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RX8 huge loss of power

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Old 05-20-2012, 04:34 AM
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RX8 huge loss of power

Ive done all my research on this fourm and all over the web and i just cant seem to find my answer because none of my problems match up with other peoples car problems.

Heres the problem, i just recently bought a 2007 RX8 GT 6 speed manuel and ive never had a car this fast (or supposed to be this fast) so i couldent tell how slow it was when i bought it. The car is not meeting anywhere close to the stock horse power or torque, i was beat by a stock civic si with 201 hp. my 8 has BHR ignition system and wires, ngk spark plugs (just replaced) racingbeat catback exhaust, gutted cat, and a CAI with all the neccesary requirements to run properly. Everything is pluged in properly and no lines are pinched. The battery is new and has a full charge. My MAF has no oil on it and has been cleaned. The ecu was reset by discounecting the battery followed by the 20 pedel stomp method then let idle for 10 min. Compression is fine along with fuel pressure. All in all there is no reason my car should be 3 car lengths slower than my friends bone stock rx8 (his 8 rapes my 8) its running so damn slow, i think it might be one of the intake manifold valves could be stuck but its really throwing me for a loop.

If anyone has a clue to what might be going on, the help would be greatly appreciated. thanks
Old 05-20-2012, 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Rotorjunky
The car is not meeting anywhere close to the stock horse power or torque,
How do you know? Did you have it dyno tested?

Originally Posted by Rotorjunky
Compression is fine along with fuel pressure.
How do you know? Did you have the compression tested? What were the numbers?...

This is not a drag racing car. Often times the feeling of big power doesn't come through in this car. I suggest finding someone local to you that has another 8 and have them take it for a spin and see how it feels.
Old 05-20-2012, 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Rotorjunky
a CAI with all the necessary requirements to run properly.
What kind of CAI, and what exactly does "all the necessary requirements" mean?

How many miles are on your 8?
Are you sure the Cat is empty? How do you know for sure?
What RPM are you shifting gears?
Old 05-20-2012, 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Rotorjunky
Ive done all my research on this fourm and all over the web and i just cant seem to find my answer because none of my problems match up with other peoples car problems.

Heres the problem, i just recently bought a 2007 RX8 GT 6 speed manuel and ive never had a car this fast (or supposed to be this fast) so i couldent tell how slow it was when i bought it. The car is not meeting anywhere close to the stock horse power or torque, i was beat by a stock civic si with 201 hp. my 8 has BHR ignition system and wires, ngk spark plugs (just replaced) racingbeat catback exhaust, gutted cat, and a CAI with all the neccesary requirements to run properly. Everything is pluged in properly and no lines are pinched. The battery is new and has a full charge. My MAF has no oil on it and has been cleaned. The ecu was reset by discounecting the battery followed by the 20 pedel stomp method then let idle for 10 min. Compression is fine along with fuel pressure. All in all there is no reason my car should be 3 car lengths slower than my friends bone stock rx8 (his 8 rapes my 8) its running so damn slow, i think it might be one of the intake manifold valves could be stuck but its really throwing me for a loop.

If anyone has a clue to what might be going on, the help would be greatly appreciated. thanks
What kind of CAI do you have installed?
Post compression test please.

How do you know fuel pressure is good? Do you have a gauge?
An idle fuel pressure check doesn't mean your not running in to issues at WOT.

Have you clean the Maf and ESS?

Check that the SSV is operating correctly?

What makes you think the RX8 can beat a Civic in a off the line anyways?

Your post is very troll'ish
Old 05-20-2012, 10:41 AM
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Take it out to the track against the si, if he still beats you then your car is very, very sick!
Though you said you cleaned the MAF, I'd inspect the connectors to ensure they are 100%, I spent a lot of money fixing nothing on my last car, only to find that one of the wires was corroded, $10 later and the power diffrence was night and day.
Old 05-20-2012, 01:25 PM
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Trollish??? Oh well think what you want no harm done, and some of the questions you guys asked had the answer in my original post

Yes i have a friend with an rx8 and we both agree something is wrong with my car since his is stock and beats mine by 3 or 4 car lengths, he has also drivin my car and says something is wrong.

The car was put on a dyno down in anchorage alaska, the dcs and tcs was off and my 8 only had 189 HP with 170 ft lb torque.... This is a 2007 6 speed manuel. It should be atleast 235hp stock.

Yea i agree that when i said "all the nesscesary requirements it to work properly" i could have chosen better wording. I have the AEM CAI and it has the screen just like the stock filter and its the same diameter, i know these MAFs are sensitive so thats what i meant.

