AstronomerB

Basic details from other treads;

Car broke down on highway 7 hours driving. Completely died, tried to start, sort of did then died again.

Took to dealer:
They fixed ( Engine Mounts, New O2 Sensor, New Cat) said they were clogged

Problem still persist:
Told me needed new coils, wires, sparkplugs. (I bought them, had them install) NOT UNDER WARRENTY

Problem still persist:
They call me today, Intake Manifold is gummed up from running rich and with the new coils its running a little better but nothing good.

What is shocking to me, my gas mileage has been perfect range for RX-8 (I document everything in this vehicle and have proof of miles/gallon etc.)
Car just died on highway when driving around 160km/hr

With no loss of power, nothing seemingly like it was getting hard to drive, or low on power etc. Everything was fine until it died that day, how could it be Bad Wires, or Bad Coils, or now a Bad Clogged Intake Manifold (I guess an egr or soemthing)

Does it not sound like they dont know, and its probably a blown seal which means engine #2 coming up soon?

The intake is warrenty but will take 10 days to get from the states, plus installation. So Im not complaining, I figure by the time they figure out its the engine, I'll have everything else brand new, so why not.

I just feel bad because Im missing prime summer driving, and also, I dont want the dealership to have to waste so much of their own time trying to find the problem. Part of me just wants to say, check the engine!! hehe but Im not the professional, Im just the advid reader of this site, and have made conclusions based on everyone else's experiences.

Any insight? Cautions, or procedures I should know of?
Thanks guys!

Steve

04RX8man

haha i does start to sound like it may be the engine but hey let the replace everything and figure out the engine last it will b just like you have a new car!!! hahah

Old Rotor

Please give us some more info, model, year, A/T or M/T,miles,country,warranty time&miles, reg or prem gas, oil change interval, what service has been done(plugs,coils,etc)anything you can think off.

AstronomerB

Ohh.. Sorry!

Stats:

2004 6spd std.
55,000KM
Canadian Car (Calgary Alberta)

Strictly maintained, everything documented from work done on car to miles per gallon.

This was my first incident with the car. Never had an issue becides regular oil changes, etc.

I'm not too angry about the coils/wires/sparkplugs not being the issue because I was going to change those anyways.

Vehicle is only used for highway driving Fort McMurray to Calgary
usually driven every 21 days for the long trip (800km) and sometimes I use it just to use it (Like get groceries etc.) but I have a truck that I use mainly

Its never seen winter
And I did not notice a lack of power lately, or notice anything at all until it died on the highway that day. I had driven, at approx 140km/hr the entire drive, stopping every 250-300km for gas, food etc. Not a problem, as I never have had a problem.
It died, and that was that. Was sort of a shock... no warning!

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

aftermarket intake?

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

mmmm. clogged cat?

dont know what to say, sucks.

AstronomerB

everything is 100% stock

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

See if they'll test the engine.
Did the dealer bother to think that the fuel pump might have gone bad?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I dont understand how can they just replace the intake manifold. wouldnt it be better to just remove it and clean it ?

I know one day I will take mine out and clean it. its known to clog up with crap.

AstronomerB

Well they said they needed to replace the intake manifold because;

"There is an actuator in the intake manifold that has gummed up and no longer functions correctly. They need to replace this entire unit."

I have no idea what that means... What actuator is in the Intake Manifold?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

they're probably talking about the APV itself ? if its APV then they have to drop ur engine down to replace it.

if they're talking about those SSV and APV actuator. then ... I know I fixed mine with just a single poke with my screwdriver to the valve.

who cares, they want money, its warranty stuff. let them do it.

77mjd

I had the APV replaced on mine at around 35,000 miles because they said it was all gummed up and sticking and I was always getting an on and off CEL. As mentioned before the fact that the engine had to be dropped to do this makes it a bitch of a job (and very costly if not under warranty). Then at around 45,000 miles the compression test recall/service bulletin came out and I failed that too and got a new engine.

Have you ever ran sea foam through to try to clean some of that crap out? I haven't yet but might try it sometime, more as preventative maintenance.

AstronomerB

Well I never actually ever had a CEL go off. Plus I watch my driving and mile/gallon closely and always would say the differences was just my driving, but nothing ever to single a problem. Same as loss of power over time.

Did you notice a loss of power gradually?

How difficult is it for them to drop the engine?
Im going to call em tomorrow, because if they have to seperate the tranny I might just have a new clutch installed
Nothing wrong with upgrading while under warenty/ try to work something out with them.

Thanks for the info

AstronomerB

I mentioned the fuel pump to them as well, but they just waved it off saying their diagnositics say its an intake problem.
Which is funny because last week it was bad coils, and the week before that it was bad cat and o2

But this is where it gets difficult. I do not want to tell a dealership or professional for that matter how to do their job. They must know alot more then I could, but at the end of the day... its my car that is sitting up there on the hoist!

Thank god its not a daily driver... they've had it 10 days now, and expect another 10 for the intake to come.

I've learned not to stress about this car any longer. Just enjoy it while I can hehe

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

diagnostic my ***, they're just following what the service manual said. Like you just said, last week it was bad coils, this week is bad cat and O2, finally intake manifold ? they have "a lot" of different diagnostic

Do the clutch & fw at the same time, You can try to get them to install it, but prepare they gonna try to get a few bux off from you.

in the dealership, what they will do is, as it saids in the workshop manual, they will remove the entire upper body frame out to get to the engine, so oh yes its a costly process. (unlike in-house, people just use a cherry picker and someone's help to "fish" the engine out)

Dont be afraid to tell them what to do, you're the customer, basically speaking u're their boss. Show them that you know more than any of them, they will listen to you.

Razz1

Wait until you find out its the pump.

AstronomerB

Is the pump under warranty if this is what the problem turns out to be?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Fuel pump? Its covered in Bumper to bumper and Powertrain.

Stock pump might crap out much sooner than what the manual said (manual said replace @ 100K miles, which is BS)

I replaced mine 2 weeks ago by myself, and Im @ 43K. It still works, but its not pumping as it should, and "chokes" at high rpm.

fiero_sc

New Intake at about 40k. Was having and intermittent CEL. Had the decarb procedure and CEL still persisted. Was having no driving problems except a slight hesitation at highway speeds, and even that was hit or miss. Has been fine since the new intake (except an O2 sensor replacement 500 miles later). If I remember right it was just south of $3000 warranty costs.
Oh take that back Air Bag light stayed on tonight, not sure whats up with that. But maybe the car is just missing the service department??

Old Rotor

Is this what problem you have?? If so there is a "TSB" about it....

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...9-08-1929a.pdf