One thing I have found is that the RX community is a pretty tight one. Head on over to the Midwest forum and you'll notice that the Michigan owners will be more than glad to help where they can.

 

OK, I emailed that guy, and told my dad to relay a message to the dealership - either they have the car done PERFECTLY by the time I get back in town on Friday to pick it up, or I take it somewhere else, and they don't see a penny for the labor cost. I'll pay for the engine, the new coil, and the labor for the coil, but I will not pay them the money they expect to see for the labor on the engine - after all, they obviously didn't do it right if it is idling rough and spewing black smoke now!

So, I have an easier question this time:
1. How much would a dealership have to pay to get a new 13B engine?
2. How much does an ignition coil cost the dealership?

I want to know so they don't try to screw me over and tell me that they paid $4000 for the engine alone or some sh*t like that.

Thanks again,
Tyler

 

You can buy a reman engine from Malloy Mazda in Virginia for around $2000 to $2100, from what I've seen posted. Thats probably the best price you'd get from any dealership. As far as what THEY pay... I don't think you'll be able to find that out very easily.

So its idling roughly and spewing out black smoke, huh? Sounds like they forgot to plug in the MAP sensor

I don't see how you ignition coil would fail all of a sudden when put in a new engine. They probably messed something else up.

 

See if you can get a forum member that is familiar with the FD's to go to the Mazda dealership to pick up your car. Have him take a look at it and take it for a test drive before you accept the car.
If you are going to use this car as a daily driver, you will need a tech manuel of some type.

 

WISHBANZAI, both points are great suggestions!!!

 

That wouldn't be all that surprising. When I got my reman (years ago), the MAP sensor line popped off just leaving the dealership.

 

OK, wanna here the "great" news of the day? I told my dad to tell the dealership that they had until Friday to have my car running perfectly or I was going to take it somewhere else and not pay for labor. Well, my dad wrote me back and told me that I needed to cool down, and let them do their thing. He said they would get it right eventually, so I should just let them finish it. Then he went on about how I trust a bunch of strangers on the internet more than I trusted him! So, basically, he is backing up the dealership, and I am the one paying for the freaking repair!! This is so lame.
- Tyler
PS - they thought that the new problem was, and I quote,
"They expect that the problem is with a module that controls intake pressure. They are ordering that part tomorrrow and will install it on Friday." - my dad's email

So, basically, they are ordering another part, when it could just be a disconnected sensor. I think they are just trying to regain some of their losses (because they told us that they would give me a discount on labor because it has taken so long) by ordering new parts and charging for labor on those (although I can't prove it). I'm sure it will come down to this - "Well, you just pay the total ammount plus the two new parts, and we'll discount the labor for the coil and control module" or somthing like that. If that happens, they should prepare for war!

 

Actually, I find my dad's email funnier and funnier every time I read it:
"The coil was installed and the car still was missing and backfiring. I looked at the old coil and it had a hole burnt through it. They expect that the problem is with a module that controls intake pressure. They are ordering that part tomorrrow and will install it on Friday.
The mechanic that has been working on your car has done this before but never on a car with twin turbos. You had better settle down and realize that the reason the engine blew up was because the car has been driven hard and had alot of miles on it. You keep spouting off and you will wind up paying twice as much. It is your car and you are free to do what you want. If you want it done right, let the people who know take care of the problems. These guys will get the car fixed right and what you do after that is up to you. Just don't ask for my help any more as you seem to trust the strangers on the internet more than you do me."

What am I supposed to do when my own dad won't back me up? He's trusting the people that lied to him on several occasions more than he is trusting me - I am the one who should be mad here
- Tyler

 

'The people who know' couldn't even figure out how to get your engine out. I don't think your dad understands how unique this car is, and how you need experience and intelligence to work on it. I have NEVER had good experiences at dealerships, even working on domestic cars. They always screw something up or it takes them three tries to fix a problem.

By the way, as far as I know there is not a module that controls intake pressure. I think they might be referring to the MAP sensor, which reads the intake pressure. It is also called a boost pressure sensor. If the sensor is not working properly, it will idle extremely rich, dump lots of black smoke out of the tailpipe, and foul out your spark plugs.

You know, now that I think about it, did they even TEST your old coil? Obviously it wasn't causing the problem, since it is still not fixed. And testing a coil is as simple as taking a resistence measurement with a multimeter.

