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Guide d'Achat

Source : RX8Club.com - New and Potential Owners START HERE! Auteur : RIWWP

Still Ready to Buy? — Liste de vérification avant achat​

So, if, after reading everything above, and you still want to purchase an RX-8, here is a list of things to look for and/or ask questions about. Private sellers are more likely to know the answers, dealers less likely.

Note: These are in ADDITION to any questions that you should ask of any car you are thinking about buying, regardless of year, make, or model. These are RX-8 specific questions only.

Any item with a blue Mazda next to it can be answered by calling Mazda if the seller doesn't know (or you think they are making it up / lying).

Any item with an orange year next to it means that the question applies for that year.

Questions à poser au vendeur​

  • Moteur déjà remplacé ? [Mazda]
    • Kilométrage du moteur actuel ? [Mazda]
  • Compression moteur
  • Catalyseur remplacé ?
  • Kilométrage du dernier changement de bobines
    • Une ou plusieurs bobines ont-elles déjà lâché avec le catactuel ?
  • Kilométrage du dernier changement de bougies
  • Kilométrage du dernier changement de fils de bougie
  • Le véhicule a-t-il déjà été noyé (flooded) ? (info sur la durée de vie restante du cata)
  • Feux arrière déjà remplacés ? [2004, 2005]
    • Si non, les joints ont-ils été remplacés ou les feux modifiés pour drainer l'eau ?
  • Consommation d'huile (demander combien de miles entre chaque ajout d'un quart ou demi-quart)
  • MSP 13 effectué par un concessionnaire, date/kilométrage [Mazda 2004, 2005]
  • Consommation de carburant habituelle
  • Nombre de miles au compteur when le témoin de réserve s'allume
  • Démarreur remplacé par la version améliorée ? [2004, 2005]
  • Bouton de contrôle de température déjà remplacé ou réparé ? [2004, 2005]
  • Assemblée pédale d'embrayage déjà remplacée, ressoudée ou renforcée ?
  • Temps de démarrage à froid
  • Temps de démarrage à chaud

Come back here with the answers and we can give you a heads up or a general idea on any red flags or warnings to keep in mind. Not all of them would mean "don't buy", but may help reduce the asking price.

Contact Mazda North America​

By Phone: 800-222-5500 Monday – Friday, 6:00am to 4:45pm PST

Mazda North American Operations P.O. Box 19734 Irvine, CA 92623-9734 Attn: Customer Assistance Center

I Am Buying It! What Should I Address First? — Premiers points à traiter​

Generally, the more history on these items you can get from the prior owner, the better. These are all RX-8 specific. They are in addition to typical items like brakes and tires. Every item on this list is on it because it either fails regularly OR a failure of the point will result in significant cascading damage and costly repairs.

This is also the long term recommended maintenance list from us here on RX8Club.com.

À 30 000 miles et plus​

  • Remplacer les bobines d'allumage
  • Remplacer les fils de bougie
  • Remplacer les bougies
  • Nettoyer le MAF (mass air flow sensor)
  • Nettoyer l'ESS (e-shaft sensor)
  • Réinitialiser le profil ESS
  • Nettoyer les connexions de direction assistée
  • Nettoyer les bornes et cosses de batterie
  • Remplacer le liquide de boîte de vitesses
  • Remplacer le liquide de refroidissement (Mazda FL-22 recommandé : lien)
  • Remplacer le filtre à air
  • Remplacer le liquide de frein (freins ET embrayage)

~$300 USD en pièces.

À 60 000 miles et plus​

...tout ce qui précède, plus...

  • Nettoyer tous les points de masse électrique du châssis
  • Remplacer les courroies d'accessoires
  • Nettoyer les lignes OMP
  • Remplacer le liquide de différentiel arrière
  • Remplacer le thermostat
  • Nettoyer / Redresser les ailettes du condenseur AC
  • Nettoyer / Redresser les ailettes du refroidisseur d'huile
  • Inspecter le catalyseur
  • Nettoyer / Inspecter la valve d'admission
  • Envisager / inspecter aussi les points de 90 000+

~$130 USD en pièces.

