09Factor

I guess i'll start.
I found coolant drops on the floor of the garage and just thought that the overflow tank overflowed. Then I thought about it. That has to be a lot of coolant expansion. So I started looking around the engine bay. I took the front wheels offand there is was a 4" line of dried up and some still wet coolant between the front iron and first rotor housing.
I took into the dealer and they kept it for 8 ours and called me back and confirmed what I saw.

"Sir we have ordered a replacement engine under warranty and will call you when it arrives". They pressure tested it and it was ok to drive but keep an eye on the cooant level. So I picked it up that evening
Cool new engine at 19898 mi.

Well it arrived Aug 3rd and I have 21000 on the car now. It goes in next week for the swap.

The 8 is A/T and this isn't due to the carbon lock issue.

So who else belongs to the New RotorMotor CluB?

zoom44

there wer a few with a bubble in some castings causing coolant seal failures. not the seals themselves that were bad but a casting error in the housing. sorry to hear you got one

CERAMICSEAL

Zoom,
That casting affected both high power and standard power, didn't it?
(We can just follow each other around the forum tonight/ this morning).

09Factor

Thats probally what I have. I forgot about that issue.

zoom44

yes high and low power cars for the casting problem. tag your it ceramicseal

Broke_Apex_Seal

Well I am on my 3rd engine

roxi

Getting a new engine, should be on its way and maybe here today or Monday. Purchased vehicle in August 2003. Any way to look up the VIN to see where and when it was made?

Old Rotor

If you had to list anything you could think of that might have caused your engine failure what would you say? It pinged alot of the time or never. Did it get hot but never into the red? How hard did you drive it? Just any thing you can share with us. I bought my first rotary in '71 and have had an engine replaced, but not since '74. Curious...

zoom44

the build date is on the door edge. the where is hiroshima ujina plant 1. they are all born there.

SimbaKui

My AT 2004 RX-8 (purchased 10/03) is also at the dealership waiting for a new engine. I have experienced the loss of power/pinging noise since 18K miles and took it to 3 different dealerships 4 times while it was under warranty for the problems as well as the CEL light being on continuously. Each time, I was told I may have left the gas cap untightened or a vacuum cap was missing, or that they couldn't find any reason for the CEL light to be on and for the problems I was experiencing.

In Jan of this year, at 47K miles, I took my 8 to the dealership to beg to find out and fix the problem with the car before the warranty expired. Was told once again that they couldn't find anything. At 55K miles, my car stalled at a red light and would not restart for 20 mins! I immediately took the car back in to the 2nd dealership who informed me it may need an oil pump, but Mazda was not releasing this part for sale yet (but also informed me that the car was dangerous and should not be driven!). CEL light was back on that evening.

I then took my 8 to the 3rd dealership right away who found a residue buildup on the engine and said it needed to be cleaned out. Along with the [early] 60K mile inspection/service check-up, my bill totaled almost $900. The CEL light was back on within a week and the loss of power/pinging was still present. Car also stalled at a red light a second time. I took the car back in immediately and was told the engine was just "fouled up" and needed to be replaced to fix the problems I have had since 18K miles! Funny they find it as soon as it is OUT of warranty!!!

The district service manager agreed to cover 50% of the new engine (which was quoted at $3800) but I would be responsible for the other 50% since it is out of warranty, and if I did not accept the offer to pay 50% today, they would rescind the offer! After begging to wait until Monday to make my decision as to whether to accept the 50% or fight for Mazda to cover the whole thing, customer service persuaded the district manager to give me until 5pm on Monday to make my decision if I will accept the 50%. I have all of the maintenance records and service invoices showing this car has been meticulously maintained and at various dealerships for this problem, which were faxed to the district manager prior to his offer.

I wrote a detailed letter to the regional warranty manager (per the suggestion of the attorney general's office) outlining the situation and begging for assistance, but have not heard anything back as of yet. I asked the service manager at my dealership to fax a copy of this letter to the district manager as I wanted him fully aware of the problems on this car, and he refused to allow it to be faxed to him saying I was "beating around the bush and I would accept his offer of 50% or he would take it back and offer nothing"! I feel that Mazda is fully responsible for fixing this car, especially if this is a much larger problem affecting many 8s!

I have read on this forum several times that the AT are known for engine problems, but cannot find posts pertaining to this. Could someone please tell me what type of problems are associated with the AT? I have a feeling I will have to get an arbitrator over this issue and need all the documentation I can find.

Thanks so much!
Tracy in TEMPERATE Maryland

Old Rotor

Look at this one. You will get a engine no prob...

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...2&page=1&pp=15

roxi

Lots of noises from engine since February on acceleration and start up. Never found what it was though. Deceleration problems, stalling problems, engine just dies while driving. Very rough idle with AC on. No "in the red" heat monitor, but fan did come on for quite a while after driving three miles. once when I was taking it into the dealership also. They checked the cel and heat gauge right then, but nothing out of the ordinary they saw. Can't drive a car that isn't safe.

roxi

Thanks.

Straight8

SimbaKui - thats total BS the way the dealership is treating you. I wouldn't stand for a 50% offer at all. They should replace that engine at absolutely no cost to you especially in light of all the other AT's that seem to be turning up with dead engines.

