8 is enough

so i just bought my 8 out of state friday night, got home late friday night left the car in the drive way. Sat morning my mom moved the car. I went washed the car and tehn went to drive it and bam nothing. Thought is was flooded and went through all the steps nothing happened. Called 24 hour got my car towed to freeman mazda. Called monday morning and they asked if i could bring up all the keys to the dealership. I did as they asked, before i could leave the dealership the tech guy Todd, comes running up telling me none of my keyes are working on my car and that they are trying to figure out what happened. And btw it is the right set of keys for my car. I am just wondering what is you guys 2 cents on this

N20SA22C

There is a security transmitter in the key that will not allow the car to run for more than 3 seconds if not detected by the ECU. Is it starting and then shutting off? I had this happen w/ a miata with the same feature and a unprogrammed key. good luck

8 is enough

I turned on the car to acc, so i could listen to the radio, and i had the key in the ignition to move the car to teh ramp. but the dealership is saying nothing is working no electrical system is starting or working. Could i have gotten water on a circuit board and fried it? If that happened i am going to hate my car when ever it rains.

8 is enough

btw the road side assistant lady was a realy b@#*h and i emailed corprate, and they are giving my $100 dollar for ehr lovely attitude.

8 is enough

I talked the tech at freeman mazda he said he is having to reset each chip just to test if the car was flooded. He says i have a complete electrical system failure. If any one can help me in getting this resolved it would be greatly appricated. Also if this problem presists does any one have any good idea of what i should ask for mazda. I have had the car only for 4 days, and could onyl drive it for 1 1/4 days

pgtr

Yes. A free 'loaner' car to drive until the dealer that is stuck w/ servicing the car bought out of state gets it sorted out. Well it doesn't hurt to ask. And if it were the same dealer that stuck you with the car - I wouldn't even be shy about asking.

8 is enough

the mechanic says i have a blown clutch switch it will be another day while they over night the part from mazda

neit_jnf

How many miles did it have when new? How many when it broke down? I think I'd demand a new car!!!!! They'l probably deny it but you should fight for your rights!

8 is enough

a whopping 553 miles

Reeko

Well,
A bad clutch switch would explain it, and also sounds like there is nothing seriously wrong with the car.

I wouldn't sweat this car being a "lemon" just because of the clutch switch. (If that was all that was wrong).

8 is enough

thanks for the help

8 is enough

Reeko what does the clutch swith do? I am familiar with the mechanics of the car, just not the eletrical systems.

blizz81

I believe the clutch switch detects when the clutch pedal is fully at the floor and will only allow the car to start when it detects so.

What happened with the dealership experiencing "complete electronic failure"?

Reeko

Clutch switch makes sure clutch is engaged before allowing the ignition switch to work.

If it were bad, it would result in the car not turning over, you should still have accessories like stereo etc.

8 is enough

the dealership changed thier mind on what was the problem with car to the clutch switch

blizz81

I'm curious as to how they jumped the gun and claimed total electric failure....surely, these guys know how to turn a key to the ACC mode...

8 is enough

don't ask me, i think they ment to say i have a system problem somewhere, then they went to narrow it down to a certain part of the system

8 is enough

to every one amazement i will not be getting my car back today, because the part is on back order in america, and must be shipped from japan, which will take 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. This is really odd because it took them 1 day to figure out the part is on back order. WTF. There is a chance they could get the chip off another car at the dealership and replace it when they get then new part in, but that is a small chance. If that happens i MIGHT be able to pick up the car tonight at like 7. If not i got a long wait ahead of me. Please some one tell me this is just pure bad luck and the car and the company are not a total peice?

RX-GR8

first year car and the dealerships don't know how to handle the first year problems yet.

neit_jnf

It's only bad luck, the car and the company are great. Between my family and I we've owned a few Mazdas now: 198x GLC, 1984 RX-7, 1986 RX-7, 1990 and 2000 Proteges, 2003 B3000 Pick-Up and 2003 Protege 5. We never had any major trouble with these cars only regular maintenance and normal wear.
The only bad thing are the dealerships, it doesn't matter make or model of the car they're mostly a PITA. If you find a good dealership you're lucky.

pgtr

What a hoot - clutch switch - Only about a billion cars made have such simpe devices. These things are so simple & long lived and essentially lifetime parts it's almost understandable they would miss the simple stuff and jump right to castrophic conclusions like 'complete electrical failure' - what a hoot.

In fact I would still speculate that the clutch switch isn't failed but may be mis-alinged or have a simple contaminent on it's contacts. But modern mechancs at dealers are only taught to replace.

