Well for my first post I invisioned something a bit more understated than a cry for help... sorry. I have been lurking for a while and I just joined a few days ago. I bought a 2009 RX-8 GT with 6000 miles on it last week. It was the sales manager's demo car for all 6K of those. I took it home and immediately started noticing a knocking underneath the car when turning up a small hill like into a parking lot (I am located in Dallas by the way).

I took it back to the dealer today and after looking at it for 6 hours they told me that ths suspension knocking was from the joints in the front lacking lubrication, like they had been sitting there for to long without being driven...

I think that they are full of sh*t but I can''t prove it because I don't know enough about the car.

Can you guys please give me a hand?

Thanks

Robert

 

I love this car, and I want to keep it but I am afraid that the dealer might be pulling the wool over my eyes with a car that hasbeen wrecked and selling it to me as a new car.... I hope this isn't the case but I am just not certain enough to feel confident about it.

If it turns out that the car is broken and they sold it to me under false pretenses. I also have a grinding sound going into 6th gear from any gear and at any rpm other than idle speeds. They say that this is probably a clutch adjustment.... I don't believe that either....

I think this thing was hotrodded like a champ for 6k, but they don't want to tell me that.

What do y'all think.

Sorry for being a newb... I know that sucks but I do appreciate the help.

Thanks

Robert

 

I have no idea what they would be "lubricating" in the suspension. As far as I know there isn't a grease nipple anywhere on the car.

The knocking could be 1- Loose lug nuts on the wheels, 2- blown shocks, 3- broken motor mount are the most likely culprits. If not then there could be suspension damage beyond that such as bent or broken links or a broken mount to the anti-sway bar. I would get a nother mechanic to check it for you.

The clutch should NOT be grinding into gear and the "adjustment" thing is also bunk. It is possible that at 6K miles of test driving like someone stole it that the clutch is actually worn out. There could also be damage to the clutch slave cylinder, although that is far less likely. Take it to an independent mechanic. At 6,000 miles, the car should run perfectly as if it were new.

 

ya a suspension knock is either dead shock, or if ya got some mileage or hard use on a track/bad curbing it could be a ball-joint or tie-rod end.

 

i would advise taking it to another dealership and have them diagnose the problems.....

You might want to ask a lawyer (cuz im not sure) but I thought once a car is used as a dealer demo, loaner, or sold and returned it can no longer be sold as a NEW car. Check your paperwork and see if details a new car sale.

 

Go to Town North Mazda... Great dealership, talk to Michael Rhea, he's a good guy. He should help you out. Tell him Brandon with the WB CF hood 8 sent you

 

Or it could be the catalytic converter banging against the center cross-member, likely its an engine mount though

 

HAHHAHAHAHAHHA

did he recommend a valve adjustment to go with your lube?

im guessing that heat shield ...

 

Tat all amounts to what I was thinkin too. They said that the transmission thing was a bad 6th gear synchro from the factory. I think I can buy that, maybe, but wouldn't the sales manager have wondered why the gear was grinding during that first 6,000 miles!!!!. The suspension knocking though makes me nervous. I am picking it up today and I want to go make sure that the frame isn't bent. You guys mentioned curbing the damn thing pretty hard to make a suspension noise like that and if that is the case then I definately don't ant a bent frame.

WTB I think that I am going to go see your buddy at Town North Mazda, I want to make sure nothing more is wrong. Thanks for the advice

 

They just called

I will not be getting my car back until late tomorrow afternoon. They have had it since Monday....

 

Sorry if I missed this in the responses but my clunking came from bad sway bar end links....
And once from loose end link bolts

 

that happened on andrews car as well.

 

sway bar link ends or loose bolts huh? I think that loose bolts might be it. I have spoken with the advisor again this morning and she is going to take me into the shot so I can see it on the rack and so they can show me what was wrong. That is pretty honest of them I think...

I am still going to take it to get the frame and other work checked though.

 

Gat Dang Dealer is going to have it until Monday Afternoon!!!!!! Something about the 09 having a different tranny so they needed to get a special tool for it and the only have 2 techs that have go to class for that car so they are being very precise in the transmission.

I like them taking time on the tranny but I want my damn car back!!!

 

i hope you atleast have a rental or loaner....

 

2005 Mazda 3. Free loaner thankfully

 

well atleast you got something... i know here the dealerships have gotten very stingy with their loaners

 

Demo cars are problematic. the people driving them don't care about the car and usually beat the **** out of them.

 

Pico I hope you are wrong, but I know that you are right... I am just hoping that the amount of time that they are spending on the damn thing will take care of any issues that could have come up over only 6000 miles....

 

yeah, I agree with Pico... Just make sure when you get your car back, that ALL is good to go. When I was looking for mine, i was offered a demo... I never replyed to them. I used to work at a dealership and the manager would get what ever car and just have fun with it. Then they would sell it at a rediculous price.

I hope you did not buy it was new. If purchased used, check the warranty still. This could come back to bite you later. Dealing with The Dealer and then Mazda with this situation could be a mess for you. Hope all will be perfect so you can enjoy the car.

 

The warranty is intact but it was sold as a used car due to the miles. I am missing 4 months and 6,000 miles on that warranty. I should be getting it back today, fingers crossed, and I will be taking the service advisor on a road test with me before I take it away....

I am going to have to try and get underneath the car to checkout the suspension noises though.

 

Well, a week andahalf and still no car. They replaced the 5-6 sychro and while doing aditional checks on the tranny discovered that they need to do the same for the 4th synchro...

They say it should be tomorrow... This is getting annoying.

 

Got her back!!! I am so excited! turns out the strut tower brace was loose and that is what caused the noises