Aratinga

Tracy, you're getting the shaft from the regional manager. Contact Mazda NA directly and insist that your engine be replaced with no cost to you! It sounds like you've already consulted the Atty. General's office, but just in case, here's their webpage on Lemon Law complaints:
http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/lemon.htm
Unfortunately your mileage is too high and your car too old to qualify as a lemon under MD law, but there's useful info there on how to write the letter and who you should be dealing with.

Good luck!

rodrigo67

This is exactly why I am returning this car when my lease runs up. Mazda refusing to repair a defect in an engine that is well known because the car is no longer in it's warrenty period is unacceptable.

This is not the only reason, but was probably the deciding factor. Other issue's include:

Issue's with reliability of transmissions,

Mazda voiding warrenties for driving over 100 mph, not that I do, but just that fact they they are using it to void a warrenty,

Mazda calling reving over 6K abuse and not covering warrenty work, even though the car is avertised as a 9K rev and peek power doesn't even come until 8500 rpm

Engine failures, not just in auto's but manuals also, leading to reliability issues when warrenty is over.

I bought this car as a weekend toy to enjoy 3 seasons a year, and now mazda is telling us we can drive a sports car like a sports car or they will void things. I understand all cars have issues, but it was not something I wanted to spend 30K on and always have to worry about when it's going to break down, and IF mazda will even cover it, even in warrenty. This was simply not a car that I was willing to invest alot into, which is why I leased. I have understood and learned to live with the less then expected gas milage, the less then expect power, but to tell me that I have to live with these AND not drive the car the way it's been advertised is alittle too much to ask. If I wanted a grandma car, I would have bought an Accord. So, one more year for the Rex, and then on to other pastures. I will miss the handling, but I will not miss the frustration.

jeffe19007

Mazda needs to start communicating directly to owners about these issues.

There seems to be more than a few misunderstandings being spread by dealerships and owners that seem incorrect from where I stand.

Mazda needs to use our email id's for more than marketing, and start talking to owners to do rumor and damage (and I mean car here) control.

I also think if they can help us avoid damage to our cars while they figure out what is going on, that would be great too.

Nordic RX-8

Unlikely - If they admit a problem exists, they would be responsible... Better to blame the customer for driving the car as it was marketed. "You mean you actually rev the engine to 9000? void his warranty!"

sharward

Ugh! How awful.

I realize you're in a bit of a panic to accept or decline the "offer" by 5 PM. However, understanding that you had the maintenance records faxed to the district manager -- but so far there's no evidence that those records including your documented complaints and trips to multiple dealers were even considered in the "50% offer." There's also no indication that you even spoke with the regional manager directly yet. For all you/we know, the district manager is making this decision on a two minute cell phone call with limited dealer-tainted data.

I recommend (in addition to everything else you are doing and plan to do) that you make every effort to try to speak with the district manager directly. The dealership may fight you on this, as it may be their policy (or even the district manager's policy) not to allow this. Try your best to be persuasive without being (outwardly) angry -- present your case in a way that inspires them to want to help you (and, by "help," I mean the whole engine replaced at no charge, not the 50% B.S. that's being "granted" right now). You deserve it.

I will be crossing my fingers and toes that you'll be able to post back later today with news of "a big misunderstanding" on the part of the regional manager and a happy ending to your story.

By the way, my gut tells me this "5 PM deadline" isn't being laid down by the district manager. I'm putting my chips on "dealer intimidation."

Good luck. Please keep us in the loop.

--Keith

"Shanika"

I'm not sure about rotor owners of the 7 and previous, but for someone like me who is a first time rotor owner, should I be worried? ..Should I have paid for the extended warranty? Don't get me wrong, I love my 8.. I just don't trust corporations, especially after I hear stories like these.

btw.. 2005 Shinka w/3800 miles.

HeelnToe

Ya think?

One person mentions some idiot employee claiming that 100mph+ is tranny abuse, and suddenly it's official Mazda policy on the forum. Same with 6,000rpm+.

Obviously, it's all BS. If Mazda *knows* that the tranny will shred itself at over 100mph, they'd have to set a fuel cut for 100mph - or be sued out of business. Same as companies do for tire speed ratings.

If Mazda knows the tranny shreds itself at 6,000rpm, the redline warning would be at 6,000rpm.

No one really knows what's going on. Sure, it'd be nice if Mazda somehow became involved in these discussions. But we have to show some discretion and caution too in the assumptions we make.

gettingan8

Do not know what Mazda has done with this new RX-8. My daughter had a 1984 RX-7 and it had 125,000 miles when we traded it. I dont remember any probs with it . I have a 1985 GSL-SE 13b with 90,000 miles on it...only probs ,,,a new clutch and some AC work.

I also have a 2004 RX-8 built in June 2003 with an AT and have had no probs.

PS my RX-7 has a large oil cooler in the center of the front I have owner the RX-7 for 19 years!

dust12

I think you should be in the I traded in my 8 for an EVO club

Razz1

But then he would be Evol.........

Mu ha ha..........

09Factor

Or maybe I should trade it for a STI. Na I'll keep even if it is tempermental.
Ha.