Got '04 w/ 36k 2 weeks ago and put 1k on it since then. Leaving work, pulled up to stop sign and then the radio cuts out along with the LCD panel and maybe some other lights. I don't think the idle changed, but not 100% sure. It was like that for a few seconds, then came back for a couple, then out again for a couple. Then it drove city driving fine for 20 miles. Parked it for about an hour and it started up fine. Drove and at first light, again same thing. Drove about 10 city miles with no problems then it happens again at a light. Then 20 miles of freeway driving with no problems. I get home and try to lock doors with remote and hear no honk, so I put key in ignition and turn and absolutely nothing, completely dead.

So what's wrong? Is the battery dead, alternator, flooding? The battery had some fluid leaking out of top when I looked the other day, but I didn't follow up because the dealer I bought it from had said that the woman who traded it in had just put in a new battery, that it was the shorter battery, and that the mounting equipment for the other sized battery was in the glove compartment. I didn't see a brand on the battery but I think it was 540 cold cranking amps. The other issue that I've noticed is that when I'm accelerating fast in first or second gear, a light temporarily blinks on with an amber icon of a car with curvy lines behind it. Is that a DSC thing, or could that be related?

 

battery terminals are loose or the battery is dead. maybe the alternator but i will check the battery and thigh the terminals

 

I've been reading a couple of the "dead engine club" threads, and lots of people describe the symptom as having the car cut power while waiting at a stop light, and usually in the summer in a warm area (I'm in Phoenix). Is it possible that my engine is dead 2 weeks after buying a car w/ 36k on it?

 

Very unlikely..

 

"I've noticed is that when I'm accelerating fast in first or second gear, a light temporarily blinks on with an amber icon of a car with curvy lines behind it. Is that a DSC thing, or could that be related?"

sounds like the traction control, is the back end feel like its sliding around ^_^, or u just have slippery tires.

sounds kinda like the battery, radio doesnt turn off when u stall. could be alternator but the battery is easier to have checked

 

Well, that's good. I'll check the battery. Is Mazda still doing all they can to avoid honoring warranties (in case it is dead or dies in the near future)? You know, things like saying that I don't have documentation for maintenance from previous owners, drove over 100 mph (is there a way to clear this)?

 

I have had 3 engines replaced in my car. There are several like me and I know that there was at least one other on this site that has had 4. I would say that they are doing a good job of honoring their warrenties.
The PCM only stores about the last 15-30 seconds of operation. You don't have a problem.

 

Well I'll be damned! I went out and put the key in and it has power. I looked at the battery which I had done just a couple of days ago and the terminals were connected tight, and one of them is completely disconnected and just barely touching, and the top clamp over the battery is out of place and loose. Phew! But I'm still nervous with all of the early early mile '04s in places like Vegas and Phoenix that are dying. I'm not confident that Mazda will cover me with previous owners and no documentation of exactly what maintenance they had done and when.

 

When the maintenance is performed at a Mazda dealership, it is stored on the computer and uploaded to MNAO. I just did my own oil change and entered the information under my profile at mazdausa.com. Now Mazda has a record that a oil change was done within it's service time frame.

 

Glad you fixed it

Don't worry about, just rev the **** out of the car to remove all necessary carbon build up from the previous owners!!

 

Well, I got it tightened and it starts fine now, but now that silly amber car swerving icon is on permanent. And I when I press the DSC button, it doesn't show the DSC off light. Anyone know how to fix this?

I asked the guy at Autozone just now about the terminals and he said he had an '04 too. He blew the engine at 21k ... great. I want to love the car, I do, but it's a daily driver for a long commute, and I live in the southwest where it seems engines die here all the time for RX-8s. So the idea of having the car in the shop all the time and the gas mileage make it rough.

Can I also make entries online for my own work for things other than oil changes, like coils and spark plugs, and have that be covered for warranty? Is there a way to access the specifics of what was done by dealers on the online profile? I see listings on the CarFax, but it doesn't list exactly what was done, instead it says like "inspected cables, brakes, etc," but doesn't list oil changes anywhere. Also, in my profile, it says that it has no recalls. Does that mean that it already has the most recent flash update?

 

Cool, got the DSC fixed:
http://www.rx8blog.com/dynamic-stabi...recalibration/

Oh, I've certainly revved the **** out of it, I've put it up to the exact number listed on rx8_speciale's avatar. I've run seafoam through gas before starting premixing MMO, have MMO in oil soon to be changed, and I'll run the seafoam through upper manifold when I'm more comfortable with the process since it's different than the sucking into the brake booster line that I'm used to.

 

I wouldn't use MMO.

It is slovent based.