Coolant Leaks
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Coolant Leaks
I have a 2004 RX-8 MT I purchased in October 2003. Other than a few minor things, the car has been great.
Just as a side note, here's the other "minor" problems this car has had (not counting the recalls for the air bags, the oil pan, the suspension arms and what not):
Flat tire at delivery (dealer's prep guys ran over a nail)
Center console latch (replaced twice)
Leaking rear tail light (filled with water)
Loud brake squeaks (replaced pads under warranty, I paid for the rotor turning)
Badly skipping CD player (dealer refused to replace)
Broken driver's side power window switch
Fuel filler cap leaks (check engine light types, twice replaced)
Anyway, the real problem is this: I was living in Hawaii when I bought the car, and didn't put too many miles on it. Around 16,000 miles I had the engine die in a rainstorm. They towed it to the dealership, they told me the battery was dead and replaced it (and charged me for a new battery). On the way home, I got a low coolant light. I refilled the tank when I got home, and got the light again on the way to work the next morning. (no obvious coolant seen under the car) After another trip to the dealer, they told me they called Mazda, and the engine needed to be completely replaced. 3 weeks later I got my car back, and about 2 weeks after that, I was transferred to South Carolina.
Now after two months here (and only 18,000 total miles on the car) I'm apparently leaking coolant again. Now I AM seeing a puddle under the car, so I'm taking it in tomorrow to see what the problem is this time.
I'm going to be seriously concerned if this car needs a SECOND new engine in just 2000 miles. My warranty expires in about a year. Has anyone else seen problems like this? Is Mazda doing anything about it? I love my car, but if it needs another new engine, I can't justify owning it. The dealer says outside warranty the engine replacement is around $5-7k. I can't afford to replace engines more often than I change the oil!!
Just hoping for some other opinions or advice on this situation...Just never had this level of problem with any car I've owned before..
Just as a side note, here's the other "minor" problems this car has had (not counting the recalls for the air bags, the oil pan, the suspension arms and what not):
Flat tire at delivery (dealer's prep guys ran over a nail)
Center console latch (replaced twice)
Leaking rear tail light (filled with water)
Loud brake squeaks (replaced pads under warranty, I paid for the rotor turning)
Badly skipping CD player (dealer refused to replace)
Broken driver's side power window switch
Fuel filler cap leaks (check engine light types, twice replaced)
Anyway, the real problem is this: I was living in Hawaii when I bought the car, and didn't put too many miles on it. Around 16,000 miles I had the engine die in a rainstorm. They towed it to the dealership, they told me the battery was dead and replaced it (and charged me for a new battery). On the way home, I got a low coolant light. I refilled the tank when I got home, and got the light again on the way to work the next morning. (no obvious coolant seen under the car) After another trip to the dealer, they told me they called Mazda, and the engine needed to be completely replaced. 3 weeks later I got my car back, and about 2 weeks after that, I was transferred to South Carolina.
Now after two months here (and only 18,000 total miles on the car) I'm apparently leaking coolant again. Now I AM seeing a puddle under the car, so I'm taking it in tomorrow to see what the problem is this time.
I'm going to be seriously concerned if this car needs a SECOND new engine in just 2000 miles. My warranty expires in about a year. Has anyone else seen problems like this? Is Mazda doing anything about it? I love my car, but if it needs another new engine, I can't justify owning it. The dealer says outside warranty the engine replacement is around $5-7k. I can't afford to replace engines more often than I change the oil!!
Just hoping for some other opinions or advice on this situation...Just never had this level of problem with any car I've owned before..
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Sorry to hear about that... looks like you may have one of those '03 built dates curse... I'm assuming your second motor was a reman? I'm wondering if those that also had more than one engine replaced, what the original build dates of the 2nd (rebuilt) engines were, and if that's a factor at all.
I'm figuring that since you went from HI to SC, you're in the military?
I'm figuring that since you went from HI to SC, you're in the military?
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Yeah, I'm in the Navy. Going to be here in SC for another two years, then off to who knows where.
Took the car in today, and the dealership doesn't know where the leak is yet. Hopefully it's not another new engine in the works..
What's the '03 curse? Anything I should know about?
Took the car in today, and the dealership doesn't know where the leak is yet. Hopefully it's not another new engine in the works..
What's the '03 curse? Anything I should know about?
Last edited by bluedragon9r; Aug 21, 2006 at 05:56 PM.
