PiotrIr

I’ve just bought Mazda RX-8 2005 and former owner gave me couple of advices which I would like to confirm.
1. After engine started I shouldn’t drive until the moment tachometer will come down to 1k rpm.
2. Before I will turn off the engine I need to stop and accelerate for around 10s to keep engine on 3k rpm.
3. I should check oil every week.
Is it right? Do I need to pay attention for anything more?
Thanks

djfa

iTrader: (3)

No you do not need to do all these ridiculous procedures. You can start the car from cold. Let the idle stabilize for 15-30 secs and drive off. Its better to warm up the car while driving. Dont go over 3500rpm till its warm. Its just like any other engine. The only thing is if you start it from cold dont turn it off right away or it will flood

2. you dont need to rev your engine every time to 3k rpm for 10 secs before you switch it off as it is already hot. Who invents the things? If your engine was cold and just started for a minute to move it in your driveway, i would say yes. But in no other circumstance do you have to do this. Can you imagine how ridiculous it would make you look reving everywhere to switch off your car? Once the needle has moved in your temp gauge you can switch off and on your car as much as you please.

3. Yes, check oil every other fillup.

4. Dont baby your car. You should redline it on a regular basis, I do it more than once a day cause I like being crazy. But once every day or every two days is fine. Its just to clean up the carbon from the engine.

5. Make sure your ignition system is in order (coils, plugs, wires) and you should be good to go!

enjoy the new ride

PiotrIr

Djfa, thank you very much.
Just in relation to ignition system, there is a small story about this and would like to ask you to advice me:
1. Coils were replaced 1.5 year ago in Mazda service.
2. Former owner had a problem with engine three weeks ago (just stopped) so he went to mechanic who checked computer which showed ignition problem on first cylinder.
3. Former owner ordered online four coils, plugs and wires but unfortunately got: 4 wires, 2 plugs and 1 coil.
4. He went to the nearest shop and bought second coil
5. Mechanic replaced 4 wires and 2 plugs and coils on first cylinder.
6. When I’ve got the car, after couple of days check engine light was blinking so went to the same mechanic, he connected computer and diagnosed ignition problem on second cylinder.
7. He reset computer and switched one coil from first cylinder to second and so far no engine warning.
8. At this moment I have:
· 4 new wires
· 2 new plugs on first cinder and 2 old on second
· 2 new, different brand coils – one on first cylinder and one on second.
So now, what I should do with this? Should I leave like now and wait for “engine check” control? Should I buy 2 new coils (I will have 3 different brands in this case as not able to find what former owner bought) and 2 new plugs (again I will have 2 different brands). Or do I have to replace everything – I don’t like this idea as this is quite expensive. What cost effective brand should I use? For me this is quite strange, after 1.5 year (14000 km) coils has to be replaced again – especially they were bought in Mazda service for really good money.
Could you advise please?

djfa

iTrader: (3)

Alright, you are in a bit of a pickle here. What you are having from cylinder 1 are misfires. That means either 2 things: One of your coils is bad which is causing the misfires in cylinder 1. By switching it you didnt solve the problem, you still have to change that coil. 2. Your rotor 1 could have low compression symptoms. (lets discard that for now since you dont have any symptoms)

I would feel really iffy about having different brand coils, one being bad for sure, and 2 new plugs. That doesnt work and cant be healthy for the car. The reason you are getting a blinking Check ENgine is because your engine is misfiring due to poor ignition. This is also bad news for the catalytic converter as you are dumping raw fuel into it. You might damage it by driving too much on it with random misfires.

I highly recommend you replace all four coils, all four plugs and wires. (well since your wires are new you can skip that) Beware, a bad coil can make your 2 new plugs go bad fast.

If you are on a budget you can get the full set shipped to your door for 270$. Here is some links I found for you on ebay.

IGNITION COIL,NGK SPARK PLUG SET,NGK WIRE SET MAZDA RX-8 BWD | eBay

If not for 340$ you can get original mazda coils from mazmart which is available somewhere on this website.

It takes about 1 hour to do the job yourself, you have a do it yourself thread on here with pictures which makes it really easy. All you need is a jackstand, remove front driver side tire, a 10mm socket wrench and a spark plug socket.

Feel free to ask anymore questions

tonik

replace 4 coils n 4 plug..

PiotrIr

Djfa, once again thank you.
Couple of questions:
1. Does brand of ignition set meter? Original from Mazda died after 1.5 year…
2. Is model the same for US and Europe?
3. I read in manual, the Mazda Rx8 shouldn’t be push-started, I know former owner had to do this once as he flooded the engine. Is it possible he broken something?
4. The engine in my Mazda was replaced 2 years ago (27000 km). Whole car is from 2005 – 120000 km - Is anything what should be replaced soon – something like timing belt?
Thanks

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

PiotrIr,

I highly recommend you read the first 9 posts in this thread: New and Potential Owners START HERE! - RX8Club.com

If nothing else it will help you answer many of the basic questions you are asking. It will also help you understand how our engine works. For example, it doesn't have a timing belt because it doesn't have cams because it's not a piston engine.

djfa

iTrader: (3)

well there is a lot of disagreement about the brand of ignition coils. The link i sent you is for the cheap coils made by BWD. The thing is mazda doesn't even make their own coils they just put their name on it and make you pay a premium. I change my coils every year regardless of the miles. A lot of people on here use coils from Advance auto parts with no issues whatsoever. I used the cheaper ones with 0 problems for 15000km. Idle was always great. I actually sold them used to a member here which is very happy with the result.

