I took my car into the dealer yeasterday to get the long awaited oil change, TSB issues, and new recall test completed. When I received a call back, I was told that there were several things he had discovered when looking at my car...

1. I told him to look at the squealing brakes because there was a TSB for it & mine squealied horrendously. He told me I needed new pads on the front, and both front & rear rotors mechanically shaved. About $300 all together.

2. I told him to check my starter/battery because the start crank was taking a while lately to start up. He said my battery failed the low test & I needed a new battery. Parts & labor around $140 all together.

3. He said I should also have my air filter & cabin air filter replaced. $50 & $60 respectively + labor.

!!! Now, I already told him about the brakes and I'm gonig to bring up the TSB again b/c I have the hard copy in front of me, but isn't there also something about the Battery being covered under warranty. I could have sworn I saw something. Please let me know if all of this griping is unnescessary and if I should just pay and have it done, or tell me if there is anything I can do.

 

when my car flooded they gave me a new batt, starter and spark plugs. I paid nothing, and my car was about 2 years old.

the air filter can be installed very easily. All you do is unhinge the glove box and swap out the filter. Takes about 2 minutes to do. I *think* the air filter costs around $35. And $50 for the aldehyde filter. But you'll have to froogle them.

 

Depends on the brakes, where the pads still in ok shape? Where they worn to the point the rivits were digging into the rotors? I'm just guessing cause of the shaving part.

 

Since you are a relatively new member what year/mileage is your car?

 

You know, he didn't tell me exactly & I didn't get to see them at all. Out of the guesses you threw my way, which would get me new brakes & which wouldn't so I know whether to argue, etc. I'm going to be stopping by later today to either get my car back and/or speak to the gentleman.

My car is a 2004 MT, with 43,000 miles on it.

 

by your screen name there psu, i am assuming that you live in pennsylvania. if you dont mind a road trip to delaware, my dealer (NuCar in new castle, de) is quite good.

 

FWIW, my dealership told me the brake tsb is only for the first 12 months of ownership.

 

The batteries have a two year full warranty. After that point, it is prorated for one year. After having my car for 33 months I had to pay $68 for a new battery through the dealership (which they said is 75% of the cost of a new battery). Labor was covered through the 60K warranty extension.

 

i would think telling them you can take your car to another dealer should get them rolling. when they hear you talking about TSBs and other info you gain on this forum, they will know they are dealing with an educated owner, which is probably their worst nightmare. I know I walked circles around my salesman when I bought the car and it certainly helped.


Are you still at PSU? was just up there for opening weekend and only saw one or two other 8s

 

I'm pretty sure the TSB is only for the pads, not the rotors.

 

They shouldn't have thrown the pads away. In most states, if you request the original parts be returned, they have to give them to you. Also, they need the originals for warrenty claims.
Did you authorize them to repair the brakes? If no, first ask if they threw the old pads away. If they did, tell them you don't want them to do the work. They will have to give you different pads. And rotors don't need to be turned just because you are getting new pads. It all depends on how deep the groves are.
From what I read, you just had them check for problems.

 

Hey thanks guys for all your input. I kinda figured what everyone is telling me, so I think I am just going to go pick up my car today with just the oil change completed. I will take it to another dealer probably closer to home & possibly the one in Deleware (thanks for the input) because I'd rather spend that little $$ in gas rather then the $$$$$$$$$ in shop fixes here.

Another thing, when I called back to ask when I could get my car, he said he was also going to charge me for them to look at the brakes and battery. I specifically only told them to look at the brakes and starter b/c they were TSB and he went ahead and checked out the battery. I am definitely going to argue like hell, b/c there is no way I should have to pay for them to look at TSB'd items. Thanks again all, but please keep giving your two sense, its all helping me.

P.S. Yeah I was up here for the first PSU game. I have a Black MT 04. It's stock with no spoiler, but hopeuflly soon that will change.

 

keep in mind...

a) they will not replace worn out brake pads under warranty or TSB (i'd say after 44k miles they are worn)
b) they will not replace a dead battery under the TSB or warranty
c) they will not replace the air cabin filter or air filter under warranty (you can do those yourself rather easily i should add)

 

43,000 miles is a reasonable life for brakes. $300 is also a reasonable price for new pads and turning all rotors.

$140 for a new battery is outrageous. You can get one for half that, installed, at most of the tire & battery stores. You can get a perfectly good one for less at WalMart or a place like Advance if you're not afraid to use a wrench.

If they have not been changed before, you're definitely due for air and cabin air filter changes. That dealer is way high on the parts price. Look at

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...nce_index.html

for the filter prices.

