atruerx8racer

Beginning of my ****'d up sad story.... (Please read)

First Engine (Recall) - 0-35k miles, Second Engine - 35k- 59k (Third Engine - 59k- 68,800 )

First week of July my car was having a lot of stalling problems... it would just go off on the highway/freeway. I wasn't able to rev up over 5k rpms. When I tried revving... my rpm beaker would get stuck at 5k rpm and wouldn't allowing me to go over 5k rpm. And the funny thing is that it wouldn't change gear until I let go of the gas... it would jus give a loud roar and stay at 5k rpm and my CEL (Check engine light) would come on flashing.

My CEL kept blinking all the time...for a couple of days. Until when I took my 8 in on July 10th for diagnose. The dealer suggested that my engine needed to be replaced (due to no compression for the engine and some kind of an oil leak in the rotary chamber) after like 5 days after I took it in they called me back and told me about the situation (so much waiting!).

I got my car back on the 21st of July with a brand new engine... replaced. (I was so happy thinking my car problems are over! - I feel like saying "New engine - New problems" lol

Btw, I forgot to mention that when they replaced my engine on the 21st of July they requested me to replace my air pump as well... idk why but it (costed 700$ my own cash).

It worked fine for a few days... By like August 7th I've put in 950 miles on the new engine. (I was following the fact that I needed not to rev over 4k rpms to not stress the engine for the first 1,000 miles due to process of breaking thru the rotary engine) I was being very easy on the car. Until I hit close to 1,000 miles.

After I've got to the point of passing 1,000 miles I thought it was safe for my engine to be redlined... right? When I tried to redline...

My engine would give a hick up feeling between 4-5k rpms and I wasn't even able to redline... Now I felt like I was back to square one again... in the same dipshit. It would have been great if I found out earlier about this problem... but I wasn't trying to go pass 4k rpm for the first 1,000 miles.

When I tried to rev... It wouldn't pass 6k rpms the "rpm beeker" would get stuck at 6k rpm.. and the CEL would come back on flashing. Like the same problem I had with the previous engine... but which was at 5k rpm.

Just after 15 days after getting my engine replaced I was back to square one again... atleast that is what I've felt. Took it back to the dealer... After 2-3 days at the dealer (August 5-7th) they said they needed to replace the catalytic converter (covered under warranty) I was like do what you have to do to get my **** fixed!!!

August 7th in the afternoon they call me saying that my car was rdy for pick up. It worked fine for the next 3 days only... the CEL came back on... I was already on my last nerve... I was about to break someone's face at the dealer... I took it to the dealer on the 10th for the same CEL problem flashing. They did the same b.s trying to diagnose the problem which they never find...

Next day, they finally called me and requested me that I needed to change my coils, wires and plugs I was like ok do what needs to be done! (costed another 700$) they said this would resolve the problem... I was like ya! hopefully it is fixed. Now today on the 15th of Aug. my check engine light is back on again to haunt me! ****! Now I have to take it to the dealer again... on Monday.
My words to em "**** MAZDA!" get me a new engine and transmission replaced. If not I'm gonna sue you bitches!

I'm so frustrated... right now. I just don't get why the dealer has such a hard time trying to find a problem for their own ****** car! All they keep doing is playing with my money... making me replace parts for the car seeing which new part would solve the problem, I feel that its outrageous. I've spent about 2-3 thousand already on parts.

The thing that really pissed me of was that the Service manager at Mazda was accusing me of lying... about the CEL coming on. B/c when he or the mechanic drove it they didn't get the light to flash... and that their diagnostic machine was not showing no faults on the car thats what they we're saying. I was like bitch... I ran to the dealer... and test drove it with me driving it and the mechanic sitting beside me... and I made the light to flash right in front of his face. When I got back to the dealer after the test drive I told the service manager to take a look at the light... he was mumbling **** later blaming the problem on the "diagnostic machine" saying that it was giving wrong info I told that manager bitch to go throw that diagnostic machine that they have there at the dealer cuz that piece of **** is giving wrong info or for that matter the manager is jus lying to me?

