Dumb Question Thread - no flaming or sarcasm allowed
Help!!! acceleration problem
power increase at 7500rpm
Only had my 04 231hp RX8 for about 2 months and never even noticed a problem until watching some videos on youtube etc and other rx8's accelerating. It can only be described as having even power right the way through to 7500rpm and then a real power surge/ powerband right through to redline in every gear. (very similar to Honda's Type-R engine) Thought this was normal as not had an RX8 before :/ Now startiing to wonder if it is really underpowered and only getting full power at 7500rpm???
Coil packs, plugs etc changed only 2000miles ago. No engine management lights or anything?? Car is on 04 plate, 52kmiles and FSH. Please help guys - new to this
thanks
Apologies if i have posted this in the wrong section or has been discussed before but spent hours trying to find a similar problem but to no avail !
power increase at 7500rpmOnly had my 04 231hp RX8 for about 2 months and never even noticed a problem until watching some videos on youtube etc and other rx8's accelerating. It can only be described as having even power right the way through to 7500rpm and then a real power surge/ powerband right through to redline in every gear. (very similar to Honda's Type-R engine) Thought this was normal as not had an RX8 before :/ Now startiing to wonder if it is really underpowered and only getting full power at 7500rpm???
Coil packs, plugs etc changed only 2000miles ago. No engine management lights or anything?? Car is on 04 plate, 52kmiles and FSH. Please help guys - new to this
thanksApologies if i have posted this in the wrong section or has been discussed before but spent hours trying to find a similar problem but to no avail !
If you have an auto, the auto's dont go up to 9k rpm, mazda lowered the power/rpm due to the lack of a (or lack of inexpensive) auto trans capable of withstanding 9k rpm.
He has a thread here too that I responded to: https://www.rx8club.com/tech-garage-...8/#post4371660
And given that he is in the UK with the hi-power option, it's a manual, so 9k rpm. And he isn't describing a power loss up high, it's a lower power loss with a sudden surge. Our engines don't surge at any point in normal operation. I suspect it's a problem with the ECU, open loop vs closed loop. Probably running way lean for too long under closed loop, ECU not adding enough fuel, and he hits 7,500, the ECU kicks him over to open loop finally where he gets the fuel he needs, introducing a surge.
And given that he is in the UK with the hi-power option, it's a manual, so 9k rpm. And he isn't describing a power loss up high, it's a lower power loss with a sudden surge. Our engines don't surge at any point in normal operation. I suspect it's a problem with the ECU, open loop vs closed loop. Probably running way lean for too long under closed loop, ECU not adding enough fuel, and he hits 7,500, the ECU kicks him over to open loop finally where he gets the fuel he needs, introducing a surge.
Ever since I replaced the motor mounts in my car, I get a rattle from the glove box when braking. I guess maybe my car vibrates a bit more when I hit the brake.
Anyways, I looked through the DIY section and found people with the same issue, but not really a "how to fix it" post.
If I open up the glovebox, the rattle stops. Any recommendations for things to put at the connection points that may work wellas a buffer?
Anyways, I looked through the DIY section and found people with the same issue, but not really a "how to fix it" post.
If I open up the glovebox, the rattle stops. Any recommendations for things to put at the connection points that may work wellas a buffer?
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2012
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Just to clarify guys, its a manual 04 plate, 231bhp. hope this helps.... going to look into the ecu suggestion as a starting point. I have access to garage facilities to plug in diagnostic equipment as well. Just worried now as i thought it was just like a type r engine?!?! obviously not 
Any help is much appreciated. thanks again.
Any help is much appreciated. thanks again.
There are 2 basic engines that were used for the early RX-8s, 4 port and 6 port. The 6-port was called the "Hi-Power" in Europe when mated with the 6 speed manual, and had a 9,000rpm redline. The lower HP 5-speed manual had a lower redline (8,000 I think). Still lower was the automatic with the 4-port engine and a 7,500rpm. I am honestly not sure if the 5 speed manual had a 4-port or 6-port engine, or even if both were possible.
damn boxer heads,
Anyways an enigneer at work today starting discussing why his STI is better
than an Rx8. Thermal efficiency was brought up which i understand but according to him average sports car average around 25-28% but Wankel's are lucky to hit 18% efficiency. Any evidence to back this up I honestly never put much thought into expect for the fact that I am aware i have a 1.3L that puts out about 1.21gigawatts of heat. So i didn't think his assumptions were completely out of perspective.
Anyways an enigneer at work today starting discussing why his STI is better
than an Rx8. Thermal efficiency was brought up which i understand but according to him average sports car average around 25-28% but Wankel's are lucky to hit 18% efficiency. Any evidence to back this up I honestly never put much thought into expect for the fact that I am aware i have a 1.3L that puts out about 1.21gigawatts of heat. So i didn't think his assumptions were completely out of perspective.
Not sure of the numbers, but yes, the thermal efficiency of a rotary sucks. It's why we have emissions trouble, mileage trouble, so much more air for the power, and run so hot. Rotaries are great for mechanical efficiency of a combustion, but poor thermal efficiency.
