Hello all, this is my first thread/query and hope you can help.
Face the problem of metallic rattling nose on 4th gear when stepping on the gas, especially when car is at 60-80 km/h.
Have read several similar threads in the tech forum but have not really seen a solid finding of cause/solution.
Please help if you can, thanks.
ps. model is RX-8, 5MT

Hi, welcome.

I don't have any rattling sound in mine so can't really help. But maybe for starters, can you locate where the sound seems to be coming from? passenger side? around the gearbox? from the engine? Hope its nothing serious! good luck.

Thanks for the welcome.
Metalic rattling noise on 4th gear while accelerating from 60-80 km/h seems to come from
just beneath the console towards the front.
Could be transmission or engine but franly not sure.
But definitely central and not to right or left.
Quite unsettling to hear in a new car since day 1.

Since day 1!?!

Should go back to your dealer's workshop and get them to take a look. If you drag too long to get back to them, they might list it as your fault rather than the fault of the car when delivered. good luck, do keep us updated.

cheers

Ya, go back to the Dealer n speak to them politely. But for me, i would FXXK them up big time!!!!!!!!!

hehe....

Bought the car from PI Cartimes.
If I have come across this forum earlier would have gone to EZ or GarageR like you guys say.
Anyway went to both the 2 workshops linked to Cartimes,
The first had no clue (but I got the problem documented in their report)
The second one actually changed my car’s transmission fluid but obviously was doing trial and error. Noise was softer for a very short while but came back.
I didn’t want my new RX8 to be a guinea pig so stopped going back to that workshop.

I saw people with same problem in the tech forum and has posted my question there too,
May write Mazda HQ also. Will keep you posted.
p.s. Neon’s suggested approach may be it really.

Made silly mistake when writting:
it's the 4th gear while accelerating from 60-80 km/h that gives metalic rattling noise. not 3rd.
have edited my previous messages to correct that

Hi drphy68

I hv come across this rattling noise problem in one of the thread..........

It mentioned dat the noise came from the front same description as yours........

It is the stones which stuck beneath one of the metal bar near to the the rotary....which produce the noise....

The thread include the pics which shown the area where the stones are stucked.......I have printed out the details but left it in office......

I try to look for the thread n inform you asap....

(once stones removed - no noise as they claimed)

Hi Daverx, thanks for helping.
Have read that thread over at The Tech Garage forum "Rattling noise going over bumps at speed".
Syntrix stated the below:

"Rattling from front left solved!

If you look behind the weel from the front, you will see the backing plate (stone guard) for the rotor. You can just turn the wheel outward, but best accessibility is if you take the wheel off.

Look around the spindle where the steering knuckle is.

You will see rocks trapped in this pic. They were pushing the guard in just enough to barely touch the rotor and after removal, the rattling noise is now GONE!!!!"


But it looks a different problem that I have.
Anyway thanks, few hours here in this forum and I can feel the community spirit already. Is there a RX 8 club here?

np....

but previously diff from what he described.....he even attached the pics which i hv printed out n left in office......

anyway i hope it helps.......coz the sound described it as metallic rattling noise....

actually there's another forum at dephiforums.......but most of us communicate here....over there we'll wif MCS...

Yeah, go back to the dealer and let them know that their workshops can't resolve the issue. You may then want to go to some other garage to check, but see if you can get your dealer to bear the cost - should be able to as it is under warranty.

Obviously I only know of Garage R being knowledgeable in rotaries, but others here may be able to recommend other workshops too.

u can try GTR or ST...too. They do lots of rotary...:D

Thanks guys, will go visit the workshops u mentioned to have expertise in our RX8s.
BTW emailed problem to Mazda Japan and Taiwan (HK, Australia and of course our dear Mazda Singapore do not have Rx8 on their customer service websites.
If they care enough to respond will update u.

Funny, I have the same sound (almost like pinging, but not in any other gear or at any other speed). I'm bringing mine back next week for 3 month service and will report back.

Went to a GarageR today and mentioned the noise problem to him and immediate response was it was to do with a 'switch' in the gear box,
and the fix is to change to a 'thicker' transmission oil (HKS), and a good time is to do this at 5000km.
He sounds like he has heard this issue before.
BTW also mentioned was a HKS rotary engine oil just fitting for our RX8s.
Think I will go for it and report back.

I've got the HKS engine oil in mine...so far so good. Oil is still pretty clean 3,000 km after the oil change.

Originally posted by Fab 8
I've got the HKS engine oil in mine...so far so good. Oil is still pretty clean 3,000 km after the oil change.

Hi Fab8, I've read on the other post that you have had the HKS oil in your engine, so is the HKS rotary oil mineral or synthetic?? What's the price and the vol again?
I starting to hunt for mineral base engine oil now, just saw an adver in Motoring Mag, now they have the mineral engine oil by SplitFire. Since their recent hooha on the claims of power gain with their Plugs, not sure if the product are of any reliable??

cheers.

HKS rotary oil is synthetic, and it takes about 5 to 6 litres. Garage R charges $135 for the oil change.

Not sure abt splitfire oil (or their plugs). I will likely stick with HKS, or Mazda rotary oil (if I can find any...). Cheers.

i use hks too.

where to get hold of this HKS RE Oil? :D

At GarageR - HKS's local distributor

-Ringer-

Originally posted by Daverx
where to get hold of this HKS RE Oil? :D

GarageR.

Has anyone been to the new Autobac? Apparently they have more imported oils from Japan. Wonder if they've got any mineral base oil of 5W30? Really feels like trying the mineral oil first before switching to Syn.

thanks ringer.....

Went to a GarageR today and mentioned the noise problem to him and immediate response was it was to do with a 'switch' in the gear box,
and the fix is to change to a 'thicker' transmission oil (HKS), and a good time is to do this at 5000km.
He sounds like he has heard this issue before.
BTW also mentioned was a HKS rotary engine oil just fitting for our RX8s.
Think I will go for it and report back.

You didn't report back :) Since I'm having the same problem, I was wondering if your problem was fixed?

Speaking of oils: I am just curious but how do you tell and conclude that one oil is better than the other? Both for engine and transmission oils. I have never changed to anything specific before except once in 25yrs of driving -- Mobil One for my previous car.

Does it drive differently or smoother etc? I am using the standard whatever the service peopel are give me. Not even sure what brand it is -- could be cooking oils as far as I am concern -- Knife or Axe or Flying Dragon oils?

Has anyone been to the new Autobac? Apparently they have more imported oils from Japan. Wonder if they've got any mineral base oil of 5W30? Really feels like trying the mineral oil first before switching to Syn.

I am not too sure if there is a new autobacs but i have a rough idea of what rotary oils they offer at the bukit batok branch.

- HKS ~ $148 4 litres
- Trust ~ $128 5 litres
- Rmagic ~ $220 5 litres

Other people you can approach for rotary oil will be Coupe07 who is a member and also the PR man.

- R.E. Amemiya ~ $170 5 litres
rating is 0W-30

"cross fingers" singapore may have the chance to have mazda rotary oil but at the moment still a "maybe" status.

:doh: old thread from 2003...