Yes the maf was cleaned im 100% positive

The compression test was done at my mazda dealership down the road. Like i said im a little new to the whole aftermarket and car modifications scene so they told me everything was good to go and the compression was fine dident think about the numbers at the time. Im sure its somewhere on all those damn papers the gave me.

Fuel pressure test my father helped me with. We dumped the lines and tested the lines in a closed circuit kind of manor no lines are leaking pressure held at 10 psi steady for 15min

I know this car isnt a drag car. But come one this civic si smoked my 8, ill take a video today and you might understand better ill show everything i can thanks for the responses. Anymore suggestions?
Old 05-20-2012, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Sycoa
Take it out to the track against the si, if he still beats you then your car is very, very sick!
Though you said you cleaned the MAF, I'd inspect the connectors to ensure they are 100%, I spent a lot of money fixing nothing on my last car, only to find that one of the wires was corroded, $10 later and the power diffrence was night and day.
Hmm ill take a look thanks
Old 05-20-2012, 01:34 PM
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I have not cleaned ess and I'm looking at the ssv today although it cycles fully when car is on and off again sorry about the third post I just saw that comment
Old 05-20-2012, 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Rotorjunky
Trollish??? Oh well think what you want no harm done, and some of the questions you guys asked had the answer in my original post

Yes i have a friend with an rx8 and we both agree something is wrong with my car since his is stock and beats mine by 3 or 4 car lengths, he has also drivin my car and says something is wrong.

The car was put on a dyno down in anchorage alaska, the dcs and tcs was off and my 8 only had 189 HP with 170 ft lb torque.... This is a 2007 6 speed manuel. It should be atleast 235hp stock.

It should be about 232 HP at the motor. 189 whp is accurate, 170 ft/lb is higher than most stock RX8's....

What kind of dyno?

Last edited by warren(silver-roxy-8); 05-20-2012 at 01:43 PM.
Old 05-20-2012, 02:07 PM
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Put your friend's RX-8 on the same dyno on the same day as your car, and see what you get. I would bet its the gutted cat, and the air intake that are robbing your car of the proper acceleration.

Try this:

Swap your aftermarket intake with his stock intake, and see if your car then starts beating his.

Do you have the CEL lit up?

BC.
Old 05-20-2012, 02:11 PM
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Do you have the dyno curves? The peak numbers sound pretty healthy, but the curve would give us more info.
Old 05-20-2012, 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Bladecutter
Put your friend's RX-8 on the same dyno on the same day as your car, and see what you get. I would bet its the gutted cat, and the air intake that are robbing your car of the proper acceleration.

Try this:

Swap your aftermarket intake with his stock intake, and see if your car then starts beating his.

Do you have the CEL lit up?

BC.
Yes I have a cel the weird thing is I just put on the stock intake after I cleared my codes, "system to rich", and "Catylist below thresh hold". I got another cel saying "system to lean" with the stock intake.
Old 05-20-2012, 02:36 PM
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I'll have the dyno up and video later today. and its not a top end problem its an acceleration problem. Ive got the car to 120 and it still kept climbing ( but i was running out of road) it is taking way to long for my 0 to 60 and 30 to 80 at 4000 rpms. The acceleration is garbage. Ill see if i can get those results today. I just orderd and accessport a week ago i hope it makes a differance.

Last edited by Rotorjunky; 05-20-2012 at 02:47 PM.
Old 05-20-2012, 02:55 PM
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Fuel pressure test my father helped me with. We dumped the lines and tested the lines in a closed circuit kind of manor no lines are leaking pressure held at 10 psi steady for 15min
then your fuel pressure is about 50 psi too low.
Old 05-20-2012, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Bladecutter
I would bet its the gutted cat,

Swap your aftermarket intake with his stock intake, and see if your car then starts beating his.

Do you have the CEL lit up?

BC.
Well BC that's interesting, a gutted cat is causing acceleration issues?
Are you in the camp that the Rear O2 sensor does impact the AFR's?
Otherwise I would appreciate some enlightenment on this point please.

edit--- I'm assuming by gutted the OP means it's been completely cleared of the Catalyst element and is just an empty hollow now ---

I would also try changing the Maf with you buddy.
Obviously you're aware of how easy it is to do this so why not eliminate the possibility of a faulty maf sensor.
(I've experienced a bad Maf, the car would bog and go super rich)

Originally Posted by Rotorjunky
Yes I have a cel the weird thing is I just put on the stock intake after I cleared my codes, "system to rich", and "Catylist below thresh hold". I got another cel saying "system to lean" with the stock intake.
The ESS is easy to clean, and basically a free thing to check off your list of wtf is wrong with my car list.

Those codes could be a vac leak. Make sure that the nipple on the bottom of the UIM right behind the TB is plugged.

