Saga of Bad Cat and Mazda's inaction
03-01-2007, 09:11 AM
#51
RX8 and a Truk....
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Spin9k
Here's a good everyday result of this phenomenon...its the dumbing of america in the name of consumerism .... aka buy it (maybe if you can find it even) don't build it yourself (even simple crap - cause no one knows how anymore...)
I expect ANY mechanic who works on my kar to give me the benefit of the doubt regarding what's wrong with my kar. I have NO love for service-loaners. I don't bring my rx8 to Maz for the JOY or PLEASURE it brings realizing I'll have yet MORE time without the RX8 for which I paid a fairly large sum of money (At least from MY humble perspective). I drive my RX8 at least 5 days out of the week. I can guarantee that is 4.9 Days out of the week MORE than anyone else on this planet. A GOOD mechanic or repair shop will REALIZE I know my RX8. I know about Horsepower. I know about Torque. I know about Exhst Flow.
When a Mech. tries to explain what he/she found, they should know I probably have either SEEN something like that go bad, or know somebody who has. I'm to the point, considering my background and age where I SERIOUSLY doubt I'll EVER look at a mech. and say "I never knew THAT could happen." UNLESS it's in the context of my OEM Clutch disc EXPLODING at 13,000 miles.
I want a Mech. to adopt the attitude where he/she thinks like this:
- If my tests are showing nothing is wrong, I may need to change my testing procedures.
- Dynos NEVER Lie. Comparing one dyno to another isn't science. Comparing 4 like-cars to another car on the same dyno, on the same day is "Pretty damn close" to science.
- It is NOT the customer's responsibility to diagnose His/Her Car. When he/she does that for me, I consider it a GIFT, and will thank him/her for their time and effort in helping ME help them.
Any others to that list?
Last edited by dmp; 12-29-2009 at 08:19 AM.
03-01-2007, 10:11 AM
#53
Screw gas mileage
Originally Posted by dmp
I want a Mech. to adopt the attitude where he/she thinks like this:
Any others to that list?
- If my tests are showing nothing is wrong, I may need to change my testing procedures.
- Dynos NEVER Lie. Comparing one dyno to another isn't science. Comparing 4 like-cars to another car on the same dyno, on the same day is "Pretty damn close" to science.
- It is NOT the customer's responsibility to diagnose His/Her Car. When he/she does that for me, I consider it a GIFT, and will thank him/her for their time and effort in helping ME help them.
Any others to that list?
They need to get a change of attitude from, "book says do this, didn't see problem, therefore there is no problem and customer is stupid"
03-01-2007, 10:25 AM
#54
That view is compounded by the fact that those of us on this website are way more involved in what is going on with our cars and, as such, we are often viewed as troublesome. Last time I visited my dealer I emphatically implored them to view us as valuable informational resources because we are far ahead of the curve in terms of problems with the 8.
03-01-2007, 12:45 PM
#55
Administrator
thats twice now that people outside of Mazda service centers diagnosed a failed cat on Darrin's car and they failed to believe us until someone actually pulled the cat down. the last time when the cat was finally pulled down pieces of the ceramic actually fell out.
neither time has the PCM thrown a cat code. by now they should have a note out to everyone in the northwest-
To all Mazda Service centers in the Washignton and Oregon are,
If the owner of an RX-8 comes in to your service center and tells you that Dannobre or Zoom44 or DMP etc etc of the RX8Club.com says the cat on their RX-8 is bad here is the steps you should take:
- put car on lift
- remove cat and look inside
- replace obviously bad cat
- give car back to owner
Sincerely ,
Mazda Tech line"
you know whats weird- i know the names of a couple of the DCSM's around the country but i dont know the one in our area.
edit the note should come with these pictures from 3 years ago
now that one did finally throw a code - probably when it broke loose and headed to the other end. but you can see how bad they can get before throwing a code.
neither time has the PCM thrown a cat code. by now they should have a note out to everyone in the northwest-
To all Mazda Service centers in the Washignton and Oregon are,
If the owner of an RX-8 comes in to your service center and tells you that Dannobre or Zoom44 or DMP etc etc of the RX8Club.com says the cat on their RX-8 is bad here is the steps you should take:
- put car on lift
- remove cat and look inside
- replace obviously bad cat
- give car back to owner
Sincerely ,
Mazda Tech line"
you know whats weird- i know the names of a couple of the DCSM's around the country but i dont know the one in our area.
edit the note should come with these pictures from 3 years ago
now that one did finally throw a code - probably when it broke loose and headed to the other end. but you can see how bad they can get before throwing a code.
03-01-2007, 04:57 PM
#56
Lubricious
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Originally Posted by dmp
I want a Mech. to adopt the attitude where he/she thinks like this:
Any others to that list?
- If my tests are showing nothing is wrong, I may need to change my testing procedures.
- Dynos NEVER Lie. Comparing one dyno to another isn't science. Comparing 4 like-cars to another car on the same dyno, on the same day is "Pretty damn close" to science.
- It is NOT the customer's responsibility to diagnose His/Her Car. When he/she does that for me, I consider it a GIFT, and will thank him/her for their time and effort in helping ME help them.