À 90 000 miles et plus​

...tout ce qui précède, plus...

  • Remplacer le bocal de liquide de refroidissement
  • Remplacer les durites de radiateur
  • Remplacer le radiateur
  • Remplacer la sonde O2 avant
  • Remplacer les supports moteur
  • Inspecter l'assemblée pédale d'embrayage (flexion / soudures cassées)

~$900 USD en pièces.

Note : Ce n'est pas la liste d'entretien d'un concessionnaire remplie de superficiel douteux. Chaque élément de cette liste est quelque chose qui tombe typiquement en panne dans cette plage de kilométrage, et pour chaque élément, s'il tombe en panne, il vous laissera soit en panne, soit causera des dommages supplémentaires importants et coûteux.

Key System Functions and Critical Components — Composants critiques​

Fonctions système et leurs composants critiques​

Démarrage du moteur (Starting the Engine)​

Starter, Battery, Engine Compression, Grounding Wires, Ignition Coils, Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wires, Fuel Pump, Fuel Injectors

Génération de puissance à pleine charge (Generating Power at Full Throttle)​

Ignition Coils, Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wires, Engine Compression, E-Shaft Sensor (ESS), Air Filter, Intake Valving, Throttle Body, Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF), Fuel Pump, Fuel Injectors, Catalytic Converter (Cat)

Maintien du régime de croisière (Keeping the Engine at a Cruise)​

Ignition Coils, Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wires, Engine Compression, E-Shaft Sensor (ESS), Intake Valving, Throttle Body, Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF), Fuel Pump, Fuel Injectors, Front O2 sensor, Catalytic Converter (Cat)

Maintien du ralenti (Keeping the Engine at an Idle)​

Ignition Coils, Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wires, Engine Compression, E-Shaft Sensor (ESS), Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF), Front O2 sensor, Catalytic Converter (Cat), Intake Vacuum

Gestion thermique du moteur (Managing Engine Heat)​

Radiator, Thermostat, Radiator fans, Water Pump, Coolant Lines, Coolant Temp Sensor (ECT), Oil Coolers, Oil Cooler Lines

Gestion des émissions (Managing Exhaust Emissions)​

Catalytic Converter, Air Injection Pump, Front O2 sensor, Rear O2 sensor, Coolant Temp Sensor (ECT)

Changement de vitesses (Changing Gears)​

Clutch Pedal Assembly, Clutch Master Cylinder, Clutch Slave Cylinder, Clutch Fork, Release Bearing (Throwout Bearing), Clutch Pressure Plate, Clutch Disc, Flywheel, Pilot Bearing, Transmission Shifter, Transmission Syncros

Freinage (Bringing the Car to a Stop)​

Brake Pedal Assembly, Brake Master Cylinder, Brake Power Booster, ABS Junction Block, Brake Lines, Brake Fluid, Brake Calipers, Brake Pads, Brake Rotors

Alimentation électrique (Providing Electrical Power)​

Battery, Alternator, Grounding Cables

Détails sur certains composants critiques​

Batterie (Battery)​

The battery stores the electrical charge needed to power the starter. If a battery's charge is low, or the connections are corroded/dirty, it will not be able to deliver much power to the starter, reducing the speed of the starter or preventing it from spinning at all. Batteries need to be replaced every 3-7 years, depending on what type/quality of battery you last bought. The battery is easily reached, and replacement is very simple. Do not connect a battery backwards! You will blow fuses and possibly damage very expensive electronics.

Compression moteur (Engine Compression)​

The engine's compression of the air/fuel mixture is directly related to how effective the combustion is at pushing the rotor. Worn seals will reduce engine compression. Lower RPM will reduce engine compression. Low cranking speeds from either a dying starter or weak battery will reduce compression at starting.

