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Questions and follow up on my 04' GT since I got it one month ago
So, it's been a little over a month since I got my 04' Grand Touring Rx8. So far, I love it, but I will admit, I'm a reader and researcher, and every night I learn more and more about these cars and motors. Although there isn't anything wrong, I think I'm almost beginning to psych myself out with the "what if?"
Anyway, the car has only 11k miles and I paid $8500. Since the month I've had it, I started small. I removed the airbox walls / baffles, then put in a K&N. I believe the combo made it a tad bit louder and a slightly more responsive.
Afterward, I was driving it hard one day and threw a blinking CEL. Car smelled terrible, I guess from the misfire dumping fuel into the cat, but I turned it off and it went away. That night I did NGK plug, wires, and intramotor coilpacks. Car definitely felt peppier and smoother. OEM wires and coils seemed in alright condition, but the stock plugs were very tarnished. No issues since this replacement.
Furthermore, since the car had stock wheels and original 12 y/o tires, I got new Niche Misano wheels and tires, then lowered the car on Tein Street Basis Z coilovers. Got these coils online for $360 for the full set. Yes, $360. Yes, they're good. I had them on my NA miata right before I got this car and they were great quality for the price. Very happy with them so far. My only issue is the offset of the wheels. Planning to get 25mm spacers in the rear and 15mm in the front (Niches are 18x8 et 40) - thoughts?
So everything else seems to be alright. The car always starts hot / cold. Just recorded this hot start today:
My only issue is that at idle, I feel some slight vibrations. Not to the point where I lose my mind, but mainly via the shifter, and sometimes when I'm sitting. The idle doesn't really fluctuate. I did the full ignition, cleaned the MAF, etc. The only thing I'm thinking is that maybe the KN filter and removal of the airbox wall combo may be causing it. Or, I've heard the motor mount nearest the exhaust dies prematurely. This likely wouldn't be a compression issue if the idle is steady, correct? Would it help to reset my ECU first?
That's pretty much it - the formula that I use on all my cars is almost complete with the Rx8. Wheels, coilovers, exhaust, intake, and just keeping it really clean. I have a turboxs catback that should be arriving shortly. I want to get the catted midpipe but I'm worried about clearance issues while being lowered. Anyone have feedback with this?
Last note / question is this recall notice I found within my door jam. It states that there was an ECU recall performed in 07'. A few members told me that have an 04 with such low mileage, I may not have all the latest. Anyone know if this flash would incorporate all the newer data for my ECU?
Not entirely sure what the point of this post was. Just to let people know about my experience of buying a first year Rx8 in 2017. Fortunately, there still are good buys out there. That's what makes me happy to own one. Many either died at this point or are totally beat to ****, so to have a clean well running one is quite enjoyable. Thanks for reading and enjoy your Rx-8 as it grows rarer and more unique by day!
If you installed a K&N intake, that's a mistake.
They disrupt the MAF sensor, likely causing your idle issues.
You're better off with the stock intake.
If you installed a K&N intake, that's a mistake.
They disrupt the MAF sensor, likely causing your idle issues.
You're better off with the stock intake.
Thanks for the info. I wondered about this. Some say Oil from the intake can get on the MAF, but I just cleaned mine (KN and MAF). Still feel the vibrations, maybe because the K and N disrupts the MAF via airflow?
There will always be some vibration in the shifter at idle, like any other car where the shifter goes directly into the transmission. Especially when the A/C compressor cycles on, this is normal.
As for the intake, if you have just the K&N filter, just make sure it's not overoiled. It's not the best at being a filter, but whatever. If it's the full K&N typhoon hot air intake system, go back to stock, then burn the typhoon and spread its ashes in the wind so nobody has to suffer it again.
Stock Airbox or AEM with the lower shroud in place or go home. Revi works well too from my understanding but the stock filter protects well and flows adequately.
Hacking up the stock airbox and installing a K&N is pointless. You may have achieved 1HP at 7500RPM. You may have lost HP due to creating turbulence by removing the panels. Is that 1 potential HP worth suffering sub-optimal filtration and an oily MAF sensor? The stock airbox is very well designed, and the OEM filter flows more air than the engine can draw at WOT. There is no reason to deviate from it, unless you just want to make noise.
The shaking is normal to some degree, although you might want to check your motor mounts. They tend to fail prematurely in this car.
What's worse is hacking up the stock air box and replacing w/ an K&N will allow more small dirt particles into the intake and the engine. Seals and cats do not like solids.
Also, yeah. motormounts. Mine were ******* GONE after about 70k. On our drive back from MD to CO I'd notice we'd be going for a gear and "Oh ****, wrong gear" would happen. Turned out that my mounts were just shredded. Went with BHR mounts.
01-03-2017, 07:33 PM
