I am in the new engine club.

Had the 8 back for 10 days

So far so good. First 200 miles.

I honestly did NOT expect there to be any problems when I got it back.

Not yet anyway.

I am more concerned about what happens NEXT summer when it gets hot in Vegas again.

And even more concerned when the new engine gets it's 2nd FULL summer of heat.

My guess it that the engine will NOT make it through it's 2nd summer.

Too bad really.

Love the car. Love driving it. Love the way it looks.

Engine is obviously VERY fragile.

Shame.

Rob in Vegas

 

Did they give you a 'reman' or a new 'out of Japan' block assembly?

 

I am not sure if my engine was brand new or reman.

I am assuming it was brand new, but I will call my guy at magic and ask.

He did tell me a few weeks ago that ALL of the blown engines in Vegas were being sent back to Japan to be rebuilt and then used again.

Since I was 2 months into the "blown engine" problem, I assume that there is a chance that I got a "reman" engine instead of a new one.

Don't know if that really makes a big difference though.

I was told that Mazda had not really changed the engine at all.

I will post more when I call Magic.

Rob in Vegas

 

I was looking at the paper work I have, and looking at the parts breakout, the block was $2300 and wasn't noted that was a reman. On the paper work I have it noted that "remanufactured parts are denoted by ** next to the part #".
Do you have something like this to look at?

 

Wow, it's incredable the way Mazda is acting with this issue, it seems liek a few grand is worth more then their customers. They should have fixed your car wihtout question, they know damn well it's their problem. Do you think other auto makers would try to pull the same scams as it appears Mazda is doing. Their tring to bulley you into paying the 50%, the reaon they are resorting to this kind of behavior is becasue they know they are wrong. Is this what the industry is going to? Anyone what similar experiances with other brands?

You need to get in touch with Mazda corp, and let us know if you were taken care of becasue if not there is not way I am buying this car, too bad becasue my heart was set on it. I would be willing to live with the issues if at least I though Mazda would step up and correct there mistakes, but it looks like they will do anything screw the customer over even when they are clearly wrong.

From this behavior, i kind of doubt they will actually fix this problem, they may fix it on future years, and just try to wait untill the other cars fall out of warrenty, then its not their problem.

Unfortunatly thoes who bought may have to wait untill someone stalls at the wrong time and is killed by a semi, they they may be forced to do somethign about it.

I'm going to wait this one out before I buy, I would feel much better if they did cover all engins with this problem, at least it shows they are admitting they have a problem and are willing to make it right.

 

millyard,instead of repeating the unsubstantiated rubbish found in some of these "whining" posts,why not go out and talk to people who actually own an RX-8?Make your decision on the basis of facts,not bull.Then if you do not want an RX-8 go buy something else.
For myself,I am pleased with my RX-8.

 

....out of proportion.

Some mechanic says he has fixed "20" burned up Renesis motors, and everyone just takes it at face value?
".....the Arizona heat just fries 'em"
- bullcrap.
Australian '8s see hotter temps, a more powerful tune, they have long stretches of "no-speed-limit" roads, and they do it all with ONE oil cooler, not the US spec TWO.

There is no mass failure, nor is the engine "weak" or delicate.

S

 

Hey S,
Who said Az heat fries 'em. So what gives?
Granted Az, TX and Nv are hot, but I really don't believe the summer heat in the SW makes the engine fail.

 

I have talked to several 8 owners and they said they have had no problems at all besides the recall and flashes, which they said were painless and pretty much expected on a new car.

I'm stating that I don’t like the way Mazda is handling the issue regarding SimbaKui and this will effect my decision, fair enough?

I don’t like supporting a company that is willing to screw over it customers both out of principal and for the fact that I don’t want to get screwed myself.

I’m also realistic, I know probably not more then a few percent of the cars that are affected at this point, but when the majority of the cars hit higher mileage will it be higher, does the probabilities of a failure with use vary in a linear fashion or more exponentially, these questions give me pause.

