So let me see if I understand this... you hook the Cobb up... make your changes, save them... and unplug the cobb... does any part still need to be attached or does it permanently change those settings?
This sounds like an interesting device,... too complex for me I'm afraid.

In other news... those 4 spark plugs sitting on the corner of my desk need to go into the car stat, pronto, yesterday...
Car stalled when I put the car into neutral exiting the highway and then, at 5k rpm, CEL started flashing indicating a miss... which also indicated by the dropping rpms, speed, and power loss.

So... I tease the previous owner of the car quite a bit... but this is the first time I've been upset... I have after market wires. I'm assuming racing beat or whatever their brand is because everything else this guy put on was RB. So why didn't he change the plugs too?
I just put on 54k miles and I'm assuming I'm doing this on the first set of plugs with bad its gotten and how quickly its happened.

Seriously, I went from slight power loss at higher rpm to stalling in like 2 weeks.

Question - everything about this situation points to plugs... what are the chances that the coils need replaced too?

 

From what I remember you always do both.

 

It permanently makes changes and doesn't have to stay attached.

Could be a combination of the two, but with the miles you have I'll say the plugs are more likely.
If you need it done this weekend, I can probably help Saturday.

 

Are you sure he didn't? Plugs are usually around 20-30k. If they've actually gone 54k I'd be pretty surprised. Especially since the earlier plugs were prone to flooding and got replaced with a TSB the last year or two (I know this because I had mine replaced twice my Westside ).

And honestly you shouldn't be upset with the previous owner. Plugs are wear items and they worked when you got the car. Hard to be too peeved when you've driven x miles before getting the problems you're seeing now.

Coils usually need replaced before 50k as well. But replacing the plugs is the first step.

I did pick up a 13/16 flex spark plug socket. Sears didn't carry antiseize and I wasn't looking for the dielectric grease. Probably swing by Autozone on Saturday to pick those up.

 

What is it with these Mazda dealers who can't seem to keep from stepping on their own Johnsons? I had a perfectly decent buying experience with my CX-7: great price, easy to deal with, etc. Then today I get the inevitable "gee it was great having you hope you love your car remember to give us a 100% awesome rating when you get a call from Mazda let me know if there's anything I can do" email. That reminds me that the first thing they did when we sat down to talk numbers was waive a coupon book in front of me touting a free oil change and other discounts. Nothing to salivate over, but hey, I'll take a free oil change.

I reply to the email, "love the car, everything's great, btw when i got home I didn't see the coupon book in all the stuff you gave me, will it be coming in the mail?"

The reply I just got: "Sorry pal, people that get an employee discount don't get a coupon book." I scratch my head and wonder what universe this "employee discount" thing just warped in from. I'm pretty sure I've never been employed by Mazda or Ford (nor anyone I'm related to). I do tend to tip the bottle from time to time, but I think I'd remember that kind of a change in career path. There was in fact no employee discount that I'm aware of. I thanked them for the response and replied that I really wasn't that worried about it since I could afford to pay for my own oil changes . . . at the other dealer where my RX-8 gets serviced.

You have wonder about these brain dead types that **** away the opportunity to establish a service relationship for two cars by creating a bad vibe over some stupid coupon book.

 

I get an employee discount working for Rockwell Automation, so you don't need to work directly for them to get the discount.

 

That is where I got mine.
Get the bottle of anti-seize (has a brush attached under the lid), not the little "one time use" tube.

 

Interesting fact, but irrelevant in my case. My law firm doesn't have that kind of relationship with them, and in any event the subject of where I worked never even came up until it was a done deal and we were doing loan papers.

 

Just read a PM from Ray about the coils:
No big deal, but would have liked to get them in before the snow really comes down (since I don't have a garage).

 

You're not driving your 8, right? So it just sits outside all winter? That's the saddest thing I've ever read.

Anyway it sounds like he'll get yours to you in the next few weeks. If it still sounds that close we can always install my coils in your car and your coils in mine when they come in. Not like I'm gonna be able to do anything with mine until Mid-January anyway.

We'll see how it shakes out next week.

Oh and I don't think Ray wants everyone to see that PM so you may want to edit.

 

Took your advise and left out the "personal" stuff. Thanks

 

Vyn,
I know you and Ryan planned on getting together to work on your car.
If you want me to help with the plugs, Yulia works at 3pm Saturday so I'm free.

 

Jon: you're more than welcome to come down and help out. I have plenty of projects that I would like to get done on the car in addition to plugs and brakes.

However, It definitely would be nice to have you down here as someone who knows the procedures to changing the plugs. It sounds like many people mix up leading and trailing or hook the wires back up in the wrong sequence.

Ryan: Directions look good and such?

Drove the car back and forth to Berea last/this morning. No problems at all. (other than power lose at high RPMs) ... So, not too worried.


So, back to the Cobb port. So, in theory, because Ryan bought one... we all could use it? Like share ware?

 

No...the AP locks into a VIN so you can't share them.

 

*peeks in*

*waves*

 

where's my license plate frame?!

 

So don't do that.



I'll fine the place. Be there around 9. Pretty sure I'll just be able to hang around for a couple hours before meeting someone for lunch in Akron but that should be plenty of time to do the brakes.

Wouldn't that be nice? Unfortunately Cobb decided they wanted to make money off this thing. Bastards.

 

umm... same place as Jon's memory card!

we gonna try to do a get together before christmas?

 

I doubt we'll do anything in December. Maybe in January?

How does Friday Jan 16th sound? Maybe the Lizard in Peninsula or Macedonia, whichever is more centrally located for people. Weather can make Peninsula tough.

I went through the spark plug DIY. Let me know how it goes for you guys. Seems simple enough. Curious to what you find. Do you do this automatically at 30K? That was a little unclear to me.

 

i'm up for pretty much whenever. The weekend of the 20th and 21st wont work because i am moving into MY NEW HOUSE!!! WOOHOOO!!!

Anytime before or after though i am open (so far)

 

9:00!
So did you guys want to do Steve's plugs when you do the pads or wait until later?
Just need to know how to adjust me sleep schedule.

 

Steve's call. I'll be over there at 9 to help out with the brakes but I have to bail around 11 to go to a lunch.

 

Thank you both for coming down. Helped me out big-time, again.

Plugs are in, runs great. No issues there.

With some "heat" the front rotors came off pretty easy also.

Jon discovered that I am having the same problem he had where my calipers are not floating properly and the only the inside pad is being pushed into the rotor. I had very un even wear and 1 warped rotor.

We tried to fix one side, but the other, both floaters were fused, so I'm just going to take it in and have the pros deal with it.

Also... if anyone ever unhooks my battery, I'm killing them.

 

Yeah... I was hoping that it wasn't going to give us trouble after unhooking the battery as it did last time... but I was wrong.
I've never seen an RX8 take so long to learn its trim and continually stalls until it does learn.
I'll do some investigation and see if I can find anything related to your symptoms.

It was crazy seeing the same caliper issue with your car, makes me wonder how many people have the same issue and don't know it.
At least we were able to knock out the caliper float pin on one side and clean it up, but the other side was a PITA and more seized than mine.
But if you take it in to have it looked at, have them inspect both sides.

Ryan, I have all your tools in my truck.
Glad I brought the truck... didn't realize all the **** you brought until it took up my entire crew cap.

 

It's great to have friends like you guys helping each other! You guys are great!!!!