Mazda RX-8 Complaints (2005)

162 consumer complaints on file.

#10286569October 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE TYPICAL SIGNS OF A FAULTY CLUTCH PEDAL. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE SUBJECT AND I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE PEOPLE HAD BEFORE THEIR CLUTCH BROKE. THIS ISSUE STARTED AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO. THE PEDAL SQUEAKS VERY LOUD AND HAS GIVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS WELL AS IN AND OUT. I HAVE A 2005 MAZDA RX8, 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286190October 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PURCHASED FROM A MAZDA DEALER IN MAYAGUEZ, PUERTO RICO ON AUGUST 29, 2009. THE SAME WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, A 2005 MAZDA RX-8 SHINKA MODEL, ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE SINCE WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THIS PART AND A NEW SET OF SPARK PLUGS THAT WAS ALSO PURCHASED AT A PRICE OF $200.00. THE CAR WAS NOT IN USE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2009. ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 THE CAR HAD A FAILURE AND I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I COULD SMELL BURNT PLASTIC AND SAW MELTED PLASTIC COMING BELOW THE CAR. THE DAY ALL THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS RAINING SO THE CAR WAS PROTECTED FROM A FIRE DUE TO THE RAIN. I GOT PICTURES OF SOME OF THE MELTED PARTS. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BURNED THE NEW SPARK PLUGS, THE SPARK PLUGS CABLES, THE MODULES AND THAT THERE WAS ASH ON THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPLACE ALL THE PARTS THAT BURNED AT THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER SINCE MY CAR GUARANTEE WAS NO LONGER VALID. THEY DID NOT MAKE ANY EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM KNOWING THAT ALL THE DAMAGES WERE DUE TO THE FAULTY CONDITION OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THEY WILL ONLY PROVIDE A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1500.00 COST) BUT I HAVE TO PAY ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT FOR THE REST OF THE DAMAGE. I KNEW THAT ANOTHER CLIENT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE SAME MODEL OF CAR AND THAT THE PART WAS ALSO SUPPLIED BY AUTOLAND. I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. MAZDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES PRODUCED BY THE FAILURE OF THEIR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *TR UDATED 01/13/10. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281754August 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WATER LEAKS INTO THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. CORROSION AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE TAIL LIGHTS, TURN AND STOP SIGNALS. MAZDAUSA CLAIMS THIS IS "NORMAL". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279519August 5, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2005 MAZDA RX8 WITH 53,000 MILES. CLUTCH PEDAL HAS BEEN SQUEAKING FOR THE PAST 8-10K MILES. I COMPLAINED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO MAZDAS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY DID NOTHING. TODAY MY CLUTCH PEDAL SNAPPED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MAZDA NEEDS TO USE BETTER WELDING ON THE BRACKET. THE TWO SPOT WELDS DON'T HOLD UP FOR VERY LONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278965July 31, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 2005 MAZDA RX8 WITH 35,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP RECENTLY FOR A ROUGH IDLE AND HARD START PROBLEM. AFTER MUCH COSTLY INVESTIGATION (COSTLY TO ME 590$), IT WAS FOUND THAT MY RENESIS ENGINE IS LOSING COMPRESSION AND COULD POSSIBLY FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. AFTER CONTACTING CORPORATE HQ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP TESTED THE ENGINE WHICH PASSED BY A MINIMAL PERCENT, JUST ENOUGH NOT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SOME PERSONAL RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER, I'VE FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER RX8 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LITTLE OR NO HELP FROM MAZDA OTHER THAN REPLACING THE DAMAGED ENGINE WITH THE SAME MODEL OF FAULTY ENGINE. REPORTS FROM OWNERS OF ENGINES DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF DANGEROUS A INTERSECTIONS AND SUCH ARE VERY UNSETTLING BEING AN OWNER MYSELF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN OWNERS THAT ARE NOW ON THEIR SECOND AND THIRD ENGINES AS WELL WITH SEEMINGLY NO END TO THE REPAIRS. IN MY CASE, THE DEALERSHIP GUARANTEED THAT MY ENGINE WOULD FAIL WITHIN SIX MONTHS SO TO "BE CAREFUL" AND "KEEP AND EYE ON IT". THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THESE ENGINES AND I THINK THEY ARE UNSAFE. MAZDA HAS ADDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THESE ENGINES FOR UP TO 100,000 MILES BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THESE ENGINES FAILING WHILE IN MOTION OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. IT ONLY REPLACES ONE BURNT OUT BOMB WITH A BOMB WITH A NEW FUSE. I SERIOUSLY THINK THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE "LEMON-LAW" AND I WOULD LIKE MORE TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT SEEMS RX8 OWNERS ARE BEING LEFT WITHOUT OPTIONS HERE EXCEPT TO MAKE LEMONADE FROM THEIR 30,000$ LEMON. ME INCLUDED.