I never said I didn’t like the car, I wouldn’t be spending my time on this forum if I didn’t, I’m here to gather as much information as I can so I know what to expect and I thank the people on this fourm for giving me that opportunity.

Are you calling these people who are posting liars? I don’t know what motivation they would have for deceiving us. Do you believe that Mazda should not cover out of warranty engine failures, when someone has sent the car in for the same known problem before the warranty expired? To me this is despicable.

 

With respect,there is something wrong with SimbaKui's story.Clue 1 is the Aug 2005 join date,clue 2 is the use of 3 dealers---it is common for customers who are trying to beat the system to 'shop around' dealers.If the story is true why not go through the adjudication process established to resolve problems between automakers and customers? Why wait so long before starting the process.
A healthy dose of scepticism is required when reading sites such as this,so yes some people who post are liars,some are confused.some are just **** disturbers.
I also note that you are a longstanding member of this forum.I wonder what your REAL motivation is?

 

Well, it looks like I'm going to be a member of the club after all. What a dubious distinction.

Pre-order 2004 MT, 47K miles, in at the dealership for numerous issues that I have been reporting for quite some time now. As some of you may recall, I had a problem over the summer with power loss and engine stalling. The dealership would do nothing about it because they couldn't duplicate the problem. My other big problem has been excessive vibration at idle.

I finally decided to try another dealership for my last warranty service. I gave them a list of issues that I was concerned about. At first they said they were going to replace both engine mounts and some other rubber bushing. A day later, I got a call saying, "Well, I have good news or bad news, depending on your perspective. We need to replace the engine." I about fell off my chair. In the interest of the forum, I probed him for details on how they arrived at this conclusion. Unfortunately, I didn't get the amount of detail I hoped for, only which issue I reported that was the reason for replacing the engine. "The tech said number 5 on your list is the reason they are replacing the engine".

So, for anyone who's interested, here's the list of issues I provided them when I dropped off the vehicle:


SERVICE ISSUES FOR 11/1/05

1) Perform 45K service EXCEPT FOR OIL/FILTER CHANGE.

2) Perform CONTROL ARM recall.

3) Perform Fuel Tank Insulator recall.

4) Determine cause of vibration at idle. This problem first reported to a different dealership at 21K miles. Reported again at 30K. I was told the passenger side engine mount was replaced, but in reviewing the invoice, I see no record of it. SYMPTOMS: The car vibrates at idle, especially when the A/C clutch engages. Most noticeable when the car is completely warmed up. Causes the rear doors to rattle when they are open, and vibrations can be seen in the side-view mirror. If a tech needs to take this car home to get sufficient drive time, I would welcome it. I'm tired of living with this problem!

5) Car makes unusual squeaking/whirring/ticking noises, which can be heard in the morning when first started up, and in the evening before shutdown. Squeaking in proportion to RPM. Recommend a quiet environment, e.g. enclosed garage to listen for sounds. This also was first reported at 21K miles. None of these sounds existed in at least the first 10K miles. Basically, this $33K vehicle makes sounds that I would expect to hear from a 10K Hyundai econobox. It is aggravating to listen to this car in my garage every day. Again, I would welcome a master tech taking this car home with him to experience the sounds/vibrations that I hear and feel every day.

6) There is a rattle in the suspension/undercarriage that can be heard out the passenger-side window when going over certain bumps. Can sometimes be heard when crossing the reflective lane dividers. Best heard when there is a wall or buildings on the passenger side for the sound to reflect off of. Generally heard at higher speeds (50 or over).

7) The car often pulsates when light-to-normal braking is applied at highway speeds. Especially noticeable when braking on decline. Does not translate to steering wheel, and not much in brake pedal either. I had previously thought it was from worn tires, but still happens with the new ones. Also, I have lately been hearing a noise from the left front tire area when backing up and braking. Noticed it especially when backing down a hill. Applying the brakes would cause a single sound like something releasing that was stuck (caliper???) Could make it repeat by completely releasing the brake, then reapplying while coasting backward. Car was always cold when this happened (leaving after work).

