fredraction

Okay, please excuse this newbie post if the questions where answered before, but I’ve looked and I can’t find threads that deal with these…

Brand new RX-8 (100 miles). Absolutely love the car, but it does make some strange sounds. I’ve found most of them in the threads; clicking and occasional hissing from – A/C, clank when first starting and backing up – ABS, etc. However, I also get really loud clicking sounds from various places all around the front and real windshields that lasts for maybe 15 seconds after cold starting the car. It’s very disconcerting because it sounds like electrical discharges (loud “snaps”) and I think it coming from the airbags. Anyone know about this one?

Second issue: On day two of ownership the tire monitor light started flashing. I checked the tire pressure all around and it’s fine. I know the flashing indicates an error and not low pressure. I did have an add-on GPS (Magellan Roadmate) mounted above the center of the dashboard and saw in the manual that this could block the radio signal from the sensors and cause a malfunction. However, I since removed the GPS and the error is still there. 1) Anyone else have a problem with something mounted near the center of the dash affect the tire pressure monitor? 2) I assume the car is going back to the dealer to get this fixed since it’s not getting better by itself. Anyone have on opinion about whether I caused this and should not remount the GPS or if it just broke for unrelated reasons?

Thanks for all replies,
Phil

RX8zoomDW

Take it to the dealer have them run diagnostic checkup. They'll tell you what your flashing light meant exactly and or disconnect the battery reset electrical appliances with your 8, which sometimes relieves the problem you're having. You could also have faulty tire pressure monitors just beneath your inflation valves. Only 1/4 tires is required to create that signal. Hopes this helps.

DW

Haze

I think that you are absolutely right that the GPS system was messing with the reception from your tire sensors. However, just removing the GPS won't fix it. If I recall correctly, the owner's manual describes a procedure for resetting the TPMS sensors to the receiver when there has been an interruption. Remember that the sensors are coded to the receiver, which is why they have to be reset. It's something like turning the wheel from side to the other for twenty seconds right after the system is turned on. I can't remember. Read your owner's manual about it or do a search under after market wheels or TPMS malfunction. Best of luck.

fredraction

Thanks for the replies.

The manual states that the procedure for clearing the TPMS error is to shut the car off for 15 minute and then to drive for 15 minutes. Well that hasn't been working, so I disconnected and reconnected the battery. All the lights took a while to settle down and then the TPMS was off. Unfortunately, it came back on flashing later on. I guess it's going in for service.

BTW, upon further investigation the loud clicking is from the speakers. This morning it sounded like I was sitting in a popcorn popper for 3 minute before they settled down. And the radio was off at the time so I don't know why there would even be power to the speakers! I guess this is a second reason this four-day old car with 200 miles on it is going back to the dealer.

I hope this is not the start of a trend. I can truly say I love driving this car.

Phil

zoom44

hmm the popping from the speakers? could that have something to do with the GPS? maybe something got loose or a ground was not put back on coeectly? just a guess.

on the TPMS, I would like some more info. when you checked the pressure what was the pressure on each of the 4 tires? did you check them cold or did you drive then check them?

fredraction

The clicking is only when the car first starts after being off for a while. The longer it's off, the worse the clicking. Heat doesn't seem to matter because it happens from the garage in the morning and from starting it after sitting in the sun. The GPS is out of the picture because I removed it while living with the TPMS issue.

As for the TPMS, all tires checked at 32lbs cold. and the light flashes even when first starting out on a drive. I'm pretty sure it's a problem and not a pressure thing because the light is flashiing, not solid with a buzzer like the manual states.

I'm going to let the dealer sort out both issues next week unless the car repair fairies bless me with a visit one night this weekend.

Thanks,
Phil

zoom44

yep the sensors need reset or one or more need replaced.

fredraction

In case anyone is interested, my new car has been at the dealer for the last 3 days. Now it's Friday so I'm looking at maybe getting it back next week. The only saving grace is that my wife is looking at a 6 and so I made the salesman give me a new one for a loaner. I got it with 18 miles on it and have run it up to 300 in the last few days. Any longer and I'll have their engine broken in and may need to get the first oil change done!

The 5 door 6 is a nice family sedan.

fredraction

The saga continues...

