So my Check Engine Light came on over the weekend. Our friendly BC RX-8 buddy dannobre helped me check the code to be P0302 (Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected). He had suggested that my spark plugs may need to be replaced.

But I decided to bring it into the shop anyways 'cause I needed to do my 72000km service and figured since it's a engine related thing, it'll be covered under the drive-train warranty.

Anyways... The dealer found that all four of my spark plugs were "fused" and all carboned up. "Narrowed down possible cause of engine light to spark plugs, both leading + trailing are carboned up." And since spark plugs were a wearable item, they charged me:

$89.95 to "DIAG DIAG FOR CODES AND RESET"
$102.00 to "SPARK REPLACE SPARK PLUGS" (1 hour)

Thankfully they didn't charge me for the actual spark plugs themselves because the service manager happened to "have a set lying around". (So I guess they might be used......?) But I think the true reason is because they feel bad because I brought my car in last August, had the same code, and they just reset it because they didn't know what was going on.

Anyways... So the bill for this section came out to $191.95 + tax = $214.98.

So the lesson here, learn to change your own spark plugs at the upcoming mechanical workshop: http://bcrx8.ca/forum/index.php?topic=88.0! You'll save over $200!!!

 

good that your still under warrenty.

if not get the rx7 plug with shims from mazsport.

 

I always wondered what the Dealerships did with all the spark plugs that are supposed to be changed when they PDI a new RX-8.

Now I know.

 

him: How many km on those plugs? Do you plan to check the new plugs soon to see if there is some other issue causing the high carbon (is it really carbon, or that hard ceramic like deposit)?

 

I'll try to take a picture of them when I get home.

What else can be wrong though? Maybe I don't redline my engine enough to burn off the carbon build-up? *shrug*

 

Oww... just oww...

 

They did you a huge favour. Most dealerships would have reamed you $500. These plugs are $80 each at the dealership.

If you are still on your original coil packs, start ordering a couple spare ones from onlinemazdaparts.com cause they'll blow eventually.