Démarreur (Starter)​

The starter is an electric motor that accepts 12v power from the battery to power it, and a gear that engages the flywheel to spin the engine when the engine isn't running under it's own power. If the starter can't spin the engine fast enough, there will be starting problems. The faster a starter can spin the engine, the more immediate the engine fire-up will be. Starters, like any other electric motor, slow down over time and will eventually wear out. The starter is easily reached under the car, and replacement is very simple to DIY.

USA Engine Core Warranty Extension — Garantie étendue moteur (USA)​

Partly for public relations, partly for emissions compliance, Mazda extended the Powertrain warranty coverage on the engine core components from 5 years 60,000 miles to 8 years 100,000 miles. This applies to ALL RX-8, regardless of model year.

RX-8 Rotary Engine Core Limited Warranty Extension

Mazda Motor Corporation is extending the warranty coverage on Rotary Engine Core Components on all RX-8 vehicles produced after the 2004 model year. The warranty coverage for the Rotary Engine Core Components is extended to 8 years (96 months) from the original warranty start date, with a 100,000 mileage limitation. The following is a list of components covered by this warranty:

  • Rotary Engine Core
  • Rotary Housing and Internal Parts
  • Internal Seals and Gaskets

THIS IS NOT A RECALL! People often mistakenly refer to the warranty extension as a recall, but it is not.

This is an extension of an existing warranty. It works like any other warranty. Owners need to meet the same requirements for this warranty as any other warranty. I.E Maintenance records, proof of a problem, etc...

The expiration date depends on when the car was first sold. If your car sat on the original dealer's lot for a year, it postpones the start of the warranty by the same amount. My 2005 wasn't sold until September of 2006, so my 8 year mark was pushed back to September of 2014. There are a few rare cases where the car's warranty period started before the car was sold, such as if the dealer registered it for use as a dealer vehicle.

Obtaining Warranty Coverage — Obtenir la couverture de garantie​

In simple terms, a warranty is when a company legally accepts financial liability for a failure for a specified time period. This doesn't have to be the manufacturer, though it usually is.

When something breaks on your car, and it should be covered under warranty, your request for warranty service is legally a request for the warranty issuer to accept liability for damage/repairs as agreed.

If the warranty issuer accepts liability, which is usual, then they reimburse the shop for the costs of repairs. This is true even of dealers. Dealers charge the cost of repairs to Mazda USA, and get reimbursed. They make a lot of money on engine replacements. This is a critical point to keep in mind. The dealers can choose to not even file for warranty coverage (usually due to laziness), or they intentionally or accidentally misrepresent your car and modifications to Mazda USA during the discussion when Mazda is deciding on if they will accept the liability or not.

If a warranty issuer decides they don't want to accept liability, then there is a fight ahead, at some level. Dealers are notorious for making this decision without even asking their parent company. However, another critical point to recognize is that when a vehicle that is still within warranty period is denied warranty coverage, the warranty issuer has the burden of proof legally. They have to prove that a non-OEM part, a non-approved action, or a lack of required action caused the failure.

Maintenance records is the big one. For all of history of warranties being issued, dealers have asked for maintenance records as proof of service before coverage. However, it isn't actually proof. Records simply close a loophole that they might try to exploit to get out of accepting liability. A vehicle with no service records at all can have an engine failure, and the warranty issuer has to prove that a lack of service caused the failure. Legally. Of course getting to that point might still be costly fighting that battle, whether in time, money, and/or stress.

Given the history of failure with this engine, if it got to a legal fight, Mazda has very little chance at winning unless there was something changed about the engine itself (turbo, supercharger, oil, seals, rebuilt, etc...).

Deux options réalistes​

  1. Construire une relation avec votre concessionnaire local, en absorbant le coût supplémentaire de temps et d'argent pour l'entretien courant afin de développer cette relation et préparer le terrain en cas de réclamation de garantie.

  2. Tout faire soi-même, et toute réclamation de garantie est plus occasionnelle, où vous êtes prêt à assumer les coûts si la demande est refusée.