Notices
Series I Trouble Shooting This is the place to learn more about or discuss any issues you're having with your RX-8

Lost Power, Engine Light, Smoke, Now $3100 dealer estimate

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 10-26-2009 | 07:09 PM
  #1  
BigPile's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Lost Power, Engine Light, Smoke, Now $3100 dealer estimate

I was driving my car home from work yesterday (6 mile commute). About 1/2 mile into the drive the car lost most power and would not go above 53 mph. The check engine light came on and began flashing. It died once on me, but I was able to let off the clutch and it restarted. About 1 mile from home I began smelling something burning. Made it to the house and the car would not restart....(turned over as if there was no fuel).

I had it towed to the dealership and they came back with the following:

Coils had failed causing unburnt fuel to enter system. They said this subsequently caused the catalytic converter to burnt up, along with the O2 sensors and spark plugs.

Dealership is saying that since the Coils are what ultimately failed (and those are not under warranty per them) then all subsequent damage produced by the unburnt fuel is not covered (catalytic converter, O2 sensors, plugs). Now I have a $3063.40 estimate.....not including a new battery that they say I need.

My questions are:
  1. Does this sound like a reasonable possibility?
  2. Could there have been another order of events?
  3. Is this coil failure common and if so, is there a recall that would apply?
  4. Am I looking at other damage that they are not telling me at this point? (i.e. complete engine?)

I remember there being an extended coverage that had been applied to the 2004 RX-8's due to the engine failures that had been so present in that year of production.

Any help or suggestions would be great.

-Rob
2004 RX-8
65600 miles
Old 10-26-2009 | 07:18 PM
  #2  
shaunv74's Avatar
Power!!
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,412
Likes: 3
From: Sunny See attle
I call BS coils don't just die all the sudden and cause the engine to stop running. Also if your coils die like they said the car would cease to run and fuel would then stop getting dumped in to the cat. and it wouldn't burn up due to that short an exposure.

Also the $3100 price tag is rediculous.

Coils cost $30 each and you need 4 of them. They are about 1-2hours labor. Plugs are $80 for the set.

Cat Converter is pricey but it should be covered under warranty regardless of whether or not your coils are shot since it has a 150K government mandated warranty. Even still you could buy an aftermarket cat. or a used one from a forum member for ~$300-400. I think the stock cat. is ~$1200 new. Certainly not near the $3100 they're quoting you.

Most likely if your coils are actually shot. You need to replace them, deflood the engine, and get new plugs. If the cat. converter is shot and it burned up your sensors it's due to the converter burning up all by itself, which is a common occurance to many people with a perfectly fine working car. I suspect your cat. burned up all by itself regardless of the weak coils.
Old 10-26-2009 | 07:29 PM
  #3  
Easy_E1's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,675
Likes: 5
From: Bellevue WA
I agree with Shaunv74. All the coils will not die at the same time. All the coil failure is going to do is cause misfires under load.
If the cat failed it could cause a restriction in the exhaust that could possibly cause a misfire in the ignition system.
Sounds like your catalytic converter failed and they are trying to sucker you into a lot of unneeded parts. Two O2 sensors failing at the same time. Never happened that I'm aware of.
Old 10-26-2009 | 07:51 PM
  #4  
BigPile's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Price Breakdown

Thank you for all of your input. I called the dealership back prior to reading your post and this was the price breakdown for the repairs:


Plugs: $195.24
Coils(2 lead and 2 trailing): $203.72
Labor: $300
Total with Labor = $704.49

O2 Sensors: $185.33
Labor: $135.91
Total with labor = $339.34

Catilytic Converter: $1584.44
Gaskets: $12.56
Labor: $266.64
Total with labor = $2019.64

For a Grand total with tax and labor of $3063.40

Originally Posted by shaunv74
I call BS coils don't just die all the sudden and cause the engine to stop running. Also if your coils die like they said the car would cease to run and fuel would then stop getting dumped in to the cat. and it wouldn't burn up due to that short an exposure.

Also the $3100 price tag is rediculous.

Coils cost $30 each and you need 4 of them. They are about 1-2hours labor. Plugs are $80 for the set.

Cat Converter is pricey but it should be covered under warranty regardless of whether or not your coils are shot since it has a 150K government mandated warranty. Even still you could buy an aftermarket cat. or a used one from a forum member for ~$300-400. I think the stock cat. is ~$1200 new. Certainly not near the $3100 they're quoting you.

