Can someone please tell me what's wrong with my rx8? :(
#1
Can someone please tell me what's wrong with my rx8? :(
Hey,
New member here so go easy please
Basically the problem is that sometimes randomly, the car will not allow me to go over 3-4000 rpm. It's doing this more and more now and makes the car practically undriveable. 1st gear is the worst; when I get into 3rd/4th I can keep the pedal down gently but that's it.
I am doing the stop/start procedure correctly most days so I don't think it's a flooded engine.
The only other issue is that there is no hot air either, which could indicate an electrical issue.
The orange engine light is on.
Mileage is 47,000 and it's in good nick otherwise.
Before I take it to a garage it'd be good to know what you guys think the problem could be, so I have a little more knowledge on the issue beforehand!
New member here so go easy please
Basically the problem is that sometimes randomly, the car will not allow me to go over 3-4000 rpm. It's doing this more and more now and makes the car practically undriveable. 1st gear is the worst; when I get into 3rd/4th I can keep the pedal down gently but that's it.
I am doing the stop/start procedure correctly most days so I don't think it's a flooded engine.
The only other issue is that there is no hot air either, which could indicate an electrical issue.
The orange engine light is on.
Mileage is 47,000 and it's in good nick otherwise.
Before I take it to a garage it'd be good to know what you guys think the problem could be, so I have a little more knowledge on the issue beforehand!
#2
Charles Bundy
iTrader: (5)
First things first, when were your ignition system(coils, plugs, wires) replaced, and what year is your RX-8? Secondly, do you have an OBD II reader; otherwise, could you have someone read that check engine light? Lastly, take an hour or two and read these informative threads:
Congratulations, you got an 8!
New and Potential Owners START HERE!
Suffering a misfire, START HERE!
Congratulations, you got an 8!
New and Potential Owners START HERE!
Suffering a misfire, START HERE!
Last edited by Grace_Excel; 04-26-2013 at 10:24 AM. Reason: Added links
#8
Registered
iTrader: (1)
+1, likely caused by failing ignition. Suggest you stop driving it until issue is solved, this condition kills engines. Bring it to a dealer if at all possible, especially if car is still in the 8 year warranty on engine and federal warranty on the cat. Report back with their findings.
Posted From RX8Club.com Android App
Posted From RX8Club.com Android App
#9
I bought it only 10 days ago..
It was first registered in September 2004 so I think the warranty is out.
I don't have an OBDII Reader so I can't check myself.
Can somebody suggest if I should buy one myself first?
I don't want to take it to a garage until I know myself what is wrong with the car really.
It was first registered in September 2004 so I think the warranty is out.
I don't have an OBDII Reader so I can't check myself.
Can somebody suggest if I should buy one myself first?
I don't want to take it to a garage until I know myself what is wrong with the car really.
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Newtown, CT
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This didn't send up any red flags?!?
No offense but the second that light came on it should have been blindingly evident to get the code read and go from there. Take it to a mechanic who knows what to do with malfunctioning vehicles and let them tell you the deal. You don't have to commit to having any one shop do the work, but if i were you i would most certainly have someone else fix this for me.
Last edited by nogoer; 04-26-2013 at 12:18 PM.
#11
Okay.
I did ring up a Mazda dealer and wanted the car checked (with a code reader) and he quoted me £86 just for that haha.
What about going to Halfords? With they do a code check for free?
I've looked around and you can buy a Catalytic Converter for around £160 - so if I bought one myself and asked a local garage to fix it, do you think that would be the cheapest option?
I did ring up a Mazda dealer and wanted the car checked (with a code reader) and he quoted me £86 just for that haha.
What about going to Halfords? With they do a code check for free?
I've looked around and you can buy a Catalytic Converter for around £160 - so if I bought one myself and asked a local garage to fix it, do you think that would be the cheapest option?
#12
DSC Off
Okay.
I did ring up a Mazda dealer and wanted the car checked (with a code reader) and he quoted me £86 just for that haha.
What about going to Halfords? With they do a code check for free?
I've looked around and you can buy a Catalytic Converter for around £160 - so if I bought one myself and asked a local garage to fix it, do you think that would be the cheapest option?
