Hello,

Today is really hot in L.A. and I drove on the freeway for about 60 miles at an average speed of 75mph and the radiator light went on for a bit then went off so I slowed down then the light went on again so I stopped to the closest easylube and they checked and they said the coolant tank was full but it had a weird color like there was oil mixed in the coolant so they think the engine head broke and that the car is dead.
Anybody experienced this issue before, what could it be?

Thank you very much.

 

No head...but the equivalent is rotor housing seals......if they leak that is not good.....time for an engine

Warranty is 100K miles or 8 years...

 

I would get a second opinion. That sounds like an off the cuff kinda diagnosis.

 

Yeah I'm bringing it tomorrow to the garage. Is the warranty really 8 years? I didn't know that

 

If your seals had blown, you would have almost no power, if you could get it to start at all.

And, they upped the warranty a couple of years ago, so many people were having problems with the engine.

 

I drove the car this morning the light didn't flash. I think this car doesn't like long trips in extreme heat but what a shame, you buy a car can't drive long distance by 100 degrees. I wonder if the engine didn't overheat somehow.
This light came on once a few years ago when i was driving up hill with cruise control locked at 75mph, the transmission switched to 3rd gear and was about 4500 rpm for about 2 miles going up hill and it didn't like it.
Did Mazda even test drive the rx8 in extreme condition before selling them lol

 

Did the temp gauge move from its usual position?

The coolant level light going on when it's not supposed to is a known issue. It's a sensor problem, and there are several threads on it. Mine has just started doing it on occasion. If it sticks on before mid-July (when my 4 year B-B expires) I'll let Mazda replace the tank. If it fails later, I'll just unplug the wire. It's not like this feature is of any use...how hard is it to glance at the translucent tank every now and then?

Ken

 

The temp gauge never passed the middle mark. I'm just surprised that it's been happening when it's really hot outside, maybe it's not cooling like it's supposed to? even though the temp doesn't do up...
I hope it's a sensor problem but this doesn't explain the odd coolant color.
The car will be at the mechanic tomorrow, they couldn't take it today...

 

The exact same thing happened to me this past weekend. I was on the highway and the light briefly came on, and then turned off. It happened twice. Let me know what happens with your car. My car is a 2004 with 120,000kms.

 

If you are simply having the light flashing randomly than it is prob. just a dirty sensor in the coolant tank. There is a DIY for it.

 

if this is the case would it still be covered under the powertrain warranty? I don't like touching my car if it's something the dealer can fix for free.

 

I donno. I don't like to have anyone else touch my car if it is something I can do myself. I would assume that it is covered, as it is not a maintaince part like the brakes or something.

 

My rx8 is at the dealer service department right now. They are changing the sub tank that is leaking coolant due to wear and tear or bump so "they" say. From what I witness the leak is coming from above the oil pan, on the driver side. My question is what exactly is a sub tank and why didn't the bumper to bumper warranty not covered it. Took the 2005 car out the dealer 3 months ago and brought it back before the warranty expired but they still want me to pay for a PCM calibration, DSC switch replacement and gas cap replacement. What is a sub tank that I cant even find in the engine diagram.