ponzo123

I bought my used 2004 RX8 about 5 months ago and have been using this forum religiously since for any questions/concerns I've had. I love my car and adore taking care of all her high maintence she needs. I feel like I treat her like the queen she is.....but just recently ran into a problem I don't even know where to begin on how to look up, so I couldn't just search anymore, I had to finally make my account and ask for help myself.
Like I mentioned, I've had her for about 5 months now with no real problems. One day on my way to class I was stopped at a redlight and noticed my car wasn't cranked. I thought I must have come off the clutch and stalled out without really realizing it and cranked it back up just perfectly. A few weeks go by and nothing out of the ordinary happens. THEN, at the same stop light, it happens again. It cranked back up just fine and drove for a couple more weeks without anything happening. I did find it odd though, so I did check all my battery connections and air flow and nothing seemed wrong. Then, another few weeks and AGAIN. SAME RED LIGHT. By this point, I swore it had to be some conspiracy against me and it wasn't making any sense. Then, today, I was on my way to class and at that same stop light (I'm assuming this is just some crazy conquiendence) I of course was watching it and noticed it beginning to loose power, so I added some gas and that kept it from stalling, but when the light turned green, it did seem to hesitate a bit, but caught itself up rather quickly and continues on. A few miles down the road, it did loose power though. I've been driving a decent bit since and even sat in the parking lot watching it for an hour. I dont know what to do or how to troubleshoot a problem that seldom occurs and don't want this to be a little issue to a big problem and I catch it too late. HELP? ANYONE?

zoominomad

Have you done anything to try and fix the issue?

As in:
MAF Cleaner
Eccentric Shaft Sensor Reset
Checked your Plugs, Wires, Coils
Fuel Injection Cleaner

Just a few simple suggestions, that will all most likely yield DIY instructions if you search them on the forum here.

ponzo123

I cleaned my MAF sensor and use fuel injection cleaner every time I change my oil (which I did yesterday). I checked my coils and spark plugs the second time it happened, but it couldn't hurt to check again. Will check those and shaft sensor in the am. Thank you!

zoominomad

No problem. If those don't help, you may find more suggestions by searching something like "Hot Idle" on the forum.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Tell us about the stoplight and the drive... Is the car at an odd angle, on a hill?

Did you reset ECU after MAF clean?

If you did not change the coils yourself, then they are to be considered old. After ESS, and ECU reset (20 stomp), that is where I woudl go next.

ponzo123

The stoplight is under a bypass, but not on a hill at all. I did reset the ECU. happened again today and that really worried me. I'm checking coils today. (Along with other things) I have not changed them myself, so I'm sure it couldn't hurt to go ahead and change them. Will update with what I find/don't find

ponzo123

So far I have cleaned my MAF sensor and reset ECU once more. I also cleaned my ESS. I got down and checked my coils and they werent in terrible shape, but did have small white spots. I decided I might as well replace them now that they are off and got a ride to see if any parts store had any in stock. No luck. So I have some ordered (along with spark plugs and wires, but I was loosing light and wasn't able to check them, but if they are fine, I'll just keep them until the day comes where they need to be replaced). Hopefully that will put an end to my problems.

niteshade247

Bad idear you need to change all the ignition system parts at the same time bad coils can and will fudge up your plugs old wires on new coils will fail as they are now getting more lode than thay are use to I know it's a bit pricie but better to do it now rather than latter when one of the two you didn't change cost you your new coils or wors your engine.

ponzo123

I'm not sure what you're saying exactly... that I should go ahead and change the spark plugs and wires when I do my coils (which isn't a problem since all of them should be here by thursday) or that there are more parts that need changing as well?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Gotta love all the guessing.

ponzo123, you need to properly troubleshoot.

Start here: Engine---> Symptom troubleshooting.

http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/2003mazdarx8/

niteshade247

No I'm saying change plugs and wires with the coils always change all three if changing coils if you don't it can cost you your new coils then your back where you started. Latter down the road invest in some BHR coils I did and never regretted it. They do have a high cost but they almost never fail so in the long run you get your money back in savings from not having to replace stock coils.

ponzo123

thank you 9krpmrx8 and I'll definitely look through that. I'm a firm believer in troubleshooting, however, my issue with troubleshooting this problem is that it only happens about once a month and it's going to be difficult knowing if I've fixed the issue until it happens (or doesn't happen) to me again. Maybe I'll find some pointers in this manual.

ponzo123

Will do! Thank you niteshade247!

ponzo123

So, quick update.
It's been a few weeks since I changed my spark plugs, wires, and coils. (they didn't look real bad, so I was worried it wouldn't fix my problem) Then, I had an emergency trip to NC, (about 8 hours) and she did fine on the way up there. The next day I had to come back and she did pretty well, aside from a bit of power loss during the last 2 hours or so. I assume the long trip took a toll and maybe that was the cause of it because it hasn't happened since. (I'm looking into it of course). Because it rarely happened, I may be speaking too soon, but I've been to class plenty since then also, so I believe my stalling issue has been fixed!

ponzo123

sad day. today my issue returned. except this time, it happened a couple times and RPMs would be jumpy a little right before. It still cuts right back on beautifully and it was 100 degrees out today, which makes me believe it's probably my fuel pump slowly going bad. Will continue to look into it, but will probably be replacing my fuel pump in the next week or so.