djfa

iTrader: (3)

It is not a "newer" engine. It is a remanufactured engine the same as the original motor if not worse. Its really a hit or miss with those. They are built from some new parts and good parts from old engines. Make sure you keep that ignition system up to date, you can prolong the life of that motor. (plugs coils wires) I change mine once a year after winter regardless of mileage.

Do as much of the free stuff you can do by yourself. Clean your MAF, your ESS with electric contact cleaner or throttle body cleaner. While youre in there check your oil and your air filter.

Gratz on the new ride!

Vegas 8

Today I have joined the club. 05 with 60,000 miles, has been running like crap for quite a while. New motor will be here Wednesday and they hope to have it installed by Friday. They also want to replace the mounts for $600 and a tune up for $1000. I think I will pass on that.

Vegas 8

I ordered the mounts from Cardinale $265 and they replaced the mounts for free. I told them over half the job was already done since the engine was out and they agreed. They also replaced the plugs under warranty and the coils they wanted to replace must have been alright as they left them in. Glad my baby is back.......... They quoted me new front brakes for $360.00 I passed.

grvmchne

Got my new engine just a few months ago just shy of when my warranty expired.
Perfect timing.
2004 MT, 64k miles

waterproofone

I have a question.... I have an 05' rx8 with 120,000 miles. Engine lacking power last few weeks. Took in to dealer... had it tested and now the engine came back with 4's and 5's on the compression test. I ordered a re-manufactured engine from Mazda. I am just curious to how yours is holding up? I am just worried because I am moving out of state soon as the engine is put in. Do you know the warranty on the re-manufactured engines from mazda as well?

waterproofone

When you got your first reman, how long did it last and what did you notice that it was going bad that you had to replace it again? I am on engine #2 that has NOT been installed just yet..should be done next week or hopefully before thanksgiving. I warm it up, use the best oils, filters, run it hard, etc etc.. Tested the engine two weeks ago, came in with high 4's and low 5's on compression at 230 rpm's on starter. I bought the reman only because it's all I could afford right now and am VERY nervous about it. I just lost my job and have no more money to put into this car. Just last month I had to put a new CAT on it as well.

also, you know the warranty on these remans from Mazda?

Thanks man,

Ty

Labop

So what happened with your engine?

Not sure what everyone is on about wrt maintenance records, had mine replaced a couple of months ago. I had a handful of oil changes done by the dealer when doing major work (usually a TSB or regular service visit. My motto, if getting free/cheap work done, throw a bone, it keeps them happy). But most oil changes were done by me with no records. Even had aftermarket intake/exhaust. No issues. If the regular services are done at Mazda (even over different dealers) they have the records in their service database.

I really think the rest of it is up to your relationship with the dealer, their policy in dealing with Mazda North America, and the random guy you get who approves them. Good luck, hope it goes smooth.

Gotta say, Keev at John Hine Mazda pushed real hard for my new motor, and while I was on vacation. It was pretty refreshing after the stealership up in Oak Harbor, Wa. Seen three dealers in different state, 2 for 3 are good so far.

Almost didn't get the engine replaced under warranty as I'm in California and they assumed it was a Cali car. But I bought used (to replace my old 8) while in Pcola, Fl from a couple in Louisiana. Made it a federal car and extended the warranty by three years and 30k miles.

05TiGr8Lady

About to join the club... 2005 with 97K miles. Was sort of hoping this would happen before the warranty expired, so whew! Keeping my fingers crossed that the second one is good.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Hey stranger! Well I beat you by 1,000 miles, I got my last Mazda reman under warranty at 96,000 miles

Good luck, consider getting new oil metering lines and oil injectors if you are going to keep it for a while.

05TiGr8Lady

Hey! Yeah, I am hardly here any more. How much is the oil stuff? I'm about to retire, so was hoping to keep it for a while.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

You can get everything for around $350.00 (four new oil metering lines and four new oil injectors). The injectors and lines tend to get clogged and the lines become brittle over time. Do you know how your oil consumption has been? If you use a decent amount of oil between oil changes then everything is probably working ok. Also now is a good time to save on labor and get the clutch replaced as well if you have not done that.

Congrats on retiring! How will you get the RX-8 to Fiji?

05TiGr8Lady

Thanks for the info. My oil consumption has been pretty much steady as long as I've had it. A quart between religious oil changes every 3K miles.

I had the clutch replaced a month ago, thank goodness!

I just got the call saying my 8 is ready! I owe nothing except to pay for my exhaust leak repair (a broken bolt) last week. Woohoo!!

Kind of an interesting progression.... I had it in for my 90K service last month. I had decided not to buy a new cabin filter a long time ago and forgot about it. They said "Linda, your cabin filter was totally blocked - you haven't been getting air in the cabin for a while!". So I drive away, and I thought I was driving behind really stinky cars. Then I realized it smelled that way all the time, so I called. They said they use brake cleaner and it could be that, so I thought it would wear off. But every time I used my defrost, which brings in outside air, I felt sick. I kept putting off bringing it in though because I have to drive so far to get there from a new work location. Then I had a couple of people ride with me and they said you gotta take it in, something is wrong. So last week they found a broken bolt and sure enough, exhaust was coming into the cabin. I'm surprised I didn't feel more sick.

So when they called to say it was fixed, I said "Would an exhaust leak cause low power?" And they said the guy who drove it after the fix said it had low power. So then we started talking about engine warranty and did I still have some left if it was an engine problem. I'm thinking that if I hadn't asked about low power, they might not have said anything...