I did ring up a Mazda dealer and wanted the car checked (with a code reader) and he quoted me £86 just for that haha.
What about going to Halfords? With they do a code check for free?
I've looked around and you can buy a Catalytic Converter for around £160 - so if I bought one myself and asked a local garage to fix it, do you think that would be the cheapest option?
The best way to search the site is like this
site:rx8club.com catalytic converter
you just put the topic where cat. converter is and search on google or whatever search engine you use
I'm in the US, but I believe Halford's is an auto parts store..? If so, they may read it for you, possibly even for free. The parts stores here do it for free.
#13
Moder8
iTrader: (1)
I agree with getting the code scanned first, while at the store, get a can of fuel treatment and toss it in with fresh gas. If you got it from a dealer, it could have regular gas or worse, been sitting and have some water in the tank. I live in Florida and the number of times a bad running car has been cured with a can of Techtron will surprise you.
Then follow the congrats thread, it is the same one that is in my sig under $100. It was written for a September 2003 build RX8 (mine).
Then follow the congrats thread, it is the same one that is in my sig under $100. It was written for a September 2003 build RX8 (mine).
#14
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
Hello, and Welcome.
If you do have a bad cat, there is also probably an ignition problem that killed it.
Please read the misfire sticky, but I would say coils plugs and wires should be replaced unless you can test them. If it hasn't been done at 47k it's likely needed.
If you have a smart phone, you can get theTorque app & a Bluetooth dongle for around $35 that scans codes & does all kinds of other handy things.
If you do have a bad cat, there is also probably an ignition problem that killed it.
Please read the misfire sticky, but I would say coils plugs and wires should be replaced unless you can test them. If it hasn't been done at 47k it's likely needed.
If you have a smart phone, you can get theTorque app & a Bluetooth dongle for around $35 that scans codes & does all kinds of other handy things.
#17
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
It's possible he knows extremely little after only 10 days, so in the meantime I don't mind offering suggestions based on my similar experiences to give him things to consider while he ponders his next move.
Some might not know where or how to get scans. Now he knows.No biggie.
I think he's already learned quite a bit.
#18
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
Okay.
I did ring up a Mazda dealer and wanted the car checked (with a code reader) and he quoted me £86 just for that haha.
What about going to Halfords? With they do a code check for free?
I've looked around and you can buy a Catalytic Converter for around £160 - so if I bought one myself and asked a local garage to fix it, do you think that would be the cheapest option?
I did ring up a Mazda dealer and wanted the car checked (with a code reader) and he quoted me £86 just for that haha.
What about going to Halfords? With they do a code check for free?
I've looked around and you can buy a Catalytic Converter for around £160 - so if I bought one myself and asked a local garage to fix it, do you think that would be the cheapest option?
Personally, I hate wasting money, but I hate wasting time even more.
#21
New Member
Same Problem For Me
Hi All,
I am a new member also and I have experienced this excact same problem today. My car is a 2004 Mazda RX8 231bhp version manual 6 gears. I was driving along and the car started jerking through first gear quite badly and couldnt put the power down. It was very unsmooth and jumping along like a learner driver coming off the clutch too quick!
I drove to Mazda and all of their technicians had finished for the day :-(
Turned engine off for 5 mins and started it back up; engine sounded very rough indeed and almost did not start. Jumped around through all gears on the way home and the enginge management light has come on.
There has been a smell of petrol inside the vehicle from start up and when stopped at traffic lights for a while now which probably has something to with the above.
I have just had a garage replace the steering coloumn joint and fit new brake pads. They obviously discconected the battery do this. The car has also been sat for a week as I have just got back from holiday.
I will get the code read on Monday and repost my findings. Looking at these forums it could be coil pack / spark plugs or blocked cat or perhaps a fuel filter? I'm thinking coil pack due to smell of petrol?! PLEASE HELP!!
I am a new member also and I have experienced this excact same problem today. My car is a 2004 Mazda RX8 231bhp version manual 6 gears. I was driving along and the car started jerking through first gear quite badly and couldnt put the power down. It was very unsmooth and jumping along like a learner driver coming off the clutch too quick!
