A.Mair

ok make sure you do Phil, i want to shoot your car for you it needs some good shots!!

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Hey A.Mair... I might be interested in a shoot for my Velocity Red girl.

AJ's Shinka

What's up people.

A.Mair

no worries, send me a pm and we'll sort something out

ta2dtart

hey is anyone experiencing a rougher idle lately? I think i might need new motor mounts, i checked my vehicle history and it doesnt seem they were ever taken care of, my idle is really rough and gets worse with a/c on.

ta2dtart

Bummer, I just realied I'm in cali July 17th, when do you normally hold meets?

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

I feel that if we have a scheduled meeting time and day we could get a turn out. I considered twice per month with staggered days but felt that twice may put a crimp on some life styles. As of July 2009 we will have a (one) scheduled meeting on the third Friday of every month. The scheduled meeting will take place every month and will start out at the In & Out parking lot on West Sahara and will start at 7pm. Some months there will / may be trips to various locations or to get food.

I know that some of you work strange hours and accommodations to the side trips can be made for you.

ta2dtart

yeah i guess so

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

I got a few new "toys" for my 8 and would like to start putting them on this weekend. As always l'm looking for lots of assistance, sweat on your part and moral support on mine . I even pay well for the help (since you end up doing most of the work).

I'm hoping Armin is reading this as there is a job that has yet to be completed that he is doing.

I know it's the Fourth of July weekend but the party's don't start until sundown so I might get something started. The items I am hoping to get done are:
1. Removal and replacement of Charge canister. I purchased a new Moroso aluminum canister and it's "purdy" and larger that the Pettit one.
2. Removal and replacement of the overflow bottle for the coolant.
3. Replace a bellows connector on the intake manifold.
4. Remove the existing blower pulley and install a new (larger) pulley.
5. Take compression readings.
6. Mount an additional canister for Meth injection.

Let me know if you can make it...........

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Hey guys I need advise.

OK my car has been running slower and hotter than I like so as suggested I took her to Mazda to have her compression and cat checked out seeing as they are both still under warranty. I took her to Courtesy Mazda in the Auto Mall. I am wondering what is your guys experience with them, be it good or bad?

They acknowledged to a point that there was work that needed to be done on my engine that was under warranty but I have to wait and see what specifically was done to her until I pick her up and read the sheet. The only thing I recall really is that she had a computer upgrade. If my compression was low I expected a new engine and am not exactly thrilled to hear that now I am supposedly up to spec now. I am wondering if there is another good way of gauging compression that Mazda would abide by, being as I don't feel confident in the diagnosis they are giving me.

As for the cat, they said that since I don't have a check engine light that there is no need to inspect it.

If you guys have had good experiences with them then I can accept the story I have been given. It is possible I am just being skeptical. But if this sounds shady or any of you have had issues with them in the past then I want to figure out the best plan of attack to get Mazda to take care of my engine.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

Now there are people on here that say at they are wonderful . To me they are among the worst of all the dealers.
1. You can check your compression at my house if you wish be they will only use their figures and findings.
2. Only by t he letter of the law is a cel required before changing a cat. They can tell if it's plugged but being the ******** that they are, a cel is required.
Arm yourself with knowledge by reading TSBs and the notices that are out there.

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

Don't trust they any farther than you can throw them.

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Thanks Phil. That is what I was worried about. My car is pretty damn slow and I really didn't think a computer upgrade was going to get her there.

I appreciate the compression test at your place. How do I get Mazda to replace the engine then if the compression is truly lower than it should be?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

(sneaks into Vegas thread)


Never fear, Jedi is here!
To be honest, it's really hit or miss with mazda dealerships and getting things like this covered. There ARE some good dealerships / techs but many others are lazy. The trick is in HOW you describe your issue. There are a few key words you need to address.

- severe lack of power
- hesistation
- happens a lot on hotter days

The reason I mention those is because that's how Mazda describes the issue in their TSB
Knowledge is power my good man. http://www.finishlineperformance.com...4-08-1924g.pdf
(notice how there's no mention of a CEL in there? )

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Thanks Jedi, I have reading to do.

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Ack, now Courtesy is charging me for a compression test. Service bulletin doesn't mention anything about it though. This is beginning to **** me off.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

they can't charge you if your symptoms matched the TSB.
you're under warranty, your engine is covered for 8 years, 100k. Call them up and tell them you were told by MNAO that it was covered under warranty.

If they insist, politely ask for the Service Manager and explain it to him/her.
The key is not to get upset or be terribly rude. Be stern but respectful

Worst case scenario, escalate to MNAO

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Jedi, I have been speaking to the service manager. I haven't been rude but I have been asking a lot of questions. Nothing has gotten out of hand. Truth be told is that I just don't have faith in what I am being told. With the repeated phone calls I am getting more frustrated.

What is the best way to involve MNAO?

BTW Thanks for yours and Phil's input in this.

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

I was told to go away and never come back in my Mazda - All I did was ask for a "flash" that was ongoing at the time. They told me that they would not flash it cuz I was modded. I offered to sign a release and pay for the flash. That is when I was told to get out. I did not raise my voice, yell or threaten. Did not make any difference.

Now your problem. Read the TSB and see what the numbers should be for your compression test. They will not believe my test but at least you will know that what they are telling you is true. If your below the threshold then their test is free but if above then you have to pay. When I approach MNAO with my problem they suggested I go elsewhere but there is no elsewhere in Vegas. Be persistent and cordial and you should get your way as they have nothing on you. If you purchased it at that dealer go to the sales guy that sold it to you and moan a little bit as that can help(a little).

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Bought my car from a private seller unfortunately so I don't have a salesperson to go to. I get her back tomorrow as I wasn't able to get over there today. I will see if I can run the compression test with you first before I start a process (fight) over at Mazda. I will keep my head, but I definitely have questions that I am having a hard time getting answers to. My biggest fear here is that since Courtesy is the only Mazda here, that I will be paralyzed from any help.

ЯX-8

Let me know exactly what day and time you'd like me to come by.. Sounds like you've got a good amount of new goodies waiting to be installed!

Armin

ЯX-8

The Mazda dealership's have screwed everyone over in this town, so don't be too surprised.. Good luck with everything, hopefully everything works out for you!

Armin

chunbelievable

iTrader: (5)

Appreciate it Armin.

ta2dtart

The Courtesy Mazda dealership on centennial center treated me pretty good. I had an issue a while back with my crank pulley install and they didn't even care about the car being modified. They were very informative and very willing to help. They ran compressions test at the time just to make sure it was only the crank pulley issue and didn't charge me a dime for that. I myself have been experiencing some issues lately in the heat and especially when its humid, by that I mean a rough idle, and also my transmission crunches in 3rd and 4th gears. I suspect I might need a new motor mount for the rough idle, but as for the transmission, thank god it's under warranty. A suggestion i have is to have mazda give you a print out of the vehicle history, they can do that by looking up the vin, to make sure any recalls were taken care of by the previous owner of your car. If they werent, then make mazda do them! hope this helps.

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

Different people have different experiences with our local Mazda dealer's two locations. When they had the third dealership (Magic) I also would have sung their praises as the female Service Manager there would work with you. But alas they closed it up.

When pressed, MNAO will admit that there is something lacking there but they have a contract and Courtesy is careful not to break the contract.