Hedge

Been lurking on here for months - taking my Feb 06' RX-8 in for recall tomorrow morning at John Hine in San Diego, CA. Will post results.

Are there any reports that I should request from them? I'm new to getting under my hood but am starting to pick this stuff up.

silvercloud

When I got my recall they provided a printout of PCM readings.

I'd be curious about others owner's results.

The cat read out at 2.6 which worries me a bit - is it on it's way out?
And I had misfires at the last 10 drives in both rotors but have never gotten a CEL.

Also my mileage has dropped from around 17 to a low of around 14 (pre-new flash)

icyur2

Had mine done last week @Power Mazda in Salem. Swap out leading plugs, re-flash, top off fuel, and gave me a CX-7 to test drive while it was serviced. The car feels more responsive in the low RPM range..have yet to notice the higher range. As for gas..won't know until a couple of weeks. I was averaging 19 mpg before the flash...

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

i JUST received the recall letter yesterday, even though i had it done 2 months ago, way to go mazda north america operations lol

Hedge

Just got back from John Hine in San Diego. They reprogrammed PCM and checked catalytic converter (Ratio 0.251:1), didn't replace anything but they threw in an auto door lock enable for free. Got the free wash and gas top up without having to ask. Took the car in at 8am and got it back at 3pm, the tech said they've only had to replace one engine so far out of a few dozen recalls.

aaronk56

Had recall done on Monday. This was the 4th time its been in the shop since last December for a loss of power/CEL issue. They replaced the leading plugs, my starter and battery, inspected the cat converter. Gave me the same Chevy Malibu loaner as always but did clean my car inside and out and topped off the tank. Funny though the Service tech, 1st called and told me that with the new flash I should use 87 octane, when I told him I thought that didn't make sense and that the spec is for premium which I've always used, he said I should try Shell Premium then because its a "Top Tier" gasoline. I did check Shell's website and they do claim that their premium has been specially fomulated in conjunction with BMW, Toyota and others to be better for new cars.

Anyway my car ran good for a day and half but then exhibited low power while on the highway coming home from work. After exiting the highway, the engine ran rough at the stop light; low idle followed by a fast idle as it seemed to hunt for the right idle. The following night, while driving on the highway at a top speed of about 80 for only 5-10 minutes, I had to slow to a stop because of a construction detour. When stopped the engine just stalled out. Fortunately it re-started immediately but ran rough and lacked full power for the rest of the trip, about a half hour, though most of the time was stuck in traffic.

This morning the car ran fine. No CEL yet, so I'm not sure what to do.

Let me know if I should post this somewhere else, if I want advise. Complete noob as you can see.

MX6_2_RX8

Take it back and tell them you want a new engine - sounds like classic symptoms if you ask me. Do you live in a hot climate? What has the temperature been?

aaronk56

I live in Connecticut. Last night the temp was around 40 when it happened. The day before maybe 50.

hagar852

Bring the car back to the dealer....

I braught mine in for the same reasons and it was fixed...

2 days later it was running exactly like before.. Braught it back and it was retested. Now I am getting a new engine...

My car had the same symptoms you did... I live in Rhode Island...


The car will only have those symptoms if you run it over 45mins or so as I found out... Wouldn't do it on short trips...

I hope that helps you out.

vetteman

Brought my '05 sport m/t in for recall on 11/3 to Gaithersburg Mazda in Md. I thought I would take care of my brake squeal at the same time. Got a new CX7 for a loaner. Also asked for comp on an oil change. Initially said no but manager approved. They called in afternoon to say car was ready - but- no new brakes. Tech said he couldn't hear squeal ( it's loud!). After reminding them of the service bulletin in response to customer complaint they agreed and kept car overnight. Picked up car the next afternoon.
PCM Reprogrammed
NO new plugs ( FQI was done in apr when I bought the car)
Cat ok I guess (no paperwork)
NO vacuum test (car runs fine with less than 1000 miles)
Car washed
Full tank of gas (premium)
They forgot campaign label

Overall, great service, car was spotless. Did have to machine rotors slightly for new pads. Brakes seem fine. I don't notice any difference in power yet.

Does anyone know, if my car was bought in the last 12 months, as per recall do I already have the upgraded leading spark plugs installed during the FQI? I'll be back to ask this and get label.

MX6_2_RX8

The dealer said it was just flooded, no other explination. I told them it had no no short trips and they tried it a few tiime and called it good. It still doesn't seem to catch as fast as it use to. I guess it is either fine or I'll be calling a tow truck soon.

They said the oil smoke was just a spill and that the level was fine. It was parked on a level surface and the level was low when I checked.

bowman

Recall done by Reliable Mazda.

