Car Sluggish at Low RPM- Help please
 

Hi there

I have a 2004 MT with approx 55000km on it.

Recently (past few weeks) it has been acting sluggish at Low RPM. Bogs down and the throttle response is not smooth until I hit about 3-4K RPM.

It also takes a few seconds of cranking to start, and has gotten worse the past few days.

Starting out on a hill is very sluggish and the car nearly stalls.

I have still have the original plugs/coils/wires. When I called the garage to make an appointment, the tech manager said it might be the plugs and suggested new ones at that mileage.

Any thoughts? I'm hoping it just needs new plugs or coils, and this isn't an actual engine/exhaust problem.

Thanks

I would replace your coils and plugs. You can change your own coils and plugs and save some money. They are very easy to do

Thanks, I forgot to mention, it turns over for a few seconds before starting. Which I'm guessing is due to bad plugs/coils?

I just hope it's not a seal/vacuum problem, I can't afford a big repair right now.

I just did my plugs/coils/wires at 36K on my 06. Car felt better instantly with more torque down low, it also gave it much better throttle response. Also I noticed it cranks much easier now. Do my search about the spark plugs, you will see what mine looks like after 30K miles. The tune up is about $300, but I think it should be done every 30K miles for every RX-8. If I were to do over, I think it would only take me 2.5 hours to do the whole job. Just make sure you buy a lot of long extensions as you will need it on the spark plugs.

Rotaries don't die at low mileage, it's usually owners or bad mechanics that kill them.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ight=DIY+coils

heres my diy for the coils, soooo easy took me about 15 minutes TOPS to finish all four

Mazda issued a TSB to replace the weak starter and battery with a high torque model

2.5 hours is a ton!!!! it if takes you longer you must have drank too muchbeer in between !.....


15 min for coils and 45 for plugs (including getting and putting away tools!)

^HAHA! An hour does sound about right with clean up.

^exactly!...but U have to give time for the unexperienced when it comes to working on cars....(no offense to anyone)

Well, back on topic...I recently have had some issues with low rpm sluggishness. I first thought maybe a clogged primary fuel injector but I think I have narrowed it down to a bad SSV actuator. I believe it has a damaged internal seal and is not sealing properly at low rpm to give me power at the low speeds and that being said it is having a little trouble opening all the way giving me a bobble at about 4-4500 rpm.

So, I'm just dealing with it right now until I can find a new actuator to use and then have some down time to replace it since it's such a PITA.

^^ don't you guys think an hour is still kinda taking your time?

come to the garage vvith tools in hand and a beer in the other!

^well it all depends on how many beers you have had before starting....considering an hour with finding tools, jacking up car, beer run,,, etc etc...haha

Well, took the car into the dealership. I was on a time crunch and needed the car back fast. They suggested new plugs and an air filter. There were no CEL codes read when they checked.

Well, got the car back and it is still having most of the same problems.

Still cranking over about 8 times before starting and still has some very sluggish low RPM acceleration. And it amost seems like at over a certain speed there is a mild vibration going on as well in the car. Not sure if it is related at all to the other issues.

So, I took it back to the dealership and a day later, they are still trying to figure out what is wrong causing the hard start/bogging.

Are there any of the TSB's I should point out to them when they figure it out?

Or anything I should suggest they check (I know pretty crazy to have to tell the dealership)?


At this point I'm getting pretty concerned.

dude im having the exact same problem as you. Took it to the dealer and they dont know. I had my neighbor whose good all kinds a cars drive it and hes saying that the computer isnt giving enough fuel at low rpm!

Here is the "TSB" on your problem...and another too...print out and bring to dealer...then let us know how it goes...

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...4-08-1924g.pdf

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...5-08-1883f.pdf