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Just found this thread... I think it applies mostly to AT models.
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-media-news-11/mazda-expects-recall-rx-8s-97039/
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-media-news-11/mazda-expects-recall-rx-8s-97039/
Mentalhealth is overrated
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,289
Likes: 2
From: Calgary
Originally Posted by bluedragon9r
I have a 2004 RX-8 MT I purchased in October 2003. Other than a few minor things, the car has been great.
Just as a side note, here's the other "minor" problems this car has had (not counting the recalls for the air bags, the oil pan, the suspension arms and what not):
Flat tire at delivery (dealer's prep guys ran over a nail)
Center console latch (replaced twice)
Leaking rear tail light (filled with water)
Loud brake squeaks (replaced pads under warranty, I paid for the rotor turning)
Badly skipping CD player (dealer refused to replace)
Broken driver's side power window switch
Fuel filler cap leaks (check engine light types, twice replaced)
Anyway, the real problem is this: I was living in Hawaii when I bought the car, and didn't put too many miles on it. Around 16,000 miles I had the engine die in a rainstorm. They towed it to the dealership, they told me the battery was dead and replaced it (and charged me for a new battery). On the way home, I got a low coolant light. I refilled the tank when I got home, and got the light again on the way to work the next morning. (no obvious coolant seen under the car) After another trip to the dealer, they told me they called Mazda, and the engine needed to be completely replaced. 3 weeks later I got my car back, and about 2 weeks after that, I was transferred to South Carolina.
Now after two months here (and only 18,000 total miles on the car) I'm apparently leaking coolant again. Now I AM seeing a puddle under the car, so I'm taking it in tomorrow to see what the problem is this time.
I'm going to be seriously concerned if this car needs a SECOND new engine in just 2000 miles. My warranty expires in about a year. Has anyone else seen problems like this? Is Mazda doing anything about it? I love my car, but if it needs another new engine, I can't justify owning it. The dealer says outside warranty the engine replacement is around $5-7k. I can't afford to replace engines more often than I change the oil!!
Just hoping for some other opinions or advice on this situation...Just never had this level of problem with any car I've owned before..
Just as a side note, here's the other "minor" problems this car has had (not counting the recalls for the air bags, the oil pan, the suspension arms and what not):
Flat tire at delivery (dealer's prep guys ran over a nail)
Center console latch (replaced twice)
Leaking rear tail light (filled with water)
Loud brake squeaks (replaced pads under warranty, I paid for the rotor turning)
Badly skipping CD player (dealer refused to replace)
Broken driver's side power window switch
Fuel filler cap leaks (check engine light types, twice replaced)
Anyway, the real problem is this: I was living in Hawaii when I bought the car, and didn't put too many miles on it. Around 16,000 miles I had the engine die in a rainstorm. They towed it to the dealership, they told me the battery was dead and replaced it (and charged me for a new battery). On the way home, I got a low coolant light. I refilled the tank when I got home, and got the light again on the way to work the next morning. (no obvious coolant seen under the car) After another trip to the dealer, they told me they called Mazda, and the engine needed to be completely replaced. 3 weeks later I got my car back, and about 2 weeks after that, I was transferred to South Carolina.
Now after two months here (and only 18,000 total miles on the car) I'm apparently leaking coolant again. Now I AM seeing a puddle under the car, so I'm taking it in tomorrow to see what the problem is this time.
I'm going to be seriously concerned if this car needs a SECOND new engine in just 2000 miles. My warranty expires in about a year. Has anyone else seen problems like this? Is Mazda doing anything about it? I love my car, but if it needs another new engine, I can't justify owning it. The dealer says outside warranty the engine replacement is around $5-7k. I can't afford to replace engines more often than I change the oil!!
Just hoping for some other opinions or advice on this situation...Just never had this level of problem with any car I've owned before..
I'm on my third engine. I have an MT..live in a cooler climate and don't use synthetic oil...yet I've still had two engine failures. Both had different symptoms and neither has a coolant leak. I will be dumping the car when my lease is up.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,136
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From: Surprise, Arizona
Hmm Where would a crush washer be in a coolant system?
I was thinking a waterpump seal that failed.
I wouldn't think you had the same issues as me( warped housing) and had coolant leaking from the front rotor housing.
I was thinking a waterpump seal that failed.
I wouldn't think you had the same issues as me( warped housing) and had coolant leaking from the front rotor housing.
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