I also find it hard to believe the clutch swithc is unique and not common to most any Mazda product and probably a few other makes like Toyotas & Nissans or Mitsus.

But the fact that they wouldn't stock it regardless of whether it's a common or 8 only item is not surprising... see teh comments below...

Boy those comments hit home. If there is ONE overriding reason for me not jumping into an Rx8 it's my past experience for 20 years w/ Rx7s and dealerships.

Great cars - yes.

Good company but not great due to their inability to establish a decent network of acceptable dealerships.

By and large Mazda dealership are the absolute pits and teh Rx8 being somewhat of a 'specialty' car it's all the worse.

They dont' stock diddly for parts. You have to pre-pay in person for them to order. Ordering is slow. Prices are outrageous.

They need to raise the standards for what it takes to be a Mazda dealer and do something abou tthis.

They also need to raise the minimum standards for parts inventory required on hand.

They also need to deal w/ their entire parts distribution infrastructure. It's probably the second worst around - save maybe Subaru. Price, availability and slowness all prove that. It's like Mazda NA took a page right out of the Renault book.

For whatever reasons Mazdas dealers exert too much political power vs Mazda proper and they get away w/ cheaply run dealers, low parts inventory and such. I suppose they get away w/ it to a point given the cars themselves are pretty darn good and long lived. Few people afterall stop to consider dealership network and support in selecting new cars.

I do disagree that it's all dealerships - some manufacturers do take the time to exert more political control over their dealerships and establish high standards for being a dealer. You can find this in some luxury lines for example. BMW comes to mind for exerting extra control over their dealers than most other makes. I'm sure some folks will be quick to take exception to what I'm about to say but: I think apples to apples, BMW parts are probably by and large cheaper than Mazda!

Japanes car parts from dealers are about the highest around. Toyota and Honda can get away with this based on public perception of quality. Mazda in all honestly does not occupy that same stratosphere as those two yet has no compunction about charging similar prices for parts.

I've found Chevrolet dealerships in various states to be generously stocked and very accomodating of my special requests and also lightning fast on ordering when something isn't in stock.

DC is currently going thru this process w/ upping the ante on it's existing Chrysler brand dealers. THey definately realized if they want to step up to the next level they have to do something about their weakest link - the dealers.

I still see no evidence that Mazda is aware of a problem or making serious inroads in cleaning up it's dealership fiascos - Frankly Mazda may not be in a position to do all that much - but in a sense that is one black eye against a co that makes good cars otherwise.

I see a lot of people posting about getting lots of warranty work already done on their 8s. I wonder how much of it is really justified vs how much is a greedy dealership backend managers jumping the gun to get profitable reimbursements back from Mazda NA. And it does little for perceived quality metrics either for the brand.

Sorry to rant - you just really hit the nail on the head and pushed a button on that one for me personally.

8 is enough

i am sorry to hear that the dealership i worked with rocked. The one where i got my car fixed parted out a sales car to get me a clutch switch, and they will sell that car when ever that switch comes in. And the dealership that i bought the car from said they would do the same and overnight the part to freeman mazda for free. So i do not know if this is allowed but bill hood mazda in hammond la nd fremman mazda in irving tx kick ***. I got my car last night at 6 and have put 200 miles on it since then driving it, what a riot. my problem is corporate bing dicks, but peace time to go drive my mistress around town. Funny side not my dad saw the interior and said look you have birth control seats, because it does not look like you will be having sex in that car any time soon.

pgtr

It wasn't one - I've dealt w/ their parts depts in person in many cities in 3 different states off and on for 20 yrs and many more by phone. It's somethign that becomes readily apparent if you also are dealing with other makes of cars. I did run across a good parts operation at a Mazda dealer in another state once. It was mostly decent because of the individual herculean efforts of the parts manager at the time and nothing to do w/ the dealership as a whole or Mazda NA for that matter. It told him that at the time and I'm sure he appreciated it.

That was 1989.
The dealerhsip was sold by 1990 and he lost his job but went on to bigger/better things. Figures.

That's great for you on the switch - but can't say I like the idea of dealerships using sales cars as inventory sourcs to make up for crappy chintzy business practices of not stocking a decent minimal inventory level or Mazda NA having a parts distribution infrastructure that can't keep up w/ a 3rd world country postal service. And now that 'parts' car has been hacked on twice - maybe by a decent responsible tech or maybe some flunkee before ever getting sold.

carnut

At least they're working to keep you in a running car. That says something!