Parz

I have an 04 Rx8, manual, my car stalled 3 different times while I was just sitting at a red light in neutral. I had the A/C on so I thought it was b/c of the loss of power and the RPM's dropping to low. So I took it into the dealership and they changed the spark plugs and refreshed the pcm. So now my car idles at around 1,000 RPM, sometimes dropping down around 750. About 2 days ago, I did not have the A/C on and just pulled up to a red light and popped it in neutral and then 4 seconds later my engine just stalled. Makes no sense! Everytime the engine has stalled it hasn't been a rough jerk or anything, it just stalls and the check engine and other lights come on. So then it doesn't start right away, have to wait about 10 seconds and then just crank the starter until finally luckily it starts and doesn't flood(close to flooding though). Any ideas what is going on? Happened to anyone else? Thanks

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Charles R. Hill

Lots of this going around lately. In some cases it's the clutch pedal position switch or neutral switch. In others, it's the front O2 sensor.

~0zzygirl~

Also sounds similar to what happened to me when I got a few tanks of bad gas. Might be worth running a bottle of Heet or something similar through your gas and maybe get your next tank of gas at a different station if you are like me and frequent one.

philsbluerx8

where do you live? your local dealership doesnt know ****!!!!!
if you have your car stalled at idle, they should do some tests, then if necessary, you could get a replaced engine......not just replace spark plugs and flash PCM, then just" peace out see u later!!!!!"
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/bulletins.html
take a look at the PDF of the emission recall.....

nycgps

Its really hard to say if he needs a new engine.

I seen lots of people replaced their engine but problems still there ... and Im talking about after 2 or 3 engine swaps. so in some cases, the engine is NOT the issue.

I would try what CRH suggested.

and yeah ... most dealerships doesnt know ****.

jph4219

THis has as well happened to me two months ago. Was coming to a stop sign and it just died, no CEL, would not start and had towed to dealer. Dealer unable to locate problem, got car back after two days at dealer and on drive home it would not start after getting gas (yeah the $$$$ stuff). Dealer had it again for a week this time and STILL unable to find/fix problem. It has been running fine with a mild hiccup last week (loss of power & running rough @ 65-70 mph). Going back to dealer next week. Car is '04 manual GT with 42k and has been dealer serviced and is up to date on all recalls and maintenance. Love the car but hate these gremlins!

Charles R. Hill

Compression and vacuum tests are usually necessary before major determinations can be made. The weird thing is that many of us are having issues of one kind or another and there is no MIL/CEL illuminated.

Parz

So today I start my car and the check engine light comes on, I turn it off, then start it back up and light is still on. I continue to drive the car and can definiately feel car lagging, needless to say it stalled twice. Once at a red light and then another time I started to drive in 1st gear and then the check engine light came on and the battery light came on and had to drift into parking lot and then car started. This is ridicuous....i'm gonna get crushed one of these times. My car has about 40,000 miles. I'm taking into dealership Tuesday, will update and will suggest everything from everyone. Thanks

Also, I have been using 89 gas in my car since I bought it and it has been running fine, but after all these stalls I put 93 in it and the check engine light went away and seems to be running better. What gives? Like ozzygirl said bad gas when I got 89?

Charles R. Hill

Depends on what the CEL/MIL code indicates.

philsbluerx8

havent u been recommended to use at least 91 octane?????
since i first got my car, i had been told to fill at least 91 octane......
anyways, i still think which octane you pick wouldnt influence that much, but i think keep using low octane for a longgggg time would affect something......
but rx8 is not a civic, you at least need to know how to protect your car.....

