I live in Austin, TX. It gets hot here sometimes. So about two weeks ago I was sitting at a stop light with A/C running and my car dies. After a few tries it starts back up and I go on my way. But the thing was I felt a huge power loss. I have had the coils previously replaced (by mazda), and I had problems with my engine flooding (fixed that myself). So I kinda just let it go and didn't too much of it. about 4 days later I decided to call the dealership and see if there was anything I could do. They said to keep an eye on it over the weekend and let them know what happens.

Well it wasn't hot enough to really justify using the A/C, but I did anyways just to be on the safe side of things. Sure enough, the day after calling the dealership it dies at a stop light again. This time it was much harder to start back up. So I call them the next day. And they say to bring it in on monday and they will take a look at it. After three days of driving around in the sweet *** Tribute they gave me (no tint and all), and not hearing back from them, I called to see what the deal was. They decided to tell me that they had ordered a new engine from mazda due to "engine problems." I had already been having a super stressful week and totally forgot to ask more questions as to what kind of problems, but I will do that ASAP.

I was only 3k miles away from being out of warranty, so this is a huge relief that they figured something out before that happened. Anyone have any speculations on what it might have been? I would love to hear them, and I will let you know after I call them tomorrow and find out what truly was the problem.

 

compression failure

 

3k before warranty is up is good timing.
It's generally believed that insufficient internal lubrication is the cause, hence why Mazda has been constantly updating the PCM software, revising the Oil Metering Pump injection rates, etc.

 

Seriously, I'm am so happy your car was stock when you brought it to the dealership.

 

What year was it?

 

he has a great topic/AUTObiography on the problem and why it happened. Look him up on the garage and look at his posts. I think its called "engine problem solved" you can find it on the searhc bar. You will have no problems with the new engine ill tell you that. Good luck on the triburte and take it off roading it isn't urs anyways!

 

2004

 

Thanks for the feedback guys! I had someone else tell me it was engine compression possibly. I will let you all know tomorrow!

 

Compression Problem...good times. Engine wasn't even delivered yet.

 

Hey Kevin, I too live in Austin, TX. I too have a 2004 RX-8 (AT). I am on my THIRD engine and this one is running pretty rough the warmer it's getting outside.

Roger Beasley South or North? I go to South.

So what are our factory warranties, now? I know they expanded them because of all the issues.

 

THIRD?? Thats a scary thought. Mine is running great at the moment. How come you have had so many replaced? Do run it rough? Or baby it? I am not sure bout the warranty status. I need to call and check on that. I go north.

 

I am also on my third engine. First one i beat the hell out of and the second i babied did not make a difference in my case.

 

Did Mazda try to save either by de-carboning the engine?

 

How about your previous engines..... Did Mazda try to save either by de-carboning the engine? What type of driving did you do, mostly city short trips?

 

First replaced engine was at 33,000 miles. I neither babied it all the time, nor drove it like a bat out of hell all the time. It was a pretty equal mixture. 70% city/30% highway. The engine started getting really problematic as the temperatures rose during summer.

Second engine, was replaced at 49,000 miles. Again, neither babied nor driven at an extreme all the time. Again, when summer came around (August actually) is when the engine bit the dust.

No, Mazda didn't try cleaning the carbon out either time - they just installed the new engines.

Ever hear of the law of diminishing returns? 33,000mi first engine, 16,000mi second engine, and now my current engine is acting up (and guess what -- it's been 90 degrees a few days recently... it's not even *summer* yet). I am at 56,000 so that is only 7,000mi on this 3rd engine.

I think they are just popping in re-mans that have already been busted and then re-manned again, thus limiting the lifespan of them.

 

My first motor lasted 30k and my second motor lasted 35k. So with only 65k on the car i got my third motor. No decarb.

 

Do any of you premix?

 

I'm using Lucas UCL by itself. As it cleans deposits AND provides lubrication.


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