I pick up my 8 tomorrow. I asked if there was anything I needed to do for a break-in period. He said "No. Drive it like a racecar!"

Thanks on retirement. VERY GOOD QUESTION!!

Stenobeth

As always, I feel better after checking here for info. My '06 is in the middle of having the engine replaced (96,000 miles). I should get the car back on Monday. They also suggested, and I went for, new engine mounts and clutch hose.

Somebody on here said to replace the plugs, wires, and coils ONCE A YEAR??? Kind of expensive, no? I redline regularly and do the right oil changes religiously. Anything else I should be doing? And how about breaking in the new engine?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Once a year on ignition replacement is inaccurate.

Once a year is only needed if you drive 30,000 miles a year, which is unlikely. Mileage is more important that time. Even though, since you can get the ignition parts for a sum total of ~$192 if you shop around and it's 1hr or so of work to replace them with basic tools, replacing annually is not really a stretch, even if you drive significantly less than 30,000 miles a year

My new owner's thread has lots of information regarding the basics.

Stenobeth

And how about a breaking-in process, is there one?

05TiGr8Lady

I haz powa!! Sweet!



@Beth... They told me no break in period - drive it like a racecar. I think all replacement engines are remans.

Hiro Seijuurou

Just joined the new engine club! 05 GT with 71,000 miles on the engine. Car just died on me crossing an intersecting late at night...

Quick question. Need experienced advice regarding dealership services. The dealership said first they could not find any codes or anything wrong with my car with their diagnostic test even though they verified that my car would start, idle, and then die. They said to "further investigate", they have to do a compression test, which is like $300+. Test indicated both rotors are no good and obviously I'm getting a new engine.

My question is should I have to pay for the $300+ compression test when my engine is still under warranty? In addition, do I have to pay for "Mazda Genuine plugs and coils" as well because the mechanic said he's going have to replace my "after market plugs and coils" to ensure everything is in working order, even though plugs are OEM spec NGKs and the coils themselves have less than 3000 miles on them?

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

I think if you failed the compression test, the cost for that will be waived. I would inquire if your plugs and coils will be replaced free-of-charge under warranty. The reason why they want to replace them is for the warranty of your engine, otherwise, they can void that warranty. Just ask for your parts when they replace it, then you decide if you want to put them back and keep the fresh ones as spares.

Hiro Seijuurou

The dealership is making me pay for the Compression Test which I completely disagree with. Did you, or ANY OF THE FORUM MEMBERS experience a situation like this and if so, did you have to persuade them to waive the fee or they just out right did it? I honestly do not mind spending money (I asked them to check and if necessary replace my engine mounts), I just feel like this situation is "Catch-22" type of thing and it isn't right.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

If you have reported a loss of power they cannot charge you for it. If you just want it done to check the health of your engine then it is on your dime. Call Mazda North America with any issues.

pdxhak

iTrader: (2)

I paid for the compression test. I do not recall if they ultimately applied the charge to the overall bill when swapping my motor.

FWIW each dealership will handle those type of charges differently. Some will charge you for every little thing. Some will not. Some will add "value" in other ways (see below). In addition MNAO will handle each claim on a case by case basis and per the working history of dealership you are working with.

My car which had always been serviced at the same dealership. MNAO insisted they take pictures of my interior, exterior, engine bay and and underneath. They (MNAO) actually told the dealership they would NOT cover my engine based on the way my car looked. They said based on the mods I must be racing it and that is the reason the engine blew. The dealership went out of their way to convince MNAO of my history with the dealership and that I was not racing it.

phantom257

Well i bought my 04 on my birthday in 2012, happy birthday me , car was so much fun and i have been reading as much as possible as to not post unessicarily. car kinda had a hard start since day one, after much reading replaced the plugs and coils with bhr did some grounding work, cleaned maf, went to stock air filter and the next day poof. CEL flashing LOL. o well just caught the warranty had 22 factory days left on it. so here at 62k miles got a new engine. i could not find a thread to cover this but if i follow the break in procedure for the race company will the engine carbon up too much in that time? (1000 at 4krpm, then 1000 at6k and ramping up?) in other words no redlines for 2k miles... BTW love this car to death even though i need new suspension. : )

RobertKMitchell

The 96 mo extended warranty is pretty cool HOWEVER I didn't know what it was addressing when I received the postcard. My car was first sold retail on April 24, 2005. A few mos ago I noticed some hesitation, difficulty starting and problems with slow speed up climbs. It's an auto so I shifted to manual and that helped some.

A week ago it got really bad. Took it to the dealer and the compression test failed. $5,500 and I can get a new engine BUT it is on me since it was found in month 97. I was 4 weeks too late.

Spoke w corporate and they won't do anything.

Does anyone have any suggestions? (Please don't be rude. TY in advance.)
Bob

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

$5,500 is the really high dealer price. You can get it for far less. There is a 4-port auto engine advertised in the classifieds an hour ago for $950. Used, and at that price it had better have confirmed good compression numbers, but pointing out a far cheaper option.

Contacting Mazmart or RotaryRessurection are your two best bets for a rebuild and/or a cheap zero mile engine.

DubbsLuvs8s

iTrader: (1)

When does my New Engine Club membership card come? Got the confirmed low compression test June 26. Luckily, the car is still driveable (actually did an autocross 3 days after the failed test). Got the confirmation from Mazda July 24th that my log sheet was sufficient documentation. Scheduled Aug 5th for a drop-off, expected a week for the work to be done. Also going to have the Stage 1 clutch kit from Exedy installed, the new-revision coolant tank, and Redline Tranny and Gear oil replaced.