thats what my friend said, it almost seems as if they did it, then ran to the SBs to see if there was a way out for them so I get the cost and not them. and of course there is, as I said the main point is that they shouldve called me and told me what can happen before doing it then I would not be mad. So here is a thought, what if they reaplced my water pump and they cracked my motor, and there was a SB on the motor....what then?? I would eat the cost of an engine?? thats why i am so mad it is the same princple

 

you can always do plan b ( in florida ). post bond with a clerk of court for the cost of the part, get the certificate of bond from them and have it served by a cop, take your car for free and they have to sue you within 60 days to get the money for it. i guarantee they wont bother for a couple hundred bucks..

 

I just still can not believe I am having this many problems with them...they were awesome for so long!! There rating is going to Sh**
The owner sends out letters to reply about how your service was....this should fun

 

oh dear . . . i just can't resist after that post . . .

MULLIGAN!!!

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=95755

just too easy...

 

Since there seems to be some rant on this, here's another juicy piece of info for you guys from my own experience...

MAZDA DOESN'T SELL JUST THE OEM (BLACK PASTIC) VALVESTEM CAPS INDIVIDUALLY.

If your caps get stolen, like mine did, you are fucked and have to buy the entire valve stem housing, which includes the sensor, valve stem, and stem cap. And, you guessed it: the part is $125.00. (That's right. If you want a matching OEM valvstem cap, it costs one hundred and twenty-five buckaroos.)

The OEM ones look different than the aftermarket caps. And, I haven't been able to find any aftermarkets that come anywhere close in appearance. So, I decided to go w/ something entirely different on all 4 and got some $5 aluminium stem caps I found at Autozone. And, they look a lot nicer actually- tho I have noticed that air pressure seems to leak slightly more often because of these. (Maybe I'll tighten them more.) I figure that I will put the OEM caps back on when I take the car in for service.

In short, the OEM caps are TOO FREAKING EXPENSIVE for me to leave them on- 'cuz they get swiped too often by who-knows where & whenever u park...

My .02 anyways...

 

Why would somebody steal valve stem covers??? That just seems like a really stupid thing to steal.

 

most likely they just needed some for their car, and they don't realize that the oem rx-8 ones look slightly different and/ or they don't care. (rx-8 oem caps are kinda spoked/ star-shaped, as opposed to the rounded aftermarket ones.) or MAYBE they know they cost $125 to replace, someone stole theirs, so they're stealing yours. i have no reaking idea, but i just can't afford to keep replacing those things. so $5 aluminum ones on mine.

 

My friend sent me rotor-shapes ones for a "car warming" present along with a few other RX-8 things but I haven't gotten around to putting them on. My mom told me I shouldn't because somebody would steal them. Apparently I would be better off having those ones stolen than the originals!

 

if u have the stock alloy wheels, then check out the curled aluminum ones they sell at Autozone that come in a small tire kit box for about $5. the color matches the rim REALLY nicely and looks great.

if u have polished chrome wheels, then i guess u could use the rotor-shaped caps if they're color-matched. so long as they're less than $125 each, you're better off risking getting those stolen than the stock oem ones. unless of course u don't care about having all-matched oem valve stem caps, in which case, u can pick up any (ugly) black aftermarket ones for a few bucks.

 

OK well here is the out come of the ordeal....

When I saw the service ASSistant Mgr I said I can not believe you are going to lose a customer over a 70 dollar part!

So we go sit with the service mgr for 45 minutes, I do know him based on his wife is an RN at my wifes Hospital , Anyway, we chated about this and that, both brought up good points and I really do like them as a dealer they always treat me right and my car right. SO, He says he can not eat the whole price of the part and blah blah blah. I fire back look you comp my oil change, give me another free oil change, and part at cost and I will leave here happy

Done deal, they did it, I am sure they made out some where but it at least made me happy, I also told Rus ( the mgr) that something, sometime was going to happen when we would have words over something, so we squashed it and thats that...so

Sorta Kudos to Russell Mazda Brian and Rus in service , Clearwater FL

 

so how did the part look?

 

Bunny, Dietrich:

Make sure the valve caps are all aluminum (as oposed to an aluminum jacket with copper threads inside) the copper threads are what causes the corrosion on the valve stems.

 

Seems like a very favorable outcome for you. They really could have been a-holes about it, despite your reasonalbe points. Either way, that $70 bucks is not worth losing a relationship with a dealership that you have been happy with. Especially considering how many members here have issues w/dealers. Glad you kept a cool head.

 

Part was broke and that cap was not coming off! so ....it is all good, Sh** happens so will ust move on and be happy, from other stories I have heard I know it can be 100% worse

 

irregarldess of the cap, did it have corrosion where the stem met the wheel rim? that's what the TSB will not cover. if the cap was just stuck on there and they broke the stem trying to get it off i'd still be pissed. a simple hacksaw and a screwdriver would have gotten it off in 5 seconds flat no need to go all he-man on it and break the stem.

 

Aseras:

are you sure youre reading the correct TSB?
we're talking about the stem/cap interface (thats what the TSB refers to), not the stem/wheel interface
also, I'm pretty sure taking a hacksaw to the stem caps would break the stem (and probably the wheel's finish ) too

 

I would think WD-40 and under-cap o-rings would well prevent any corrosion. The OEM rotor valve stem caps come with rings, as do some aftermarket.

 

As I see it it is over and done