I'm sitting here at my mazda getting my 20k checkup. I asked them about replacing my starter and everything, and they told me I have to flood my engine first.

The worst part is, I HAVE had my engine flood, but it was before they had the new starters, so all i got was a PCM recalibration

I told them it flooded once before, and i dont want it to happen again, and all i get is a "It might not EVER happen again, if you want the new starter your engine is going to have to flood again."

I know some of you got your mazdas to replace it even without it flooding, anything you can think of that i can say to get this stuff installed?

********.

/rant

 

try a different dealership. (i still have the original starter, so i can't offer any more advice than that). some dealerships are hardasses about it and will only put the new starter in if it floods (i guess they would do it if you paid for it), and other dealerships will do it without being asked during routine maintance (such as oil changes)

 

The only thing that irks me is that even though it flooded once, it doesnt count because it happened 2 months before they offered the new starters.

edit: I should park my car at the dealership, and get someone to pick me up for the day, go back start it up and turn it off cold so it floods at the dealer

 

Er, not to be a scoundrel but. Flood it? If you can't flood it on purpose, do you really have an issue?

 

Uh...wtf

Try another dealership, I've never heard of a dealership wanting to purposefully flood an engine

 

This wasnt a recall, everyone doesnt get this stuff. It was a service bulletin. Your car has to meet the requirements to get it. I understand that you flooded it before, but honestly if it doesnt flood again, you really dont need it. My 8 has a build date of Aug 2003, and I have over 35k miles on it and I have never flooded. I do not need any unnecesary repairs done to my 8, and obviously you dont either.

 

I got the starter, battery, plugs replaced and never flooded. If you look at the TSB, it states that cranks no start is the main reason for these replacements but if you read down you will see that the dealer is also authorized to replace parts due to hard starts. I got this done for long/hard starts.

I also left a copy of this TSB on the seat when I took it in. When they called later that day they said they replaced everything in the TSB.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...4-05-1448e.pdf

Tell them it takes forever to start sometimes and sometimes it seems like it doesn't want to start at all, and only barely does. Long/hard start.


Try another dealer as some will take better care then others. Good luck...

 

i got the new battery, starter, and spark plugs.. and an ECU flash.. doesnt even feel like the "old" rx8.. my engine flooded at 10k miles for the first time

 

Each dealership is different. I got the starter, battery and plugs based on just hard starting after the car sits for a week (probably because the stock battery finally gave up the ghost).

I would suggest the following:

1. Request the new starter/battery/plugs since their initial flooding repair was incomplete. Based on what is know today, PCM-Update, battery, starter and plugs are ALL needed to minimize the chance of future flooding. The only valid reason for not doing all the three upgrades would be if, based on the build date, the car already has one of the upgrades already installed.

2. If they still refuse, call the Mazda USA 800 number. Several people have had done that and had Mazda USA authorize the repair in the face of dealership stonewalling.

 

what do you mean by this?

 

now that everything is upgraded.. i feel like the car starts stronger, i get more high end torque, and runs smoother. hence, feeling like a newer car

 

I was already running the latest PCM level (from the thermal recall) so the upgrade to new starter/battery/plugs did not effect the cars driving.

However, the starting is now amazing. Much stronger, faster cranking and the engine catches almost instantaneously.

 

thanks!! my engine flooded the other day and i have to take it into the dealership. i have an 04 (not sure of the build date), but the service lady said that depending on the vin, i may get a new starter and battery as well as new plugs. will they also throw in the latest reflash at that time? i dont know what level i am currently at (bought the car used about 9 months ago) and i have no complaints about the cars performance, but if they will reflash it and give me more, i will take it!!