First, I'm sorry for not writing in a couple of months. My anger with Mazda has taken a toll on me.

My excitement for this car has been long time waiting. I bought the Velocity red fully load GT. Lived and loved this car.

At about 21000 miles I started to get a slip in the auto trans. I've owned many sports cars through the years and I know when something is wrong. Took it in to the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. I even took the service tech for a ride and pointed out each time when it took place even when I went into reverse. Still they felt it was fine. Took the car to 3 different dealers and all the same, even saying this is normal. Long story short I went off. Contacted MNAO and they said they had to rely on the techs input.

I stressed how I feel about service departments on the fact that if a computor can't tell them what is wrong and what to replace then they are clueless. The day of trusting a tech is over and for Mazda to ever and I do mean ever to recieve a dollar from me is over.

I sold the car. Had it for 11 months. It was like a divorce, I'll really miss this car for it was truelly awesome. You will not see me with another rotary ever. That is damage Mazda has done to me. I have owned 3 RX7's through the years and loved them all.

My plates hang on the wall in my garage. FUNRX8

 

Sorry to hear about your problems. Can you describe the problem more for other AT RX8 owners? Also did you try more than one dealership? What car did you end up gettting?

 

I'm sorry to hear that man. It's a shame that the dealerships did that. I'm sure we'll all redline ours in remembrance of your 8. Long live the funrx8.

 

You can feel the trans free spin. Have you ever played with a trans that was low on fliud? Thats what it would do. You also shift in reverse, give a little gas doesn't move then jerks. The level was checked and no leaks, all was good. But the problem was still there. I felt the torque converter was bad, but they wouldn't listen. Went to 3 dealers. I replaced it with a 04 Toyota Tacoma, for the winter and bad weather and a C6 Corvette. Went straight for the hp.

 

lol, at least you went all out with the C6!

 

I can't say I blame you. I'd probably feel the same way. What kind of knuckleheads are working at MNAO that they can't help you with this problem? I understand if your average tech can't figure out a difficult or unusual problem, but isn't MNAO's job is to get to the bottom of issues like this? They should have given you a loaner, kept the car for a week, and driven it around to see if they can recreate the problem. If you went to 3 different dealers, that ought to be a clue to Mazda that there's a real problem and maybe they shouldn't just rely on the word of a tech. Boy, that's frustrating. My sympathies. I truly hope that's not the typical MNAO experience.

You say you'll never own another rotary. This is a tranny problem (and more fundamentally, a customer service problem), not an engine problem, right? Are you saying you don't trust the rotary engine?

 

This ispretty funny b/c my cars automatic tranny is being replaced right now for the exact same reason. Im at 22000 miles and Ive complainedabout the car having a rough vibration shifting into drive. At firstthey gave me the same crap saying they didnt notice anything that wrong - but every oil change I kept persisting. It kept getting worse and FINALLY thistime the service rep finally understood what Iwas talking about (now that it was taking over 3 seconds for the transmission to get into drive) and said **** itwere ordering you a new tranny. I gave them my car last weekend andthe new transmission still hasnt come in yet so Imgoing to be in this rental for at least another week but Im patient. ****--and I thoughtI was the only one..

Whats odd isyou had about the same miles onyour car as I did. But Ive been having this problem since about 12000 miles. Backthen it was more subtle butnow its very obvious. Anytime you reverse in my car andthen go back into drive--if youdont wait a few seconds for the "vibration" youll make the car peel out (like a neutral drop). Alsowhen trying to shift @ redline -- it would overrev if I didnt shift before the beep. Clearly these were evident signs of a tranny starting to go bad.

So I guess Im goingto be the first Rx8 owner on this forum to have a brandnew automatic transmission installed. Idont understand why they wouldnt do the same for you butIm sure youll have fun w/your new vette. Im worried though that this new tranny is going to have the same problems another 20000 miles from now.

 

Hmm, not good. A coincidence or a bigger problem? We shall see. I'd love to hear from more AT owners with 20K+ miles. I have the MT, but man I hope this is an isolated problem.

I'm glad at least in one case, the dealer responded properly and offered to replace the tranny.

 

Quack p

Its Mazda, I won't buy another. I have always loved the rotary, but when you get this type of service my money will go somewhere else that cares.

Jerky 8

I find it funny that yours was close to my mileage when I complained and then I gave up and sold at 28000 miles. I hope it works out for you.

 

Sorry for your troubles with Mazda buddy. Ironically, we have a member in the Dallas, TX area that is having similar issue w/ Mazda on his manual 8!! Anywhooo...How's the C6?

- Irish

 

I love it, but still the interior is tops in the rx8.

 

Man i have the same problem... Our cars are exactly the same as how you described your Package, Trans, and Color.

One i shift into Reverse and sometimes First it takes like 2 seconds before the car actually gains power to the gear and idles off a couple inches. My cars mileage is just about 2300 and its been doing it ever since I drove it out of the Showroom.

I learned to accept the problem because my Mazda Dealer said this transmission needs a second or two to get into gear.

Even though I hate this. I am glad i learned to not notice it anymore.

Anyways, what are you driving now?

 

I think he said C6...

 

6 speed manual rocks on....... :D
If I could just cool my cup holder below 1500 degrees....

 

My tranny isnt that laggy on shifting to D but then whenever shifting to R it vibrates violently until you give a little gas. Then shifting to D, witht he brake down, it vibrates too. Its starting to feel like my tranny is gonna go out because it has never done this before.

 

Do you have an AT or a MT?

 

auto

 

So the problem is delayed and/or harsh engagement into drive or reverse, correct? This is a very common problem with automatic transmissions, and any competent transmission technician should be able to diagnose and resolve the issue. There is a step-by-step procedure for doing so, which involves monitoring pressure readings in the transmission and replacing solenoids as needed. If all else fails, the dealer should replace the transmission.

The real problem here seems to be the ignorance/apathy of the Mazda service departments. I don't understand why they would be hesitant to work on these cars, especially considering that Mazda North America will pay them for the warranty work. Dealers are the weakest link in Mazda North America. The level of customer service at most Mazda dealers, especially those who sell multiple brands of vehicles, is unacceptable. Fortunately, the company realizes this and plans to increase the percentage of dealerships that sell only Mazdas.

 

Just wantedto give you guys an update--
The transmission finally camein today (took 10friggin days tocome in!) at the dealership and theytold me I should have my car back by tomorrow or Wednesday the latest.

About the pressure and solenoids -- Idont know if they evenbothered to check that but I sureas hell hope this problem doesnt come up again w/my new transmission for Mazdas sake.

 

Bump...

 

I hope rest of you will have better luck. I got fed up with dealing with idiots.

 

I gotmy car back today. The transmissionslipping issue is completely gone now w/this new transmission. Theywerent able to tell me what caused theproblem on my old one. Hope thisdoesnt happen again b/c I planon driving the exact same way I drove w/the first one. If I wanted to own acar that I had to baby then I would have bought a Mercedes

 

I have the auto also with 15k and have not had a problem with it. So if your not babing it, are you doing anything unusual to the transmission or do you mean you are just enjoying the car? I shift mine my self half the time and redline it once or twice a day. I never have abused this "AT" it's pretty much computer controled but it does need to warm up I know.

 

this is kinda scary news
I have had no signs of this stuff and I have 26k on my auto right now

 

my 626 used to do that.. changing the fluid always fixed it. I found that driving it hard always made the same problem show up again.