Why is my car stalling?
06-20-2011, 01:56 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why is my car stalling?
Well today I was driving my 2007 rx8 with 42k miles and suddenly i feel a bump from the car. The CEL blinked for a bit so I pulled over and restarted the car. It ran fine for about 10 minutes till I stopped at a stop light and the car stalled. I restarted again, but this time the power was really weak. I decided to pull over and try the restart again, but this time the car stalled. It would kind of start up but then stall and all the lights on the right side including the CEL would turn on. After an hour, i tried starting it again and it ran fine with only the CEL on until the next red light and idled funny but was still running, then 5 minutes later stalled at the next red light i hit. I haven't changed the Coils/Plugs yet, but it seems like it could be worse than just that. Also the RX8 is an A/T. Could the problem be Coils/Plugs, Cat, Fuel filter, Fuel pump, or even a dreaded dead engine?
06-20-2011, 04:39 PM
#5
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I drive it in both, I typically redline once a day, soemtimes twice sometimes 0. It's at my local mechanic right now, since it stalled around that area. If he can't figure it out, gonna get it towed to mazda.
06-21-2011, 08:12 PM
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok so mazda said that the fuel pump pressure is weak and its at 32 instead of 50's-60's and that my spark plugs and coils need to be changed. I'm thinking about letting them do the fuel pump change and do the spark plugs and coils myself. Hopefully my car will run after the fuel pump change so I don't have to pay for a tow truck jsut so i can do my own plugs/coils. He also recommended me to allow them to decarbon my car. How can I do that myself?
06-21-2011, 08:31 PM
#7
good call. let them do fuel pump, you can do all the rest! (it should be fine to drive home after the install).
decarbon- search on the DIY forums for either "zoom zoom engine cleaner" (mazda's brand) or "seafoam". It can be a little overwhelming to look at, but it's really not hard to do. Dealer will charge you $100-250 for that service!
decarbon- search on the DIY forums for either "zoom zoom engine cleaner" (mazda's brand) or "seafoam". It can be a little overwhelming to look at, but it's really not hard to do. Dealer will charge you $100-250 for that service!
06-21-2011, 09:53 PM
#9
I'm having this issue intermittently.
Sometimes after a long jaunt on the highway, my car will just randomly start sputtering, and it clearly has less power. I can drop it in neutral, take it to redline, and it'll be fine. It's so random. But, I seafoamed my car last night, and, there was an insane amount of smoke. I'm kinda tempted to do it again tomorrow.
But, anyway, after I did it last night, it misfired when I beat on it straight out of the driveway, then it cleared up. I was out for about 45 mins just driving around seeing how it acted. It did just fine, then I pulled to the last stop sign before home, and I noticed my idle drop to about 500 RPM's, then dwindle off, and finally die. It restarted like nothing happened though. Even though the dealer I bought my car from said the stuff was new, I think I'm going to change my coils/wires/plugs again for peace of mind.
As far as decarboning it yourself, that's something you should/could probably do yourself. It took about two hours of my time, some 1/8" plastic fuel line, and a can of seafoam.
EDIT.
Do it on your old plugs.
Sometimes after a long jaunt on the highway, my car will just randomly start sputtering, and it clearly has less power. I can drop it in neutral, take it to redline, and it'll be fine. It's so random. But, I seafoamed my car last night, and, there was an insane amount of smoke. I'm kinda tempted to do it again tomorrow.
But, anyway, after I did it last night, it misfired when I beat on it straight out of the driveway, then it cleared up. I was out for about 45 mins just driving around seeing how it acted. It did just fine, then I pulled to the last stop sign before home, and I noticed my idle drop to about 500 RPM's, then dwindle off, and finally die. It restarted like nothing happened though. Even though the dealer I bought my car from said the stuff was new, I think I'm going to change my coils/wires/plugs again for peace of mind.
As far as decarboning it yourself, that's something you should/could probably do yourself. It took about two hours of my time, some 1/8" plastic fuel line, and a can of seafoam.
EDIT.
Do it on your old plugs.
06-22-2011, 09:47 AM
#10
European livin n ohio
I'm having this issue intermittently.
Sometimes after a long jaunt on the highway, my car will just randomly start sputtering, and it clearly has less power. I can drop it in neutral, take it to redline, and it'll be fine. It's so random. But, I seafoamed my car last night, and, there was an insane amount of smoke. I'm kinda tempted to do it again tomorrow.
But, anyway, after I did it last night, it misfired when I beat on it straight out of the driveway, then it cleared up. I was out for about 45 mins just driving around seeing how it acted. It did just fine, then I pulled to the last stop sign before home, and I noticed my idle drop to about 500 RPM's, then dwindle off, and finally die. It restarted like nothing happened though. Even though the dealer I bought my car from said the stuff was new, I think I'm going to change my coils/wires/plugs again for peace of mind.
As far as decarboning it yourself, that's something you should/could probably do yourself. It took about two hours of my time, some 1/8" plastic fuel line, and a can of seafoam.
EDIT.
Do it on your old plugs.
Sometimes after a long jaunt on the highway, my car will just randomly start sputtering, and it clearly has less power. I can drop it in neutral, take it to redline, and it'll be fine. It's so random. But, I seafoamed my car last night, and, there was an insane amount of smoke. I'm kinda tempted to do it again tomorrow.
But, anyway, after I did it last night, it misfired when I beat on it straight out of the driveway, then it cleared up. I was out for about 45 mins just driving around seeing how it acted. It did just fine, then I pulled to the last stop sign before home, and I noticed my idle drop to about 500 RPM's, then dwindle off, and finally die. It restarted like nothing happened though. Even though the dealer I bought my car from said the stuff was new, I think I'm going to change my coils/wires/plugs again for peace of mind.
As far as decarboning it yourself, that's something you should/could probably do yourself. It took about two hours of my time, some 1/8" plastic fuel line, and a can of seafoam.
EDIT.
Do it on your old plugs.
06-23-2011, 09:10 PM
#12
The next day it acted fine, though, it still idled lower than I'd like with the A/C on.
I took the plunge and started premixing, and the car runs better than it ever has. I put 4 ounces to one tank of 93. It idles better, it pulls harder, and no more stalling as of yet.
The downside to that is, I'm afraid it might be about time for a third engine, considering it got better on premix.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post