How close are you to CT?

If anyone in Connecticut goes anywhere but Liberty Mazda I can almost bet they will not be getting the full level of service they deserve.

 

Im in NYC.

Where are you in Connecticut ? From where I live .... its about 2-3 hour drive to Foxwoods/Monhegan Sun, is that close ? I dunno anything about CT area.

I just have to find a way back, if they have a loaner. I dont mind to go there.

Im sick of the garbage service in NYC already.

 

Check the motor mounts! Especially on older model RX-8s.

I had developed a rough idle problem ( on 04 RX-8) that was fixed with new motor mounts, as the old ones had cracked. I was not sure what the cause of the rough idle was and tried many other things... eventually though, it turned out to be the motor mounts.

The Mazda tech said the older model RX-8s had poorly designed motor mounts and that Mazda has better ones now. Mazsport, has even better ones, but I can't say what are all the plus vs minus to using his. However, if I was out of warranty, I would most likely use his. http://www.mazsport.net/html/index.html . In warranty, I would definitely have the Mazda techs replace it with newer ones.

While there, have the Mazda tech do a whole bunch of other checks too.

 

I have never had a compression test. I was the first at my dealer to have the recall done. At the time I had not noticed any of the symptoms of power loss, etc. All they did was replace the leading plugs and reflash.

I have done the TSB test for bad motor mounts on my own. You know where you cruise at 3k rpm in 3rd gear, let off accel., then back on accel quickly. My car will hesitate briefly thus failing the TSB test.

 

sorry to hear about the issues! My idle as been acting up really bad the last 4-5 days. I got lucky yesterday because when I started my car, I happened to have my camera with me.... I took a video of the tach jumping all over the place.

I'll post tonight.

 

I live in Bristol CT, a few towns outside of Hartford. You'd have to drive further to get to Mohegan.

It takes me about 30 minutes to get to Hartford.

So far I'm completely happy with Liberty Mazda in Hartford. If you didnt mind the drive I would recommend going to them. I've been in a loaner car from them for about 2 weeks now. 2007 Saturn Aura. It's no RX8 but it's a nice ride for the time being.

Call them and see what they say perhaps?

 

Get your compression test done.

When they told me that my engine needed to be replaced, but wouldn't be in for about 2 weeks they had to put me in a rental either way because Mazda told them it would be dangerous to continue driving the car as is.

 

here's the video I took...




The idle doesn't seem TOO bad in that video but I've had ocassions where the tach is bouncing from 700 rpm up past 2500.

 

Wow. That is an insane idle.

A "typical" rough idle would be a fairly steady 850 RPM with an occasional "bog" where it drops to 700, gets rough, and then bounces back to 850.

Even with a completely blown rotor, my idle would hold a steady 850 RPM (albeit, a very rough 850).

 

yeah, I'm troubled by it... I'm heading in tomorrow to get the transmission looked at, looks like I'll be requesting a compression test as well.

I started a new thread with the video since I figured more people could see it that way... just an FYI

 

Damn! thats some weird idle. are you sure your foot was off from the pedal ?

if I get that, I will just call road side assiantance and say the car is dead. and have them tow it to a dealership.

 

I have just assumed that rotaries don't like low idles. My RX-7 is rough under ~900.

 

yup, both my feet were actually outside the car...I leaned in, pushed the clutch with my RIGHT foot to start it and then was about to exit my car. (I was going to let it warm up while I finished my coffee)

 

neutral switch. it will come and go, then after a while you will get a cel for it... i am going through this right now..

you can sometimes make it stop by shaking the shifter to the right and left.

beers

 

Hmm, interesting. Problem is when I left the house a few minutes later, my car wasn't pulling very hard in 2nd.

 

Anyone with a rough idle can easily check to see if this is happening. All you have to do is remove the knock sensor from the engine block and wrap it up in a blanket and set it aside somewhere. Leave it plugged in though. Just unscrew it from the engine. If the rough idle problem disappears, it's the knock sensor doing it. If the rough idle is still there, it wasn't the knock sensor detecting anything.

 

not likely related... does the problem go away when you push in the clutch? and how many miles?

beer

 

you're right, this is getting confusing with two threads.

The last time it happened, it smoothed out on its own. The time before, I was sitting at a light and I gave it gas, it stopped.

29,xxx miles.

 

that is what it is.. next time it does it. put the clutch in. it will go away.. then let it out. it will start again...

also after doing the give the shifter a good wiggle.. that will make it go away for awhile...

you will get a cel after a while.. mine just went on about a week ago.. have not taken the time to replace it.

beers

 

Thanks Swoope, you're always helpful! The Force must be strong in you...

I drove the car immediately afterwards but it was mostly highway so I didn't get pay too much attention to the idle. I'll keep an eye on it the next few days / weeks.

Good luck getting yours repaired. How many miles on yours?

 

i am helpful sometimes it started on my car at about 50k miles. has done it on and off till now 71k miles. finally got the cel for it..

repaired involves me take one off my spare transmission and putting it on.. i dont think the part is that expensive. and it is an easy install..

beers

 

Yep, that's the test.

I did it with an extra knock sensor I had laying around, which makes it easier.

 

I called the last dealership in NYC area. and will bring it in next friday (cuz I have stuff to do monday-thrusday)

*sigh* .... wish me luck, if they still being a dick, then I'll go Liberty Mazda.

 

If you end up going to Liberty ask for Rhonda, and tell her Taylor recommended it.

They should know that they are getting referrals because of their great service.



Still no call on mine though. Been 2 weeks, and I haven't heard from them on the new engine. They said it could be 3 weeks before I heard anything, so I'll let them do their thing. Don't wanna be one of those nagging people who calls all the time...

 

Mazda is replacing my entrire transmission due to severe grinding at high RPM's. This should fix my idle problem as well if it was a bad neutral switch, right?