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278506July 28, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAULTY DESIGN. WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING GEARS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. I WAS LUCKY AND HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. I HATE TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278134July 23, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2005 MAZDA RX8 QUITS RUNNING AND WILL NOT RESTART -REMOVED SPARK PLUGS CLEANED AND STARTED-QUIT BEFORE GOT HOME SAME PROBLEM. DON'T KILL ENGINE UNLESS ABOVE 3000 RPM OR ENGINE IS WARM. ENGINE QUIT REPLACED SPARK COIL QUIT BEFORE GOT HOME WAS TOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER DEFECTIVE AND WILL DAMAGE MUFFLER. CAR WAS TOWED EACH TIME TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP. NOW THEY CLAIM NEEDS NEW ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275316June 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I HAVE A MAZDA RX8 2005. IT REPEATEDLY STALLS AND HAS NEEDED A NEW ENGINE TWICE IN LESS THAN A YEAR. MAZDA COVERED THE FIRST ENGINE BUT IS NOW REFUSING THE SECOND. I AM AWARE THAT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES HAVE MANY PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273957June 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHO WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268455May 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
IT STARTED TO CLICK AND SQUEAK. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE PEDAL BRACKET SNAPPED WHEN ME AND MY CHILDREN ALMOST GOT HIT BY A COAL TRUCK BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO MY DADS SHOP AND WELD IT WHICH I'M STILL UNSURE OF HOW LONG IT WILL LAST SINCE THE METAL IS THIN AND IT IS SQUEAKING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263988April 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
1. FOR A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, I HEARD SQUEAKING COMING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL EACH TIME I USED IT. 2. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET, WHICH HOLDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE BODY OF THE CAR, SNAPPED OFF, RENDERING THE CLUTCH INOPERABLE AND THE CAR UNABLE TO ENGAGE/CHANGE GEARS. 3. THE CLUTCH BRACKET AND CLUTCH PEDAL HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261845March 15, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
HAD AN INCIDENT TODAY WHERE MY RX-8 HAD BEEN T-BONED AT AN INTERSECTION. MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THOUGH. I HIT MY HEAD AGAINST THE INTERIOR DOORWELL AND HAVE A BIT OF WHIP-LASH. THEY HIT THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE IT SO MY DOOR DOESN'T OPEN ANY LONGER AND IN-FACT IT'S PUSHED UP A BIT FROM WHERE IT IS SUPPOSE TO SIT. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A 1996 GEO METRO. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261477March 10, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING THE CAR IT CUTS OFF AND ROLLS BACKWARDS AND COULD POSSIBLE HIT ANOTHER CAR. WAS TOLD THAT SERVICE CENTER CHANGE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ON THE CAR AN WOULD NOT COVER A REPAIR LIKE THIS UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO MY NEGLECT OF NOT KNOWING THE NEW SCHEDULE THEY MADE UP. AND BECAUSE I FOLLOWED MY OWNERS MANUAL THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I FEEL THAT THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED TO WHY THE CUT OFF THIS IS A DANGER TO ANYONE WHO IS DRIVING TO HAVE A CAR CUT OFF AN ROLL BACKWARDS. MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250171November 30, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I HAD MY 2005 MAZDA RX-8 TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN AND WAS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND SHIFT GEARS, I BELIEVE IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS POOR WORKMANSHIP. I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON RX-8'S THAT AFTERMARKET COMPANIES ARE PRODUCING CLUTCH PEDAL REINFORCEMENT KITS. YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY A PROBLEM WHEN AFTERMARKET COMPANIES ADDRESS AND FLAW IN A PRODUCT. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S PART OF THE CLUTCH AND SAFETY OF THE CAR. AND IT'S NOT EVEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH IS HORRIBLE. NOT ONLY DID THEY PRODUCE A FLIMSY PRODUCT, BUT NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249650November 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, TIRES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I'M GOING IN TODAY FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE MY AC CONTINUES TO MAKE A NOISE WHEN THE FAN IS BLOWING. I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO LIST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. JUST TO NAME A FEW I'M ON MY SECOND ENGINE, NEW BRAKES, BATTERY AND TIRES BEFORE 40K MILES AND I WAS TOLD BY THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES BUT MAZDA CLAIMS OTHER WISE. I'VE HAD A TWO NEW RADIATORS AND MY DRIVER WINDOW WENT OUT ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE FROM THE VISOR FALLING OFF DURING THE HOT SUMMER BECAUSE IT JUST MELTED. HOW DOES A "SUN VISOR" MELT. I'VE HAD THE SHIFTING PADDLES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T WORK AND I DON'T EVEN REALLY USE THEM, THE GAS CAP LOCK BROKE AND I HAD TO PRY IT OPEN SINCE THE EJECT NO LONGER WORKED... I THINK YOU GET THE POINT AND I DIDN'T EVEN MENTION SOME OF THE BI ITEMS. I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR IN MY LIFE. I CANT WAIT UNTIL I CAN SELL IT OR MAYBE ILL GET LUCKY AND IT WILL IMPLODE. