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need your help guys, dealer/clutch problem

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Old 01-04-2006 | 12:32 AM
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need your help guys, dealer/clutch problem

hello, guys I didint know where to post this, but alot of people seem to be here and man do i need advice, phew where should i start.

I bought the car Sept 2004, I absolutely loved the car, its was beautifull, fast and just plain awsome. It was around spring of 2005 when my clutch completely died. It was towed to a dealership where they told me that it neede a new clutch and tranny. They did not want to cover it as they claimed abuse. But we (my parents and I) did not put up with their BS and stuck to sayin "your fixing it" for about 3 weeks, and they finally gave in.

I know some of you are asking, well was it abuse? the answer is no. I do drive spiritedly and I have taken it to the track sometimes, but I do not ride and abuse the clutch at all. I neve keep my foot on the clutch and I downshift very gentl.

I got the car back and drove it, everything was great. I installed the Revi intake in the summer and just fell more in love with the car. Around the same time, maybe even before the revi, my 2nd gear started grinding a little. It wouldnt want to **** at higer rpms. I took it to the dealership and they gave me some half *** explanation, that the intake was making the fuel run to rich, which was creating a spark knock, which was making the gear grind (idiots), I found out via you guys that this was BS. They told me to change the intake and it should be fine, I said no way in hell, I just wont force 2nd gear.

It was around novemeber where an itch for more power started kicking in, im 19 and I guess its just the age, Im sure most of you guys went trough it. I started lookin at a 2004 GTo and decided I would trade it in. Not only because of the power, but the rx8 seemed to be having alot of problems (very constant flooding, CEL's. airbag light, etc etc) and figured I was not going to be able to pay for things like this once my warranty was up. Ironically around the same time, I started hearing a little "squeeakk" when I steped on the clutch. I took it in and they told me that the clutch was beginning to loose pressure and that it would need to be replaced. Now at this point, the clutch was only about 10,000 miles old since the replacement back in spring when it had about 7,000 miles. And I was like WTF!?!?!, there was no way it could be abuse because I couldnt even really accelerate with the 2nd gear grinding. And not surprisingly, they claimed abuse and that they were not going to fix it because, because they already had done it once, and said they would not do it again. The dude (dominic) talked to my mom and said it was abuse because you could tell I was racing on it, since I had the REvi intake and the rear tires seemed to be pretty worn. When I heard this I was so f-in pissed I wanted to go down there and beat the **** out of that migit. lol. My mom and dad actually planned on suing them, but they tought it was not worht the time and effort.

They were going to charge about $1200 for the fix and I said F U im doing the job somewhere else. I took the car and have been driving like this with it for about a month now. 2nd gear does not want to go in anywhere above 5 rpms, and the squeak is getting louder and more constant. I am nearvous it will die off on me and will need to fork that money in order to fix it, in order to be able to trade it in. I was thinking of just taking it in like that, see if they figured anything out.

About a week ago I swaped the REvi intake with the OEM as well as the speakers and wheels getting it ready for trade in. What do you guys suggest, go with a different dealership and say (that other dealership is trash and I already reported them to mazda usa), or should I go back to the same dealership and tell them to do it (i do not know if this will work, since I gave them the impression that we had given in), or should I do some type of quick fix and try and trade it in like that??

Oh and a few other things I forgot to mention. There seems to be a little "tikutikutiku" hight pitch sound heard from outside the car at idle, as soon as I even tough the clutch its gone, this sort of just started, what does this mean? And just to show how imcompetent that dealership is, I have take it in about 4 times because the aribag light keeps turning on, after a few weeks it turns back on again, I just go there because its the closest. The CEL that came when I installed the REVi is still there and they tell me that the computer is still getting used to it, is this true after about 2 weeks?.


I live in chicago in case anyone has any hookups or know any good dealerships, I am going to miss this car so much, but its something I have to do. God dam thats a long thread, lol, sorry guys, any info would be great, Im going to miss you all.
Old 01-04-2006 | 12:33 AM
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dammm, sry again for how long it is, Im sure some of the stuff is uninportant, im just trying to see if anyone can find loopholes or something, thanks again guys
Old 01-04-2006 | 12:43 AM
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https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/tran-diff-oil-change-tranny-noise-28122/ pretty sure that sound is normal. good luck with the clutch though, and the new car. the new GTO looks pretty nice

Last edited by cjkim; 01-04-2006 at 12:46 AM.
Old 01-04-2006 | 12:45 AM
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Similar to Abbid's situation?
Old 01-04-2006 | 01:54 AM
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Sorry about your situation man, you should definitely try another dealership if you have one nearby. Keep us posted. Good luck with the trade. Hope it works out for you.
Old 01-04-2006 | 02:04 AM
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i went thru the same thing, difference is that i basically payed mazda 2230 dollars for storage and i payed 1500 for my tranny and 450 to get fixed plus 100 to tow to the place. this type of stories **** me off cause it sucks such a great car has such a bad service. the only reason why ideas of letting the car go keep comin to my head.
Old 01-04-2006 | 02:48 AM
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Originally Posted by knight7
i went thru the same thing, difference is that i basically payed mazda 2230 dollars for storage and i payed 1500 for my tranny and 450 to get fixed plus 100 to tow to the place. this type of stories **** me off cause it sucks such a great car has such a bad service. the only reason why ideas of letting the car go keep comin to my head.
yea im with u man, if mazda had better servrice I would definately keept it
Old 01-04-2006 | 08:24 AM
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Sounds like my story also. I'm in the Chicago area. Last June, I took the car in for transmission service. While the trans was being removed, the fingers on the pressure plate fell out! The clutch disk was blue, so they called it abuse and said the warrenty was now void, on the trans, due to this abuse. BTW, I don't drag or street race.
Old 01-04-2006 | 10:38 AM
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So, veilside, what you are asking is, "do 2 wrongs make a right"? Because the dealer is busting your chops, you want to turn the car in at a different dealership without disclosing the problems.

