so i was driving today and the car started over heating and smoke started to come out and the coolant light statred to turn on and off. i get to the light and cat go back to regular temp. but on the ride back home the coolant light kept turning on for a sec the off for like 10 sec and then back on? im going to take it in to mazda on monday but wondering if any of you guys have had thi happen to you?

 

You overheated, boiled off coolant out the overflow, and now you are low on coolant, triggering the light. Dealer will just add coolant and charge you a pint of blood from your first born son in payment.

Just top it off and clean the power steering connector under the overflow hose that probably got soaked with boiling coolant and could lead to power steering failure.

 

I don't know about the smoke, but the coolant light is a common problem with these cars.

It's the sensor in the tank that is failing. It's been happening to mine, but I just check my coolant level every week. My dealer wanted $360 to replace the coolant reservoir when I can purchase it for $109 and change it out myself haha.

 

but i called my dealer and he said that its not normal for my car just over heat like that? he asked me to bring it in on monday.

 

He is looking for money.

Rotarys have cooling problems in cooler conditions, when you add the current air temps, it wouldn't take much in the way of a radiator blocked with trash or leaves, crawling traffic, high AC, too many bent vanes, etc... and yeah, you are going to overheat.

I couldn't use the AC over the past few days without my coolant temps hitting 212F, and I'm farther north of you. 215F is problematic, 220F is hitting critical, etc...

The coolant mix (how much water vs coolant) also changes the boiling point, etc...

Lots of factors, but in short, no, overheating in DC area traffic in this air temp is ENTIRELY reasonable.


But, if you want to see for yourself, top off the coolant with distilled water and go driving, see what happens to your temps and that light.

 

so should i just buy some coolant and check? i think my warranty should cover the fualty thermostat right?

 

heres what it looks like when i got home

 

You didn't mention years/mileage, but from your sig pic and album, you have a nordic green, which was only offered as a color in 2004, and your bumper to bumper was 3 years 36,000 miles. So unless you have an extended warranty from another source that would cover it, there is no warranty coverage.

Your powertrain warranty is out too but that wouldn't have covered it. Your 8yr 100k warranty on the engine only wouldn't cover it, but is probably still active unless you are over the mileage.

 

i have a 2005 rx8 53000 miles and i have extanded warranty

 

In that case, feel free to take it back to the dealer. Extended warranties can be wonderful things.

 

+1 on extended warranty on this kind of car. I wish i did get one, if i know about the problems ahead with this car a few years ago, oh well.

 

^ Try owning a GM Even a extended warranty can't save you from the cluster ***** it produces.