After being without my new ride for a week, I finally heard from the dealership. They said that they’ve been wading through troubleshooting information (30 page fax alone for the TPMS) and they’ve had most of the dash ripped apart. The latest story is that they got the TPMS fixed and have confirmed the popping noise. They say that the noise is not the radio but rather the “audio panel” which they describe as a printed circuit board that sits behind the radio. They have to order the panel and so they sent me home with the car until the end of the week. Frankly, I think they were tired of the fact that I’m racking up going on 400 miles on they’re brand new 6.

Well, the second time I started the car since driving it home I got the TPMS error light again! So basically the car is in exactly the same shape it was a week ago except that a part is on order which might fix the problem(s).

Anyone have thoughts on these issues? Is this whole tale the result of a bad service department (I don’t get that feeling) or simply a first generation car with problems that have not been seen before? I was told that there are volumes of service information building on the TPMS system alone and that I’m only one of 3 people in the south east with similar problems.

WinningBlue

Without your 8 for a week? THAT SUCKS

I'd find a new dealer/service dept.

Sue Esponte

Fred,

Saw your homepage to infotank...do you work with Hyperion at all?

-Eric

fredraction

Thanks for the input. I think the dealership is trying and they're really nice about the whole thing so I'm going to wait and see what happens when they get the part in. If they're still having problems maybe I'll offer to help them. With a degree in Electronics and 18 years experience I might be able to point the wrench monkeys in the right direction. Their willingness to get my opinion will tell me a lot about how much they care about customer service.

Eric - Not knowing what "Hyperion" is, I have to answer no to your question. We do mostly TCP/IP networking and build some high-end web sites based on .NET and SQL. What is Hyperion technology?

Sue Esponte

Hyperion is the leader in business performance management software. Its consulting group makes frequent use of outside contractors for implementation and installation services and I wasn't sure what type of IT work you did.

-Eric

8_wannabe

I'd say just bear with them. Sounds like they're really trying, and this is a pretty odd problem. At least you got a massive test drive on the '6 and maybe you'll get one for the wife. Before long this ordeal will be in the past and you'll be lovin' your '8. It's worth the wait. Search my posts... I was without my baby for about 10 days once for a clutch/tranny problem, and I got some POS loaner, but when you get it back it's sooo sweet.

Ktreece777

I have heard that in my car and in a friends, do this... have someone turn your key to the position right before start and with the hood popped just listen.... the first 15 seconeds its just the cars electronics turning on and getting ready for the engine to start, i turn my key to the half point and wait for all that to stop before i start my car

fredraction

Ktreece777,

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I may have understated the problem. This is not a open the hood and listen carefully problem. This is loud popping like you are sitting inside a giant poppcorn popper. The noise lasts for a couple of minutes each time I start the car. Last night it went straight to a very loud screaming sound. I had just started the car and was parenoid about flooding it by shutting down cold and so I drove home listening to the siren.

The dealer is supposed to have the part tomorrow. We'll see.

8_wannabe

someone pointed out -- I think in the Little Things thread -- when you do that with the key you'll hear a cool laser beam sound. I tried it and its true. I think it's the self-leveling headlights leveling themselves. Way cool and totally off-topic.

fredraction

For anyone who's interested, my car is back at the dealer. They replaced the part and it's still making that God-awful popping noise and the TPMS is still flashing. Although they didn't call to tell me, I have yet to receive a call from anyone in service through this entire ordeal - I have to keep calling them.

I got so upset with the lack of communication that I called the sales guy, the sales manager, and the service manager. The sales manager is seeing the loss of another sale (we're looking at a 6) and he lit a fire under service big time. They now have their 25 year experienced tech on it. I spoke with the guy and he really doesn't know about troubleshooting electronics - just part swaps when it comes to that, so I offered to help., Haven't had anyone take me up on the offer yet.

I'm really not that mad at service for the work part. This seems to be a really tough problem that nobody has seen before. I understand that, but there's no reason for poor communications - Service101.

Thanks for the opportunity to vent. It sucks for my new car to be at the dealer more than under my right foot.

fredraction

They say that they found it. The "experienced" tech found the amplifier was bad and that during assembly a screw nicked the wiring harness. They started to say that they should have the parts in next week but I insisted that they pull them out of another car. They're checking with the sales manager, but if they want to do business with me in the future, they had better.