Any others to that list?
* If a customer who for 3 years has avoided your shop like the plague and has only ever come in for recalls says their car is pulling to the right, they probably aren't making it up. When your garageboy comes back from the joyride and "can't feel it pulling", it's still pulling to the right. When all you do is set the toe to zero (meh) and leave the camber cockeyed, you shouldn't even have to do a test drive, because you should KNOW it will be pulling to the right! When the customer comes in because it is STILL pulling to the right and HANDS you the correct alignment specs, don't blow smoke up his butt and say "they may not be able to do that because they have to put it on a machine. OOOooooh! a MACHINE!!!.
03-01-2007, 07:50 PM
#58
RX8 and a Truk....
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by shaunv74
So...DMP. Do you have your kar back yet? Does it finally drive like it should?
Not back yet
Last edited by dmp; 03-01-2007 at 07:52 PM.
03-01-2007, 09:15 PM
#59
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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Now that some of our cars are about to drop off the factory warranty (like mine in 9K miles), I expect to see the whole situation get a lot uglier. The emissions system has a longer warranty but how many 'escape hatches' are there for the dealer to jump through?
'Uh, the catalytic converter failed because your spark plug wires were touching. This caused a misfire and therefor burned out your cat.'
'Your coil packs are bad. Your problem.'
I dunno...I'm thinking of bailing out as much as I love this car. And I can't be the only one.
The future may hold a plunging resale value on these cars...
(Okay, I admit I had a crappy day today, but these thoughts have been with me for some time.)
'Uh, the catalytic converter failed because your spark plug wires were touching. This caused a misfire and therefor burned out your cat.'
'Your coil packs are bad. Your problem.'
I dunno...I'm thinking of bailing out as much as I love this car. And I can't be the only one.
The future may hold a plunging resale value on these cars...
(Okay, I admit I had a crappy day today, but these thoughts have been with me for some time.)
03-01-2007, 09:40 PM
#60
Momentum Keeps Me Going
Emmisions systems have a warrantee for a certain period, based on government regulations. CATs are covered for 8 yrs, if spark plugs or wires or coils caused the problem they are covered as well. Take the time to have a nice read, you'll feel better.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/warr95fs.txt
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/warr95fs.txt
03-02-2007, 08:40 PM
#61
RX8 and a Truk....
Thread Starter
I got the kar back tonite.
WOW. Seriously, this thing feels like a ROCKET SHIP now. On the wet pavement, using azenis, I can get tire spin up high, and a solid spin on a fast-shift to 2nd.
The Mech who fixed it said to give me a message (after his test drive):
"If the owner ever takes this to the track, I NEED to go along for a ride!"
:D
VERY VERY VERY Happy with how things turned out. Mostly cuz i KNOW this kar will dyno higher than Shaun's kar.
:D
WOW. Seriously, this thing feels like a ROCKET SHIP now. On the wet pavement, using azenis, I can get tire spin up high, and a solid spin on a fast-shift to 2nd.
The Mech who fixed it said to give me a message (after his test drive):
"If the owner ever takes this to the track, I NEED to go along for a ride!"
:D
VERY VERY VERY Happy with how things turned out. Mostly cuz i KNOW this kar will dyno higher than Shaun's kar.
:D
03-02-2007, 08:42 PM
#62
RX8 and a Truk....
Thread Starter
Btw -
Diagnosis: ALL FOUR coils were 'melted' on the bottoms...replaced all four plugs/wires, coils, and cat. The front catalyst was cracked - the rear was melted into a big-fat goo.
Diagnosis: ALL FOUR coils were 'melted' on the bottoms...replaced all four plugs/wires, coils, and cat. The front catalyst was cracked - the rear was melted into a big-fat goo.
I'll give it a good workout. My shocks won't be back for the 23rd trackday 
03-03-2007, 11:21 AM
#66
RX8 and a Truk....
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by 05TiGr8Lady
Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Are you really gonna be gone on the 25th? The drive is scheduled for that Sunday now - Chuckanut Drive
Are you really gonna be gone on the 25th? The drive is scheduled for that Sunday now - Chuckanut Drive
I'll be in Virginia until the 2nd of April...leaving tonite.
If you have more drivers than cars, somebody can borrow mine - IF they do an oil-change and tire rotation.
I'm due for the same thing though.
03-03-2007, 03:19 PM
#70
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
glad it all worked out for you dmp! I think my car is having the same issues as yous...
03-03-2007, 06:36 PM
#72
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
my car just REALLY feels like it's lost power and especially after 5 or 6000 rpm.
03-03-2007, 09:25 PM
#74
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
thanks dmp, you're the best. Got the Dyno is coming up REALLY soon: https://www.rx8club.com/west-rx-8-forum-34/so-cal-dyno-day-110261/
03-05-2007, 12:23 AM
#75
Power!!
Originally Posted by dmp
VERY VERY VERY Happy with how things turned out. Mostly cuz i KNOW this kar will dyno higher than Shaun's kar.
:D
Glad your back in action Darrin! And glad you're happy with it. After all this aggravation I hope you're car does dyno better than mine!