sshhoirtt

I bought my '05 rx8 in september of '07. Since i've owned the car, I noticed that when I take it out on the highway at high speeds of 90+, when i hit about 6-7k rpms, the engine seems to shut down just as a normal car would if it hits it's governer. However when my car does it, the check engine light flashes. I always assumed this was a safetly feature that kept the car from overheating or something of that nature. If i lay off the gas and get the rpm's down, the check engine light goes out. If lets say i don't want to slow down, incase i might be racing someone, I can keep my foot on the gas, the car will pick speed back up, and chances are, the check engine light is going to stay on then. Sometimes for the day, sometimes for a couple days. This happend once and i took it to the dealer and there were some issues with the evap system. I've had some more issues with my check engine light as of recently, causing me to research this further. I had it at the dealer for inspection, and they have no idea what it is..they basically told me they dont' know what it is, and they were trying to "get the light to turn off" the check engine light came on again since i've had it there, and i'm avoiding taking it back there, because I don't think they know what the hell they are talking about. I did also recently have plugs/wires/coils all replaced...so it shouldn't be that.... I took it out with a friend tonight who had a good suggestion...I drove the car in 2nd gear at about the same rpms that i would at 90+, roughly 6k-7k rpms. No shut off. So I'm only seeing this issue at high speeds. Does anyone have any clue what direction I might go with this? I'm going to try taking it to another mazda dealer, since my current one has had some horrible employment changes recently and they are unable to help, but I want to knwo what i'm getting into, before i end up with another unexpected huge car bill.

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Bladecutter

Not that I advocate driving at those speeds on the public highway, but:

Is your car an automatic or a manual?
What speeds are you actually at when the car runs out of power?
Have you ever actually taken the car to a shop and had that CEL code pulled?
If yes, what was the code?

Also, since this is your first post ever on our forum, have you read any of the FAQ that shows how to maintain your used car? Have you ever had the spark plugs, wire, and ignition coils inspected and/or replaced since you've owned the car?

BC.

phrenetiK

check engine flashing and the problem you are describing = multiple misfires....check all your new coils/plugs/wires

chico1303

Check ingene flashing because your converter is bad as well the oxigen sensor next time you drive the car check the converter you will see how is the converter is red on fire thas way the flashing to protect the engine

RIWWP

No, flashing CEL is misfire, and his description matches ignition failure.


Please know how to spell, use grammar, and punctuation on top of knowing what you are talking about when you decide to state what the issue is.

phrenetiK

lol @ 1 post 2009er

sshhoirtt

I had the car to a dealer recently they pulled the code they also said it was a misfire. I just had the plugs wires and coils all done about a month ago, by the dealer. the car is a manual and it usually does this speed between 90 and 110. I've heard it could beat the catalytic converter. is there anyway to determine whether it's the catalytic converter or spark plugs, coils or wires before I take it into the dealer?

sshhoirtt

Also keep in mind, I've had the same issue with the high speed flashing engine light before and after the new plugs, wires, and coils.

pistonhater

Please...please...please...be a bit more responsible with your driving habits. Going over 100mph on public highways is just not very responsible. Totally different thing if you are on a racetrack pushing the car to have fun.

Anyway, as others have mentioned already, the flashing CEL is a misfire/ignition problem. Even with a healthy ignition system, many people have reported the occasional flashing light.

My take on it - after contacting a good number of experts on rotary engines - is that even though the RX-8 redlines at 9,000 + RPMs, in reality the stock coils are not capable of really supporting that for extended periods of time. No wonder why there are companies like BHR that have designed better ignition systems with upgraded coils.

If you think about it, it takes a very healthy ignition system to perfectly deliver the loads required to sustain an engine spinning past the 7,000 RPM range and up on a constant basis. So the slightest sign of poor health in the system will cause a misfire - even if the poor health is something temporary, meaning that the coils are not necessarily shot or in need of replacement.

I assume many RX-8 owners do not push their cars as often, so they don't encounter these issues. I bought mine with low miles, and as soon as I started going past the 7,000 RPM range, I got the the flashing CEL. Clearly, the previous owner babied the car too much, this was perhaps the first time the car was driven past that range.

jasonrxeight

if plugs and coils dont do the job, welcome to your new engine.

Bladecutter

Alrighty, so, which misfire code was it?
Front rotor misfire?
Rear rotor misfire?
Random misfire?
Both?

If the misfire is only in one of rotors, I would start with switching the coils between the two rotors, and see if you still get the misfires, and if the misfire followed the coils to the other rotor, or if the misfires stayed at the same rotor.

If the misfire stayed at the same rotor after swapping the coils, then that means you most likely have an internal problem in that rotor. Could be a damaged seal, or a coolant leak causing issues.

If the misfire follows the coils, then its obviously a coil issue, and you should swap out the faulty coils.

