EHD in AZ

I must decide what to do with my 93 R1 that's been sitting since October. I reported an engine failure; details here if you need it: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=26533

I did not sue Mazda at the time because I was dealing with personal tragedies that were far more important than getting the car fixed. I made a half-hearted attempt but ran out of steam. That option still remains but the lawyers feel that this will probably not be cost effective.

I now have time, after losing my job last week, to pick this up.

I decided to use my aftermarket warranty company - Wynns - to get the engine replaced instead of making Mazda stand up to their warranty. A local Mazda dealer is acting on my behalf with Wynns. Obviously we know that they are trying to get out of doing the warranty. Here's what they want to do.

They want the engine opened to determine if it has overheated (it has not, but they have the final say based on whatever they want to claim). The dealer tell me Mazda will not take an engine if it has been opened.

Outcome 1: IF Wynns decide to warranty the engine, I have a $1000 expense in the core charge (they will not pay for the core). Figure about another $1000 for labor and incidentals and stuff that Wynns will not cover, so AT BEST this is going to cost $2k to get a new motor in it.

Outcome 2: If Wynns will NOT honor the warranty, then my costs are $350 for teardown, $1000 for the core, $2800 approx for a new Mazda motor, plus another $1000 for dealer installation and incidentals. I'm looking at about $5k to $5.5k. And I'll end up with an opened motor that I can fix and put in my lawn mower

The alternatives...

Option 1: I can swap the engine myself (i'm capable, i have all i need including time). This way I don't "waste" the engine by opening it, so there is no core charge. Approximate cost for this route: $2800 for motor, $500 shipping and incidentals. Plus personal labor at 0$ per day

Option 2: Instead of buying a new Mazda motor, I can send my current motor to an aftermarket rebuilder. This is the grey area for me. Is this the way to go? Keep in mind this engine has only 18k miles - I believe that simply replacing the blown water seal and reusing the rest if in good condition. Be gentle on me if you think this is crazy!

Option 3: Take the car as it to an aftermarket rebuilder, let them deal with taking out/installing engine. Big bucks, right?

Option 4: Sell it as is.

Thanks in advance for the advice. Thanks also to all you great guys for all the personal feedback when I first reported this dilemma.

FD_Pilot

iTrader: (1)

Where are you getting the $2,800 price for the motor?

Re-man motors are $1900. Are you not counting turning in your core motor?

I had a re-man put in my car....

$1,900 Re-man motor
$ 200 Gasket Kit
$ 50 2 Solenoids (cracked when pulling motor)
$ 450 CFDF Clutch & throw out bearing
$1,250 19 hrs Labor
$ 150 Misc shop parts & labor (oil change, coolant change, hoses)

Price was exactly $4,000 for me...



This is how I feel... if you have a water seal let loose... you might as well get a completely new motor... no telling what else is not within spec when they tear down the motor....the additional tear-down & rebuild labor almost covers the cost of the new motor... and if you have just (1) other part that needs replacing...a housing...or a rotor... you wind up spending more doing the rebuild than you would if you just got the re-man to start with.

I vote for just getting a new motor thrown in.

EHD in AZ

The $2800 figure is what the dealers gave me yesterday. You know how they are. I'll visit them today to get firm prices. I'll also shop around with other local dealers.

Thanks for the feedback, it makes total sense.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

I had Mazduh put in a remanufactured one in. Of course since I didn't know any better at the time (about 3 years ago), I paid the 10k for them to do everything. If I had it all over to do again, the car would definitely get shipped to Pettit to have them rebuild it.

Mazduh ONLY installed the new engine. Once the new engine was installed, other parts failed and needed to be replaced. A competent shop would have done those while they were replacing the engine, or at least mention that "hey, the oil lines to the turbos are worn and might need to be replaced".

maxpesce

Get a REMAN from Malloy Mazda (the give the best price) and have it sent to KD Rotary for Porting & Reliability upgrades. Have the old motor torn down by KD, Maxdatrix, or some other unimpeachable rebuilder, and have them document the condition of the engine and ask them to render an opinion on cause of failure - send COMPLETE documentation along w/ a letter from your LAWYER to MAZDA USA (legal, customer service, and to the president Charlie Hughes) requesting a warranty adjustment on the orig. engine.