Most likely if your coils are actually shot. You need to replace them, deflood the engine, and get new plugs. If the cat. converter is shot and it burned up your sensors it's due to the converter burning up all by itself, which is a common occurance to many people with a perfectly fine working car. I suspect your cat. burned up all by itself regardless of the weak coils.
Old 10-26-2009 | 08:00 PM
  #5  
shaunv74's Avatar
Power!!
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,412
Likes: 3
From: Sunny See attle
Originally Posted by BigPile
Thank you for all of your input. I called the dealership back prior to reading your post and this was the price breakdown for the repairs:


Plugs: $195.24 -Buy from www.blackhaloracing.com yourself for $80 and tell them to eff off.
Coils(2 lead and 2 trailing): $203.72 $30 each at www.finishlineperformance.com
Labor: $300 Should be no more than 2 hours
Total with Labor = $704.49 -Should be $300 max
O2 Sensors: $185.33
Labor: $135.91
Total with labor = $339.34 -I agree with Erik. I think this is BS and they're not actually bad.

Catilytic Converter: $1584.44
Gaskets: $12.56
Labor: $266.64
Total with labor = $2019.64 Should be covered under warranty and free to you.

For a Grand total with tax and labor of $3063.40
Summary: These guys are taking you for a ride. I would call Mazda North America to get a ruling on the cat. converter as warranty work. 1-800-222-5500

Then show the dealer the other prices online for the parts they quoted you and ask them to honor those prices or buy them yourself and bring them yourself.

Also I would check around for other dealers in your area that are better.These guys don't sound trustworthy to me and generally in that case you end up getting nothing but trouble if you have them do the work.

Last edited by shaunv74; 10-26-2009 at 08:03 PM.
Old 10-27-2009 | 07:05 PM
  #6  
BigPile's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
CA Parts Suggestions

Does anyone have a good suggestion for an replacement Catalytic converter? I live in California, so it needs to restrict the crap out of my engine just like the stock one.

Also, anyone know where to buy good replacement O2 sensors?

See my original post above for any other info. Links and prices would be extremely helpful.

Thank you,
Rob
2004 MT RX8
65600 miles
Old 10-27-2009 | 07:42 PM
  #7  
invasion08's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 3
From: New jersey
Your Catalytic Converter is covered by a 8 yr 80k federal warranty
Old 10-27-2009 | 07:48 PM
  #8  
invasion08's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 3
From: New jersey
OK i would first have the dealer replace the cat converter for free since its under warranty. Then get your car home and buy new coils, plugs and plug wires online. I can even send you the webistes if you want. Then if your o2 sensors happen to be bad then contact mazmart. But i would not let that dealership work on your car.
Old 10-27-2009 | 08:02 PM
  #9  
ferg's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: south florida
it will take less then 30min to install a cat, no joke, i think its like 4 bolts lol, you telling me $266 bucks to take off 4 bolts lol wow, even my mom can do it in less time, all i have to say is mazda made the rx8 really easy to work on, they build it for the enthusiast for sure

Last edited by ferg; 10-27-2009 at 08:06 PM.
Old 10-27-2009 | 08:03 PM
  #10  
shazy's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 0
From: Montreal,QC
What. The. ****.

Coils 120$, Plugs 100$ (or 80$ if you live in US)
and you can do the coils yourself and prolly your spark plugs if you really have patience.
it shouldn't be more than 250$ for the coils and plugs together, and wtf at the labour! Is it like 200$ an hour ?!
Old 10-27-2009 | 08:04 PM
  #11  
shazy's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 0
From: Montreal,QC
Originally Posted by ferg
it will take less then 30min to install a cat, no joke, i think its like 4 bolts lol, you telling me $266 bucks to take off 4 bolts lol wow, even my mom can do it in less time
Lmao more like 15mins if you have the proper tools
Old 10-27-2009 | 08:08 PM
  #12  
ferg's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 974
Likes: 1
From: south florida
^^ dude give me a socket wrench, ill do it for him for pizza and a beer, and the coils for smoking out and the O2 Sensors for a 8th of weed, **** ill rotate his tires for some more beer and do a brake job for some head lol j/k lol no head

Last edited by ferg; 10-27-2009 at 08:11 PM.
Old 10-27-2009 | 09:14 PM
  #13  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 32
From: Planet Earth
Well, the dealership has a point there ---

The price ---------- well, it might sound like highway robbery, but dealership has to make a living and labors are not cheap.

stock RX-8 coils are pretty weird, I tested my old coils (the very original one came with the car, I never threw them away), all within spec, but hey none of it can handle high rpm and will give you misfire.

