Speed Limited!!!
 

Ive been happy with the handling and durability of the RX-8 untill recent recall(s) and engine flash. The flash smoothed out idle and drivability(good) ,but my top speed is limited to 180 klm and loss of power at high rpm's 7500-9000 rpm. I called local dealership with issue and they responded by telling me that the new flash has changed this and that it is what it is (nothing can be done). I called a out of town dealership here in Alberta and they confirmed it. Wow! I cant believe that ! I spent 45 grand on a (sports car) that can be passed by a Hyundai Pony. It wasnt always like this. When I first got it I was able to hit 220-230klm at the track. Now its useless as a track car and has no umph at top rpms.

Anyone have experience with this particular situation??

top speed is limited? I know that the US models dont' have a speed restriction, do the Canadian models have this???

IF you're losing power at the high rpm bands, it could be a bad coil, wires, or spark plug.
How many miles on your car? how long since you changed those?

have not heard about this but this IS the exact reason y i don't want to get my up to date flash done It's been running fine(knock on wood) so far.....

Apparently its a selective thing by model year . (so they say) oil is honey colored (clean), sparkplugs are new and it has 68,000klm .. The dealership reps explained the flash is responsible and that old flash cannot be loaded as it will be overridden by new one.???????

I'm at a loss for words.

There is no limiter.

Not saying your car isn't resticted somehow, but it's not the flash.

Cat dying? That would explain the lowered top speed.

Plugs/coils burnt out? it would explain the low revs......

S

your dealership is feeding you lots of B.S.

Flash should not impose a speed limiter. Check to make sure all your spark plug wires are in properly. (they have a tendency to come loose at the plugs)

wow that's pretty BS. topped at 112 mph... LOL

No cat .clean oil, new plugs, new coils. runs great just stops at 178-180 klm has power to get there then bounces 178-180.. I was told by Mazda representative that it was the new flash/programing

you running a midpipe?
very strange...

mid pipe yes . no check engine light. Is there anyone in southern Alberta that can change this?

this is the first I've heard of a flash restricting a car.

I would say get an AccessPort and load a custom map to test it out. Maybe someone in the area has one??? (although I still don't think it's the map...)
time for Process of Elimination...

well, since the AP could restrict your rpms, maybe the ecu is possible at restricting speed. still fishy though. find out if anyone around you has this issue as well.

Thank you all for giving this some thought. I called a local performance company and I'm awaiting there feedback. Cheers. If anyone has any info please post.

When the ECU intervenes as a speed limiter, the effect is the same as exceeding redline - spark cuts out, and speed drops like you hit a brick wall.

This doesn't sound like what you are describing - you say it just won't go any faster at 180kph....

S

Example. accelerating from 100klm to 180 klm no prob. When at 179 -180 it will pull ,let off repeatedly with gas pedal floored .Then after a minute or 2 of this engine light will flash then stay on. It has no prob getting up to 180 then hangs there (stuttering) like bouncing off the redline on most cars but well below max rpms in both 5- 6 th gears.

Furthermore. I contacted 2 dealerships in Alberta and both say that they cant fix this issue as it is normal as far as they are concerned. .IE they sais nothing can be done and that its part of the system update and is irreversible.

is the CEL still on?

cel stayed on untill reset. this will only happen when holding pedal to floor at 179-180 for a minute or two. Ive repeated the process 3-4 times with same results.

PS I mentioned this to mazda mechanic and he replied dont go beyond 170 klm.He also said that this is normal with new flash..

Now I dont want everyone to go out and drive their cars to limit to see if flash has caused limit on speed as this can be unsafe on public roads. LOL:)

Get an access port.

If it is the flash thats your only option.

that's exactly the same as my car which is a JDM speed limited to 180 km/hr .
Sounds like your dealer got hold of a JDM flash somehow .....

...maybe you should get that CEL checked out...that would be my suggestion. Although I'm not sure where in Alberta you're trying to hit 180kph...as long as you don't do it near me i'm good.

I heard some places in Canada having crazy street racing laws *IE car getting crushed* but this is new!

112mph is the JDM speed limiter.

could it be that canada is now taking the JDM limits? down in the good ole us of a, 147mph is the top of 5th. where does 6th go... :) and its not hard at all to hit the top of 5th. top of 6th... well.. i dont think i'll ever see that. (at the track or wherever legal of course, follow all laws of the road!)

accessport ftw. definitely get an accessport.

They're probably doing this since the crappy plastic undertray is known to get ripped off at 200 km/h+.