rx8 potential issues please help
 

So here's what happened.. I have an 04 rx8 and have never had any problems with it. I went on vacation for a week and when I got back I tried to start it and the engine was cranking but it wouldn't turn over. I tried the basic stuff like battery and fuse checks and there was no issues with that. So I got it towed to the shop and they told me that it fouled the spark plugs from sitting so long. Also when they changed the sparks it was blowing smoke but after running it some it quit blowing smoke and is now running fine again. I made a few calls again and from what I hear this is a common issue with rotary motors when they sit and is nothing to sweat about. Is there anyone who could confirm that or has had the same issue or can educate me on what happened? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You have much reading to do

FAQ’s https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/rx-8-faq-please-read-before-posting-959/
New and Potential Owner’s, Start Here https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
Congratulations, you got an 8 https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/congratulations-you-got-8-a-202548/
New Owner FAQ’s https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=FAQ

Also, make sure you read the “stickies” in each sub-forum

My RX-7 did this once after an oil change, never did it again....just a strange wankel annomaly.

More info plz
Mileage
Modifications
Maintenance: plugs, coils

Sounds like a flooded problem too me ...

I wouldn't sweat it .... unless you think it could be your catalytic

The check engine is on for the catalyctic convertor.. I'm guessing a sensor I dunno. I had it at the shop and had it looked at and the mechanic said its not a big issue. When I bought the car it seemed to burn a little rich.. for example when I sit idling I can smell a little hint of gas but no smoking or anything when I drive and it seems to drive fine. This is the first time anything like this has happened and iv had it about 8 months. But its also the first time iv let it sit and not drive it for a week. Its a 04 rx8, 70k miles, no modifications.

04 and 05's are notorious for having dead catalytic's.

In North America they a warrenteed for 8 years

The rear o2 sensor can fail ... I would recommend you get Mazda to change the Cat for free.
A rear O2 will run you roughly 150 ish +-
And is drop dead simple to change

Why get an emissions test first .... dunno the rules there .... but it's cheap to do in Ontario and if you fail they don't care .... as long as it's fix before it comes back to pass at license plate renewal time

Here is another good thread going on about catalytic's with a dude that seems tonnes more knowledgeable with the particulars

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/need-serious-help-emissions-test-223616/

Starts around post #9

Okay so even tho I bought it used I can just take it to mazda and get the cat changed for free? And if so is it really worth it since the cat has such a small impact on the car?

what do you mean it has such small impact?
failed cat = bad burn = bad plugs = bad coils = kaboom
Do some reading

Well I took the car to mazda today and they will replace the cat for free but there telling me I have to buy new coils and spark plug wires before they will replace it which seems like a load of crap to me because all I want changed is the cat and its under warranty, I shouldn't have to pay for all that other stuff if I don't want it

Are you so lazy to research your car, that you don't car if it dies on you?

No I'm not, the only reason I said that is because that's what a mechanic told me and told me not to worry about the cat converter.. I didn't realize it was that big of an issue and now this dealership is trying to screw me and make me pay 500$ is repairs for coils and plug wires just to replace the converter...

I park my car almost all winter long here in Puyallup, Wa. I do have a batterie maintainer, to keep the batterie alive, and I do my oil changes every 7,500 miles like the book says, and the car runs great. I still have the original coils and cable. Total miles 61,000+

FYI

I don't know if you and I are arguing about the same thing, or something different.

However, the point I'm trying to get across is this: If you don't properly maintain your car, the engine WILL fail. And, if you HAVEN'T kept up on maintenance, the dealership CAN/WILL void your engine warranty.
So, read up on WHY a cat converter fails, and how that can EFFECT your engine.

Here's a tip: Like my diagram above (post #9), what happens to one will effect the other

Of course they are charging you they need to make some kind of money. Thats why most around here refer ro them as the "stealership". Your coils/plugs may or may not be good but they will find something that will make you pay up since warranty covers cat. Cats at dealer can cost up to a grand or if you get online you can get a very close to oem cat around 300-400 bucks. Last option would be to run a midpipe and get rid of cat all together (sounds 100 times better). Nice midpipe will cost you about 200 (agency power)! Like these other guys said the cat is crucial to the 8 and id say let dealer fix it and just cough up 500 for new coils/plugs/wires etc! Good luck

Tell them you ordered the plugs, wires, and coils from an online source, and you will install them as soon as they arrive.

Go to an online retailer, like Advance Auto Parts, or O'Reilly's, and order the parts.

So, putting everything into the cart at Advance Auto Parts, the total comes to $221.91.

If you enter code BIG50, that drops the price down to $171.91.
If you instead used code SP15, that makes the price $188.62, but then you get a $50 coupon mailed to you in two weeks, that ultimately makes your purchase cost $138.62.

So, save some money, and get a free convertor from your dealer.

Or, you could take your car to a different dealer who won't require you to change your plugs and coils. But, you really need to to prevent possible engine damage from the misfires, which is what most likely killed the convertor the first time.

BC.

Thank you everyone for ur help. I successfully changed the coils, wires, sparks and cat converter and the rich smell is completely gone but the check engine light came back on. Getting that light to stay off for more than one day is a full time job itself. Has anyone else had issues with the light not staying off? Is there some kind of reset or something I should do now that it has a brand new cat?

Perhaps a dumb question but what grade of gas are you using?

Premium ofcourse. I would never use any other

I also always make sure to completely twist the gas cap on when I get gas (another common cel light issue with the rx8) iv done my homework on the car and learned its common issues. As another person told me the rx8 is a very tempermental car which it really is and has to be driven and taken care of a certain way and iv followed that way to a t I just can't figure out this darn cel! I feel like the rx8 was designed to just keep it on constantly. Lol

Did you get the code read again? Was it the cat code or a different one? The car should reset itself after some amount of driving. I know my cel for my midpipe(same as your cel, saying my cat is failing) goes off every week or so and then returns within a day or two.

You can also go to autozone or advanceauto or any of those places and get the code checked then deleted for you. That will remove the cel and you can see if it comes back.

I finally got the read its my secondary air injection system. Code p 0410.. any ideas?

Not sure what you're asking.
You have a secondary air injection system malfunction.

You can get it fixed or leave it.

Its used only for a few minutes during startup when the car is cold to help with emissions.

I've removed mine completely

Okay cool well what I read was that its my intake manidfold building up carbon. I guess I can replace it or just clean the carbon out of the manifold and it should work fine.. that's what I'm coming up with and what mazda said

Be careful trying to remove the pipe that connects to the exhaust manifold.
Many people have a hard time removing those bolts without ruining them.

So you've ruled out the air pump, you know that its working?