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME AT THIS POINT. THIS CAR IS JUNK!!! I'M GOING BACK TO HONDA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247494November 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
I HAVE A 2005 MAZDA RX8 AND FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED MY CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF A LOUD SQUEAL WHEN PRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. MY MOST RECENT VISIT THEY REPLACED IT AGAIN.. THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS OUT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND DRIVING LONG DISTANCES AND MY PEDAL BEGAN TO FEEL REALLY STRANGE AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO SHIFT PROPERLY.. I DROP HER OFF AND I GO HOME THE NEXT MORNING I WAKE UP TO CLEAN MY CAR AND I BACK UP AND THEN MOVE FORWARD AND MY SHIFTER IS COMPLETELY STUCK! AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS LITERALLY TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL.. I TRIED TO SEE I COULD STILL TURN THE CAR ON AND THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AS IF THERE WERE NO CLUTCH FLUID.. FORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT THIS IS A DANGER TO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. UPON INSPECTION THE THINS BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER WAS TORN... THE VEHICLE WILL BE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR REPAIRS.. IT HAS 49,600 MILES APPROX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244412October 5, 2008
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE (VEHICLE MIGHT BE TOTALED). SPEED AT IMPACT WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 60 MPG RESULTING IN INJURY TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10242922September 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HI, I PURCHASED MY 2005 RX8 NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2005. I HAVE 38000 MILES AT PRESENT TIME. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED THREE TIMES DUE TO STALLING. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR ALL RECALLS AND IT HAS PASSED ALL TEST. I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. MY VEHICLE ALSO BACK FIRES AT TIMES BLOWING BLACK SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPES. I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS OVER THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE KNOWN FIRES CAUSED BY THE ROTARY ENGINE. I HAVE PHONED AND VISITED MANY DEALERS TO SEE IF MAZDA HAS ISSUED A BUY BACK OR TRADE DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE RX8 AND THEY HAVE ALL REPLIED WITH "SORRY, BUT WE CAN SELL YOU A DIFFERENT MAZDA AT RETAIL". I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE TO THE MAZDA REPAIR SHOP SO MANY TIMES THAT I NO LONGER EVEN BOTHER TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE I ALWAYS GET THE SAME ANSWER. I REALLY JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE TO DRIVE THAT IS SAFE. I THINK MAZDA NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND PEOPLES LIVES ARE IN DANGER. THE ISSUES WITH MY CAR ARE SO MANY THAT I DO NOT LIKE TO DRIVE IT. CURRENTLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237865August 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA RX8. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLES EXTREMELY ROUGHLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V317000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BECAUSE HIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235827July 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAULTY DESIGN. WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING GEARS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY SNAPS, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR HAD TO BE STARTED IN 1ST GEAR TO DRIVE TO SAFETY. THE THIN METAL TEARS AWAY FROM AROUND ONE OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL. THIS IS HAPPENING ON OTHER RX-8'S OF PEOPLE I ASSOCIATE WITH TO THE POINT THAT WELDING UP THE OLD BRACKET IS BECOMING COMMON. MAZDA HAS NOT COME UP WITH A STRONGER ASSEMBLY SINCE THEY INTRODUCED THE RX-8 IN 2004. THE ALTERNATIVES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE (OUT OF WARRANTY) IS TO: (A) PURCHASE A NEW ONE FROM MAZDA. (B) HAVE YOUR OLD ASSEMBLY WELDED OR PURCHASE A REMANUFACTURED WELDED ONE. (C) PURCHASE A BRACKET THAT ADDS SUPPORT TO THE ASSEMBLY I DID BOTH B & C, WELDED AND ADDED SUPPORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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