The funny **** is that the dealer has been like my second home since the time my parent's bought the car for my older bro. I began driving this car for 2 yrs now. Every or every other month I or my bro have some kinda of problem with this car running to the dealer. Its been at the dealer more then it has been at my house in the driveway. Sucks... to have a lemon car? or are some/most/all of you guys going thru the same **** I'm going thru? Cuz I see a few of you people who are on my side of the story on this forum "to many complaints about this car". I have had so much love for this car... I liked everything about it... since the time I started driving it... as days are passing I'm starting to hate it more and more Especially the Torque..

rx 8speciale

iTrader: (3)

Sorry man you got a lemon because my 04 gt havent got no problems. I said zero prolems i have replaced the plugs and cables one time because i want to, thats it. All stock even brake pads..im gonna replaced the original coils soon .change oil 3-5 thousand miles and never replaced engine with 52,000. I must be lucky i guess

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

And you call yourself "The True Rotarian..."

You should change your SN to something else as well.

fish1

time to enact the "Lemon Law".......sounds like this would surely qualify.

cyclone1208

iTrader: (5)

Cash for Clunker

invasion08

iTrader: (7)

Your best bet is to call a lawyer who deals with lemon law and show him all the paperwork and see if indeed you have a case.

rodjonathan

iTrader: (6)

yup looks like a lemon ... my 04 has no problems too (knock on wood)

04RX8man

Lemon Law.....

Tigerfootball

Would the Lemon Law still apply in 2009 for an 05?

And good luck with everything. I know it must suck.

Krazed_Rx8

iTrader: (5)

I had a similar problem at one point, had my plugs/wires/coils replaced. Happened again so they replaced my cat. Im not too sure what intake you have but I would give that a look, when I got my MS CAI installed the screens for it werent installed correctly so it led to my car having issues revving past 5k.

bhop

Honestly dude, The dealership will most likely never find the problem because they are not building the engines. They will always give you an excuse and will try to possibly charge for any thing that seems minor to them as if you have millions of dollars. I have taken my car to the dealership countless times and they would just say nothing is wrong with the engine and my car is healthy. Although there is over 85,000 mi on my car I still know something is wrong. I am doing the usual replacing my ignition with BHR's kit and then will have the dealer check my AC compressor but I'm sure they will say nothing is wrong but I've had vibrating issues and done all possible and came to that conclusion. It really depends on what dealership you go to and who works there because to really find out what is going on, you would have to take everything apart and rebuild again because hooking it up to the machine does not fix the car because I've seen them do it. Hell, try replacing the EMS.

atruerx8racer

Are you judging me?

I sure would be glad to change the SN if its true that rotaries are designed to break down so early. I thought rotaries outlast pistons and at the same time are faster and are more reliable. I'm beginning to learn more about em... they look like their unreliable? I have gone thru 2 engines already and on my third... so tell me If a rotary is such unreliable engine I would def be glad to change that for your satisfaction... Who would have such patience as myself? having to deal with this car from the first day... having to take it to the dealer for major work 3 times... (engine replacement) and being shameful/humiliated to tell my friends that I'm on my third engine?
If your telling me that a true Rotarian has to be able to go thru this much dipshit then I'll be glad to change my SN even maybe delete it (and for that matter not own a rotary ever again in my life). To Rotaryhater.. ? if thats what you want. I've had so much love and patience for this car you wouldn't even know... even the Mazda employees are fed up of them seeing me there coming for same b.s problem.

atruerx8racer

So how exactly does this work?

Tigerfootball

http://www.txdot.gov/drivers_vehicle...aw/default.htm

http://www.carlemon.com/lemon/TX_LemonGuide.html

hopefully that can help you out and get things straight. Good luck!

