zenmoused

Insist that he fuels it up. He's getting $60 from Mazda to do so. If he doesn't, report him to Mazda North America. Remember, Mazda isn't doing you any favors by doing this recall. They're saving their asses and inconveniencing you in the meantime. Washing your car and filling it with gas is the least they can do.

Tirminyl

Mazda is saving your engine vs ignoring it.

Detrich

My 4206F recall procedure went very smooth and took about 4 hours:

- Performed tests.
- Replaced 2 leading spark plugs.
- Re-calibrated power control module.

In addition, they changed the oil & filter and inspected fluids, belts, hoses w/ full circle inspection.

And, oh yah... One other thing...

** THEY ******* SCRATCHED MY BABY GODDAMN IT! @#$#$ **

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/rx-8-scratched-alhambra-mazda-during-service-98418/

ph0tic

Muahaha I'm so breaking the rules because 4206 isnt over for me yet... But its in progress... First some gaping holes.

Old(1) VS New(3)

And then a Service Rep ran me off... bastard. Master tech was cool tho, good thing i didnt mention taking pictures....
And the point of this all was.... uh... I've never seen my engine before. HEY all you cool people that actually know mechanical stuff leave me alone. I thought it was cool :P. Photobucket saves the day.

zenmoused

Welp, got my recall done. I also had my transmission replaced. They just flashed my computer and replaced the leading plugs. They called me and said it was all done, and I asked "did you wash it and fill it with gas?" .."uh no we didn't have time to do that. " So I showed up and had them fill it up with gas before I left. I figured I ought to give it a good coat of wax anyway.

Gotta say the new transmission is SOO much better than my old one. Gears actually work every time! According to the butt-dyno, my car feels a little faster and smoother. Where it was finicky before, it seems to be refined now. All in all, I'd say a good recall.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Photic, I can't see the pictures...

ph0tic

Did your shifting feel clunky when idling and going from one gear to another? Man now i want a new tranny too :P hehe im such a recall ***** :P.

Huhwha

Just got back from Mazda Direct. The good news - no new engine. Just a re-flash - plugs had been changed earlier with new starter & battery.

The bad news - this joint has gone to ****. They seem to have had a change in personnel and they really don't give a ****. I called a week ago to make the appointment and told them they would also need to replace my broken parking brake cover, per the TSB. Yeah - they never ordered the part. Great - now I have to waste more time going back there.

They ran my car through their half-assed car wash - got some of the dirt off. Never bothered with the inside. No gas. Sent me to their Hertz rental joint on the property where I got a base Corolla - radio & heater - nothing else.

I think I'll contact MNAO and see if they will at least send the money for the gas these guys are trying to steal. The really bad part is the rest of the stealerships around here suck worse.

zenmoused

Yeah it was kinda weird. The shifting flat out wouldn't happen sometimes when it was cold, and the major thing was I couldn't downshift into second. Never. I would have to double-clutch to go from third to second, otherwise it flat out wouldn't let me through the gate. The new tranny is VERY quiet (even with the stock non-synth fluid) and best of all lets me shift through every gear! Now if I can just un-learn the cringe I get every time I downshift into second...

cuzzin

Just got back from Mazda. Car was there 2 days. I also have no new engine. My car was running perfectly before the recall and is running seemingly unchanged after. They replaced the leading spark plugs and applied the latest firmware. That was it.

I had a chat with the tech who did the work and asked him about the number of engines that were replaced at that dealer. He indicated that so far there has only been one. He told me that the car ran great but part of the testing they do is an overnight coolant pressure test. This test seems brutal. The test is to pressurize the coolant system and leave it that way overnight with the spark plugs removed. Then to attempt to start it in the morning with the spark plugs still removed. On this particular car while trying to start it itr threw coolant out one of the spark plug holes. New engine required.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

How did you get them to replace your tranmission anyway ? whats wrong with yours ?

My Transmission feels kinda weird lately. I dunno how to say it, but just weird.

I made my appointment already, recall letter still not in yet, but I think it will be here before then.

devious12

Had the recall done without any letter. My battery connections were loose so the power in my car kept going out, fine now. They did 2 flashes which caused better acceleration, and more lub in the engine, I love lub! Definately more power, the car doesn't drag through the RPMs and I'm very happy. Now lets just see how long this 3rd engine will last

ssnrx8

Had the recall 4206F done on my 04 over a week ago when I went in for a oil change. I live in the Washington DC area and have not gotten a recall letter yet. I've had no loss of power or idle problems. I also have not experiened hard starting. The dealer did the reflash. They also did the "engine cranks, no start" (Bulletin 01-004/05). Battery was okay but they replaced the starter and replaceed the two leading plugs per 01-004/05 which calls for plugs with part number N3Y8-18-110. These plugs are different then the leading plugs called out in the recall procedure which are part number N3Z4-18-110. Don't know why. Oh yeah they did clean the inside and wash the outside and I got a free rental while they did the recall.

JeRKy 8 Owner

Of all the possible RX-8s out there, you had to show us a picture of a YELLOW one being gutted. You sick bastard.

ph0tic

Yah she's beautiful. The pictures hurt to look at sometimes..

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

She got strip and rape.

