MeToo

Anyone else had this? in 2nd gear (or 3rd) at 6,000 rpms, it gets real sluggish and stops accelerating as quick and I hear a flutter noise.. kind of like a kids bike with playing cards stuck in the spokes.

Originally we thought it was low octane gas.. hubby put in octane boost (post: Sam's gas) and it fixed it until this afternoon when it started again.

Has anyone else experienced this? I am very sad.

- MeToo

army_rx8

hmmm...odd...never had this problem, and dont' remeber reading anythign on it. does it only hapen at 6k rpm...and it is fine up until then?

army_rx8

hmm mayeb a cloged injector that is opening up at that rpm ... but i dunno if it'll make a flutter sound liek that....hmm...interesting..if i wasnt' at work i'd make some calls and some searches to see what i can find out..but alas i am at work sorry i wasn't very helpful.

MeToo

It starts to lose acceleration about 5,500 rpms and then the flutter sound starts shortly thereafter. The first time it happened, I downshifted and the rpms were higher (like around 7k). But every time it's happened while accelerating, it's happened right around there. It's fine up until 5-5.5 when it starts losing speed.

missinmahseven

Sounds like there's something screwed up with the VFAD. VFAD opens up a valve in the air intake at 5500 or so RPM. If it doesn't open, the engine will "stumble" -- it's not breathing, it's running out of air.

Mine does a little "ZZT" sound as I go past 6000, but no power loss.

Get it checked out at a dealer. Any CEL (Check Engine Lights?) I'm not sure if a stuck VFAD would trigger a CEL..

Now that I menation that... *is* the VFAD supposed to be even heared at all? Mine has that ZZT sound, and it bugs me, 'cause it sounds a little *too* much like pinging.. or a loose heatshield somewhere.. but it isn't.

Glyphon

i've never noticed my VFAD...but maybe you just have better ears than me.

therm8

here's some reading material, might help you narrow down the problem

1.

2.

And I'm fairly sure it was determined by Racing Beat that the VFAD has no performance effects at all, and is just there to reduce sound levels at high rpm.

missinmahseven

Y'all may wanna read this as well.

I'd take what RB says with a grain of salt. I know they're rotary gurus, but they also wanna sell you a REVi.

If the VFAD or the auxilliary (6250 rpm) don't open, you choke the engine.

His fluttering sound leads me to think it's air related in his case, not fuel-related.

zoom44

sound slike aux ports. you do have a 6mt right?

therm8

I always do :D . But the "tube" running to the duct is a porous meshlike material, so I can believe what they say. Opening the port would change the resonance of the airbox somewhat, and not necessarily enough to affect performance significanltly. It's not very big compared to the regular port from the snorkel. But you should also take what I say with a grain of salt, because I'm no rotary guru :p

redjetpack

go to the dealership and make sure you say lack of power, and odd engine noise at high rpm, they'll give you the new flash which (for me at least) gave the car a little kick in the *** and eliminated the odd sounds

jaedcem

I've never noticed any funny sounds at 6000 rpm, but I've never really listened. I have noticed a dip in power around 6000 rpm, ever since I bought the car. (Well, ever since I passed 1000 miles and was able to rev it up.) This dip in power was a lot better, but still there, after the N flash. I'll have to turn off the radio and open the window next time to see if I can hear anything.

tazzydnc

I can just about garentee you its the catylitic converter. I JUST had this exact same problem, only with me it was at 7000 rpms. It just started revving so slow then eventually stopped every time I decided to push it a bit. They did a diagnostic and the dealership replaced it. I could feel the power it added as soon as I got it back and man did it feel good. Before I couldn't have redlined the car if I wanted.

(Catylitic converters help control fuel injectors as well as reducing emissions)

Good luck, but if its the same problem I had dont worry its no big deal.

N8theGr8

Mine does the same exact thing as yours missinmahseven. I posted something a month or so ago about it with not much response. It worried me for a while but everything seems fine. Have you heard that from anyone else also?

Razz1

Sounds like a broken Catalytic Converter

MeToo

Actually, if you do push it past the flutter noise, it clears up. And it doesn't do it all the time. Husband has a friend in the service dept. where I bought it and is going to check with him on the flash thing. Thanks everyone!

(yes, it's a 6mt)

tazzydnc

Mine was like that too before I got the converter fixed. It just got worse though over time.

MeToo

They tell me I have a shift shock code for a celinoid (I think that's what she said) and she ordered a new valve. The technician says the flutter sound is normal but power loss is not.

Everyone elses car flutter noise like that?

missinmahseven

Solenoid, actually.. a little magnet-within-a-magnet doohickey.. if you've played pinball, solenoids flip the flippers when you push the button.

I dunno if I'd call mine a "flutter".. more like 'zzzzing!' or 'zzzzt!" when going UP through 6000 rpm (but not down.)

Doesn't do it all the time, either.

MeToo

What does the selenoid do then? And why are they replacing a valve if it is a magnetic issue?

Yes.. I guess a zzzt sound is a good enough description. The guy says all the 8s he's driven do that.

missinmahseven

Solenoids slide in and out, you use 'em to move things by using electricity. Much cleaner and neater than what was done in the old days... vacuum lines.

The computer sends a signal to the solenoid, the solenoid does its thing and moves the valve open or shut.

it's possible the tech thinks the solenoid is OK but the valve is stuck shut.

MeToo

That's what they said. I got my car back in the mean time.. they said it should be in on Monday. So I'll take it in and keep my fingers crossed.

iceman52191

Yo! mine does the same thing...2nd gear punching it then as soon as i hit 7000rpms it struggles.

LBrown8

Have you ever figured this out? My rx8 is still doing the same thing, Ive went through multiple coils, plugs and wires. even replaced my fuel pump. My flutter was only noticable with half throttle, with WOT there wasnt a sign of the flutter, only when changing gears there would be a slight hessitation.

jasonrxeight

either damaged catalytic converter material or air bubbles rushing through the heater coil.