Alright so I have my last final today and go out to 8 and it doesn't start. Luckily my girlfriend was around, so she let me take her car. Now my RX-8 is sitting in my driveway and it does nothing but roll over when I turn the key. I tested the battery and it appears fully to fully charged, I also tried jumping it too but still no luck.

At this point I think I am better off letting Mazda take care of it. To my knowledge it has not gone to Mazda for any problems in the past (second owner). Now I am not exactly sure what to do. Do I just call my local dealer? Will they tow it in at their expense? I am still under warranty (04 with 47k). What about a loaner car?

If there is anything I should know before calling Mazda, don't be shy.

Thanks, Kyle

 

Have you checked the spark plugs and coil packs yet? I would start there first before taking it to the dealer.

 

No I haven't...not sure where or what to check for. I am mechanically inclineded, just don't want to do anything and then have Mazda be like, "since you did that we cannot cover this under your warranty".

So what exactly should I be checking or doing?

 

Okay....you should be under warranty. Call Mazda and the should tow it for free.
I want to know how you know the battery is good? It really could be a number of things. When you call them expalin that your car won't start and explain the symptoms. Does the car even attempt to start or does it just go click? I think when yo usay "rollover" that it's turning but just won't start.....if that's true, it sounds like you flooded it. Do you ever start the car and shut it off before it's warm? Think back and tell me the last time it was driven and how far....even if you started it to move it in the driveway and then shut it off. Or even if you didn't move it, but started it and then shut it off.



Notice that I used the word "should" in several places please.

Oh....and they may or may not give you a loaner.

 

The same thing happened to me, but, I am no longer under warranty due to two reasons, one because I am passed the 60k mark, and two because I have the greddy turbo kit, I replaced everything from spark plugs to the alternator and even the battery, so here is what I suggest you do, use your roadside assistance to have the car towed to mazda, you are under warranty so they will cover the cost, have them run a compression check on the engine, I blew two seals on both front and back rotors which is why my car went to ****, I'm not saying that your engine is gone too, but I would make sure to rule it out before you spend too much on parts when inevitably its the engine anyway, but your still covered under warranty so if the engine is bad then they will send you a rebuilt one anyway, which could take a while, but at least it wont cost you anything, good luck to you and I hope the finals went well, finished mine yesterday

 

I know the battery is good because I have a battery maintainer I think its called. Anyway it says the battery is good and I just starting the car with that hooked up. I am going to try jumping from another when my dad gets home, despite the fact I think its my battery.

More than likely I will call Mazda tomorrow morning to arrange for a tow. I just hope they don't give me any crap. It will be my first time bring this to the dealer. Ooohhh, I am cringing already....yucky.

Edit: The last the time the car was moved was this morning to let my sister out of the driveway. My dad (he moved it) said he let it idle for approx. 10 minutes before shutting it off. Oh well...

 

If it started with the maintainer hooked up or when you jump it next(even though it didn't before), then it is your battery and you have a dead cell or two. You might have a possibly alternator problem, but we don't know that yet. If you are under warranty, go with dealer.....but battery usually isn't a warranty item at this stage(I don't think)....call them first!
If not, then I'd go to Sears or Autozone, or some place else and have them actually test the battery. Just my opinion. Good luck!

Glad you told dad to let it run before shutoff......at least it's not flooded. Sounds like you just can't hold a charge.

 

Just tried jumping from another car and yielded the same result.

Time to call Mazda. Do I just call Roadside Assistance? Or do I need to call my local dealer first? If you can't tell I have never had to call Mazda before.

EDIT* I manned up and just called. Tow is early in the AM (and is covered by warranty). I'll post back with results when this is all over this.

 

Sure enough, my dad moved it in the driveway and flooded the engine. Well $190 later I'm good to go. At least the tow was free. The flooding, which many others have mentioned, is not considered a maintainance issue. I'll make it a point for this not to happen again.

Thanks all for you responses!

 

I suggest you call up Mazda head office and complain about the flooding and demand that they cover your $190 cost. They used to cover and since last winter stopped. I too bought an 04 in 2006 and after the 2nd flood which is not of my doing my dealer advised me after I had roadside assistance towed it there that Mazda no longer covers it. I bitched and they paid telling me it was the last time since they'd ask the dealer to advise me on how to de-flood. It's BS because they didn't tell me anything we don't all know already except it doesn't work Well guess what, my damn car floed again yesterday. I'll have to have it towed and pay just like you but I'm sure going to blast Mazda for their poor design and demand that they cover. I've read somewhere in this forum that somehow it's your fault for letting it flood but trust me I've done everything to avoid it but when show decides not to start what the f&%% am I supposed to do other than stepping on the gas pedal to stop the fuel injection?
Good luck with getting your money back!

 

So your saying that you rev your engine for 20 seconds above 4K everytime you shut it off cold?

 

according to the owners manual OMG?!? what did I just type? if you start you car but dont drive it i.e. just back it out of the garage you should let it wam up to normal operating temp. rev and hold to 3k rpm for 10 seconds, let it return to normal idle then shut it off. no exceptions. sometimes I just push mine out of the garage by hand so I dont have to do all that. I have 33k miles and the only time mine has ever flooded was when my father-in-law drove like I told him not to. cost him a tow, new battery, and shop fee. it was flooded like I told him on the phone, but he didnt listen so... There is also a deflooding procedure in the owners manual, there it is again, or you can pull the fuse for the fuel pump, turn it over, replace the fuse and viola