dying_here

Hi, I installed a set of espelir springs onto my stock ( Shinka.. supposingly upgraded suspension?) struct over the weekend with the help of a liscened mech in my garage. we didnt bother to mark the alignment bolt on the rear because I already have a wheel alignment appointment booked with mazda for Weds.

But after we installed the springs and I start up the car, I see the ABS and traction control warning light on. The mech told me its probably because the alignment is so off the computer shuts them down, but hes not sure because he doesnt work with mazda, mostly with toyota.

Then this morning on my way to school the auto headlight leveler malfunction light comes on as well. So I'm wondering if this is normal due to alignment and something that will go away after I get the alignment done, or is it due to some potential bigger problem that I should be concern about?

thanks

Cam

iTrader: (1)

It could be from the drop of the spring install, but many other owners have done spring installs without ABS lights.

My guess would be that during install the ABS sensors at one of the wheels came loose/unplugged.

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Just installed shocks/springs a couple of weeks ago and had the same problem. Turns out the guy that was helping me accidentally smashed the wheel speed sensors on the front drivers side hub. I'm not the first person this has happened to either if you search around. Mine cost $400 for the dealer to replace, but I've seen others pay as much as $600.

RoXanneBlack8

the auto headlight issue......check ur connectors, their is a suspension load sensor on the drivers side front and drivers side rear suspension. they monitor the "rake" the car has, thats height diff between front wheels and rear wheels. if ur rake is way diff from the manufact. specs....RAKE not overall height.....then it may get weird. also check to see if u damaged either sensor or they r loose. ive seen someone smash one completewly and the light go on

dying_here

holy **** that sounds bad~ $400-600?!

where exactly is this wheel speed senor?? so I can take a look at this when I get home

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

On the front wheels it's on the underside of the wheel hub. Just follow the wires. The rear wheel sensors seem to be in a possition that is a little less likely to be damaged, but those can also be found by following the sensor wire.

devildog1679

I just put in my MS suspension on Saturday. As soon as I started up the ABS and DCS lights came on Turns out we forgot to reconnect the sensors Check those

chrism

did you disconnect the battery at any point?

dying_here

you have no idea how relieve I am to hear that Since i have BOTH the ABS and traction light vs just ABS light I guess its probably just a loose connection vs wheel speed sensor damage.

Where did you reconnect the sensors?? the same one under the wheel hub? I do not recall disconnecting any adatper/sensor during the spring install. or is it something thats under the hood. I remember disconnecting some adapter/plug so I can get the wrench in to remove the front sway bar but i definitly reconnected that one

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

At each wheel there is a wire that you would have had to unbolt and move away from the suspension components to get the shock/spring assembly out. But you wouldn't need to actually disconnect them from the sensor at the end of the wire, just unbolt the guides to move them out of the way.

Go to each wheel and find that wire, follow it down to the wheel hub and check the sensor. It could be that the sensor is disconnected, or it could be damaged. I had the same two lights that you do, ABS and the DCS error light (little car over squiggly lines). I would check the fronts first. Jacking it up and removing the wheel will make it much easier, but you can do it without also, but it's a tight squeeze.

dying_here

oh man now im depressed again.

Can't wait to go home and check it out ..

dying_here

ok well good news I think.. and bad news...

I hope I'm looking at the right thing so help me out . Sorry I somehow only have limited pictures. i thought i took a **** load before I lowered my car but only 2 turned out.

is this the wheel speed sensor you are referring to ?


I found it here:



both of them seem attached ( on the fronts). the driver side one was slightly off ( like... 5mm).. I wiggled it back in.. started the car and the ABS/Traction light is no longer on!! I should've taken it around the block see if it comes back on.. but.. well I will do that in a little bit.

But the bad news.. I think I find the source of my Auto headlight leveler problem.
I thought I took pictures of it but i guess not.

Either way can you guys tell me if this is the headlight adjustment thingy. it is like this one on the rear except its on the driver front. It is a piece of plastic rod that is connected to the lower control arm. The front piece is broken in half ( so half attached to the lower control arm, the other half hanging on the... upper.. or whatever the other side is
:


potentially an expensive fit? dosnt seem like any computer wire going through that rod.

dying_here

sorry last pic suppose to be that one

dying_here

ok I took the car to mazda and nothing but bad news. I wiggled the ABS senor back in last night and the ABS/traction and the light didnt come on again last night after driving around for ~ 30 mins.

I got a call from mazda this morning from the car.. they said

after $150 worth of labour looking at the car...
1) the suspensions are all put in incorrectly, they will have to redo that ( i will have to talk to the mechanic that helped me install.. hopefully he will share some of the damage). esimated cost : $250-300 in labour

2) the front headlight adjustment rod is broken. But they cannot get a new rod without buying the entire Module, which is quoted at $395 + labour. I told them I will just try to find the rod myself instead of buying the entire module. So if anyone know of anything totaled RX8 that I can grab taht one rod off (last picture but for front driver side). i would REALLLY appreicate it... really really appreciate it.

3) ABS/Traction. they said the initial inspection the mechanic does not see any damage to the ABS sensor unit, they think it might be unplugged/loose but they've stopped working on it. If it is just a loose connector then it will be no cost to me, but other wise like others I'm looking at replacing the wheel sensor.

