Hi, have a 2004 RX8 Auto that under hard acceleration makes a loud clicking sound. I have been on this forum and have found many things and viewed the workings of the valve and I have access to Alldata but no where has anyone stated what to do about the problem, at least not that I can find. So, what I have done is removed the vacuum hose to the actuator and plugged the hose and Viola! no more knocking! I know this is not a fix but as I said again no where have I found how to fix it. I have put vacuum to the actuator and it holds, I have put a vacuum gauge to the hose and it comes on at approximately 5 to 6k rpm so the vacuum switch is working and because it's working that tells me that the PC is getting the data it needs to make it work. I can move the valve manually and it move with ease. I've heard of cleaning it but it's not sticking. Thanks, Paul

 

Mine does the same but only at idle. If i put pressue on the actuator rod the noise goes away. Heard the fix is to replace the ssv actuator. Supposbly there is a updated actuator out that has higher spring tension. What happens if u run it un plugged from a driveability/ performance standpoint?

 

Gturbo8, well I just did the repair with the updated valve, did a clear on the kam, cleared the codes ( if any ), and did the 20 pumps on the brake pedal and then crossed myself and thought ok this will fix it! No! it didn't fix it, it's just as bad as before and now it's stalling every time you stop and it takes a while to restart. Now it's got a p0302 code so I thru on a couple of coils, I had already put in new plugs and wires, cleared the codes again and still doesn't work, so I decided to do a compression test, My Mazda comp tester is broke so I used a regular tester with the schrader valve removed, rotor 1 80 psi and good pulses, rear rotor 70 psi and good pulses, so that's not it. I going to see if the Dealer will warranty my engine as I have gone as far as I can and now I'm bald from pulling all my hair out! BTW, nobody that I know of here or at the dealer had a positive fix for this problem so be prepared to live with it or pay lots of money for a maybe repair!

It would be nice to get compression numbers on a good engine posted on this forum if there is I could not find it!

 

I understand this is a very old thread, but I am having the exact same issue. Was the problem ever solved?

 

I fixed this on my car yesterday. My actuator is fine, but the little plastic bushing has been missing since I bought the car. I measured the hole in the arm at 6mm and the nub where the clip goes as 4mm. I picked up a pack of brass spacers 6mm OD, 4mm ID and 6mm long on amazon, but had shorten it to 5mm long to make it fit.



DIY SSV bushing 6mm OD, 4mm ID and 5mm long

 

It is not really just for the case of "under hard acceleration", but this should help with the SSV actuator noise if that's what you're experiencing.