Coils were the cause of the whole failure. Its the owner's responsibility to keep it up to date. Coils dont fail in 1 day, it will go bad slowly, the owner should've noticed it way before hand. If you dont,well, sucks to be you, that means you dont really cared your car much.

Originally Posted by BigPile
Thank you for all of your input. I called the dealership back prior to reading your post and this was the price breakdown for the repairs:


Plugs: $195.24
Coils(2 lead and 2 trailing): $203.72
Labor: $300
Total with Labor = $704.49

O2 Sensors: $185.33
Labor: $135.91
Total with labor = $339.34

Catilytic Converter: $1584.44
Gaskets: $12.56
Labor: $266.64
Total with labor = $2019.64

For a Grand total with tax and labor of $3063.40
Buy the stuff and do yourself and save ----

Coils cost 28 bux each, buy 4 and it cost about maybe 8 bux to ship. Need 12 mm socket to replace.

Spark plugs --- 17 bux each online SHIPPED from Amazon. buy 2 leading 2 trailing. Need spark plug socket to replace, I forgot what size, but it cost a few bux each.

O2 Sensors, Front or rear? Cuz there is 2. Front is for closed loop feedback, Rear is for checking Catalytic Converter efficiency. Front cost more than Rear. Stock front one cost about 200+/- , Rear was like 140 or 150? I forgot. so you might want to ask them WHAT O2 sensor are they talking about. You can borrow O2 sensor socket for Free at places like Autozone.

Catalytic converter ---- This is the Most freaking expensive part, yes Stock CAT cost like 1600 bux. BUT ----- you can always buy aftermarket CAT, or get a highflow cat for around 300-400. some shop might "not" ship them to you cuz you're in CA ... but there is always around them ya know and if you go that route, just remember dont floor your car all the time and the noise will be the same as stock.

Labor ----------- See if anyone local with the right tools willing to help you, someone know the car well might be able to do it for you at a low cost or free

if you're in NYC area I can do it for you for free. buy me Lunch and Beer. oh well

Last edited by nycgps; 10-27-2009 at 09:24 PM.
Old 10-27-2009 | 09:19 PM
  #14  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 32
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by shazy
Lmao more like 15mins if you have the proper tools
Originally Posted by ferg
^^ dude give me a socket wrench, ill do it for him for pizza and a beer, and the coils for smoking out and the O2 Sensors for a 8th of weed, **** ill rotate his tires for some more beer and do a brake job for some head lol j/k lol no head
it will be more than 15-30 minutes. since you gotta jack the car up, and Exhaust bolt 90% of the time will seize, hard, it takes time to hammer it off.
Old 10-27-2009 | 09:59 PM
  #15  
newguy's Avatar
zoom fuckin zoom
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: PA, USA
bad coil might have caused it I had a rear rotor coil go bad (engine idling on 1 rotor)so the fuel from the rear rotor was dumping into my cat and it got red hot glowing around the 02 sensor bung and flanges (what I could see under the outer shell)but I wasnt doing hwy speed just idling for 20 min in a parking lot.

Luckily I threw no code for rear 02 sensor and after new coils/plugs/wires the car runs better than when I bought it, this all happened recently w/63k miles. I looked and my cat innerds didnt look melted so I think its ok. It pays to pull over and shut this car down when you see check engine light and feel a miss.

Last edited by newguy; 10-27-2009 at 10:03 PM.
Old 10-27-2009 | 10:23 PM
  #16  
newguy's Avatar
zoom fuckin zoom
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: PA, USA
tow it home, get an RPsupercat or contact Mazda N.America for a new cat. Get new plugs for $17 ea and NGK wires for $25 from Amazon.com Buy some new coils from a vendor here for about $125-140. BHR or RotaryFX.com has them. Jack car up and get the rear plugs from underneath, remove front driver wheel to get the front 2 plugs behind the little rubber flap. If you cant get a cat under warranty go w/ RP Supercat. I wouldnt even bother removing rear 02 sensor b/c its bad and so is the cat, unplug it (follow wire) right above cat and remove it with cat installed. Install new sensor in a new cat, replace as a unit. OR take a steel pole and remove your cat and reem it out good to just get you on the road for free until you get cat warranty issue sorted out, leaving the bad rear 02 sensor w/ Check Engine light on wont hurt or affect operation, it just checks to see more oxygen after cat than before cat.
If you cant get a free mazda cat and CA inspectors will gig you for an aftermarket RP Supercat, move out of the Communist Republic of CA. I cant believe inspection mechanics would notice the difference between the stock cat and the RP Supercat, I mean they look up underneath and see a cat so you would be good, one would think?
Oh btw, use this attached pic to guide you thru plug/coil/wire replacement, you will have to remove air filter box and air intake tube but can just push it to the passenger side, no need to remove any hoses or wires. PIC:
Attached Thumbnails Lost Power, Engine Light, Smoke, Now 00 dealer estimate-coil.jpg  
Old 10-28-2009 | 12:39 PM
  #17  
invasion08's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 3
From: New jersey
But the dealership should not be charging him for the cat converter since it is still under federal warranty. So thats 2k he should not be even paying.
Old 11-02-2009 | 10:55 PM
  #18  
BigPile's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Dealership RipOff Update