SLK_VIK

Hey Dude, it sounds to me like its an ecu problem because you dont have any physical problems everything sounds software driven like the rev limiter. I unfortunately went through may more problems with my 04 6mt gtp red 8 and had to get rid of it at ~6500 miles. My car was in the dealer a total of 52 times in 1 year and 8 months with time spent at the dealer of about 4 months believe it or not. I had physical problems with my car like the transmission getting stuck which almost got me seriously hurt one time making a left turn stuck shifter would not shift. I know it may be a long shot but It seems to me like its a software problem tell them to swap out your ecu and reflash it. It could be an nvram problem with the ecu. Remember the ecu controls A/F ratios Rev Limiters, and such which contribute to CELs.

I forgot to mension the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) that did contribute to my CELs once and they swapped it, but I got to full redline always and that wasn't a problem ever for me.

ninco

Atruerx8racer -

U can read the anger in your email. Honestly, if I had these issues to the degree you had, I probably would not own another Rotory powered engine. With the amount and time you have put into this car, I would suggest the Cash for Clunker (i think another person made the same suggestion earlier). Truthfully, with more miles, there will be more issues.

I have a 2004 6-speed with 98,000 miles. I live in AZ (extremely hot here). I have a small oil leak and had 2 different dealerships check it out. Both have said that I need a new engine. I can not afford to be off from work for 3 weeks or more, for a car repair! My car still accelerates and handles like it did when purchased new, but I also can not help to think, it is a matter of time before an engine failure.

Too sum it up, Rotaries require a lot of care and feeding, literally! I average 300 miles a week for my work commute. I do not see the RX-8 as a daily driver ( I may get dinged for this comment). But I love the response of the car. I am hoping to get a more "traditional" daily driver and keep the RX as a weekend car.
If you can afford to do this, then you will still enjoy the RX. If you can not, then I would suggest looking at another car for transportation.

Bottom line - YOU have to live with the UPs and downs of the RX-8 and pay for it!

04RX8man

^if you're at 98k miles and mazda WANTS to put a new engine in I would be jumping on it since the warranty ends at 100k miles....so I'd be getting a new one and have another 100k miles worth of fun with the 8....

shaunv74

It sounds like the dealer did replace the common problems so that's good to know. I would now have them look at the throttle body. That is known to go bad as well. Next step is bad sensors.

Also see if you can find a better dealer in your area. honestly they're not really checking their work and shouldn't be charging you for stuff that doesn't fix the problem.

I would ask in your regional section of the forum where others go for good service.

atruerx8racer

^ True...

But there are a very few UP's (handling, good interior design, good looks, etc) and alot of Down's (Oil leaks, Engine replacement, replacing to many parts) just to name a few, then any other car that I know of on the road (correct me if I'm wrong)

Considering my dad's car... he has an 06 Acura TL. Since the Time his bought the car he has had no problems... I drive it sometimes too it is way way faster... (even though its not a sports car) he has not replaced his brakes yet, and has done Maintenance once or twice since the time he bought his car and he has around 82,000 miles on his car and all he does is take it for oil change basically.

Considering the Rx8... since its equipped with a rotary... all I thought you basically have to do is keep the oil tip top until next oil change and a few minor maintenance like changing wires, plugs and coils and some other full inspection maintenance procedures.

I've taken care of the rx-8 like a baby... (what more can I do) and it has had 2 engines replaced... and some other major/minor parts replaced... which I've mentioned above in my earlier message.

I have a big stack of maintenance papers maybe (someone can write a medical sized book with it)

I8U

iTrader: (1)

^Then get rid of the car and go buy a Honda simple as that. You're fed up with the incompetence at your dealership. Go somewhere else. It also really does sound like an ECU issue, your dealership a bunch of of *** clowns for not being able to do a proper diagnosis.

