…on my 2006 RX8 Shinka….the service department wants to charge me $2145 for replacing the catalytic convert, ignition coils, spark plugs for a tuneup, with 2 hours of labor at $95.hr.

Then he tells me that Mazda will pay for a free engine replacement, it's causing compression to be too low. Is this what has caused the cat converter and ignition coils to go out? If so, would not all of those repairs fall under the warrantee?

I am in a huge financial bind after tornadoes ripped through my town and could use any good advice I can get…thanks in advance!

 

Anisayni your better of searching other threads using search or in the Series 1 part of the forum which has more info for the 2003-2008 RX8

 

Yeah, put it in the right section but............he's trying to screw you!
You could buy coils and plugs, do it yourself for about $260.00 using a vendor on this site and doing it yourself in 1 hour. http://www.mazmart.com/ItemDetail.aspx?id=2177 and you can even find them cheaper!

The CAT is under a Federally Mandated warranty for 8 years or 80k miles, so if you haven't exceeded that, then tell him you ain't paying for the CAT and replace it.

I would do the coils and plugs myself, then immediately take it to the dealer and tell them to put on a new CAT for free. Then and only then have a compression check done and see if it passes or fails......then go from there.

Most dealers will like to see new coils/plugs before really determining out come of compression, but $2145.00 is raping up the rear and they now it! Don't let them do it!

Plus.............I'm sure there are a few Bama locals that could help you do the coils and plugs if you can't.

 

How many miles on your car, if there is under 8 years old(yes) and 80k miles then the catalytic converter should be replaced free of charge under federal warranty. $2145 does not sound that bad for what they are doing, I think the cat alone was about $1600 from Mazda. I have definitely seen much worse quotes from dealerships posted on here, but mazsurfer is right you should do the work yourself.

 

It's outrageous if he has less than 80k miles......but I understand what you are saying in some sense.
I guess we shall see if he/she has less than 80k miles.
Let's call it $280.00 for coils/plugs <-- A little high, but I included shipping.
$110.00 for one hour labor <-- Again, a little high!

So....if under 80k miles(for the CAT), it shouldn't cost any more than about $400.00-450.00 to get this done, and I'm being conservative again with this number!

 

Sorry if I'm in the wrong thread…I thought I started this one, because I had a hard time finding one that fit my situation.

My car has 90K miles on it. It's because of low compression that Mazda is paying for the engine replacement. I was asking if it was the engine's low compression that caused the problems with the catalytic converter and ignition coils, and if so, should Mazda pay for that as well?

 

Coil failure can cause cat failure, but not compression loss.

Cat failure can damage the engine, but not the coils, and it's more likely your car would catch fire from the overheating cat before it did cause engine damage.

Compression loss won't damage the cat or coils.


Coils should be replaced every 30k, so assuming that you have been staying on top of it, you are due for new coils anyway. $140 (or less) for all 4, 20 minute swap with a 10mm socket.

The cat, well, you are mostly out of luck for anything cheap there. Your cheapest option is buying a used cat from a forum member. Otherwise go with a midpipe (might have a CEL, might not, not warranty kosher). Brand new ones are $1,400 a piece, but I am betting you aren't willing to pay that.

 

Thanks for your post…

They want to charge me $ 350 for the ignition coils. alone.

 

$350.00 for plugs and coils and putting them in wouldn't be all that bad.

You sure they didn't say plugs and coils?

You can use that mazmart link to get an idea of what each costs. Oh here, I'll just link you the whole page.

http://www.mazmart.com/PartsList.aspx?id=38&n=NEW&m=6

 

thanks for the link…very informative…any ideas on the cost of the catalytic converter?

 

If you still want a cat you might consider going with a bhr midpipe with the high flow cat, should not get a cel and still be able to pass emissions(not sure on sniffer tests, but no cel = pass here). If your in a part of your state that doesn't need smog testing then I would just go with a regular midpipe, much much cheaper than a new cat either way.

 

dealerships charge ridiculous money for emissions parts
you should price a cat somewhere else

but those things probably did not fail by a bad engine, it is just normal wear and tear
by all means, if engine replacement is free, look into it

 

Agreed on dealership markups, however in the case of catalytic converters, the RX-8's is actually really high for reasons OTHER than just markup. For example a new cat for my Miata is ~$700. Half the price of the 8. Same dealer, same markup.

Regular cats can not stand up under the heat from these engines, and/or scrub the exhaust sufficiently enough to pass emissions. And cat's primary metal value is in the precious metals inside, typically platinum.

 

Okay sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place, but I have a question..
I just put a test pipe on my rx8 today because my cat was clogged etc... The car cranked before I put it on today. There was little to no gas left in it when it was installed. After installing I tried to crank it and it wouldn't start. I figured because it was out of gas. I just put gas in it and still nothing. It will turn over but that's it. Then to top that off.... I tried reseting the ECU by unplugging the battery and tapping the brake til the oil gauge jumped... Well now it will not even turn over... WTF dud I do wrong. I'm so lost....

 

It's probably flooded.


It's something I haven't quite figured out, but for some reason doing a midpipe install, removing the OEM cat makes it quite a bit more likely to flood when you go to start it up.

None of it makes sense to me, but I see plenty of examples of it. Maybe it isn't the actual removal, but what people do right before hand? No idea.

But it also happened to me. I got a video of all the gas cooking out of the tailpipes when mine did it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lTt38qFTx4

 

Oh wow.... I was thinking that myself... But of course I have my dad here (mr know it all) who says it's not... I tried to tell him these cars are not like other cars. I just tried jumping it off... This still will not work... I'm leaning towards flooding.

 

The more you try to start a flooded 8 without deflooding it, the worse the flood gets. So do alfy's method, and expect it will take 2-3 cycles to get it coughing. Hook up the jumper cables to a running car so you don't kill the battery before you get running, or you will just be reflooding it for a different reason.

 

How do u deflood it?

 

As a followup…looks like they did something to the fuel pump. Charged an additional $600 for replacing that…then they didn't install it correctly, and I was leaking gas. They fixed their second screwup for no charge, however. I think. The jury's still out on that one.

 

latest followup…the fuel pump STILL leaked….took it back for another session. They had to replace it. This time they actually gave me a loaner overnight. Just doesn't feel the same since they got their hands on it, though.