I am pretty sure I saw the RPM needle sweep to redline and then drops back down on start up when I test drove the car (similar to the STI when you start it up). However, I haven't seen it anymore after I took delivery of the car. I am wondering if there is something wrong with my car or it was just me imaging stuff.

Note: The car just got off the truck when I test drove it and it wasn't fully serviced yet (missing fuses and stuff like that). I wonder if that has anything to do with the RPM needle doing full sweep.

 

yeah, your car is fuct.
take it back.
























just kidding.
Your fine.

 

i wouldn't doubt it had something to do with not being fully programmed yet... i basically drove mine right off the trailer too and had similar freaky experiences (bbut not that one that i can remember)

 

The RPM needle goes from 0 to 2000 rpm at startup, then after a few secs drops down to the 1000 rpm range.

 

I wish it did a full sweep on start ups. Unfortunately it doesn't though.

 

i think if it did that the car would probably require about 3 gallons of fuel to start.

 

I had my battery go weak on me a week ago or so. When I hooked it up to a chargerand gotthe car started it did the sweep (it's great looking!) It may have to do with the initial start-up after a battery disconnect? Maybe someone who has done some mods and unhooked the battery can tell us if it happens on the initial start-up.

 

Why would it? The needle sweeps but the engine don't rev with it.

 

I d/c the battery when I installed CZ, I don't remember the needle doing a sweep for me but the clock was reset and the DCS light was on.

 

My tach doesn't sweep on startup, it just matches engine RPM, which means it goes to 2000 rpm initially and drops as the engine warms up.

 

I seem to recall reading that this is something that is checked and then reset as part of the PDI. I suspect that the gauges do a full sweep when fresh off the boat, so that the PDI technician can verify that they all work without actually having to rev the fresh engine to 10,000rpm! The PDI process includes hooking up Mazda's electronic diagnostic box-o-tricks to the car, and I suspect that it reprograms this behaviour as part of the process. Pity - I'd rather have a guage-sweep than the welcome message on the center console display.

 

wokuku where you at i think we should come out and meet sometime and discuss about our 8, i have problems too.

 

Thanks for the response everyone. What a pity that they don't put this....Mazda, if you are listening...put this in your next fresh program please. People love it~

rx8spiritR: I live in Alameda, what about you?

 

san francisco. y u put SF in your profile if you like in alameda? you work here?

 

i'm glad it doesn't do a sweep... it would remind me too much of a POS Pontiac Grand Prix then :o

 

My car does the sweep every so often! What is that? I just had the ecu reflashed for a no crank no start. But I mean it does it every other day. When I turn the key foward the car car seems to die, then all the needles shoot up, come down, then the car turns on. Verrrry weird.

 

You can put the gauge cluster into diagnostic mode and sweep all of the gauges yourself.
Just hold the odometer button in and turn the key to run. Keep holding the button until the odo reads "test".
Now hitting various combinations of the odo buttons will test the various gauges.
Kinda fun, but pointless.

 

Yup pointless. But your RPM needle should not do a full-sweep on start up.

 

This is a standard Ford procedure. Old Scorpios do it. Focuses (Focii?) do it. Pretty much every Ford with an ECU more sophisticated than a GM C4 from 1979 does it.

 

But WHY does it do this? I'm selling my car to a buddy of mine on the 20th of March. I dont want this to happen and have the guy change his mind on the sale. Better take it to the dealership and ask 'em what exactly is going on. If I find out why this happens I'll post it here. Stay tuned I guess...

 

i haven't worked on the electronics for the rx8 yet, but whenever i disconnected the battery in my 2000 mustang to add or work on anything electronic all the needles would sweep at start up. I'm guessing its the same for the rx8, but if it does it every other time maybe there is a short in the system somewhere, or the battery isn't fully mounted.