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear that. Did they explain how it was installed incorrectly? Did you follow any of the DIYs from this forum? I did and everything worked out except for the sensor that got smashed, but that wasn't my fault or the fault of the DIY.

devildog1679

What makes them think the suspension was put in incorrectly? Does it ride fine? They may be trying to sucker you out of more money. If it was put in wrong the mechanic who did the job should fix it free of charge. Did you pay cash or credit? If the job was done wrong and you paid by credit have the Mazda dealer write a letter stating it was done wrong then send in a dispute to your credit card co. As for the headlight adjuster rod, I almost broke that damn thing to.

dying_here

The mech that helped me in my garage was a friend of my sister who work as a mech for a toyota dealership so I guess he is not fimilar with mazda vechicle. I I paid him a bit of cash for helping me out but I'll be definitly make him pay me back every penny of it. Beside the obvious borken headlight adjuster rod, I asked how the suspension the suspension was put in incorrectly and they said

1) a piece of plastic part was missing between the front struct and the car. apparently its like a piece of plastic film.

2) the rear suspension are both put in incorrectly. One side the bolts was too right somewhere on the struct so it is ~1 inch llower than it should be. The other side the spring was installed in the incorrect orientation ( not upside down but somehow .. twisted) so that side is 1 inch higher than it should be

3) he also mentioned that some of the bolts/washer was put in incorrectly ( wrong direction/oritentation).

4) like i mentioned earlier. potential problem w/ the ABS sensor, might be a damage sensor, might be a loose plug. either way something I wrong.

I told them to write down a list of problem as they are working on it so i can discuss it w/ the guy who installed my springs. But from the sound of things I rather pay a little bit more to get mazda to fix it and then get the money back from the mech than to let the mech have a second whack at it.

dying_here

and yeh I definitly followed the DIY ( both the one in the DIY forum and the one posted on JIC coilerover install found on google), thats what promoted me to do it in my garage instead of just sending it str8 to the dealer.

jzief128

iTrader: (1)

Well, looking at the things Mazda said are wrong, I think you fix most of them yourself:

1) The plastic film is just a plastic film, flimsy film at that. It seems to be there mainly for protection between the metal surfaces of the strut and where it connects to the frame. IMHO, it doesn't seem like a big deal if its not there.

2) Did you use a torque wrench to tighten all the bolts and properly preload the suspension when needed? If you follow the instructions in MazdaManiac's DIY for the Tokico D-Specs https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/diy-tokico-adjustable-shock-install-87244/ (which is a great DIY, by the way), you should be able to fix that. For the twisted spring, you'll just need to get the spring compressors onto the spring and compress the spring a bit. Once its loose enough, you can twist the spring back to where it needs to be. Yo may need to lower the strut out of its seat a bit for this though.

3) I don't know what bolts and washers they are talking about, but if its in the actually strut assembly, that DIY will show the order you need to put the suspension.

phat8

THIS IS IRONIC!! 2day this same thing happened 2 me. but i was'nt doing any suspension mods or removing of wheels!

I done as the D.I.Y amp installation thread said. removed the washer bottle and drilled a hole not 2 far in to the car, saw i had 2 stick the wie downwards and managed 2 get it right and was happy and excited 2 finish the rest of the wiring but went 2 the shop 2 get a sof drink but was shocked when i was driving to the shop i saw when i pushed my BRAKE pedal the ABS light on the right side guage display came on and the light which shows a car with a slippery wheel mark sign below it on the middle guage display also came on simultaneously. The ABS is also not working! IM CONCERNED!! W.T.F? when i switch the 8 off and start it up again the lights r off but as soon as i touch the brake pedal the same thing happens! where is this sensor? and the plugs? pls help...

mmats69

depending on where you are it may be hard to find an 8 that has been totalled. the same thing happened to me when installing my springs. ABS sensor came loose from the wheel and i had to get a whole new set including hub. ~$600. if you turn your front wheels all the way to the right or left you can see the speed sensor and if it is connected or not. good luck. looks like you're in it deep.

dying_here

ok I just got off the phone w/ the dealer. I find this to be a little ridiculous.. want to see what do you guys think.

I said I will find the parts to the headlight adjuster myself, so no cost there.
They said the ABS was unplugged at the on position so all they had to do was to clear the computer, no cost there.

But the total bill is $680 CAD. and here is how they broke it down

-Alignment. I'm not sure how much they charge but I assume $90, same price as canadian tire or honda dealer. +/- $20
- $89.95 for 1 hour of inspection. thats for finding out and tell me the springs are installed incorrectly, the headlight adjuster is broken...etc
- 3 hours of labour for reinstalling the springs ( seems awefully long) ($270)
- 1 hours of labour for .. something with camber.. and bolts. not sure it is but he said its something thats under the suspension, some alignment bolt that was put on incorrectly. ($90)
- misc Price for lubricant for bolts, use of shop tools..

now I have no problem w/ the alignment.. of cause. I have no problem w/ the $90 diagnosis cost.

But do you think its a bit ridiculous to charge 4 hours = ~$360 to install 4 springs? There is no damage done to the suspension /parts etc etc. beside the diagnosis part, isn't it just the same as installing a new set of springs. Take springs out, put springs back in. if they charge me 2.5-3 hours for the re-install. fine.. but another hour to adjust some bolt?!?!
do you guys think i have a case here?

devildog1679

I put in my MS springs and shocks this weekend and forgot the plastic film. I doubt it makes a difference like you said. It's mainly to reduce the metal on metal noise, I think

Astral

how did you break the headlight sensor rod?