Then have the old motor rebuilt and keep it for a SPARE

EHD in AZ

Great input, thanks.

I called Malloy, spoke to Ray Crowe - nice guy! They have a reman motor available for $1900, shipping is about $100. No tax (out of state) which makes up for the shipping charge.

However, he wants me to fax him the paperwork showing the engine was replaced by a Mazda dealer AND that I complained about the failure prior to the warranty expiration... he is fairly confident that his rep can work with me on this. He says generally Mazda is good with warranties (that used to be my experience in the years gone past on my 4th and 5th RX7s). I have all the paperwork needed to demonstrate my case clearly. Will keep you posted.

Fantastic news, thanks man!

jeremy

iTrader: (1)

option 5) give your car to me.

Jedon

$100 for shipping? I need to ship a motor, how can I get that price?

I'm having my engine rebuilt, or rather built since there are not many of the old parts left.
$4300 parts from MazdaComp including all new housings, rotor, eshaft etc
$2970 labor for rebuild plus ribbed water passages and a street port.

EHD in AZ

The $100 shipping charge is what Ray of Malloy (VA) quoted me... ballpark, he said it might be a buck-twenty. Close enough. He said he has some special arrangement with a shipping company - I cannot recall the name. Call Ray, 888-533-3400.


As for the previous post, by Jeremy... I'd be happy to give you the car if you give me $20k

I WILL sell this car when the new Mazda motor is installed. Watch the forum, and give me a few weeks. I'm done with Mazda - this is my 6th and last. Bad experiences.

Specs: 93 R1, new three-stage paint, new 275/40ZR17 Yokohamas R & 235/45ZR17's F on new Enkei rims. Pettit cat-back exhaust, cold-air induction w/ K&N, new radiator, turbo timer, etc. Excellent exterior, very good interior, 84k miles. Zero miles on factory engine - you pick it up at the dealership and break it in.

RyanC

How much are you going to sell it for? I live in AZ and know someone that would want to buy it. Give me a price with the engine installed or as is.

BlackR1

I suggest taking it to a reliable Rotary re-builder.

My engine died in November-- I recently took my car to Jeff @ Rotary Power and I got a chance to talk to him about aftermarket warranty companies. He said 3/4 do not honour engine replacements when it comes to RX7's, but he did mention that the company I'm carrying a warranty with is usually honest with their policies, and are good with honouring payouts-- one of the guys over there own a Mazda, so they understand.

Luckily for you, that company is Wynn's Wynn's does no inspection of your car initially, you just send it to your mechanic of choice and they deal with the warranty company for you. Your mechanic will have a better chance at haggling with the warranty company than you will.

You should send your engine or your entire car to Rotary Power-- he's dealt with Wynn's quite a few times and said they have been pleasant to work with. He's also arguably one of the best rebuilders on the West Coast. One of the first things he asked me when i brought my car in was 'so...want any extras?'

Good luck with your car

EHD in AZ

I agree, Wynn's were great when they replaced the motor in July 2000, no questions asked. Picked up 75% of the tab. Could not be better.

Problem is, the motor let go in 18k with the same water-seal blown again. Refer to my original post from Oct last year for details. Now Wynn's are asking questions, rightly so. I believe they are looking for any reason not to lay out cash again.

I've basically pampered the car, it was a daily driver mostly highway to work and back. Not much opportunity to rape it on the way to work. Never overheated, I'll bet my left leg on that.

Wynn's wants the motor opened to inspect. That invalidates the core, and the tab is mine. $1k for a start regardless of outcome. To get the motor out and stripped is another $1k. IF they don't warranty it, then I'm basically $2k down with nothing to show. Add $3.5k for a new motor installed, and I'm at $5.5k. I KNOW the engine has not overheated, but how can I prove it? If they say, based on whatever they come up with, that the motor has overheated, then they won't cover. Even IF they cover it, I'm still looking at about $2k out of pocket.

i'm considering the risks... might be just a tad easier to eat this one myself. Motor is $2000, installed is $1400, incidentals $500?

dunno... still thinking.

94RHDFD

iTrader: (3)

Sell the car to me, I'll give you $4000 and you can have the motor and the tranny. What do yo think?