Originally Posted by shaunv74
Summary: These guys are taking you for a ride. I would call Mazda North America to get a ruling on the cat. converter as warranty work. 1-800-222-5500

Then show the dealer the other prices online for the parts they quoted you and ask them to honor those prices or buy them yourself and bring them yourself.

Also I would check around for other dealers in your area that are better.These guys don't sound trustworthy to me and generally in that case you end up getting nothing but trouble if you have them do the work.
Ok, so I went into the dealership to talk to them about the catalytic converter warranty and they said, "no, it won't be covered...we already talked to Mazda North America and the Regional Manager.....sorry....$3100 still." They then told me that the Regional manager would be at the dealership later today, so I told them to call me when he got in and I would talk to him directly. I went home, called Mazda North America and they said they would research the matter and get back to me.

Later that afternoon the Regional Manager calls me and says that they will do the cat. converter under warranty as long as the plugs/coil/O2 sensor gets replaced. He said, "we normally don't do this"....I said "fine".

So, I am now going to order my own parts and put them in so that the dealership has to do the cat under warranty as he stated. Now my $3100 bill will be closer to $350'ish if I buy the parts ($80 plugs, $120 Coils, $150'ish O2 sensor) and install them myself.

Thanks for all the info.

Few Quick questions though:
  1. Are the NGK plugs listed on the Black Halo site OEM or better?
  2. Are the Coils listed on http://www.finishlineperformance.com OEM or better?
  3. Anyone know of a good place to buy the O2 sensor?

Thanks again!
Old 11-02-2009 | 11:00 PM
  #19  
Jon316G's Avatar
Grasshopper
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 46
From: Streetsboro, OH
Originally Posted by BigPile
Are the NGK plugs listed on the Black Halo site OEM or better?
OEM

Originally Posted by BigPile
Are the Coils listed on http://www.finishlineperformance.com OEM or better?
OEM

Originally Posted by BigPile
Anyone know of a good place to buy the O2 sensor?
Not sure if you can find it cheaper elsewhere:
http://www.mazdatrix.com/8ELEC-ENGINE.htm
Maybe someone has a used one they can sell you.
Old 11-02-2009 | 11:23 PM
  #20  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 32
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by BigPile
Ok, so I went into the dealership to talk to them about the catalytic converter warranty and they said, "no, it won't be covered...we already talked to Mazda North America and the Regional Manager.....sorry....$3100 still." They then told me that the Regional manager would be at the dealership later today, so I told them to call me when he got in and I would talk to him directly. I went home, called Mazda North America and they said they would research the matter and get back to me.

Later that afternoon the Regional Manager calls me and says that they will do the cat. converter under warranty as long as the plugs/coil/O2 sensor gets replaced. He said, "we normally don't do this"....I said "fine".

So, I am now going to order my own parts and put them in so that the dealership has to do the cat under warranty as he stated. Now my $3100 bill will be closer to $350'ish if I buy the parts ($80 plugs, $120 Coils, $150'ish O2 sensor) and install them myself.

Thanks for all the info.
Thats good to hear !

Yes, get the parts yourself and install them ...


Are the NGK plugs listed on the Black Halo site OEM or better?
NGK is the Spark plug supplier for Mazda, in fact NGK supplies MOST of the spark plugs around the globe.

In case you wonder if you can get it for cheaper ... (dont hurt me Charles!)

Leading Spark plug, 16 bux each shipped, you will need 2

Trailing spark plug, you will need 2, 17 bux shipped each


Are the Coils listed on http://www.finishlineperformance.com OEM or better?
Its stock/OEM.

