CalebJMU

Hello everyone,

Today is a sad day. I've been an rx8 owner for two years and today is the day no 8 owner wants to hear. So basically, about 4 months ago I noticed when I stepped on the accelerator there was a slight slight marble in a tin can noise appearing usually in 3rd gear at low RPM. Also, during highway speeds my low coolant indicator would come on even though coolant was fine. Being weary I took it to a repair shop that I've been to many times, also i was getting a state inspection.(I regret this, never take your rx8 to a repair shop that specializes in all cars. Take it to one that only specializes in rotaries.). He looked at it, took a ride and basically said the sound was so mundane that I shouldn't be worried and that the coolant light was probably a sensor issue. About three months later I have now moved to a different area where there are numerous steep slopes and this sound only got worse and only in the span of a week. In this span of a week I noticed an incredible amount of power loss and this noise was incredibly loud to the point that when I was idling, the car was shaking violently. Finally i get home and right when i pull in the engine dies and I coast it into the rest of the driveway. The coolant drains out and steam is coming from the engine due to coolant everywhere. Had it towed to a repair shop where they basically said the problem was the coolant tank so they replaced it. They then claim my car wont start. They got it starting once but after that they couldn't. So they potentially flooded it. Well I got it unflooded within 30 minutes. Drove it to the Mazda dealership the next day because these guys were idiots.

SYMPTOMS after coolant tank replaced: Loss of power/Insane hesitation and same if not worse grinding noise. (Basically replaced the tank because they "assumed it was the tank leaking", Well i'm fighting for my money back because they didn't fix anything.)

Once I brought it to the Mazda dealership and dropped it off explaining my situation, i get a call about 30 minutes later. Basically, my coolant was still leaking and that they'll figure out the rest soon. They were not even suppose to look at it till the next day but decided to do it today. Now the last and final call. I pick up and she answers saying she has bad news. DIAGNOSTIC: Coolant leak is coming from the radiator(Needs replaced), The cat is clogged, and the compression has gone to ****.

Total cost: $8500.

The 8 isnt even worth close to that.

RX8 Mileage: 75***
Year: 2005
Trans:4-Speed Automatic(Anyone wanting to buy an rx8 don't buy a ******* automatic one)

Mileage when purchased: 58***

Current plan: Tow car to someone who specializes in rotaries for a second opinion if same bad news, time to salvage.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah fixing a 4 port auto with that many issues is pretty pointless if in fact the diagnosis is correct.

I hope you got actual printed compression test results and not just a verbal statement of "compression has gone to ****".

That said, worth is subjective.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear that.
Did you not get any CELs?
Bad cat should have thrown one at least.

CalebJMU

I did not receive any check engine lights strangely. Ill have to see the compression tests tomorrow when i go to pay for the diagnostic and everything.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

I know it hurts and I don't want to pour salt on your fresh wounds, but this is a classic case of someone not doing enough research prior to purchase.
Many of your issues have been long documented on this forum: Low power; marbles in a can; faulty coolant light; etc etc etc.

I'm not pointing fingers at you. I'm just hoping that if someone comes across this thread who wants to purchase an rx8, they understand the full story and that your current news isn't new news.

The golden rule: PROPER PLANING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE

I hope you don't take offense to this. I do wish you luck with everything

CalebJMU

I know i didn't do enough research getting the car, I was younger and wanting a first new car. I did do the research on how to maintain it after i flooded it for the first time so I tried to maintain it to the fullest extent i could. I did look into the problems of the noise it was making and the faulty coolant light(I assumed was just a sensor issue). I kept coming more across the noise of being from the corrosion of the heat shield or a bad cat. The loss of power came out of nowhere though. The week before was running like a champ, no loss of power. Easily did 0-60 in 8-13 seconds. So i hope others see this thread like you said and be weary.

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

just like with RX8Soldier, please don't take offense, but how did you miss the clogged cat? That is likely root cause for all subsequent issues.

CalebJMU

I just never noticed symptoms until it got really bad i guess :O

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

That is strange because I got the bad cat code (P0420) long before mine started having any symptoms.
I wonder if it's actually bad, or the dealer's doing what dealers do.

Jastreb

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear this happened. You had two separate issues. Marble in a can noise at low rpm and going uphill is detonation. With no prior experience, many people don't recognize it and are not aware that it is a serious issue. If you hear this, downshift and let off the gas so that the sound goes away. Make sure you are using the highest octane fuel you can get... and work on finding the root cause... Too late for you, unfortunately

I don't think getting a new engine out of warranty from the dealer is a good path, even if you have the money. For that kind of money, I think you should be able to find a 6-speed RX-8 with a decent engine.

CalebJMU

Compression for front rotor is 5.0, 5.0, and 4.8. Rear rotor is 5.4,5.5, and 5.5.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Did you see actual printed and normalized results? Either way though that engine is toast.

Maxime B Forget

Sorry to hear that man... My condolences.

Nisaja

You can hear detonation? I don't get it. Some say you can hear it. Some, like RIWWP, says it's almost impossible to hear it.

Khurram

My deepest condolences.. You are far better off buying another 8 with 6 speed rather than repairing the auto-tragic for 8k

Jastreb

iTrader: (1)

I suppose it depends on how bad it is, and how sensitive your ears are. I can hear it in my car. It is the engine "ringing" from the spike in pressure. Maybe the loud MIAC sound is actually apex seals smacking the housing, as a result of detonation.

daz_gizmo

I fell foul of this when I bought my 8 about 5 years ago from a "reputable" garage. I find it hard to trust and branded car garage now.
Short Story:
Starting issues upon getting the car.
Cat was replaced under warranty but was a battle to get this for free. (After market Cat fitted)
A few months later - outside the warranty the Cat failed again and the garage wanted nothing to do with it.
I then went to the main dealer to get a genuine Cat fitted...ouch
Then a couple on months later the engine compression goes....
Engine rebuild...ouch..

Conclusion - if buying an RX8 have a proper Compression test done with the correct equipment (RX8 specialist) as I had a compression test done by a garage and they said it was fine when clearly it was not, they would not pay me back for their incorrect diagnostics until I created a stink on their Facebook page and the Good Garage Scheme page they were a part of.

Lesson learned..

Nisaja

So what he heard wasn't detonation. It was something way worse? Even I've heard that ringing sound. It's only for a split second when blipping the throttle in neutral. I haven't heard it in gear though. Normal?

CalebJMU

Okay, I'm back so...being stubborn that I am, I replaced the catalytic converter, replaced radiator, new spark plugs and wires. Total Cost to fix about $2000 :0. Anyways the car is working like the day I bought it. Still original engine.

Nisaja

So what was wrong with it???

CalebJMU

The catalytic converter was just done and kept driving on it until my car eventually decided to quit. Compression is lower then it should be but ill live.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Are the coils good?
They are the biggest weak spot that cause cat failure.
It's recommended that they be changed with plugs & wires every 30k miles.

SpaceCaptainSteve

I'm no expert but getting new plugs and wires sounds like a real awful band-aid solution to an engine with compression running in the 5's. Good luck anyway :/

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

Mobile view really needs a Like button.