Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

keith: didn't get a chance to post last night.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=clutch+weld
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=clutch+weld

you can always PM Charles R Hill; he's documented this problem numerous times

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

according to those threads i have a hard time understaing how that can be due to milage or aftermarket parts. it looks more like a cheap part?

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

how come i never get pictures like this of my car!? i know exactly where i would like to take them....on the 91 near gypsum canyon road next to all those orange car pool lane markers.

FastRX8

I can't imagine the problem is related to autocross.
He's having transmission related issues.
In autocross you shift gears 1 time per run. 3 runs per event, once a month.
Hardly something to worry about. I do a lot more high speed shifting than 3 times a month.
I think we need to have an intervention w/ Keith.
Something about the way he drives.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

correct, bad welding job.
Welds when done properly should NEVER break under such conditions.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I see Snowflake! I need more details about what the problem is...
I'm just guessing that it could be related to the welds but without knowing about his last issues, it's tough...

speeddemon32

he does slip the clutch more then anyone I know. but this does NOT put extra strain on the tranny.... clutch disk, pressure plate, flywheel, and throw out bearing ...yes. But not on the tranny, in fact this is much more gentle on the tranny.

the clutch pedal breaking is nothing more then a crappy weld or crappy quality materials. nothing he could have done would cause that to fail.

Disclaimer: a stiffer pressure plate in which Keith DOES have, will cause extra strain on the clutch pedal. This COULD aid in the failure of the pedal. but still nothing HE did.... and personally, the pressure plate he has is only a little stiffer, its not like he has a full race pp.

the tranny failure he had I think had something to do with the AMZOIL, just seems odd that we both had failures right after changing the fluid... I could be wrong, but it sure is odd.

the clutch problem he has pretty much always had, I think is the pre problem of his broken clutch pedal. I bet the reason his clutch has been the way it is is due to the fact that his clutch pedal has NEVER been in right (bad/bent weld or arm). Keith’s clutch has always been WAY different then the rest of the RX-8s. his engagement point is ALL the way on the floor.

His car has always had a low engagement point. I drove his car about a year and a half ago and I noticed his clutch engaged lower then mine. I drove his car about a year ago when we put the new clutch in and I commented on how low it was, it was even lower. I drove his car at the last race and it was ridiculous when I drove his car how far on the ground the clutch had to be to get it to disengage. when I moved my foot the slightest fraction of an inch, the clutch would engage and move the car. it was crazy! I told him at the time something was wrong.

he then got in the car and said he had problems shifting... he then took the car to Mazda and they adjusted the pedal. (why would they have to do this?*) the car was MUCH better, then just a couple weeks later his clutch pedal breaks!

* the clutch pedal has been bending slowly, to the point that it was no longer functional. Mazda adjusted it back to a functioning state (to a now bent pedal) allowing him to drive the car some more. then the pedal finally broke, it will only bend so far before it breaks.

There I solved the murder

I bet if he were to put on a new straight pedal it will NOW be WAY out of adjustment, but in the other direction. it will now engage WAY WAY too high.

Has he had any other problems?

kwescott

played COD way too much last night...just woke up. Going down to Mazda now. They are probably on lunch...but maybe we can get a part ordered and set up a date to fix it.

I need to read through the links that Jedi posted first....

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

WTF...gamer!!

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Keith: there's another thread that might help as well. Gimme a quick minute

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

keith: here's the most recent thread on a clutch pedal issue: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/clutch-pedal-snap-off-8-year-warranty-recall-%7E%7E%7E-132912/

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

that is silliness jeorge, fix the damn pedal mazda!

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

yeah, I need to check mine this weekend. Been saying I'd do that for weeks but I'm taking a long road trip soon so I just want to be sure.

Charles R Hill is having a bracket fabricated that should resolve the issue but it's lame that we need to resort to that.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

My car's at the dealership right now, check out my RENTAL!

rglbegl

^^^^^BURN THE TIRES!!!


