Discussion
Hi all
After a bit of help. I've just been speaking to my cousin who has a three and a half year old Mazda RX8, with just under 22,000 miles on the clock. The car has had three services, two at a Mazda dealer and the last at an independant specialist (just before she bought it). Her boyfriend broke a bit of trim whilst fitting a car phone, so they took the car into Mazda to get it replaced, after which they were told that there was some good news and some bad. The good news is that the trim is fixed (and some recall work that needed doing was done)- the bad news is that the car needs a new engine!
The only details she got from the receptionist when she picked the car up was that the car had a 'missfire' and so needed a new engine.
The car drives perfectly, there's no rattles or vibration. It doesn't use an excessive amount of oil (no more than usual!) and it doesn't smoke. She's been told that the new engine will cost the thick end of £6k, which is just over half the price she payed for the car. Unfortunately though, she bought the car with her Mum just before she passed away at Christmas, so the sentimental value is far greater than the cash value. Hence she doesn't want to part with it if she can avoid it.
What would your advice be? I've told her not to part with any money until she's had the car on at least one more diagnostic machine (preferrably independant). They're going back tomorrow to find out exactly what is wrong with it, because as far as I'm concerned a missfire is caused by something- an engine doesn't missfire- a component makes an engine missfire! I'm also pretty sure that with a rotary engine it would be far more obvious if it was unhappy than a 'piston' engine due to the one large mass rotating- and hers is completely smooth running.
Where would she stand with an insurance payout with a case like this? Do you think that Mazda would contribute as a goodwill gesture?
She's pretty fed up as she previously owned a Cat C write off MK4 Escort which cost her about £150 a year to run!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
After a bit of help. I've just been speaking to my cousin who has a three and a half year old Mazda RX8, with just under 22,000 miles on the clock. The car has had three services, two at a Mazda dealer and the last at an independant specialist (just before she bought it). Her boyfriend broke a bit of trim whilst fitting a car phone, so they took the car into Mazda to get it replaced, after which they were told that there was some good news and some bad. The good news is that the trim is fixed (and some recall work that needed doing was done)- the bad news is that the car needs a new engine!
The only details she got from the receptionist when she picked the car up was that the car had a 'missfire' and so needed a new engine.
The car drives perfectly, there's no rattles or vibration. It doesn't use an excessive amount of oil (no more than usual!) and it doesn't smoke. She's been told that the new engine will cost the thick end of £6k, which is just over half the price she payed for the car. Unfortunately though, she bought the car with her Mum just before she passed away at Christmas, so the sentimental value is far greater than the cash value. Hence she doesn't want to part with it if she can avoid it.
What would your advice be? I've told her not to part with any money until she's had the car on at least one more diagnostic machine (preferrably independant). They're going back tomorrow to find out exactly what is wrong with it, because as far as I'm concerned a missfire is caused by something- an engine doesn't missfire- a component makes an engine missfire! I'm also pretty sure that with a rotary engine it would be far more obvious if it was unhappy than a 'piston' engine due to the one large mass rotating- and hers is completely smooth running.
Where would she stand with an insurance payout with a case like this? Do you think that Mazda would contribute as a goodwill gesture?
She's pretty fed up as she previously owned a Cat C write off MK4 Escort which cost her about £150 a year to run!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Srob
Certainly get a second opinion from a rotary specialist, that sometimes does not include Mazda dealers
I can only summize that the missfire is actually a damaged Apex seal causing poor compression on one rotor. Any other " missfire " would not justify a complete engine change , even then an apex seal can be repaired at much less than a £6K engine replacement.
Get specific details from Mazda as to the problem if you say its running OK. Ask for a compression test.
I don't know what part of the country you are in but there are several rotary specialists who can check your motor and if the worst is diagnosed i.e. engine failure then the issue can be resolved much cheaper than £6K I know.
Bob
Certainly get a second opinion from a rotary specialist, that sometimes does not include Mazda dealers
I can only summize that the missfire is actually a damaged Apex seal causing poor compression on one rotor. Any other " missfire " would not justify a complete engine change , even then an apex seal can be repaired at much less than a £6K engine replacement.
Get specific details from Mazda as to the problem if you say its running OK. Ask for a compression test.
I don't know what part of the country you are in but there are several rotary specialists who can check your motor and if the worst is diagnosed i.e. engine failure then the issue can be resolved much cheaper than £6K I know.
Bob
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