shimming
 

Yesterday i made the mistake of not adding 87 octane gas into my 04 auto. now it rides harsh..
to add to the issue i need new front pads. but anyway i have a severe shimmy when i get to 45 mph.. i also added air to back tire that was really low. i am very open for suggestions, i hate this car- bad gas mph and only 36,000 miles on it
seems i can watch needle drop every mile

thanks for your suggestions

well if you hate the car then sell it, dont buy the car if you cant afford the gas

So what'd you put into it..?

i put 89 octane i watched the needle go to half tank
then topped it off with 93 octane and still has all the same issues

i can afford the gas pin head. if you dont have anything positive to add shut up

Take your car to the dealership. Tell them to look it over and tell you everything thats wrong with it. Then fix it all.

You should never use 87 octane in this car. your wording sounds like you always use 87. Severe shimmy could be anything. Be more descriptive? does the steering wheel shake when you brake? do you feel the brake pedal pulsate? does the steering wheel shake when you're just driving at 45mph +? Have you balanced your tires ever? gotten an alignment? Why didn't your TPMS go off if one tire was way low? Have you ever replaced plugs coils and wires?

usually always buy 93 just got wrong one...
shimming feels more from back end. steering wheel is not shaking. also center console get very warm!

This is why I wouldn't recommend the RX-8 to someone who doesn't know anything about cars...

go to autozne and asked if the have the shimmy tool, they will prob let you rent it :lol:

That's normal

jackass

and i suppose you are master mechanic

thanks for your help
seems you are the only one that wants to give positive suggestions
this is one fickle car...

Unless it's burning hot, but generally the center console (and drink holder) get very warm.

Definitely get your wheels checked though, I remember my old car used to start bobbing up and down when I got past 35mph, turned out one of the tires was bad, swapped it out and problem was fixed.

I also wouldn't recommend putting anything lower than 89 octane, even if only half-filling, but that's up to you bud

If one tire was low on pressure, it could be bad and need replacing. a bad tire would cause the rear of the car to "shimmy" as the tire is no longer properly round. This effects traction, braking, and the tire could even fail catastrophically if left alone long enough (a blowout).

Luckily, most tire shops will look at your wheels and tires for you on the cheap. Some places even offer it for free, figuring they'll be able to sell you up to a new set of tires or a wheel balancing if you have a problem.

As far as gas goes, its a pig. Theres not much to be done about that. You could buy a cobb access port from mazda maniac and run his economy mode if you want to drop 700 bucks. The MPG increases apparently will pay for itself in about a year or so. If you do though, it will be much more important to run high octane fuel as detonation is more likely with a lean mixture and low octane gas. Detonation will destroy your motor.

well this guy is a ray of motherflippin sunshine.

The grade of gas you put in has nothing to do with brake pads being worn out or shimmy.

Shimmy is usually caused by out of balance front wheels, or worn suspension parts. Go to a good tire shop, or the dealer, and get the wheels balanced. For brakes, I believe there's a DIY on replacing pads.

By any chance are you a friend of DaRotary?

Ken

I'm guessing that at 36K miles, your tires are going. The type of shimmy you are desribing is almost always a bad tire or uneve tread wear. The other posibility is bad shocks (leaking) or suspension damage from a bad pot hole or accident. Get the tires checked.

As for the mileage, which is poor, have you ever had your spark plugs replaced? They should have been done by 36K miles. If you haven't, you should get that done as well. All the best, and sorry that you don't like the car. I have 74K miles on mine and love it, but each to their own.

Fixed it for you.
Tires and brakes go bad on honda's too.

so many people with so much to say but with little to offer... seems everyone has something to say...
went to tires shop and found out that the back tires both snap the belts....
they were original tires, that oh (for all you backyard mechanics) had been rotated twice.
thanks again for your suggestions... all is well after couple of new tires...

OK, how was I wrong?

You should also get all four replaced. If you really have rotated them regularly and twice in 36K miles is a little scant, all four are shot.

Ever replace the plugs? I bet not. You should get out of this car. With that kind of maintenance, you are going to have problems. Also, 36K miles is pretty good longevity on the stock tires. You must drive fairly conservatively, which is good.

give me your fax number and i will fax my maintenance log book that shows the plugs changed at 28,000 miles... thanks but dealer only had two tires so i go those replaced and the other will be done by weeks end.

Glad your getting the issues worked out. yeah, get the other two tires changed out like you said you were going to.
Do you have a manual for this car? If not, go download one for free at the mazdausa.com website. Then I would look at the maintainance portion and see when stuff is supposed to be done. Yes, you can stretch some of that stuff for a little while, but you should stay fairly close to it. You don't really say, but if you are the original owner and went 28k miles before you changed the plugs, that's way too long on ANY car. IMO.............if you did them at 28k and are now at 36k, I'd be changing them again already.

mabye do some maintenance and take care of the rotors/brakes and if you don't like the car I (personally would sell it) just put a for sale sign in it and im sure someone will stop in to look shortly