Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

My car started running like absolute crap yesterday. Got a couple of miles trying to get back to work and then smoke starts pouring out of the cabin from the floor area and the console display/aftermarket radio stopped working inside and warning lights everywhere. Radio has been there for three years BTW.

Got it towed to Hine Mazda (where it started and ran just fine) and got the initial diagnosis today: Partially clogged cat. Now they need to unplug the aftermarket radio (with the obligatory you may need to pay for this speech) because the cabin fuse keeps blowing when they try to hook up their scanner.

Now bear in mind I still have warranty, but if in fact wiring along the floor fried, it seems to me that if I do in fact have a partially clogged cat, that this is the reason for any fried wiring along the floor/console and not the radio.

Angelo se3p

how often do you change your oil? or are you putting the right oil in?

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Oil is not the problem.

Angelo se3p

ahh i had a clog in my catback once, and it was caused of poor oil, so just asking.

MyEnemy

Just a thought...my cat is ok but my cup warmers do get pretty warm somedays, so if you cat was real bad maybe it got the center console real hot and messed up some wires.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Pretty much what I was thinking and what I will say to the dealer when I hear from them hopefully tomorrow. I'm wondering how much messed up the wiring is and from what point/junction they need to replace them from.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

So one of the O2 sensors went which led to the cat clogging. Some wiring went around that sensor and they need to replace the carpet which burnt a little. I think there is still a burnt wire somewhere which is causing the cabin fuse to blow but they are blaming my aftermarket HU (which has been there for three years). All will be replaced under warranty once I provide them with proof I replaced my spark plugs under their maintenance schedule (I did it a month ago), and my baby will be back in about a week.
Methinks that at 46k I should be inquiring about an extended warranty......

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Well its official. They have to replace the engine too after it failed a compression test. Now I have to run around and get all my service records from back east to show I have changed the oil regularly for Mazda North America (I have) and while understandable its a pain. Ugh.

Angelo se3p

that sucks man!

hopefully when you get all your records they put the right oil in sence its a rotary and we take different oil.
iv had to drain my whole motor for someone putting the wrong oil in.
well hope everything works out for you.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Ok, here's the scoop:

Mazda has agreed to replace the engine.

They have NOT agreed to replace the O2 sensors, catalytic converter, burnt wiring harness and carpet. They are claiming that my Revi box, Denso plugs, and aftermarket plug wires are responsible for that portion of the damage. Now I'm calling BS, and unofficially my service guy is too. That cost would be $3,500.

If I can't convince Mazda to do the right thing, I'm somewhat tempted to file a) a lawsuit under the Magnuson-Moss act and b) file an inusrance claim for fire damage.

Thoughts???

Angelo se3p

mazda tried pulling that same **** when my clutch burnt out at 10,000 miles, one day on the freeway it just went out.

they claimed it was because of my grounding kit! ahahahahha

come on, a grounding kit effecting a clutch.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

I am going to call Mazda this afternoon and let them have it. I am not an engineer by trade but I do know how an automobile operates, and there is no way properly installed, gapped, and heat range spark plugs (with 2,000 miles on them) are responsible, and if you're going to tell me that the Revi, which is nothing more than a box is responsible for my car going into open loop mode, then I have this bridge over the East River for sale.....

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

For the love of god, don't ever EVER get placed on hold with Mazda Corporate. It's a repeating loop of a reggae zoom zoom song. Someone will die for this.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Ok, the district manager is the one calling the shots here and is claiming my aftermarket parts are responsible for the failure of the O2 sensors and cat. Any thoughts on how to proceed with the warranty law are appreciated.

Kane

iTrader: (1)

http://www.knfilters.com/warrantyletter.htm

Modify for your needs.

Angelo se3p

any way you can prove that the after market parts arnt the cause of the failer?

Kane

iTrader: (1)

You don't have to. They have to prove that the part WERE the cause.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

My thanks

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

Anyone else here think Denso Iridium spark plugs could be responsible? Me neither....

Angelo se3p

there spark plugs! come on! ahahhaha.

there not any diff. from the spark plugs that mazda gives you when you buy a new rx8.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

No of course not. And properly gapped and heat range plugs properly installed in the trailing and leading locations should not be a violation of the Magnusson-Ross Act. Of course citing that and getting the car fixed without my footing the bill up front are two different things. Believe me, at some point I AM going to "speak" to the district manager. Same with the Revi, which is sold by a couple dealers in OC. Short of an actual lawsuit (not a threat of one) I don't see them backing down. In the meantime I am driving a courtesy car which they could simply take back and then I would have to ride my bike to work and back and not much else. There is legal, and then there is reality. And then there is payback......

09Factor

...then there is stupidity.

I would see them saying the plugs caused the engine to have low compression.
How could the intake and plug wire cause the cat to plug up? Those two items are before the exhaust part of the cycle. I could see a over-producing OMP to help clog the cat.

One thing you may want to investigate. The EPA may have a say so in the replacement cat. The OEM cats now have to last 120k miles of service.
Also Mazda installed a ceramic cat that fails under high heat loading the Rotary expends during its exhaust phase.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

There are Automotive Attorneys that handle this sort of thing. Look in the Yellow Pages, or on the internet. Find one call them and ask them what you should do.
Listen to the voice of experiance.

Davey's RX-8

iTrader: (1)

I just filed an online complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs
Bureau of Automotive Repair. I want to be careful though, because I am going to use the fact that Mazda is replacing the engine (cover the engine but not the cat and related fire, WTF?) to put in a lightweight MS flywheel and maybe a new clutch. I don't want to shoot myself in the foot doing this. Also keep in mind that the costs of the repair not being covered by Mazda are the cat, O2 sensors, wire harness and burnt carpet of which all but the cat and $500 are being covered by Geico under my comprehensive policy.

09Factor

Why isn't the Cat being covered by the Gecko?