I have just today had my engine replaced on my '04 Rx-8 due to low compression. My vehicle only has 23,000 miles! I have had SO many break-downs in the past and my car would NOT start. Yet after about 20 minutes of waiting, the car would start right back up with no problems. This started occuring about 9 months after I purchased the car. I wasn't aware of the Lemon Law until just recently. I researched and found SO many people in my same situation. I noticed a Trend with Mazda and the response process.

It goes as follows: Battery needs to be replaced (at owners expense), coils need to be replaced, starter needs to be replaced, alternator needs to be replaced, engine needs to be replaced. It's not always in that order but seems to be fairly common. I was lucky, I was told that my battery & coils needed to be replaced, then a week later they told me that the Engine had to be replaced due to Low Compression. I didn't have to go through the ENTIRE process of "part after part" being replaced.

Now for some interesting information: Are you aware of the improper voltage of the original battery that has been replaced on 6/1/04 in the 2005 Mazda RX-8’s with the Panasonic JIS 75D23L which is a higher capacity battery. Even though Mazda is aware of the original incorrect battery, it's still "at my cost."

Now of course everyone is aware of the engine problems with the '04-'05 Rx-8 and I am pretty sure will be the same once the '06 owners start experiencing the same issues. Yet, Mazda replaced my engine with the EXACT defective engine model that I already had. This is "procedure" for them and I am sick of their "Procedure Process". It's similar to an Insurance company that denies claims by default, even though you paid for the service. Then you have to jump through hoops to get any coverage. I was feed up with all the negativity that I have experienced with my car and the poor response that I received from Mazda.

I decided to write a letter to Mazda, to give them an opportunity to re-purchase (at original cost) or replace my vehicle with an adequite replacement before I seek legal council. I just received my first response today, where they offered me a choice for either an extended warranty or one car payment. Which is a total joke to me. The person on the phone tried to mislead me about the Texas Lemon Law and I informed him that I have done my research and yet a lawyer would be the source of my resolution if they cannot offer me something more adequite. I have yet to hear a reply response from Mazda and today I will go pickup my rx-8 with the new replacement engine, which I have been without for 33 days now. I will update you on any further changes.

 

Is yours an automatic or manual?

 

Have you ever read this site before? You say you did all this research, yet you'd see there are TSB's for both the battery (hard starting) and the brakes, which would not be at "your cost" but would in fact be covered under warranty.

Yes the AT's have had engine issues in hot weather. That much is known, however you don't say you have an AT. Also, Mazda gave you a new engine. Be happy it had issues at 23,000. For all you know you got a bad engine the first time around. Do you honestly think every engine is perfect and has no issues, even from a brand like toyota or honda? I can understand being frustrated, but if you did your "research" you wouldn't have paid for the brakes and battery. You'd alos realize of all the 04's sold, how many have had engine issues? A handful in hot climates. This is not a epidemic as you make it out to be.

 

You should read the engine replacement club thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/so-who-belongs-new-engine-club-68582/

Some of these guys are going on thier 3rd engine and one guy is going on his fourth. It's obvious Mazda doesn't have a fix for this and is just replacing these engines because they are under warranty. The question is...what happens when these engines give out and your out of warranty?

 

I have the 2004 Rx-8 with Manual Transmission, the build date of my car is 07/03. I live in Texas but the "break-downs" occur even on a cool night. Yes, Mazda did cover the engine under warranty. As for the battery, it was only a percentage they covered on the cost for the replacement battery. I ended up spending $91.00. More importantly: my entire engine, battery, and coils were replaced & I picked up my car last week Monday (8/14/06). The car had been running perfect and because of my troubles (due to a letter I wrote to Mazda Consumer Compliance) they offered me an extended warranty at no cost. Fortunately, I did NOT sign the contract they mailed me, that included a letter explaining to me that by signing the attached contract that I would fully agree that there is no defect in the engine and Mazda has FULLY repaired my car. Well, last night (8/21/06), exactly one week after repair, my car wouldn't not start, the same as before my engine replacement. I have only drove the car 113 miles since the replacement engine. I only use the Highest Octane gas and I live in a small town where heavy traffic (car idleing is non-existant). Lastly, I treat it like my daughter, I do not race it or do anything beyond what is considered "normal wear & tear". The car had been sitting in the shade for 4 hours, I drove it exactly 2 miles and parked it, soon after it wouldn't restart. 45 minutes later, still wouldn't start. Now it was towed off the Dealer once again.

Understand that I am not the type of person who complains, I am very passive & usually let things go but with SO MANY break-downs I am feed up with no real fix to the solution, just a Temporary fix to get me through the "Lemon Law" and "Warranty" period. Yes, I do believe the engine is a defective design, very similiar to the problems pleagued by the former RX-7, Rotary Pickup, Roadpacer AP, and the Cosmo. I'm all about enovation and new designs but "a flaw is a flaw." If they can find a fix for it, then Great! I'll be excited! As for now, constant break-downs and hassles like that are just not worth the wait.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...9&page=1&pp=15

here you go.

beers

 

So you turned it off before it was totally warm? You've read about flooding, right? Also, you're doing more harm than good by not running it hard on occasion...

 

Flooding? No way. Two miles is way more than sufficient to warm up the vehicle. We're not talking twenty feet out of the driveway to park it against the curb. We're talking about 2 miles, that's 10,560 feet. If Mazda built cars that flooded if shut off before driving 10,000 feet, they'd have more problems on their hands than a low compression motor replacement recall. They'd be in the red.

I'm hoping this gets worked out soon, not for my sake, but so the rotary engine will continue to have a future. If this works out badly, we won't see rotary engines around for another 10 years, if ever again. Say hello to future of nothing but turbo four bangers, E85 hybrids, and gas-electric hybrids...

-P23

 

I wounder how long till Mazda runs out of Engines. Or they just stop making the car all together.