So I'm Not a big fan of the Mazda Dealer
 

Last weekend I thought I needed a new starter kit, so I took the car into the local dealership. The service people are assholes to me anyway for having the Greddy kit, so I don't look forward to going there. I call Monday morning to see if it's ready and they tell me the car has failed the compression test, and the readings are 5 and 2. I say, that's impossible, it's a brand new motor and runs great. It's rich at idle and u can smell the gas, and there is a bulletin issued for the starter, so I feel it's flooded and needs a new starter on top of that. They say, "we didn't replace the starter b/c of the compression test". So, I get it back down to Kannapolis to Rotor Sports, and they de-flood the engine. It still has trouble starting, but they reduced sum fuel at idle and it's holding vaccum between 12 and 15 and has a steady and smooth idle. Their compression test numbers were better, but still sumwhat low, and we feel it's because the starter is not turning the motor enough during the test since this starter sucks. So, I called the Mazda dealer in Conchord, about 10 mins from Rotor Sports and the car is going to them tomorrow for a new free starter under warranty, and then furhter compression tests will be done. I really feel that the compression test results will be better b/c of the starter, b/c if they were infact as low as 2 I don't think the car would be drivable, and especially would not drive as well as mine did. I think everything will be better w/ that new kit, and I can't wait to here the results and then notify my local dealer for telling me I blew my engine so I can thank them for their "professional input".

why would you think they would be of any assistance to you with an obviously heavily modified car?

Because they are to many of us.

It really depends on which dealer you go to. Hopefully this one in Conchord is more friendly.

-hS

Yea they seem like it. I told him the whole situation and he was like ahh just bring it in tomorrow and we'll put the starter on for u under warranty. That at least sounds like a step above the local one cus they didnt even do it after they checked the compression. Just their way of tryin to get me to buy a new engine and pay for it now instead of getting a free starter kit.

There is no point in doing a compression check when a rotary engine is flooded--there is almost no compression because a lot of oil is washed off the seals.Of course this is the major reason the engine will not start!

Didn't they give you the RPMs associated with their compression numbers? (either place)

Just when they try to turn it over, and I think that's only at like 200rpm. But, the car runs so well when it is started that I really doubt that the compression is that low. When I asked the local dealer "wouldn't the readings be lower b/c it's flooded and needs that new starter?", they replied w/ maybe sumwhat but not as low as urs are. Then I said "Well, if it was a 2, I wouldn't be able to drive the car and espeacially not as well as it drives anyway" and of course they came back with "Well, sumtimes they pick up compression over night and when ur dirving". The service manager also said that this happens when the car runs to lean, and I was like yea thanks alot b/c my car is running pig rich! That's when I said, screw u, the car is going to Rotor Sports again. (minus the screw u part) ;).

what the hell is 5 and 2 ? didnt they give you a printed version of the test results?

a compression check done by a mazda dealer will have a number for each chamber of each rotor (6 numbers) plus the difference between the Highest and lowest chamber in each rotor plus the difference between the hicghest over all number in one rotor and the lowest overall number in the rotor PLUS the crank speed.

5 and 2 is not anything meaningful

5 and 2 are just done w/ a different gauge in different units. Other gauges read maximum compression. I'm not sure what units their in, but they seemed usless to me too until a guy at Rotor Sports explained it to me, cus I had never heard of results like that either.

So any updates? Did you get the car back from the other dealer?

-hS

I think I'm either gonna get it tomorrow, or if everything is ok w/ the new starter kit and the compression test shows better results, I may just leave it cus Sat is my dyno day down there anyway.

So I got the new starter kit and like everyone else said, the difference is AMAZING! Starts up so easily every time. The sound was definitely different at first, but I soon learned to live with it. I think I'm gonna take it back to the local dealer and be like, umm, thanks anyways for all of ur help but another mazda dealer installed this for me anyway, and thanks alot for the great diagnoses of my engine since now it starts and runs...well, great. :mdrmed:

Dude do that take it to the local place and talk to the manager. I hate when they do that . also ask for the # for your mazda REP every state has a MAZDA REP .. call the REP and tell them these what happend.

I might just do that. I'm gonna take it there for inspection soon anyway, so I'll let em know whats up.

in from MD too what dealer is that anyway.