8) I noticed today when I first started the car that I could hear a lot of air in the coolant circulating behind the dash while idling. This is also a previously reported issue. Is this a normal condition?

9) The clutch was replaced at 41.8K due to a rattling sound at idle with the clutch disengaged. Since replacement, I have heard more transmission noise than I used to, e.g. when driving in 3rd, 4th, or 5th at constant RPM. It is a gravelly, grinding type of sound. Please advise.


FYI: A lot of these noise/vibration problems began shortly after the Transmission Dynamic Damper recall was performed. Could something have been done improperly? Also, the suspension rattling sound has not been happening as long as the other sounds.


Number 5 certainly didn't sound to me like a 'replace the engine' type of problem, but the service tech said they have to go through a specific set of procedures to get authorization on an engine replacement, so I guess it must have led them to something major. It is also my understanding that they did not do a compression check.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll learn more about this in the coming days. Will report what I learn. And to answer the inevitable question, yes it is a remanufactured engine - according to the service tech, that is the only way the dealerships get a replacement engine. If anyone has any knowledge to the contrary, I'd sure like to hear about it.

 

Someone should start a poll. I'd be interested to see just how many have had engines replaced. Along with build date info.,engine, exhaust mods,turbos etc.


I'm not denying that some are needing to be replaced but, I'm a little tired of some people who have had no engine problems at all coming in here and making this sound as though it's a major problem with the RX8 in general. Personally I'm not too worried about it yet. Mine runs flawless,better than the day I bought it and I have no plans to do any major engine mods. Now when Mazda starts buying back 8's that's when I may get concerned.

 

Whoa, that is exact symptom of my car and I am getting a new engine right now. I thought you gotten hold of my service record somehow. Slight deviation is that vibration didn't change whether I had A/C on or not. It is heat related because vibration is non-existent when car is started and engine is cold. I have been reading this forum about engine problems and it's very depressing. I guess I am a proud member of new engine club.

 

New member also. Same symptoms, dealer also not sharing WHY the engine was replaced, and received a reman engine even though I was told the engine would be new.

Just got the car back and its going back in for rough idle and to get clarification for what was done.

Dealer and Mazda have been very secretive and misleading throughout the process.

Chris

 

i was 2 hrs away from home and the car was acting fine (so i thought) than after leaving a toll booth and reaching around 40 the power just dropped off i got a lil freaked when the CEL started flashing. than i tried to get on it. nothin. so i started pulling over and then then it stalled got to the edge of the road stalled again and there i sat with no motor than got it home mazda swapped it now runnin better than ever

 

The only serious problem i've had yet, was flooding my engine, being 150% my fault, but hey i got new free sparkplugs from the dealership =) Oh and the recals. I love the 8 oh so much!

 

Member of new engine club also. They first installed the second oil cooler but that didn't help so installed a new(reman.) engine. Seems to be running okay now...but even thought we really like the 8 are looking at new vehicles. They replaced the engine but more than likely still have the problem after a couple of summers in Texas. The car had 29500 miles.

 

Participants on this thread may also want to check the 'Blown Motor' thread as well.

 

Looks like I just joined. Not sure what happened yet, but I'll know more tomorrow.

 

Mileage?

 

36,500.

 

Why have you concluded that your engine is toast?

 

i beleive that i am also about to be a member of the new engine club, the people tell me that its like 90% positive its new engine time

thank god for warranties

car was stalling after getting hot, wouldnt restart for a few

car has about 17300

Tracker

 

^^^ auto or stick?

 

Stick, they say my #2 rotor isnt getting enough compression, i have the tech telling me that the motor has a problem, and i have the guy at the service counter telling me that my K&N intake is allowing unfiltered air into my engine? (you can always tell when someone has no idea of what the hell they are talking about)

Tracker