My RX-8 Died on the Freeway tonight.
10-09-2004, 02:38 AM
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My RX-8 Died on the Freeway tonight. UPDATE: Issue Resolved PG 2
After 1400 miles, and two weeks of ownership, it happened. I don't know what the deal is, but the service advisor at the dealer (yeah I know they don't know their *** from their face) thinks it's a "flooded spark plug." I started the car up like normal, let it idle for about 2 1/2 minutes, left, kept my revs at or under 4K, and headed for the freeway entrance near my house. Got on, reved it up to around 6 or 7, to get up to speed. Once I got up to speed, I let off the accelerator, and it felt like we hit a brick wall. No throttle response, and I was losing speed quickly. All the dash lights turned on, and I rolled to a stop on the side of the freeway. Car was dead and wouldn't start back up.
Got it towed to the dealer, and the service advisor tried to start it up. For some reason it started this time, but idled pretty rough, and died after less than 15 seconds. Very strange.
I babied the engine for the first 1000 miles, keeping my revs below 4K. Occasionally went up, but as Mazda recommended, never above 7. Actually not even 6.
I'm no technical genius, so any of you guys have a clue as to what this could be? I thought for the engine to be flooded, it would have been hard to start from the get-go, and not have died on the freeway. Either way, I'm raising hell tomorrow.
Oh by the way, the car has never seen less than premium fuel.
Got it towed to the dealer, and the service advisor tried to start it up. For some reason it started this time, but idled pretty rough, and died after less than 15 seconds. Very strange.
I babied the engine for the first 1000 miles, keeping my revs below 4K. Occasionally went up, but as Mazda recommended, never above 7. Actually not even 6.
I'm no technical genius, so any of you guys have a clue as to what this could be? I thought for the engine to be flooded, it would have been hard to start from the get-go, and not have died on the freeway. Either way, I'm raising hell tomorrow.
Oh by the way, the car has never seen less than premium fuel.
Last edited by shaolin; 10-09-2004 at 07:27 PM.
10-09-2004, 03:12 AM
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I don't think it was flooded, if it was you wouldn't have been able to start it (with ease) in the first place. And it wouldn't flood in the middle of the freeway. But I really don't have a clue either. Maybe a problem with th "fly by wire" electronic throttle.
Sorry to hear about your problem, let us know what the issue was.
Sorry to hear about your problem, let us know what the issue was.
10-09-2004, 03:36 AM
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Whew, well I hope you're right on that one...I'm sweating bullets and can't stop thinking about my car....
At least ignition coils are a relatively simple fix...I just hope you're right...
At least ignition coils are a relatively simple fix...I just hope you're right...
10-09-2004, 04:02 AM
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Originally Posted by thew
do a search here on it .. you will find others that have need new ciols.. maybe that will lend some insight
I definitely will follow up and let you guys know what happens...I'm thinking I should really sock it to the dealer and try to get some free stuff out of this. By the way, my build date is Feb of '04. If that makes any diff to you more knowledgeable...
On a side note, People's Mazda of Vegas is taking excelent care of me. I didn't get the car towed to the dealer until after closing time, and my salesman and the service advisor stayed late to wait for me. The salesman also gave me a kia so that I could drive home. Granted it's a Kia, but it's better than calling around. I know that he could have easily told me to come back tomorrow to get a rental. Plus he said he was going to give me a "Proper" loaner tomorrow when I go back.
Keep you all posted...
10-09-2004, 04:13 AM
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Shaolin
Just a thought did you accidently hit the fuel cutout as you were getting on to the freeway , why i say this is because this happened to me and there was a sudden total loss of power but then it all came good shorthly after cutout .
cheers
michael
Just a thought did you accidently hit the fuel cutout as you were getting on to the freeway , why i say this is because this happened to me and there was a sudden total loss of power but then it all came good shorthly after cutout .
cheers
michael
10-09-2004, 04:18 AM
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Honestly, I am 99% sure I didn't hit fuel cut. I never rev past 7. I do on rare occasion, but I just don't feel comfortable beating the hell out of the car. Not to mention, the power did not return, and the car was basically flying down the freeway at 75 MPH with the engine off.
10-09-2004, 04:32 AM
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Its quite easy to do as the cutout seems to creep up very rapidly after 7-500rpm , i had no choice as the truck on the highway choose to try and beat me to the lane .