PJ Richardson

We get some clicking when we first start the car--it's the shoulder harness resetting from the back door.

fredraction

Okay, my car has been back at the dealer since Thursday. After having it out with the Service Manager, they are getting all the possible problem parts in tomorrow and are supposed to have it to me by 2:00.

The thought is that all the issues originated with a screw that went into the trim plate during manufacturing and took out a circuit board. When explaining how difficult the problem was to find they showed me another tough one that they trobleshot that was caused by a pinched wire in a door speaker. My question is this; I thought Mazda was known for quality. Is this kind of manufacturing issue commonplace?

sferrett

If it were comon I think you'd here more people complaining about it.

I have no pinched wires or screwed circuit boards in my '8, so as far as I can tell, this is not common.

fredraction

Still waiting for my car. Had it out with the General Manager today. He was pretty good about everything. Next steps are to put in a new Amp and TPMS module that should be in tomorrow. They said thet they cant't pull the TPMS from another car because it's coded to the VIN. Anyone know if this is BS?

If the parts don't fix it this time they're flying the regional guy up from FL to take a look. This is step one to have them swap the car out for a new one.

What an ordeal!!!

kbull

An ordeal, for sure. That really sucks. Mine was in the shop for about a week, and even though I was out of town at the time, it was STILL tough not driving it. I can only imagine....

I have an electronics question for you, fred- if a screw went through a wiring harness, it would short it out, right? Shorting speakers causes popping sounds- could your popping sounds have been indicative of a shorted wire? And if that's true, wouldn't that have blown a fuse? It just seems like the "problem" they say they've found could have been troubleshot more easily than they've been doing. You'd be able to tell better than me, though.

fredraction

Well, I got my car back yesterday! I drove it a lot today and I’m happy to report that it seems fine. For posterity, and in hopes that others can learn from my experience, I thought I’d sum up a couple of things…

kbull – from an electronics standpoint, shorts rarely blow fuses unless the short is in the power system. I got the impression it was a feed to the amp that was shorted and caused loud popping until it warmed up. It was very intermittent.

Regarding the problems… After some thought about what I know, I surmise that there was a screw that shorted one of the boards and caused the popping noise. It also appeared to have damaged the amp. In all the repairs, the TPMS system was also replaced because of the error flashing. There were several parts delays that held up this system and it’s apparently hard to steal from another car, so it’s this system that caused the huge delay. And here’s where my issue stems from.

I had a sit down meeting with the General Manager and the Service Manager to discuss the next steps in case the new TPMS module did not fix the problem. Remember I had been waiting days for them to get the part and so I wanted a plan just in case. Here’s the way part of the conversation went while I was trying to understand what troubleshooting steps they were taking to make sure the parts on order were really going to fix the problem:

Me – “Will replacing the TMPS module fix the error?”
SM – “We won’t know for sure until we put it in”
Me – “Is the popping noise fixed?”
SM – “Yes! We traced it to the amp”
Me – “I read in the owner’s manual that electrical interference near the dash can mess up the TPMS’s signal reception from the tire sensors. Is this true?”
SM – “Yes.”
Me – “Don’t you think that loud crackling and popping from the speaker in the center of the dash might cause an electrical interference?”
SM – “Yes.”
Me – “Before ordering the pars and making me wait 3 more days, did anyone try to unplug the amp and take it for a test drive?”
SM – “No.”

Does anyone see a problem with this logic?

I related this all to a friend and he explained to me that service departments are compensated on number of steps worked through in the troubleshooting trees in the shop manual. Now I understood. They really don’t make their money by getting the problem fixed quickly for the customer. If they did, they would do some real thinking and come up with creative, logical tests. But instead, they do a step, get paid, do another step, get paid, etc. Spending hours doing tests not in the manual costs them money.

Well, I hope all this is behind me. I have my car back and I’m a happy camper. I can’t really fault the service department too much; they were doing what Mazda said. I was just the unlucky sap to get a really hard problem.

Anyway, the car is back, the RX8Club graphics are now on the windows and tomorrow is Friday. Saturday is Zaino day!