Drive it like you stole it

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

waaaayyyy ahead of ya.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

anyone need to transport big stuff...make some money while you got it!

that is a monster of a loaner, any idea how long mazda will have your car?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I should have it back in the next hour or so. They were replacing the rear lights due to condensation and doing an oil change.

They called me a few hours ago because their technicians didn't know what to make of my 4080 boxes. I went down there and quickly removed them so they could access the back of the tail light housings. 4080 boxes are sitting in the Manager's office for now. (I trust him, he's also a forum vendor on here)

kwescott

Yup, went int his morning, indicated on my work order I thought it was fault welds on the clutch bracket. Service writer didn't write it in that manner....but that is another issue.

The part is not in stock.

I asked..."so when does an issue become a safety recall". I informed him of the number of vehicles that I knew of on the forums that had the same issue with faulty welds, and wondered how many vehicles need to be worked on prior to a recall being issued. I indicated that many of those other cars had fewer miles on them, so I felt lucky.

He indicated that we could pursue that issue with Mazda, after the holidays. I think it is worth it to wait out. I figure there has to be something severely wrong with the design, and I'm willing to assist in the development of a safety recall.....I figure it will be my one goodwill gesture to the rotary community...do something good for a change

So, on to the pictures. I think this assisted me with the idea of a safety recall. I wanted the service writer to really see how important this was to me with regards to safety.

I took pics of my car while he watched, and then I had him take me to a brand new car, open it up, so we had pics of a functioning clutch in a new car.

PIC3 I couldn't find where the brake was....?

kwescott

CAR SEARCH UPDATE:

Given that we were down at Mazda waiting for my car, Erica and I test drove and looked at a couple cars.

Ford:
1)-Focus (price was good, car was too small).

2)-Fusion (price on the 4 cylinder one was good, front roomw as fine, rear had no head room and it was nearly impossible for me to get out of the back seat. Test drove this and it felt "swimmy" and like it was going to be a rattle mobile in 6 months. Didn't feel very well put together...felt really cheap).

Honda
1)-Accord (price starts at 21k for base, which is above the price range that we were looking at. Really nice car would love to get one. No incentives and no real good rates available on the Accord, Civic or Fit. Teir one is 5.9%)

2)-Civic (priced at 17-19 for the LX....EX was above the price range. Gas mileage is nice, actually very roomy-bigger inside with more room than the Fusion actually).

3)-Fit (actually test drove a 5 speed MT just for fun. It actually isn't that bad, and is much bigger on the inside than you would think. Felt a lot like driving the XB. You sit very high and the driving position feels much like a truck...and much like that Puegot 106 we drove in Germany. Not something for a family doing a long trip, but very doable for daily driving and things on the weekends. Priced at 14-16k...same mileage at the Civic).

Mazda
1)-Mazda 3 hatch. (Mileage is the same as the Fusion and Suby...in the 20-29 range. Room for all 4 passengers is relatively nice....no real usable room behind the rear seats. More room with rear seats down. Price is 17-21. They are still adding a dealer markup to these...2k on the white pearl one...?)

2)-Mazdaspeed3 (yup they had one, and I looked at it ..enough said).


Insurance....as a reference point. (called for two quotes this afternoon).

Currently paying 528.50 on the RX8 for 6 months.
Fit (w/same exact coverages)-498.40
Mazdaspeed 3 (w/same exact coverage...but a bigger grin on my face everyday)-622.60

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

w00t, Jedi to the rescue with the clutch pedal prediction.

scremn8

when the guys at tustin worked on my car they did not hook my system back up.
i had to connect when i found out it was not working..
you should see my tail light it looks like a fish aquarium.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-sale-wanted-44/fs-oem-carbon-fiber-hood-129464/
hey cesar or anyone else check this out!


my drives side taillight is bad and my passenger fog as well. i need to go to romero but i am just so busy

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

couldnt really see any differences in the pics keith?

so what was the outsome as far as ranking the cars you test drove?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I've got two brand new tail lights now.