I recently bought my 2004 RX-8 MT with 80000 km/ 50000 miles, so I don't have a complete service history. However, I owned a 7, so I have some experience with the rotary.

The problem is that I'm experiencing a significant power loss at higher RPMs and in higher gears. In other words, regardless of gear, I experience a loss of power, particularly over 4k rpm; however, it becomes more noticeable with each sequential gear. When the car is cold, it runs a lot better and the power loss is barely noticeable, but when it warms up after 10-20 minutes of driving, then the power loss increases. There is also a smell that I can't describe, although it's not oil or gas. I do not notice a smell at lower RPMs, but it becomes more pronounced at higher RPMS. My guess might be the cat is gone, but would that cause such a decrease in power?

I have a set of coils, wires and plugs that I plan on replacing, since I have no idea when those were last done. I just need to find some time to get under the car. I could see the ignition causing a power loss, but a smell to go with it?

As for sound, the car is fairly new to me so if the cat was going when I bought it, then I doubt there would be much change in the exhaust note for me to notice. All I can say is that it doesn't sound like a blown motor, which I did have the pleasure of experiencing with my 7.

To give you an idea of the power loss when the car is warm: if I'm doing 60 mph and floor it in 6th, then it would climb at a rate of 1 mph every 4-5 seconds.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

There's a high possibility that you have a clogged cat... meaning, some parts of the catacomb have broken up and are loged somewhere, that's why you're experiencing a loss of power in the upper RPMs and a weird smell.

 

clogged cat symptoms for sure

 

I'm voting coils or plugs, and the smell is unburned gasoline in the exhaust components. Gas burning uncontrolled smells very strange, not like gasoline in a can or coming out an exhaust pipe. Pour it on a camp fire and you'll be surprised at the smell.

And if it is, then your cats will be on their way out from having unburned hydrocarbons making it down that far.

 

i think you just answered your own questions. i agree with the catalytic converter going bad. the way you described the power loss and how it climbs really slow, describes the cat being clogged.

time for a midpipe and an Cobb AccessPort.

 

BAD KITTY!

 

Since u alrdy have the plugs, coils & wires I would change them since you don't know how old they are. If problem still persist check the cat. In my case a bad coil ended up taking out my cat.

When one of my coils went bad there was a foul electrical burning smell that came with it but my 8 also sounded like a nascar when I was experiencing the problems too.

 

I do want to upgrade the exhaust, although I might have waited a bit longer. I will let you know after I replace the plugs and such. I'll try to squeeze it in tonight.

 

I smelled gasoline just now when I moved my car from a parking lot about 5o yards down the streeet to my garage. The car had been sitting for about 3 hours before this move. It started right up so there wasn't any kind of flooding involved or anything.

Car is pretty new, 06 with 20,000 miles. Is there are other reason for this smell? My car drives fine, it doesn't feel funky at all. It starts right up and everything.

 

Stinky CAT. Only way to check is to remove it and look inside.

Under warrenty for 80,000 miles.

 

So I change my plugs, 3 of which took forever to hammer out, wires and coils. They all look rather worn. New problem is that one of the bolts broke the screw that holds down the leading front coil. I don't think I can drive it as I have no way to fasten the coil down. Now I'm really f**ked. Looks like I'll be at the whim of Mazda tomorrow to see how they can repair it.

 

In the morning light everything looks different. I attempt to use vice grips to back out the remainder of the screw to the coil bracket, but no dice. I remove the coils again, remove the air filter and remove the coil bracket. It appears the screws are studs and welded in place. I take it to a friends shop and he hammers out the stud and we attach a new screw.

I'm headed off to work, finally, so we'll see how it runs.

 

As stated before, look inside the cat if it is still running crappy

 

Same thing happened to me when I changed my plugs and coils. The bolt broke clean off of the front coil. It would stay in place for the most part since the bolt was just high enough to still make it into the hole on the coil, but I used some zip ties to hold it down. I need to get a new plate and just replaced the damaged on, but I haven't had time lately. Besides, it seems to be holding up pretty well.

 

 

LOL. That is how I feel unfortunately, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get by for the moment.

 

you used a mmer to remove plugs!

!

 

That's how I roll! But seriously, I had the socket wrench on and hammered the end of the socket handle. It might have been easier if I had a hoist, but the car was just on a pair of jack stands. Thankfully, the plugs didn't break. You should have seen the condition of the replaced parts, no wonder there were problems.

As an update, so far it appears it was just the ignition causing all the problems. The car was pulling strong all day. I wouldn't mind an upgraded exhaust, but unless I have problems on a longer drive soon, then it's not an ASAP priority.

 

haha I know this is a old thread, but I did that recently also when I changed my coils. I oagered the **** out of the bolt and snapped it in half on the coil plate. I then made a stand and off and zipp tied the coil for extra protection.


one of these days I need to remove the plate and drill out that bolt and reweld a new one on..

 

mine is doing the same thing but mine is really bad i replace them once now 6 months later doing it again