I drove to Mazda and all of their technicians had finished for the day :-(
Turned engine off for 5 mins and started it back up; engine sounded very rough indeed and almost did not start. Jumped around through all gears on the way home and the enginge management light has come on.
There has been a smell of petrol inside the vehicle from start up and when stopped at traffic lights for a while now which probably has something to with the above.
I have just had a garage replace the steering coloumn joint and fit new brake pads. They obviously discconected the battery do this. The car has also been sat for a week as I have just got back from holiday.
I will get the code read on Monday and repost my findings. Looking at these forums it could be coil pack / spark plugs or blocked cat or perhaps a fuel filter? I'm thinking coil pack due to smell of petrol?! PLEASE HELP!!
#22
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
Hi All,
I am a new member also and I have experienced this excact same problem today. My car is a 2004 Mazda RX8 231bhp version manual 6 gears. I was driving along and the car started jerking through first gear quite badly and couldnt put the power down. It was very unsmooth and jumping along like a learner driver coming off the clutch too quick!
I drove to Mazda and all of their technicians had finished for the day :-(
Turned engine off for 5 mins and started it back up; engine sounded very rough indeed and almost did not start. Jumped around through all gears on the way home and the enginge management light has come on.
There has been a smell of petrol inside the vehicle from start up and when stopped at traffic lights for a while now which probably has something to with the above.
I have just had a garage replace the steering coloumn joint and fit new brake pads. They obviously discconected the battery do this. The car has also been sat for a week as I have just got back from holiday.
I will get the code read on Monday and repost my findings. Looking at these forums it could be coil pack / spark plugs or blocked cat or perhaps a fuel filter? I'm thinking coil pack due to smell of petrol?! PLEASE HELP!!
I am a new member also and I have experienced this excact same problem today. My car is a 2004 Mazda RX8 231bhp version manual 6 gears. I was driving along and the car started jerking through first gear quite badly and couldnt put the power down. It was very unsmooth and jumping along like a learner driver coming off the clutch too quick!
I drove to Mazda and all of their technicians had finished for the day :-(
Turned engine off for 5 mins and started it back up; engine sounded very rough indeed and almost did not start. Jumped around through all gears on the way home and the enginge management light has come on.
There has been a smell of petrol inside the vehicle from start up and when stopped at traffic lights for a while now which probably has something to with the above.
I have just had a garage replace the steering coloumn joint and fit new brake pads. They obviously discconected the battery do this. The car has also been sat for a week as I have just got back from holiday.
I will get the code read on Monday and repost my findings. Looking at these forums it could be coil pack / spark plugs or blocked cat or perhaps a fuel filter? I'm thinking coil pack due to smell of petrol?! PLEASE HELP!!
Please read everything posted here already and that should be more than enough until you get your codes.
Nice use of big letters.
Must be important, right?
Good luck!
#23
New Member
Im pretty gutted so yeah it is very important! I was really looking forward to driving it today with the sunshine out and brake pads on and fixed steering coloumn and this happens! Grrrrr. One thing after another at the moment. Just want to add, my mpg seems to about 17mpg at the moment regardless of how it is driven?
#24
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
Im pretty gutted so yeah it is very important! I was really looking forward to driving it today with the sunshine out and brake pads on and fixed steering coloumn and this happens! Grrrrr. One thing after another at the moment. Just want to add, my mpg seems to about 17mpg at the moment regardless of how it is driven?
I feel your pain. Mine was running progressively worse, then I did the usual maintenance items, and it still ran bad.
I already had codes for misfire and bad cat.
I found a really bad plug and coil and hoped that fixed my problem but no luck.
I ordered a midpipe, but before it came in, health issues and several snowstorms forced me to let it sit nearly 3 months.
Midpipe installed, oil change, MAF and ESS cleaning,
20 brake pedal stomp and it now runs better than ever!
Helps to have a backup DD.
Patience Grasshopper.
#25
New Member
Did you just replace an individual coil and plug or all at same time? How much was the midpipe? Thanks for the info, glad to know someone else has been through this!! When these cars run smooth they are amazing. I haven't owned mine long obviously but love the power.