No dont get the euro version its not the same.

Now I am running oem mazda because I got a new engine. Probably gonna keep running mazda oem as well. Its just a question of which brand you trust.

Change those four coils and plugs as fast as you can.

PiotrIr

Djfa – thank you once again.
RIWWP – that is really great post, it does explain and help a lot – thank you very much.
So basically now I wander about following problem and just would like to ask you about opinion.
What I understand – ignition system fault may cause engine flooded and misfires-> flooded engine affect catalyst -> problems with catalyst cause engine fault
I know, the new engine (replaced 2010 – 27000 km now) was flooded minimum once and had misfires. I believe catalyst hasn’t been replaced since begin (2005 – 120000 km) so what is its condition and how to check this? How do I know if it should be replaced? How engine should be started after being flooded – former owner pushed it.
Thanks

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

A push or pull start is completely valid and acceptable way to start a rotary after it has been flooded. There are several other methods as well, including one listed in the owner's manual and several different DIYs here on the forums (look in the DIY subforum)

There is no real way to see how much life a cat has left on it. You pretty much can't tell anything is wrong until it does fail. Even looking at it with a visual inspection won't show anything is wrong until it's failed.

PiotrIr

Thanks RIWWP – so I need to wait and hope…,
I’ve just come back from car inspection made by my friend mechanic. He checked the car (he is not Mazda RX 8 specialist but he serviced all my cars and I find him very professional) and he reckoned the car is in good condition.
However he recommended replacing around 10 things which I believe he is right like: tyres, brake pads, wipers, cooling liquid, brake fluid, obviously ignition set, air filter, cabin air filter, manual transmission oil, and two other things which I have problem with:
1. In Ireland nobody replace fuel filter but because he is from Poland, he told me his school recommends this. But I have problem to find fuel filter for this car. Could you advise please?
2. There are no air filter clips, they just missed. Where I can buy them? Any idea?
Thanks

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

A dealer is your best bet. Otherwise contact Mazmart here on the forum. Overseas shipping will be a bit, but if you can't find them anywhere else, Mazmart always can.

PiotrIr

Thank you very much.

PiotrIr

Djfa, RIWWP,
At this moment I’m frustrated and scared. Could you advise please?
I’ve replaced coils, sparks and wire but my engine check is still on. I read error code and it is P0443 so another problem. Apart of this today I noticed the check light is stable when I’m driving not very fast. However when I accelerate and put car to high rpm and then leave car to low rpm the “check engine” light starts flashing. After a while it just on.
I read here: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7206245_rx8-check-engine-light-mean_.html that flashing light means misfires. I haven’t read the error yet (will misfire error stay logged or it shows only for a moment when it happens?) Does it mean my engine is faulty and I was cheated by somebody who advised me to boy this car?
Please help me!

Bladecutter

Do some more research on the P0443, and double check the ignition coil and spark plug wire replacement you did.

All it takes is for one of them not to be properly snapped in, and then you have the flashing CEL that you are seeing.

So, get under the hood, and remove, and reconnect each spark plug wire on bother the coil side, and the spark plug side. Might even be worthwhile to tighten the spark plugs using a torque wrench while you're in there.

BC.

PiotrIr

Bladcutter,
Thank you for your reply. I just wander, does flashing check engine always mean misfires?

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

1. Kind of true... On cold start-up, just wait around 15-30 seconds before driving, keep the revs low as possible, NO WOT until warm.

2) NO! I think that's only for earlier model 7's. The only time you have to hold the RPMS in neutral for 10-20 seconds is when the engine isn't fully warmed up and you're going to shut the car off so the needle will go to the center. It does say to do this in the '07 manual.

3) Check out every fill-up or week, whatever comes first.


Some things you may want to change since you just purchased the car,
spark plugs, wires and coils. That can pro-long the life of your engine by far.

Spark plugs & Wires every 20k, coils every other change.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I just replied to your PM, reposting it here. I didn't remember that you were from Poland or had this thread when I responded.

kevinande

Did you read this thread before you posted your reply?

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

Yeah did you?
I also provided other information that others have not regarding intervals for replacing spark plugs, wires & coils.

kevinande

This thread was started almost a month ago and most of the items you covered were already covered in the first responses. I think he is past this now. In regards to replacing coils leads and how to start the vehicle

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Well I for one, think the OP owes us an update.

bump

How did this end?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

His most recent reply was today. Issues continue.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Doh
Date reading fail

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

He's having a problem with engine misfire... The bottom part of my message which was not related to the top questions originally in this thread was to change the plugs wires every 20k and coils every other change, if the original owner has replaced them it could have been a while and that is why he's having an engine misfire...


@OP
Another thing I forgot to mention is if he has the leading and trailing spark plugs in the incorrect order.