The engine air filter is very easy to change; there should be a DIY here if the process isn't obvious. The cabin air filter is a bit more work. Check the DIY here to see if it's something you'd want to tackle yourself.

Ken

 

go to mazdausa.com and search for the dealer. see if they are a full circle service dealer. if so, then they should be checking all those points at every service visit anyways.

everytime i've gotten my oil changed at a dealership, i've gotten the full circle service report included for free.

IIRC, it checks brake pads, tire tread, battery performance, and they top off the fluids.

 

So I just went & picked up my car. Some good was made out of it. I got my oil change and discussed the brakes & battery with him. Since the battery was dead and my brakes were heavily worn, nothing will be covered (mad props to 'r0tor' for that call). But my battery will be prorated and the 18.00 he charged me to look at the battery and the 24.00 to look at my brakes and rotors will be put towards those new parts when/if I choose to do them. So the battery that he claimed was about 150.00 right off the bat, is now about 80 - 18 (discount)... for about 62.00 which is a lot more managable. I'm still gonig to decide on teh brakes and rotors. I heard one answer so far reporting that 300.00 is about right for the process, but what do you all else think?? New pads on the front and mechanically shaving rotors on both front & rear! Thanks.

 

$300 sounds awful pricey for just new pads in the front and turning the rotors. I don't know what the going rate on that is in your neck of the woods, but $12 per rotor is average by me.

Which means they are charging you $252 for a set of front brake pads, which is insane. Depending on how much they are jacking you for labor, I could see it tho. FWIW, next time do you it yourself. The RX-8 brakes are very easy to work on with the right (inexpensive) tools.

 

PSU really quick.. did you just get your car? Or have you owned it since its release? Just curious since I got my 04' a few months back and they took care of my brakes issue (squeeling) for free just after I bought the car. That dealers price's sound kinda pricey as others have stated, Id honestly suggest looking else where and use the classic line when looking "This other dealer is quoting me $$$ for this what do you guys charge?".

 

PSU,

I'm curious if the shop that did your service was Rider Mazda in St. College?

 

Man this is funny!!! I brought my 8 into the dealer for the vacume check 2 weeks ago.. When I was there I told him to check 1. Squeally brakes!!! The service writer told me I need to pay $350 for new pads and to turn the rotors. I told him he was out of his mind! He called me back 2 minutes later and says he can do it for 270! I said no way its still to pricey! I reffered him to the service bullitan posted on 04 rx8 squeally brakes and guess what he did it for free! I also pointed him to the revised plug bulliten, and new starter bulliten..FREE, and FREE. Than I made a big deal about not having any transportation!! And got a FREE Rental! While I was there I ate some Free doughnuts and some FREE coffee! Before I picked it up I got a FREE car wash and detail. Just be a demanding jerk and everything is FREE!!

 

Oh... and I got a free battery!!!

 

I had read his post to say $300 for all four; I might have misinterpreted it.

$300 is the ballpark for what dealers charge for two wheels, and that's outrageous. $300 for four would not be bad.

Disc brakes are so easy to do I can't believe how they get away with $300 per end. Even the independent places do that.

A couple of years ago my Honda needed new pads, rotors and calipers up front. The dealer quoted something over $800 to do it. $100 at Advance Auto Parts (hey - it was just an Accord) got me new pads, rotors and rebuilt calipers. Couple of hours of work (I'm slow) and I was all set.

Ken

 

I think Mazda's retail price on genuine brake pads are relatively high (over a hundred for a set) if you got the model with the larger brakes. The good thing about it is that in all future brake jobs the parts fee is waived.

 

Batteries in 8 appear to be standard type, check with gang here to make sure - if standards O.K. can get one at WalMart with 2 year warrenty and Walmart is good about replacements. You can go to an auto store and buy $ 140 batteries but I have not been impressed by them - I run a Toyota Engine for my Well and Generator and we had overheating problems so I tossed my old cheap WalMart battery and got race car type - it could take a little more heat without failing, but performance, output, and lasting ability was on par with cheaper battery with 2 year warrenty.

Also I back someone who said get a second opinion - good for medicine good for cars -

 

Getting the brakes done at a dealership will usually cost a little more and $300 does not sound out of the park for all 4 wheels. It cost me about $320 for the same thing on a Passat @ around 48k miles but I think Volkswagon services are expensive.

Funny but I took my Jeep Cherokee (226K miles) into a quick change oil place once and the guy came in and told me that my battery had a low cell and needed to be replaced, and I said "Really?, I just got it new last week. Did you even look at it?", he left and I did not see him for the rest of the oil change.