Poor little girl

ph0tic

So the ***** decided my car couldn't be put together before the weekend... keeping me in that bastard child of a rental VAN until Monday...

I did the next best thing and flipped out on Enterprise this saturday. I got an F150 instead... And whats wierd is i kinda like it. I feel like instead of cutting people off, i can now just run over them, all monster truck like and ****.

My 8 better be ******* done by tomorrow. I'm flipping out.

Peter Sawko

Had the recall work done on my 04 GT model last Saturday.

I waited for the car and was in and out in about 1-1/2 hours. No problems, did diagnostics, changed plugs and updated the ECU.

It's been a bit cooler here in the last few days so that could be contributing to a much smoother running engine. My observations are that it just gets better with each recall/ ECU reprogramming. The hesitation from idle into first gear is gone and the idle is steadier. Engine sounds a bit smoother too.

I don't think it's my wishfull thinking I'm very aware of this cars performance.

CarAndDriver

Well I attempted to take my car into Cardinale Mazda in Salinas today to fix the visor and recall stuff.

First Mistake--well they ordered the passenger visor instead of the driver visor! Aaargh. Something about the microfiche being wrong. Blah blah blah. Duh!!!

Second Mistake--when I discussed the 4206F engine recall the service manager said that a loaner car was not provided. Grrrr....and he called someone else in the org and they said it was not either. These people are sucking on too many exhaust fumes.

Well I am holding off on doing the recall stuff till the correct driver's visor comes in. I will print out all the recall information and point out the requirements.

The nice enough manager (J***) said it'd take about an hour to do the plugs and flash. If that's the case, I don't really need a loaner/rental car. However, I'm going to insist on the gas and wash, at least.

Just for reference, I called Seaside Cypress Coast Mazda and the manager there (K**) said no loaner/rental car either.

PRINT OUT THE DEALER LETTERS TO TAKE WHEN YOU GO IN!

corners

I had mine done last Wed/thurs. I was going in to get the clutch squeak taken care of and they did the recall at the same time. New flash only, but I got a CX-7 to drive for two days (they had to order a clutch pedal). They gave me a free tank of gas, washed the car and buffed out the scuff mark on the rear passenger door, fixed the clutch squeak, and generally treated me nice. The car seems to have a more stable idle, other running characteristics are about the same. It is an early 06 with 1700 miles on it.

Chamberlin

iTrader: (1)

Damn, wish I would have said something at the dealer, I just picked up my car
and the tank was BONE dry, and unfortunately, I didn't notice the low fuel light until I was half way home, because I couldn't get my CarPC to boot and I was freaking out!

It took 14.5 gallons to fill, making my gas mileage 15.3 mpg, something I have never experienced (usually 17-18.5) and according to the ODO they drove the car 7 miles. They drove my buddy's 0.6 miles for the same test.
It's like they siphoned gas out of my tank! I know it was low when I brought it in, but damn... It's like they went drag racing with it or sat there in the revving the engine at 9K. How else would they be able to trash my mileage figure in 7 miles?

this was Jim Click Mazda at Automall, nice service advisor, but no communication
about what was done... The receipt just shows they flashed the ECU and that no
abnormalities were noted on test drive..... nothing about spark plugs, cats, or vacuum testing... although when asked, the girl at the service counter said all that stuff was done!!! Hmmmm. 6 days without my car, happy to have it back without needing a new motor, and the new flash, but not too happy with Jim Click's white glove treatment. i will repost on the dealer recal experience thread.

-C

p.s. the first day I was taken to Enterprise, waited almost 3 hours for a rental, and ended up with a full sized Dodge Ram truck! Took it back that afternoon and used my folk's van the rest of the week. Saved Mazda six day's rental (over $200)
and they couldn't fill my tank up!

CarAndDriver

I'd go back the next time I needed a fill-up with the Dealer letters and say, here is my car give me my gas as is stated on this MNAO document.


Update on my ongoing situation:
I printed out the dealer and owner letter Mazda NAO sent out. I faxed it over to the Salinas Mazda Service Manager and politely said, here is what you are supposed to provide for this recall. It clearly states that a loaner/rental car is supposed to be offered regardless of how long the servicing will take in addition to cleaning and a gas fill-up. Please pass this along to the warranty info woman too.

I said if he had any questions that he should call MNAO to clarify proper procedures.

RESULT: Service Manager from Salinas Cardinale Mazda called me back and said that he received the information, verified it with the warranty woman (who was wrong in the first place), and it would all be taken care of when I came in for the recall fix and for the wrongly ordered visor mirror. Appreciated the polite call, but it really shouldn't be on the customer's shoulders to have things followed properly. I feel bad for those not armed with information and printouts. Don't take misinformation for an answer.

drogers5

I am getting a new engine. I live Cheyenne Wyoming and been have lots of power issues when the temp was over 80 deg. I have been in a rental for a week now and the engine is still not in. I have 28,600 on the engine and have been having problems for the last 10,000 miles. I hate getting a new engine but hope power problems are gone.

brillo

I had the recall performed with no issues even with my RP cat. no issues, enjoyed the CX7 for the day.

Old Rotor

I have the same miles as you and wonder how the problems started mine started to Ping at about 5k rpm when pushed up hill hard. Did yours do this? If so whats next? Please fill us in on your model and history of engine problems.