 

They said that there was no way to have know that the coil was bad because when the car was brought in, it was dead. I heard the symptoms of a bad coil (loss in power, kind of like fouling a plug) and it seemed to match what happened to me the night my car died. However, you mention that this MAP sensor not working could lead to fouling out plugs - they just replaced my plugs (and probably charged me for them). Would this have effected them already, or not (should I have them put in new plugs for free when they figure out the sensor problem?).
- Tyler
PS - I had never heard of a control module for air intake pressure either. I had known about the MAP.

 

You need to bring this car to my shop when you get it back, I will take a look at it and let you know how badly it is messed up.

 

I got the car back - it "seems" to run fine. There is a minor coolant leak that I need to have them fix. Cost me $4000 in all to fix. Now I just found out today that I have to replace the front brake calipers and pads on all four wheels - will cost about $400. :sigh: Money seems to fly out the window a lot these days.

 

Chris! We've been telling him all along to get that car down to you...

 

Tyler, I didn't read all the post regarding your problems w/dealership mechanics... But I did read enough to want to lend you some assistance for any future problems you may encounter. First of all, REPEAT after me.... Ray Crowe, Malloy Mazda.... Repeat 3X's and read on.... http://www.malloyautomall.com/ Now. Click on the link I sent you and make sure you call Ray for any future mazda parts purchases (that are OEM) (Original Equipment Manufacture) you may need to buy. Don't talk to anyone else but Ray.... He's by far the greatest parts manager I've ever run into. Second.... you seem like an articulate, intelligent sort so consider getting yourself a shop manual for your REX.... contains lots of great information and specs and will perhaps prevent you from ever being at the mercy of uncaring, inconsiderate goono mechanics again. Third... Be proactive and find yourself a rotary speciality shop in your area.... and plan to pay it a visit... get to know the owner and consider having them service you 7 from this point forward. If you're unable to located a shop your confortable with PM me with information and I'll find you one.... In the meantime, if you want to do some interesting reading on the forum... do a search for my sons postings .... he goes by goodfellafd3s. Bio Condios tyler... Rich Sr

 

Tyler, I was in pain reading this thread...I have so much respect for your temprance, I would have declared war on these ******* donkeys from day 1! And then your dad accusing you of acting wrong and taking the sides of people that LIED to him! My god, I feel for you man, I really do! However, all these trials are going to make your dealings with Chris all the more enjoyable. NEVER TRUST A DEALERSHIP EVER!!! And definately take Chris' advice and have him check everything out for you, I'm almost positive that there's more wrong with what you've described about how these guys think/operate...Good luck getting the car working right! And please drive safe and take it nice and easy with the FD, there's been too many deaths and injuries with people who don't take that extra precaution.

Vaya con Dios indeed...if you're not careful

 

Not to be too negative, because I understand your plight, but maybe you shouldn't own this car. Your 19, in college, limited funds, and it's your only transportation. The RX-7 can suck your bank account dry. Advice may be to try and at least store the '7 until out a school and get something absolutely reliable in the mean time. Also the front brake calipers can be rebuilt for about $20 in parts, but you must do it. The dealership will only sell you new calipers for liability reasons.

Mark

 

Glad you got it back.
The coolant leak could be air in the system. Happens to new engines. All you gotta do is to burp the system.
When the car is cold, unplug the coolant hose from the throttle body, fill up the the coolant filler neck, put the coolant hose back on the throttle body.
Repeat till the add coolant light goes away.
Bring it to BlueTII's shop right away!

 

Is it just me or does anyone else suspect that there was never anything wrong with the engine, just a bad coil.

 

Hm..could be...
I wonder if he still has the old engine...

 

DON'T SAY THAT!!

 

It certainly wouldn't be the first time a Mazda dealership replaced an engine b/c of some other small part failing (like a vacuum hose).

 

It is just my experience dealing with dealerships. I they replace parts or even add fuel to your car without asking the owner "ITS FREE" from all your posts you have placed you mention quiet a few times about them performing maintenance and replacing things but you don't say that you gave the okay to do so. I would talk to the Better Business Bureau about this whole ordeal. That $4k could be only $2k. Just my .02 cents

 

If dealers change enough parts, they know the problem is going to get fixed sooner or later. The problem is how much and how long, till they change the part that was the real problem to begin with, that they didn't know it was.
Sometimes you end up with a new car with all the parts that they have changed.

 

Now that you have it back you need to schedule a time with me to take a look at it. i will give it a quick look for free, so you know what to say to the dealer

 

$400 for pads? shouldn't be more than $100 for pads...