Blades

same thing happened to me today on my way back from work. While waiting at a red light the car engine just completely turned off while everything else remained on radio, a/c, nav. I put the 8 in neutral and it took several seconds to turn back on. I had to rev the engine to about 4k in order to start rolling out of 1st gear. Car turned off again as soon as I would put it in neutral or let the rpms fall below 1k while in gear. I'm taking her to the dealership for a check-up.

philsbluerx8

fuc!!!!!!! this just happened on me 1 hour ago, when i finished filter clean and just on the way back to home. she become very not smooth when driving, and at the second light, i saw the rpm just jumped down from around 800 to 500, then back to 800 and down to 500, after few jumps, its just stalled. then when i driving to my underground parkade, the car again stalled. i had nothing on at that time, no audio, no ac, nothing!!!! i knew one day its gonna happen on me; same as what i said above, there is nothing to do with gas...

nycgps

if u havent done the last recall, u should have it check by Mazda.

cuz according to the recall, if u have this kind of issue (like stalling, rough idle, etc) u can get a replacement engine for free.

~0zzygirl~

I always put 91 in mine. I think maybe twice I tried 89 just to test the mpg but there was no noticeable difference in the way the car ran. I just got lucky enough to pick a station along my morning commute that ended up having a leak in their underground tank... got 2 tanks of nasty gas. Water, diesel, trash, who knows what all was in there. In my case, the car ran fine when warmed up but it was a bitch to get it started after sitting for more than a few hours. At idle the rpm's would dip down and the engine would rev it back up, even when warm, and sometimes it just didn't catch fast enough and it died. Smoked like a freight train, too. It's very common to get just a little water in your gas, though... that's why I suggested the Heet. It's cheap and would at least eliminate one possibility.

But like they are saying, there isn't any reason not to go back to your dealer if you aren't 100% sure it's running like it should. That's why we have warranties. There are several problems, serious or simple, that cause the same type of symptoms.

Blades

Just got back from dealership and tech found excessive carbon build up on throttle B. He recommended fuel injection service. I had the cleaner done and car is running better, no stalling, and rpms stay right at 750 when in neutral

Parz

Took car to dealership again and they are replacing intake, will update when I get car back

philsbluerx8

what does it mean Parz? the problem was caused by the intake or what?
it makes no sense to me....if yours because of the intake, looks like mine must be cuz that happened to me at the night when i just finished cleaning the KN type filter.
but there is nothing to do with the intake i think.....no clue...

Parz

Car still at dealership

Bran

I just came from dealership with same issues. I've had these issues for over a year, was told last year needed a new engine.... then was told no new engine, need coils go to another dealer 2 hours away the same day they say its engine mounts and replaced them. I have been jerked around by 3 dealerships on these issues since I bought my car new in July 04. Today the manager tells me he will find out when the regional rep is going to be in the area and they can look at my car. I have been requesting a Mfg Rep for over a year and still haven't gotten results. Manager said right now they are dealing with slow start issues ( which I've complained about for over a year as well ) and if the car is out of warranty MNAO will not cover it no matter how long I've had the problems or taken it in for these issues. I feel that I have been jerked around until my warranty ran out and now MNAO & stealerships want to pass the buck! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!! CAR STALLS ON MAJOR HWY YOU ARE SCREWED!!!!

I DO HOPE OTHERS WILL FILE A COMPAINT SO WE CAN GET THIS RESOLVED
IF NOT........ my complaint will be filed if I stall and it results in an accident, at least it'll be documented..........
http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT...DefectsandReca

philsbluerx8

WTF?
Thats bulllllllllll **** bro!!! my local dealer is gonna replace the ignition coil and starter for my car cuz they said thats basically the key problems, but i dont really trust them.

Rotobaby

I had similar problem. idle was all over the place. They replaced the whole throttle body under warranty. that was at 30k miles. Cleaning didnt work.

Parz

Finally, got car back today! They ended up replacing the intake, which they have to remove the whole engine to replace this part, then it was still running a little rough and then they replaced the spark plugs again and it ran better. On the way home I saw 1 or 2 instances where it dropped to around 600 rpms, but never dropped to 500. I will test more on back roads, just in case it stalls, i will turn on a/c and air high to make sure it can handle it. Hope this helps.