First of all, depending on your state there might be disclosure laws that would give the dealer that you trade-in at financial recourse against you/your parents.

Second, you already know that the dealer you go to isn't any good so why haven't you gone elsewhere? All the history is already in Mazda's systems so all the dealers will know the story but at least you can find a service manager that won't try convincing you that an intake can cause a transmission problem.
Old 01-04-2006 | 01:42 PM
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You have just openly told MNAO that you race your car at a track and can flat out void your warranty, just like Abbid.
Old 01-04-2006 | 01:43 PM
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Another 2nd Gear goes down. You can read about it here:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/your-second-gear-72972/

And also, rgonza had this to say:

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=17
Old 01-04-2006 | 03:08 PM
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i took my car to a friends shop, he always playing with rotaries. and my clutch was fucked up but my tranny wasnt even opened. the seals were not touched so i wonder if it was my clutch and flywheel and not my whole tranny. he expalined the ratling noise came from the springs on the flywheel etc. at that point i cared less, already spend almost 4000 on the car. thats like 5 payments for me. but what can you do.
Old 01-04-2006 | 03:30 PM
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Two clutches, fourteen months, drive spiritedly and track sometimes? Abuse?

Walks like a duck...
Old 01-04-2006 | 03:43 PM
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I would recommend you get an automatic on the GTO
Old 01-04-2006 | 03:45 PM
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Well, it IS a sports car. Some track time and spirited driving should be normal, right?
Old 01-04-2006 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Brett Melancon
Well, it IS a sports car. Some track time and spirited driving should be normal, right?
WRONG.

Bringing your car to the track usually means hard driving with abuse to the clutch and tranny. warranty coverage does not cover negligence or abuse. admittance of racing at a track during the warranty period is a big no-no.
Old 01-04-2006 | 06:44 PM
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I agree with Mugatu...'they' advertise the WRX and EVO as rally inspired...but you take it off road...warrenty = gone. Some dealerships will even goto drag strips and watch for vehicles...if they see you...they get proof and void your warrenty.
Mazda openly advertises the "9kRPM redline" for the rx-8....yet frown upon people going that high, as even though the engine can handle it a lot...other parts cant.
Old 01-04-2006 | 08:39 PM
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when i said i go to the track, I mean I have done 2 runs in its life, I dnt think thats abuse. And yes I am not afraid to admit that I drive sprirtedly, I do not burn tires or drop the clutch at 8 rpm for any stupid reason. Isint this a sports car?

BTW, I am going to go ahead and take it to another delaership see how that works out. Would anyone recommend a good one in the chicago vicinity.
Old 01-05-2006 | 04:29 PM
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??
Old 01-05-2006 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by LostAngel
I agree with Mugatu...'they' advertise the WRX and EVO as rally inspired...but you take it off road...warrenty = gone. Some dealerships will even goto drag strips and watch for vehicles...if they see you...they get proof and void your warrenty.
Mazda openly advertises the "9kRPM redline" for the rx-8....yet frown upon people going that high, as even though the engine can handle it a lot...other parts cant.
? The little rx8 pamphlet that you get (rx8 quick users guide) when you buy the car says "remember to buzz the engine" ...i don't think Mazda frowns upon people who rev the engine. They know it removes carbon deposits, essential to long life in a rotary so i think they somewhat encourage it.

Abbid's case is a rare one, albeit an example of what 'can' happen so its good to be careful, but posting on a forum under not one's name still is okay, calm down everyone.

if this guy busted his tranny and clutch w/o abuse he still should be treated a little better.- lets just focus on whether or not he abused the car, cause thats whats suspect.
Old 01-07-2006 | 04:51 PM
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I have one more quick question guys, I decided I am going to go to another dealership.
Should I....
1. Take the car and be upfront with him. Tell him my situation with the other dealership and what idiots they are. Tell them that I already reported them to Mazda and was even thinking of suing the. And tell them that I really need this fixed under warranty? And what kind of counter response can I have when he shows me they didint because they called it abuse?.

2. Act like I rly dnt know whats wrong with the car. Talk to him like its the first time im taking it in. And describe the noise, and hope for the best???. The only thing is, I am pretty sure they have all the records in the computer, what should i do
Old 01-07-2006 | 05:16 PM
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oh and two more things 1. I posted under rx8gurls name, but im veilsidev1 ^^^^^
2. I figure I have to get this fixed no matter what, because the people im trading the car to (pontiac) told me they have a mazda dealership right down the road, and I fiugre those are the guys that would inspect it, so they would automatically see in their computers that "it needs aclutch replacement" right?


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