Any way what ever the cause i hope you get your ride back ASAP
cheers
michael
Any way what ever the cause i hope you get your ride back ASAP
cheers
michael
10-09-2004, 06:07 AM
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Originally Posted by shaolin
On a side note, People's Mazda of Vegas is taking excelent care of me. I didn't get the car towed to the dealer until after closing time, and my salesman and the service advisor stayed late to wait for me. The salesman also gave me a kia so that I could drive home. Granted it's a Kia, but it's better than calling around. I know that he could have easily told me to come back tomorrow to get a rental. Plus he said he was going to give me a "Proper" loaner tomorrow when I go back.
Keep you all posted...
Keep you all posted...
Gee, that's extraordinarily nice of them......very bizarre.
Oh, sorry to hear about your car, hope it goes well.... keep us posted.
10-09-2004, 12:01 PM
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I thought KIA was brief for Killed In Action. Hope they find what's wrong with your RX. Does sound electronic and not fuel related. If it started up again at the dealer but idled very rough without an engine trouble light coming on then it could be the intermittent firing coils. That'a an easy fix and its under warranty. Sorry your RX did this.
10-09-2004, 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by shaolin
Honestly, I am 99% sure I didn't hit fuel cut. I never rev past 7. I do on rare occasion, but I just don't feel comfortable beating the hell out of the car. Not to mention, the power did not return, and the car was basically flying down the freeway at 75 MPH with the engine off.
Oh no, you HAVE to rev past 7k! Having this car and NOT reving to 9200 is a SIN, a sin I tell ya....
10-09-2004, 02:48 PM
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I hope they find the culprit and fix your 8. Dang! I would be pissed if that happened after 2 weeks of ownership. I've been hitting 7200 RPM after 600 miles and mine is an auto. It only gets better. I hope it's not the RPM and fuel cut off. It seems like something else. Good luck.
10-09-2004, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by shaolin
I definitely will follow up and let you guys know what happens...I'm thinking I should really sock it to the dealer and try to get some free stuff out of this. By the way, my build date is Feb of '04. If that makes any diff to you more knowledgeable...
On a side note, People's Mazda of Vegas is taking excelent care of me. I didn't get the car towed to the dealer until after closing time, and my salesman and the service advisor stayed late to wait for me. The salesman also gave me a kia so that I could drive home. Granted it's a Kia, but it's better than calling around. I know that he could have easily told me to come back tomorrow to get a rental. Plus he said he was going to give me a "Proper" loaner tomorrow when I go back.
Keep you all posted...
On a side note, People's Mazda of Vegas is taking excelent care of me. I didn't get the car towed to the dealer until after closing time, and my salesman and the service advisor stayed late to wait for me. The salesman also gave me a kia so that I could drive home. Granted it's a Kia, but it's better than calling around. I know that he could have easily told me to come back tomorrow to get a rental. Plus he said he was going to give me a "Proper" loaner tomorrow when I go back.
Keep you all posted...
10-09-2004, 07:25 PM
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Issue Resolved...
^^^ Yeah, I was already thinking about this when I went to pick up the car just now, and I felt bad regarding how well they treated me. Here's what was wrong:
Basically, when it was assembled at the factory, the float wasn't properly "seated." It was pretty much sticking, giving inaccurate gas gauge readings. My tank appeared to be at a half tank, but in reality it was out of gas. They put in a new float, and topped me off with 91. I'm an especially happy camper, because they gave me PCM reflash MSP04, without me even asking them about it. I thought about it on the way down there to pick it up, and thought "damn shoulda told em to do it." Apparently they were already 2 steps ahead of me.
Props to People's Mazda of Las Vegas. Excellent customer service. Car runs like a champ now.
Basically, when it was assembled at the factory, the float wasn't properly "seated." It was pretty much sticking, giving inaccurate gas gauge readings. My tank appeared to be at a half tank, but in reality it was out of gas. They put in a new float, and topped me off with 91. I'm an especially happy camper, because they gave me PCM reflash MSP04, without me even asking them about it. I thought about it on the way down there to pick it up, and thought "damn shoulda told em to do it." Apparently they were already 2 steps ahead of me.
Props to People's Mazda of Las Vegas. Excellent customer service. Car runs like a champ now.
10-09-2004, 08:22 PM
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Shaolin, Thx for posting about the customer service at Peoples. I've been going to Courtesy and for the most part the service there is horrible. I know all three mazda dealerships here in vegas are owned by the same owner. Usually the service people at Courtesy are always on the defensive w/ me and it gets really frustrating sometimes. There is only one service guy at Courtesy that I actually trust, Shaun Ramirez has always been helpful and knowledgeable. Glad to hear you car is ok dude.
10-09-2004, 08:47 PM
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Shaun is the best man, he really is. I used to bring my Mazdaspeed Pro to him all the time. He was at People's for a minute, but he went back to Courtesy, but I hate Courtesy so much I'll stay at People's. John at People's is really good.