<-- just took these out like an hour something ago.I have a some questions.
I did the Engine No Start TSB about hmm @ maybe 12 or 15 K miles. Yes I got the New Battery, Faster spinning Starter and supposedly new Spark plug.
Lets just say I got new plugs @ 12K miles. As of today I have 27.5 miles. Lets just make it 13.5K miles of use, look at my plugs, it does NOT look good to me. Now I wonder, did they even change my plugs back then, they probably just gave the battery and faster starter, then bs me about the plugs.
but if they did change it back then ..... damn, only 13.5K miles my plugs looks like this ? ****. I think I will change my plugs every 10 K miles then (and Im going to use Rx7 plugs next time, cheaper)
Last edited by nycgps; 04-09-2007 at 07:33 PM.
04-09-2007, 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
Im gonna beat you to it, Im gonna post mine right now !
<-- just took these out like an hour something ago.
I have a some questions.
I did the Engine No Start TSB about hmm @ maybe 12 or 15 K miles. Yes I got the New Battery, Faster spinning Starter and supposedly new Spark plug.
Lets just say I got new plugs @ 12K miles. As of today I have 27.5 miles. Thats only about 13.5K miles of use and look at my plugs. It does NOT look good to me. I wonder did they even changed my plugs back then, probably just gave the battery and starter then bs me about the plugs.
but if they did change it back then ..... damn, only 13.5K miles my plugs looks like this ? ****. I think I will change my plugs every 10 K miles then (and Im going to use Rx7 plugs next time, cheaper)
<-- just took these out like an hour something ago.
I have a some questions.
I did the Engine No Start TSB about hmm @ maybe 12 or 15 K miles. Yes I got the New Battery, Faster spinning Starter and supposedly new Spark plug.
Lets just say I got new plugs @ 12K miles. As of today I have 27.5 miles. Thats only about 13.5K miles of use and look at my plugs. It does NOT look good to me. I wonder did they even changed my plugs back then, probably just gave the battery and starter then bs me about the plugs.
but if they did change it back then ..... damn, only 13.5K miles my plugs looks like this ? ****. I think I will change my plugs every 10 K miles then (and Im going to use Rx7 plugs next time, cheaper)