Well, On July 10th my engine died on I-20 on my way to the airport. I had it towed to the dealership and expected to hear from them Saturday morning. After calling a couple of times, I finally heard back in the early afternoon and was asked for my approval to have them run a diagnostic test and they would "get back to me later today". Well, of course, they didn't get back to me until Monday the 13th, when they told me the ignition coils, plugs, and plug wires all needed to be replaced, at which point they could run a compression test and see if I needed a replacement engine. I approved the work and they said they would let me know that afternoon what the results of the compression test were. After repeated phone calls over the next couple of days, they finally let me know that they could not complete the compression test because of a bad cat (which seems odd to me, but they were adamant that was teh case), but it had been ordered and would be in the next day. At that point, we were onday 5, still knowing nothing more than we did when the engine died on the 10th, and me with NO mode of transportation.

Next, the cat was back-ordered and they didn't know when they could get one. Two days on the phone bitching until they finally tracked one down and assured me it would be in Monday (July 20th). Well, it arrived Wednesday the 22nd, the compression test was done; the engine needed to be replaced. Wonderful. Now it is July 29th, I've been without transportation for 19 days, and there is no estimate of when the engine will be in or my car will be ready.

I have found the communication from the dealership to be attrocious, the service sub-par, and the fact that they will not, after repeated requests, help out with a car is, I think, ludicrous.

Sorry for the bitch-session, but do I have a legitimate gripe to Mazda NA? Maybe I can get some kind of break on the coils, plugs, and wires, or at least a car so I can get back and forth to work! If any of you have any thoughts or advice, please feel free to comment.

Cheers!

JBG

 

How many miles are on your rx8? Everything should be covered under warranty depending on your miliage and year. The engine is good from 100k/8yrs I'm not sure if it covers new sparks and coils but a lot of people luck out and get them for free when having an engine replaced. If you must purchase the coils/sparks you can do so from our vendors and save yourself a massive amount of cash from the dealer. Also theres an extended Warranty on the Cat, I cant recall the actually miliage, and the extended drivetrain warrantys to 60k/5yrs for all 04-05.

If you fall within those ranges then everything should be covered under warranty and you dont have to pay for a thing. Good luck with everything and hopefully your car will be back up and running soon.

 

With the compression test done and knowing that you do need a new engine, everything that was done to determine that should be covered under warranty. I'd half imagine they would try to charge you for those items (coils, plugs, etc), but I think you can argue your case of bad service and dead engine for it.

 

Thanks for the replies ,

I'm at 75,000 so the engine and cat are covered. You're probably right that I should be able to argue a HUGE discount on the plugs, coils, wires, and labor since this has been such a hassle (and since they're all related). I'll try to hit them up for that this week, and I'll explain to the service manager about how unresponsive her staff has been. She has been very helpful in the past, so maybe I can get some help out of her.

 

yeah try that first ... be nice ... and if they dont listen to you or continue to treat you this way call mazda usa and give em hell over the phone ... trust me they want you off the phone and will offer you alot of stuff just to get rid of you ....

 

the parts are not going to be free unfortunatley mazda does not cover your plugs coils and wires. However you should get all the labor for free.

 

I-20 in the Atlanta area?
If so was it a dealer on Cobb or Peathtree Industrial?
I want to make sure I don't deal with them if it was....

PM me if you don't want to post it.

 

They should also cover a rental. They did for me both times but the second time was only for 10 days.

 

This is my experience. They use the old plugs etc when you get a "new" engine. Seems absurd to me, but that's how it is. I told them to replace them at my expense. They of course don't have them in stock, they have to order anything no matter what it is. I was promised my 8 yesterday, now today. I'm not holding my breath. Except in my rental Corolla which smells like butt and smoke.

 

they should have run the compression test first and foremost. shame on tehm for not doing that sooner. Mazda dealers have consistently been lacking in rotary engine diagnostics for many many years. i've found only recently has it gotten any better. the dealer i take my RX-8 to for warranty work is pretty decent. they take my advice on what to look at or repair on my car and they have even asked my opinion for rotary repairs on several occasions when i've been picking up parts, lol. keeps a good relationship with the dealer i guess.

keep us posted on your cars progress. i hope they're provided you with a loaner car for your inconvenience.

 

if your engine had been modded (CAI, coil upgrade, midpipe, ) does this all void the 100k/8yr. warrent?

Or is it only if they can proove an aftermarket part was the cause?

Also, i do my own oil changes, does this have an affect on warrenty?

GOODLUCK with the car!

 

I had my midpipe on and they didn't say anything. I also have a modified stock intake and K&N Filter. Plus I have suspension mods.

 

Thannks,

I didint think it would matter, i have no issues yet but, never know. lol

 

According to the OP, the dealer wouldn't run the test unless those items were replaced.

 

I'm getting my 8 back today after an engine replacement under the 100K mile warranty. It's taken 16 days to complete due to the motor not arriving in due time. They gave me a rental at the dealer when I dropped it off, how can I make sure that I don't have to pay for the rental? How can I prove that it's covered under the warranty? Where can I find an official copy of the warranty so that I can bring it in with me?
Thx!

 

You should have signed something with the rental place. On my receipt from enterprise it showed my dealer as the responsible payee and the length that we were going to pay for.

 

I got the rental from the actual service department at the dealer. The service rep who checked me in said in wouldn't take more than a week (5 Business Days). It's been 16 days so I'll have to cross my fingers and see how it plays out.

Does anyone have a copy of the Extended Engine Warranty letter?
Thx.

 

Not any different than any other car. It takes time to diagnose and repair and get authorization from Factory to do repair work.

Its a fact of life.

 

Well if you didn't sign anything stating you were going to be responsible then i don't see how they could hold you to it. On both of my engine replacement they used Enterprise Rental Car. My dealer does have loaners but they never gave me one.

 

^^^Thx! Looks like I'll be paying $463.41 for the rental, $660.80 for the new radiator hoses, belts and motor mounts.

$1,124.21 for a new motor, free oil & filter, free coolant flush, free brand new spark plugs and the extra needed parts isn't so bad at all!

 

I guess you see the glass as half full. I still think you got screwed on the rental.

 

LOL! Ahahaha! :D (Me too)

 

whoa. 463.41 for rental. phew

I got crap loads of rental, never paid :P

660 bux for Radiator HOSE? ??????

WOW !!! .... I dont think u should pay them a penny. thats pure rip off.

 

pricy pricy for simple rubber hoses...a few rubber belts....and a few small motor mounts. =/

 

Yeah man, rg got ripped off big time.