I took my car to the dealer monday for installation of the coils that I brought.
When I took the car i noticed that the engine coolant level light was coming on. I have been taking my car to the same dealer for routine oil changes for the last year, so if the coolant level is low that means that they have not been checking it throughout the whole year! Red Light (1)
So they install the coils. I specificaly ask the the service manager "Did they check the spark plugs, they normally need changed when you change the coils. He tells me he checked them and they looked fine there was no problems with the plugs. So the next day my car stops in the middle of the street, come to find out they never checked the plugs. See picture attached!

Special thanks to Rotary Performance in Garland, TX for really taking care of me.

 

Was your coolant low? or is it just a malfunctioning sensor because that is a known issue. as for the spark plugs, that sucks i have been walked all over at the closest mazda dealer to me numerous times, but i literaly have a lack of options... If i were you i would just start driving to a different mazda dealer near you.

 

The coolant was low, as soon as they refilled it the light went off.

 

Don't be surprised if the light comes back on though, Kaiser is right the sensors have gone bad for a lot of us. We have learned to just keep an eye on the coolant level, it's about $300 to replace.

 

you had 3 trailing plugs

and you dont just lose coolant like you do oil.

 

Thanks to the fine ppl here at his forum.

Dozer- https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-mazda-ignition-coils-pics-178515/

Sniper- https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-spark-plug-change-145045/

and the rest of the community

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/

 

Wow, you did have three trailing plugs. If they did that, then you really do need a new mechanic. That's laughably bad.

My dealer told me that the bad sensor is $150 for the new overflow bottle (with the sensor in it), but the worst part was the risk of breaking the plastic tank on the radiator. A new radiator is in the neighborhood of $800. Apparently, they had broken two radiators trying to do the fix.

 

ROFL ?

well, not quite sure if its 3 trailing plugs or old style plugs. but EITHER WAY its just bad.

People hate dealerships for a reason. I mean if they can do their job right, I dont mind to pay them 100 bux an hour. but most of the time they don't so

and risk of breaking the plastic tank ? LOL. if they're smart they won't. *sigh* its just sad that most people working in dealership can't do ANYTHING right.

 

Not really............. http://www.finishlineperformance.com...cat=336&page=1

and I've seen them as low as $145.00 at Mazmart.


Anyway, yeah the sensor is a known issue, so the OP needs to be aware!

 

and I almost got an heart attack when he said it cost 800 bux to replace stock radiator.

 

if you need a mechanic to check your coolant then I say you are very likely to get screwed

 

Yeah, I am kind of wondering what the mark up on that is. I went in for a compression test because I am getting to the 100 thousand mile mark. The engine passed, although it was pretty low in the range. I checked the numbers myself with my own manual, assuming that they gave me the data sheet that actually came from my car. They also wanted to charge me about $225 for new spark plugs. I told them that I had done them 20,000 miles ago, and the service twit told me that the tech showed him the spark plugs and they had just little pencil points left of the electrodes, and they were obviously bad. I pointed out that they looked like that when I put them in straight out of the box (which cost me $12 a plug from a mechanic friend of mine). They did however replace a broken motor mount for not too much money, and my windshield wipers were very well installed.

 

Yeah, it's three trailing. If you look at the plugs, three of them have a T on them and one an L.

 

Nuttin beats a well installed set of windshield wipers!

 

That repair was within his skill set.

 

since your cars all set to go now are you comming out to the meet?

https://www.rx8club.com/gulf-rx-8-forum-32/dfw-cruise-october-24-a-205185/

 

oh **** u're right. I didn't pay attention to the numbers/letters on top

LOL ! wow ...

3 trailing plugs ... damn.



This dealership is loaded with Quality Techs

 

They're probably charging about 4-5 hours of labor. which is a bit too much.

The stock Radiator cost about 300 something bux retail.

I can replace a Radiator in 4-5 hours if Im taking my time. it does require quite a lot of work, gotta take 1/2 the crap outa the engine bay. much easier if you have access to a lift.

I replace my Radiator 3 times already, used to the process.

 

Yeah, I'm planning on coming to the meet,
Looking forward to it!

 

Your mistake was trusting a dealership in the first place.....

 

Ya know.............most people just flush it.

 

I don't trust the Mazda dealer either. They changed my oil and when I got home I checked under the hood and the plastic engine cover was gone. Geez! Is it really that hard and too much to ask to have everything put back together when you finish an oil change? I went back to the dealer but they were closed. Hopefully they still have it there on Monday.

 

install the mazda speed strut bar and it wont be an issue lol.

 

Just my opinion but both were in the wrong here. First of all you were lied to, which is a big no-no.. totally bad on the dealership's part. Second, why would you ask about the plugs *after* the coils had been done? Again, they shouldnt have said that they were checked, when they clearly weren't, but if you want something done, you usually have to make mention of it... not "oh by the way, I know I'm picking the car up right now... you did check the plugs... right????" To me the reflex reaction would be, Yes, because the car seems to be running fine. If the car was running fine on the way out (and on the way in for that matter), one -could- make the assumption that the plugs are fine. Who previously installed them? You should be mad at them even moreso than the dealership.. though I would be mad also that I was initially lied to.

Third, you make no mention (in your thread, atleast) of telling the dealership that your coolant light was coming on and to check the coolant level.. do it yourself? And if you're relying on the free 30 point check for this stuff to be done you are just kidding yourself. These guys are there to get cars in and get cars out and to make money. In a perfect world they should check everything... and some do... but that free xxx point check gets marked "fine" all the way down without looking more often than not. And, as mentioned in this thread even, a lot of times the coolant is fine and the sensor will kick the light on, maybe they checked it and saw nothing wrong. I make mention of this, cause my 8 has a finicky sensor and the coolant level is fine.

You should check your air filter and see if its dirty.. if it is (even if its not) I bet it wasn't looked at(on the free xxx point check sheet), because it comes down to this: Unless its specifically asked for, most techs aren't going to go out of their way to do something they don't get paid for. .1 hrs for an air filter install is hardly worth a person's time unless its asked for by the customer.

Again, I see what you're saying.. you were lied to about checking the plugs and don't trust the dealership... completely understandable. And you know what, the advisor should have mentioned the plugs at the beginning of the appointment. Sounds like he didn't, sounds like you didn't, but if someone had, crisis averted right there! Find out who installed the plugs originally and I feel that's who you should really be mad at!

Good luck with it all, I really hope you get it sorted out in a quick manner,
Michael

 

Don't hate ! Just because I like to try new stuff ?

Don't hate !

This will probably be my last Radiator swap(for a lonnngggg while), with almost twice the size as stock. I think Im happy.