Zoolander

iTrader: (8)

I bought my 93 Touring used in 2000, and the car has the 3 stickers from the 3 national recall campaigns. The car still has a loss of coolant and now I'm beginning to smell unburned fuel. What are the chances that the recall work is malfunctioning again? I know it's difficult to say without looking at the engine, but what I'm wondering is.....has anyone else out there has had the same problems...and it DID turn out to be from the recalls?

I don't want to take it the dealer if I don't have to, but would rather take it to a specialist. Of course, I'd rather NOT pay for it either.

Thanks.

rotary-tt

Can you say out of warrenty? I believe the recalls were for more heat-resistant hoses and a change in the coolant cap pressures (someone else chime in here). Unburned fuel could be the Fuel Pulsation Dampner - get it fixed asap. Malloy Mazda is near you - they can take care of you. Or you can take it to PFS...

Zoolander

iTrader: (8)

Hey, thanks TT. Didn't think about the warranty thing. Good way to avoid the dealer. And haven't heard of Mallow Mazda. Will try them. Have had work at PFS before, just looking for other options.

Zoolander

iTrader: (8)

Crap.....Malloy Mazda IS a dealer huh? I've got other leads though, thanks again.

Manolis_D

iTrader: (2)

I think they're a pretty good as far as dealers go. Everybody seems to get their remanufactured engines from them!
-Manolis

rotary-tt

Still don't understand this dealer thing. Does sound like the CA people get ripped off and a few selected others. But my car always goes to Nucar Mazda. They've been working on rotaries since they came out and have good techs. Had my flywheel and clutch done there, etc. Had better luck with them than PFS, but that is a whole other story altogether

Now they're not a tuner but they can do all the basic stuff and they have the diagnostic testers, etc. And I get my car back in a day or 2 (instead of months with a tuner).

Zoolander

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, dealers have a bad rap for some reason. I don't think it's just me though. In researching my RX-7 purchase in 2000, I ran upon "the RX-7 Lemon Site", which was extremely helpful in what to look for in a 3rd gen. And I believe it was there were he faults the dealer's ineptitude, which exposed me to that thought process. I've avoided them ever since. The rotary is "like" a Porsche engine to them I've heard, they just don't get it.

I've talked to Peter Farrell and asked him why that is, and he gave a big monologue on the man hours dealers can bill for a job vs ACTUAL hours spent on the job. Why bother taking 10 hours on a rotary when they can only bill for 6, as opposed to taking a Protege when a repair can take 1 hour and they can bill for 3.

I'm just looking for alternatives to dealers and TOTAL race outfits - and from how you sound from your PFS experience, you have too TT.

rotary-tt

Well my dealer understands the rotary, it's just the twin turbo rats nest which gives them all a fit. Besides the twins, the FD is similar mechanically to the FC and the dealer has no trouble with repairs. At least the dealer gives you a firm estimate of the cost before working on it and calls you if there are additional issues.

Actually Peter is saying that getting the dealer to fix it is cheaper if you read between the lines. Just get a dealer recommended by others in your area.

You have a great club in your area http://www.mscw.com/ I would start with them to get opinions on where to go. I believe you'll find that Malloy is a good place to get your car worked on...

PFS has had some major changes recently so things may be quite different now...I didn't have a major issue with him just that he kept my car too long and talks out of his butt at times. For what he did (5 weeks+), I could have done at the dealer in 1-2 days for less $$...

SaulV

DO not take it to Malloy MAZDA. I had my car taken there last year to replace all the wiring harnesses and to do the silicone hoses job. By the time they were done, the care was worse than when it came in. i had to tow it to C-tech. Evilmechanic.com in MD, is right next to BWI. He had to redo everything and fix a lot of things they did.
They are a dealer aiight!! $7000 of repairs and they had the ***** to call me to tell me the car is done but is not working and that i had to pick it as is. Jim Dotty i think is the manager. DONT! Trusth me when i tell you this.
Now dont get me wrong, they have a history of selling excellent reman engines, but as far as working on FDs. they are horrible. It took them 2 months to do the work and the car didnt even work. Dan at C-tech did it in one weekend.
Saul

Zoolander

iTrader: (8)

Thanks guys....both very helpful. And thanks for the tip on the club, there's actually a meeting in 15 minutes, but I have plans. There's an excellent driver's ed shindig in June also.

I had an excellent experience with a "student" of PFS when I first got my car. He started his own business, but then bolted for greener pastures. I've been stuck since. I think I'm going with Rotary Performance, also in Manassas. They specialize in 1st and 2nd gen, but he sounds like he knows the FD also.

Thanks again.