Tigerfootball

every car company has their share of individual cars that seem to have all sorts of problems. Hell, even Hondas and Acuras have had their share of problems, and their cars are still considered highly reliable. There is always going to be a bad apple in every bunch. Your car is the exception, not the norm. And if you have access to another dealership, go to them, but if not, you may be SOL, in which case you could be justified in getting rid of the 8 and going for another car as your options are more limited.

I hate it for you with the crap you are having to go through, but it is high time you get on Mazda's *** about this and go above the dealership in this matter if at all possible.

atruerx8racer

"Then get rid of the car and go buy a Honda simple as that.''

I wish It was as simple as that... my car has been in three wrecks already (which we're no fault of mine)

******** on the road don't know how to drive...

2 months in a row last year...

Some chick driving a mercury hits my left rear side

Some guy hits my left front of my car "Head on collision" he comes on my way - ******* was driving a sunfire and didn't have insurance. (Damn mexican- no offense) my insurance had to pay for all the damages. Cost of damage close to $7,000

4 months ago
Some guy at my college campus hits my right rear door without yielding at a stop sign intersection

Its all bad luck for me... ******** running into me...

I've lost close to $5,000 on the value of my car due to these accidents.

I've got no where to turn... except to deal with this car... I wanna get a G37 and with this negative equity on my car it would not possible to get that car.

I'm a have to jus to curse out the dealer tomorrow... threaten em that I'm going to sue their *** if they don't replace my faulty engine and maybe transmission as well.

bhop

I have a bit of idling issues that cause a bit of trembling/vibrating and this is due to my coils/spark plugs, other than that my car is running strong. 2005 rx8 touring/ 4 speed auto soon manual swap has about 86,000 mi on it and the dealer said it is healthy and all it needs is new coil/spark plugs, it just missfires. It will be an easy repair as far as I can tell.
I know a few rx8 owners that have over 100,000 mi on the same engine. I even know some FD owners with nearly 200,000mi on them although it is not a renesis. I'm saying it's all about care and high matinence that some people don't realize how much money goes into this car over a long period of time to maintain durability. Not saying you are simply a bad car caring person but when I see people on this forum that mention how they went through 3 or 4 engines I think to myself what the hell is going on and this is not including the people that track or drag their rx8's because those cars require more care but also need rebuilds anyway when it is being pushed that hard and even for a stock car, it is not a bad idea for a rebuild but only if you have the funds for such. If you daily drive your 8 then do what is required to maintain it's health. Not only should you follow the manual when first buying but do extra **** when you don't have to like putting fresh oil in when you don't actually need it or just getting the car serviced a little earlier than usual. There are plenty of ways to maintain our 8's health but you have to be up to the task. If you are only daily driving and not pushing the car as hard as possible everyday then there should be no way possible for you to go through 3 engines unless the car you bought was simply a lemon or unless it needed a new engine because the first engine had a long, long life. Try talking to the dealership about the ECU as well and maybe get them to replace that atleast.

-Brandon

Soaring Eagle

I think this advice is on the right track. You'll have to excuse my ignorance a little because I haven't really messed with RX8's, but most cars that have electronic igntion/emission controls built since the 1980's are programmed that if a major component fails, the ecu automatically sends the car into "limp mode" whereby the engine is prevented from exceding a certain rpm. The idea is to allow the driver to "limp" to the garage, rather than have a complete shutdown. The typical component that would fail and send a car into "limp" was the air flow sensor, a device set before the throttle body composed of a heated wire and transmitter. I do not know if rx8's have them or an equivalent, but the fact that new engines don't fix your problem indicates it is something else causing your probelems, and I think your ecu is sending you into that "limp mode".

shaunv74

+1 good call on a dirty MAF. The RX8 does have one and it is common to have the MAF get gunked up if oil gets in to the intake from the oil filler tube overflow. That can happen when the oil is changed and someone overfills it.

You can check this yourself. If you need to clean it you need to by specific MAF cleaner from an auto parts store.