But, sounds like you should get a compression test, and possibly even a cooling system pressure test.

BC.

sshhoirtt

Pistonhater....I understand your concern on my driving, and understand that I don't drive like that on a daily basis. I drive at those speeds when the conditions are safe enough to do so. I'm a careful experienced driver, but lets be serious, i didn't buy the car to go the speed limit. So do you feel that there is even anything wrong with the car that needs to be checked out? My biggest question in this is,(for curiousity's sake) why is it that the CEL only flashes at high speeds? I've driven it at 30 mph in 1st and second gear to try and get the same effect for troublshooting purposes, and the CEL does not flash. Only at high speeds. Also, now my CEL has been on (not flashing) for the past two days. So unfortunatly I do think it needs to go into the dealer again.

Bladecutter, i'm not sure which code it is, i just know it was a misfire code. I'll ask next time it goes in. However, in reference to the flashing CEL, i don't think that has to do with a specific coil, since i've had the same issue with no change before and after the coil change. As for my current CEL problem, it could be they did a shitty job of doing the plugs/wires/coils, or they also suggested a cat converter problem.

I'm actually looking to sell my Rx8 sometime in the near future. For no other reason than the gas mileage. I LOVE my mazda, but i just got a new job that i'm driving an hour one way, so i'm filling the tank up 3 times a week. Really eating into my budget.

shinsoku

any luck of late?

I just purchased an '05 RX-8 a couple weeks ago and the CEL started to come on and off at times over the past week (no particular reason, for some trips its on and for others its off). I know the dealer I got it from gave me a warrenty but I tried to contact Mazda to see if I was still elligable for the 100k mile 8 year warrenty and they said a CEL is not included in that warrenty it would cost $90 just for them to look at it.

and as far as the gas sshhoirtt, I feel ya. I went from a RSX getting 32 mpg filling up once a week if that, now I have to fill up twice a week... but I expected it (owned an '87 RX-7 as my first car). With my tax return I plan on buying an older Subaru or something with AWD around $2000 to get me through the NE winters here in Buffalo NY

Wingznut

That's what everyone who's been in a high speed crash thought. And even if you happen to be God's gift to drivers, the fact is that there are things that happen on public streets that are out of your control.

RIWWP

The CEL could be anything from imminent death to a loose gas cap. Get the code read for free at autozone or advance, or buy a code reader yourself for $60 rather than paying the $90 at the dealer. Then look up the code and you will know what the issue is.

The 100k warranty is ONLY for the engine, and just the engine and doesn't include anything else, even for components that must be replaced at the time of an engine replacement such as fluids, fuel line, etc...

shinsoku

Thanks RIWWP, I'll check out autozone tomorrow

isLoTz

is it hard to change the coils?

isLoTz

i have the same issue, few days ago, i had my CEL flashing and i have a feeling its a misfire, this is the second time i got the CEL, the 1st one i took it to mazda dealer and i spent $400 everything,.. i dont want to spend that much money anymore,.

fuztupnz

If any of you guys bothered to read the stickies, FAQ's, and the DIY section you'd be done with your troubleshooting, ordered parts, received the parts, and would be done with the repair and back on the road.

wcs

what's a sticky?
It's making me hungry

shinsoku

so the code was for my Cat, I guess it's on it's last leg that's why the lights on and off. I have a warranty for it so I know I can get a rental til it's replaced at no charge. But once spring hits I plan on getting an aftermarket exhaust and getting a mid-pipe cat delete... Wondering if I should bother getting the car replaced and just scrap it once I buy the new set up..

LifeAfterRx8

Driving with a clogged causes premature wear to your engine...

EricB

+1

to give you the picture... drizzling, downhill,on a curve,2 lane country rd, concrete barrier on left, guardrail on right. i wasnt speeding, coming down a hill, corolla driving next to me, corolla suspension is failing and slowly the car loses traction ever so slightly coming into my lane, i move over and brake, weight goes to the front, drift/hydroplane the car sideways and manage to keep it from hitting the corolla and the barriers for 300ft, downhill, in the rain, on a 2 lane road no bigger than a 2 car garage. eventually smack concrete divider on left, airbags, rolls into metal guardrail on right. story of my 09.

since i managed to avoid the corolla and didnt damage it at all, its 100% my fault.

bought the 09 for 18k, insurance gave me 16.3k raised my rates +150 a month.

bought 08 40thAE and rain scares me now. dont put yourself in situations like going 110 on public roads, theres always that person who forgets to check their mirror.

if anyone is wondering, nexen tires.

EricB

oh hey, ill save you a bit of time while im bored, racing beat midpipe is the quietest, i think turboxs is the loudest.

shinsoku

I'll go with the Racing Beat, thanks for your input, I'll probably buy it within a month hopefully my cat can stay alive a little longer (CEL has been off the past few days)