R34ME
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, ON
damn boxer heads,
Anyways an enigneer at work today starting discussing why his STI is better than an Rx8. Thermal efficiency was brought up which i understand but according to him average sports car average around 25-28% but Wankel's are lucky to hit 18% efficiency. Any evidence to back this up I honestly never put much thought into expect for the fact that I am aware i have a 1.3L that puts out about 1.21gigawatts of heat. So i didn't think his assumptions were completely out of perspective.
Anyways an enigneer at work today starting discussing why his STI is better
than an Rx8. Thermal efficiency was brought up which i understand but according to him average sports car average around 25-28% but Wankel's are lucky to hit 18% efficiency. Any evidence to back this up I honestly never put much thought into expect for the fact that I am aware i have a 1.3L that puts out about 1.21gigawatts of heat. So i didn't think his assumptions were completely out of perspective.
Registered
Joined: Feb 2012
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They were made with different intentions. RX7 was made to be an all out performance beast and therefore was not very efficient and "environmentally friendly". The RX8 was made to be a decent sport car that you could use every day, pass the emmisions test standards at the time, and 
have some sort of fuel efficiency.
have some sort of fuel efficiency.
Legend In My Own Mind
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 3
From: The Lou
They were made with different intentions. RX7 was made to be an all out performance beast and therefore was not very efficient and "environmentally friendly". The RX8 was made to be a decent sport car that you could use every day, pass the emmisions test standards at the time, and have some sort of fuel efficiency.
have some sort of fuel efficiency.They were made with different intentions. RX7 was made to be an all out performance beast and therefore was not very efficient and "environmentally friendly". The RX8 was made to be a decent sport car that you could use every day, pass the emmisions test standards at the time, and have some sort of fuel efficiency.
have some sort of fuel efficiency.
05 GT
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Hey guys, here's a 'dumb' question for you.. What is the common failure mode of the 04/05 engines? Looking for my 8 and I'm wondering if I should even bother looking at an 04 or 05?
I've found an 04 with 30k miles on it and a reasonable price.. If it passes a compression test, can I assume the engine is 'good'? Or do those engines tend to go along just fine and then randomly blow up one day?
Thanks in advance!
I've found an 04 with 30k miles on it and a reasonable price.. If it passes a compression test, can I assume the engine is 'good'? Or do those engines tend to go along just fine and then randomly blow up one day?
Thanks in advance!
Hey guys, here's a 'dumb' question for you.. What is the common failure mode of the 04/05 engines? Looking for my 8 and I'm wondering if I should even bother looking at an 04 or 05?
I've found an 04 with 30k miles on it and a reasonable price.. If it passes a compression test, can I assume the engine is 'good'? Or do those engines tend to go along just fine and then randomly blow up one day?
Thanks in advance!
I've found an 04 with 30k miles on it and a reasonable price.. If it passes a compression test, can I assume the engine is 'good'? Or do those engines tend to go along just fine and then randomly blow up one day?
Thanks in advance!
Should you bother looking at an 04/05?
In my opinion, no. It's a crap shoot. You could get a decent car for an extremely reasonable price, or you could end up with a lemon thats just a money pit until you get frustrated and sell it.
If you do happen to look at 1, make sure you listen to every little sound it makes, because problems snowball on the car. If it passes compression, great, doesnt mean it wont lose it once you drive it. Try to snag one with a bit of the 8 yr 100k mile warranty on the engine.
Look at 06s and up though imo.
Legend In My Own Mind
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 3
From: The Lou
Edit: Here: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...-vin-s-166370/
How about checking the regional subforum?
05 GT
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
Read the sticky threads. There's an explanation of why the engines failed on those models.
Should you bother looking at an 04/05?
In my opinion, no. It's a crap shoot. You could get a decent car for an extremely reasonable price, or you could end up with a lemon thats just a money pit until you get frustrated and sell it.
If you do happen to look at 1, make sure you listen to every little sound it makes, because problems snowball on the car. If it passes compression, great, doesnt mean it wont lose it once you drive it. Try to snag one with a bit of the 8 yr 100k mile warranty on the engine.
Look at 06s and up though imo.
Should you bother looking at an 04/05?
In my opinion, no. It's a crap shoot. You could get a decent car for an extremely reasonable price, or you could end up with a lemon thats just a money pit until you get frustrated and sell it.
If you do happen to look at 1, make sure you listen to every little sound it makes, because problems snowball on the car. If it passes compression, great, doesnt mean it wont lose it once you drive it. Try to snag one with a bit of the 8 yr 100k mile warranty on the engine.
Look at 06s and up though imo.
Ok, thanks. I re-read the new owners sticky, and had fogotten about a couple things including that recall to increase the oil usage. I'm still giving preference to 06+ but there are a few 05's that look pretty tempting right now. There's also an 07 with only 20k on it, but I'm wary of that one because of the mileage being so low...