I'm also thinking it could be a faulty Front O2 sensor but .... mmmm those are expensive and a bitch to change. I would hold off on that but keep it in the back of your mind.
Would be nice if you had a way to monitor your afr's.

Another easy thing just to check off your list is to check your TB an make sure it's opening all the way.
Have your buddy push the gas peddle all the way down with the car on but not running and see if the throttle plate is opening all the way.


Just as an FYI:
- Fuel Pressure should be 60 psi
- I don't think the SSV cycles like you mentioned, I think that is the APV or VDI. I can't remember. Oh and don't get that confused with the Secondary Air pump cycling.
- The SSV is operate by vacuum and if the diaphragm has a small hole in it or there is a leak the SSV can slowly close again as it loses vacuum. It's another easy thing to check off your list and free, well free if you already own a vacuum pump.

Last edited by wcs; 05-20-2012 at 04:26 PM.
Old 05-20-2012, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by ShellDude
then your fuel pressure is about 50 psi too low.
Beat me to it!
Curse you Shelldude, I'll get you and your little dog too!


Last edited by wcs; 05-20-2012 at 03:08 PM.
Old 05-20-2012, 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by wcs
Well BC that's interesting, a gutted cat is causing acceleration issues?
Are you in the camp that the Rear O2 sensor does impact the AFR's?
Otherwise I would appreciate some enlightenment on this point please.

edit--- I'm assuming by gutted the OP means it's been completely cleared of the Catalyst element and is just and empty hollow now ---

I would also try changing the Maf with you buddy.
Obviously you're aware of how easy it is to do this so why not eliminate the possibility of a faulty maf sensor.
(I've experienced a bad Maf, the car would bog and go super rich)



The ESS is easy to clean, and basically a free thing to check off your list of wtf is wrong with my car list.

Those codes could be a vac leak. Make sure that the nipple on the bottom of the UIM right behind the TB is plugged.

I'm also thinking it could be a faulty Front O2 sensor but .... mmmm those are expensive and a bitch to change. I would hold off on that but keep it in the back of your mind.
Would be nice if you had a way to monitor your afr's.

Another easy thing just to check off your list is to check your TB an make sure it's opening all the way.
Have your buddy push the gas peddle all the way down with the car on but not running and see if the throttle plate is opening all the way.


Just as an FYI:
- Fuel Pressure should be 60 psi
- I don't think the SSV cycles like you mentioned, I think that is the APV or VDI. I can't remember. Oh and don't get that confused with the Secondary Air pump cycling.
- The SSV is operate by vacuum and if the diaphragm has a small hole in it or there is a leak the SSV can slowly close again as it loses vacuum. It's another easy thing to check off your list and free, well free if you already own a vacuum pump.
Thank you for this response i havent really checked all of this, cant wait to go try it. And the fuel pressure test wasnt supposed to be at 50 psi i did the test simmilar to how we do it on the uh60 blackhawk (im a blackhawk mechaninc in alaska). Which is pressureize the fuel lines with 10 psi and have it hold steady for 15 min to see if its leaking. So your right i havent actually seen my fuel pressure ive just tested all the fuel lines for leaks ill get on the actual fuel pressure shortly. Sorry i failed to mention what i meant by a fuel pressure test. So it might be the fuel pump or fuel filter?
Old 05-20-2012, 04:08 PM
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and no CEL, pending or stored?

What problem is the AccessPORT going to solve?
Old 05-20-2012, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by ShellDude
nah, junky said it... he's getting an AccessPORT in a couple days....

re handy item to use as a diag tool -- so is a $19.99 ELM bluetooth adapter
lol I just found that post and tried deleted my post ... and you posted to me before I could delete my stupid post!

Once again you have beaten me!

edit -- bluetooth plus the Android App ... is way cheaper than the AP ... agreed

Last edited by wcs; 05-20-2012 at 05:28 PM.
Old 05-20-2012, 05:18 PM
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Lol. ... I'll be sure to clean up later
Old 05-20-2012, 10:24 PM
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Is the other 8 a second gen?
Old 05-20-2012, 10:48 PM
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Easiest thing to do is to go to your local club meet and get a ride in other RX8 cars and have someone drive yours.

You may be surprised to find out there is nothing wrong with your car.
Old 05-20-2012, 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe-the_tattoo_artist
Is the other 8 a second gen?
same year as mine. mine also runs rich
Old 05-22-2012, 01:47 AM
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update, just replaced the ignition wires i felt an instant change. much better feeling, throttle response and not sluggish or taking its time to accelerate. thanks for the help
Old 05-22-2012, 06:25 AM
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Excellent!

Thanks for the update.

Still worth checking some of those free items I mentioned.

Clean ESS,
check the SSV for free motion,
SSV vac check
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