Two spark plugs replaced (invoice does not indicate leading or trailing).
Reprogrammed PCM.

vcpatel

Just got my recall done at Mazda of Bedford.

The guy said that it'd only take an hour or so... so I just waited at the dealer until they finished.

They replaced the spark plugs, and reflashed the PCM. No need for a new engine! They washed the car inside out, and gave me the free tank of gas as well. Good people over there... very nice.

Funny thing happened though. The carwash guy was pulling my car out of the car wash area. He throws it in first.... tries to go... stalls. Haha, poor guy had the worst look on his face, must have had the crap scared out of him when he stalled it because I was just standing there watching. Luckily he didnt stall it again.

Mr986

My wife bought an RX7 from them years ago and we used to take our Miata there for service since we didn't like G**ley or ***cade. Real pros

blueballz

WARNING TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I took my 2004 GT in and got my spark plugs replaced and my computer flashed. but the strangest thing happened

a man entered in the bay elusively and stole some car keys walked around the lot scoping for the car that the keys belonged to. I watched him hop in and start a car with keys not knowing he was stealing the car.

The dealership didn't know what to do and he got away.

anyway the point is this stay on top of your car while it's in the shop and don't let it leave your site or it will ............leave your site.

bluesman2045

had my 05 6spd done today at wantagh mazda great service by mickey recieved new starter bigger batterie and flash plugs 000018n3y1 and n3z4 18 110 + the flash car never ran so good starter #n3z118400 seems great only 15 k on the car

Stavesacre21

any experience a decrease in fuel economy after the reflash? I'm getting the worst gas milage ever on this tank since i got mine back...almost at 1/4 tank with 150 miles...normally well over 200.

Any takers or reasoning? I'm gonna be pretty furious if this reflash sent me BACKWARDS.

OlatheRX8

I've put about 500+ miles on my car since the recall. I have not seen any change in my mileage stats.

RedSheDevil

it would help if you posted your location and the dealer's name ...

hoosier

Just took mine in for the recall and no wash, fuel, or sticker, and got a Mazda6 beater from Enterprise that smelled and had hail damage. I just emailed the dealer asking for the cat converter ratio, sticker, and fuel top off if I have to drive back up there to get the sticker, don't care about the wash. I will keep the dealers name mum at this time and let you know what it is after I hear from them.

mcaul

I notice this too. The engine now "explodes" as it starts. It starts quicker and with more of a rumble.
M.

hoosier

Could be because, from what I understand, the start mixture has been leaned to help prevent the flooded start.

ROAD WARRIOR

Had my 04 MT in for the recall. Bought it new in Sept. 04. Car has 11,000 miles. Being in Connecticut I don't drive it during the bad winter months. About every 3-weeks during winter I take it out and DRIVE IT!! Spring , Summer & Fall drive it when no rain forcast. Car always runs great. Always in for ugrade flashes, oil changes etc. Love it.

My dealer ship was great as usual. New flash, Replaced plugs, checked engine, cat, etc. Got a new battery & starter. Got new front break pads w/shims per 2nd bull. on break squeal. First replacement set , back 6,000 miles ago, squeled worse than original set. They washed my car, vacuumed and filled my gas tank.

Car starts great, sounds like a jet engine starting, acceleration much better from 4,000 to 8,000 RPM. Will let you know about gas milage after a few tanks.

One thing though the car sounds differant. Rotary howl sounds better pushing RPM's. Anybody notice the same or is it me???

MX6_2_RX8

I guess it doesn't work because mine flooded the second start back from the update.

Mine seems to start harder every time now. It cranks longer and catches hard. I wouldn't say it explodes to a start. It sputters to a start.

Josche

My '04 (with upgraded battery) flooded for the first time in the driveway on Saturday night. I'd backed it into the driveway from the garage and shut it off; should have known better.

Anyway, had it towed to the nearest Mazda dealer on Monday morning and asked them to perform the recall as well as the deflooding. They gave me a brand new Chrysler Pacifica (90 miles on it) to drive courtesy of Enterprise. Drives like a minivan, but the 4 liter 6 was definitely a lot torquier than the 8.

They replaced all of the spark plugs, installed the new starter, reprogrammed the PCM, and replaced the catalytic converter. They also washed it and topped off the tank.

The cat was on order for a few days, so I just picked up the car today. The first thing I noticed when I got in was a peculiar smell. At first I thought it smelled like curry or something, but after driving it back to the office I'm convinced that it was some kind of burning smell, although didn't really smell like burning oil, more like cooked coolant mixed with melted plastic. Opened the hood with the engine still running and there was definitely a strong odor, but no smoke.

Any ideas on what the smell could be?

BTW, the new starter is noticeably more powerful, it definitely feels like it leaps to start rather than taking a few cranks to get there. The sound will take some getting used to. No performance difference that I could discern.