Get it here might save you a few bux (and tax) depends on where you live.

Mazda Part number : N3H118100B9U

OnlineMazdaParts.Com

Anyone know of a good place to buy the O2 sensor?
Any online site is good, As long as its direct OE- Replacement. if you need the part number you can PM me.

Try not to get parts from Mazdatrix ... they're a good source for info and their work is top-notch ... but parts price are only so-so (and a bit overpriced, sometimes), especially when you're talking about OE parts.

Last edited by nycgps; 11-02-2009 at 11:25 PM.
Old 11-02-2009 | 11:49 PM
  #21  
BigPile's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by nycgps
Thats good to hear !

Yes, get the parts yourself and install them ...




NGK is the Spark plug supplier for Mazda, in fact NGK supplies MOST of the spark plugs around the globe.

In case you wonder if you can get it for cheaper ... (dont hurt me Charles!)

Leading Spark plug, 16 bux each shipped, you will need 2

Trailing spark plug, you will need 2, 17 bux shipped each




Its stock/OEM.

Get it here might save you a few bux (and tax) depends on where you live.

Mazda Part number : N3H118100B9U

OnlineMazdaParts.Com



Any online site is good, As long as its direct OE- Replacement. if you need the part number you can PM me.

Try not to get parts from Mazdatrix ... they're a good source for info and their work is top-notch ... but parts price are only so-so (and a bit overpriced, sometimes), especially when you're talking about OE parts.
Is it best to go with OEM on the coils, plugs and O2 sensor? Are there better options?
Old 11-02-2009 | 11:56 PM
  #22  
Jon316G's Avatar
Grasshopper
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 46
From: Streetsboro, OH
Stick with the OEM plugs and O2 sensor.
BHR makes upgraded coils, but it'll cost you more.
Other than that, stick with OEM coils.
Old 11-03-2009 | 12:14 AM
  #23  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 32
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by BigPile
Is it best to go with OEM on the coils, plugs and O2 sensor? Are there better options?
Follow Jon's Advise.

If money isn't an issue for you ... then I would suggest you to go for BHR's coils.

It cost 6 time as much, but its also X times stronger and Im pretty sure it will last couple times longer than stock coils.

Mazda went cheap on coils after FC, *sigh*
Old 11-14-2009 | 12:36 PM
  #24  
BigPile's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Talking Final Outcome of Dealer Attempted Rip-Off

Well, after a call to Mazda USA and multiple arguments...err 'discussions' with the Regional Manager and local dealership this was the final outcome of the original $3063.40 estimate. They are still adamant that they are not covering the catalytic converter under 'warranty'....they are saying that they are doing it as a 'customer satisfaction' procedure. They can call it whatever they want as long as I am not paying for it:

O2 Sensor (Dealer): $139.70
Catalytic Converter (Warranty):$0
Gasket (Warranty): $0
Dealer Labor for plugs/coils: $264.00 (3 hrs labor @ $88/hr)
Dealer Sales Tax: $ 13.62
----------------------Dealer Total: $417.32

(4) Spark Plugs (Amazon.com): $ 76.35 (w/tax/2day shipping)
(4) Ignition Coils (onlinemazdaparts.com): $138.90 (w/tax/shipping)
---------------------------My Supplied Parts Total: $215.25

Total Cost to my Pocket: $632.57


Original Estimate: $3063.40 - $632.57 = $2430.83 Savings

I got the car back Thursday and it is running like a champ. Thanks to all that provided insight and help on this cluster.


Originally Posted by BigPile
Thank you for all of your input. I called the dealership back prior to reading your post and this was the price breakdown for the repairs:


Plugs: $195.24
Coils(2 lead and 2 trailing): $203.72
Labor: $300
Total with Labor = $704.49

O2 Sensors: $185.33
Labor: $135.91
Total with labor = $339.34

Catilytic Converter: $1584.44
Gaskets: $12.56
Labor: $266.64
Total with labor = $2019.64

For a Grand total with tax and labor of $3063.40
Old 11-14-2009 | 11:54 PM
  #25  
shaunv74's Avatar
Power!!
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,412
Likes: 3
From: Sunny See attle
Congratulations. I'm glad to hear it all worked out for you in the end. I suggest finding a new dealer that will treat you better next time. Clearly they were trying to take advantage of you and any future work will be a fight as well.

check the regional section of this forum in your region and ask people which dealers are the best.

Rev it up!!


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Lost Power, Engine Light, Smoke, Now $3100 dealer estimate



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:23 PM.