Ignition Problems
 

Hi All

Sorry I am new to this website so I do apologise if this problem has already been answered but I have searched and nothing really helps me!

I have own my 2004 RX8 since September last year, since then I have had to replace the cat and a coil and all the spark plugs (which is when we discovered that the previous has put the leading and trailing plugs in the wrong way). The engine light kept coming on intermittently after this work had been done. However, for 4 weeks it went out, no problems, nothing. Then on a very sunny and reasonably humid English Sunday (21.06.09) the engine light began flashing, the revs dropped, dropped her down a gear, the light went out and everything was fine. 5 minutes later the engine light started flashing again, the RX8 sounded like a tractor and the revs kept dropping. I pulled over as I didn't not (and hope I haven't) want to cook the cat!

We checked the coils on Monday night and coils (working from the front end) 2 and 4 were not sparking. Got excellent spark from 1 and 3. Initially the car would start but would lose power. After checking the coils the car would turn over but not start. :confused:

Ordered 2 new coils from Mazda (at a hideous cost) and went back to replace them this evening. Only to find that we got great spark from them but another coil was now not sparking! Again the car would not start, the battery was about flat. Charged the battery and still nothing!

Now I am at a loss as to what to try next, can't keep throwing £200 at a car that is stuck in a remote village, 20 miles from where I live!

It has done approximately 57000 miles - I have done 12k since owning it! What can I say - I loved it - although now it is starting to where a little thin!!

If anyone can help by giving me any advice I would be really grateful as I am slowly going insane without my baby!!! Plus - my 30 mile commute without a car is a drag!! lol

Many thanks in anticipation!
:wavey:
x

PM Charles R. Hill. He has an aftermarket coil upgrade that is excellent. But I'm guessing the coils are not the root of your problem. Something else is wierd here. Have you pulled the MIL codes from the OBDII port? That should tell you what the computer is seeing. It may not be coils since you've replaced them and it's still happening.

Can you rent a code reader from a local auto store or a friend? It needs to be CAN compliant.

Have you check the ignition wires?
Maybe start swapping components and see if the issue carries over to another coil.

yeah either borrow someones scangauge (altho theres noone near us that has one :( ..i know cause i've tried!)

if you're under warranty get mazda to diagnose it for free

otherwise most garages offer engine diagnostics (i.e code reading) for about £20

whereabouts in leics are you?

Hi guys thanks for the responses!! I do not have access to a scangauge so don't know what codes are showing. Obviously, I didn't learn my lesson and get breakdown cover after the last time so am looking at a huge bill to get the car to the garage :wallbash:

The difficulty is time at the mo, I have no vehicle to get the RX8 so any further looking will now be at the weekend. So perhaps swapping the coil leads (because we've tried the coils) might help to identify something?:uhh:

Andrew I live in Syston and the car is stuck miles away!! :(

This is really stumping us at the moment, if only I could get a tow - although that present a totally different problem!!! lol

Sounds like a nightmare mate. I found this link on the UK site for a scanner.
Mazda charge something similar for each scan. Hope it helps

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/7402742.htm

You need to make sure that all the connections gong into the coil(the power plug) are good and tight would not hurt to take them out and make sure there is no water or other debris in them and plug them back in....also if you have a digital multimeter or just an OHM meter will work check resistance in the coils to make sure that they are not bad...

does not sound like a coild issue to me since it's not just in the 2 coils u first pointed out and seems to be bouncing around on which ones are bad....

so check connections and see what that does and if they are good and tight try resistance testing

Thanks so much with all the suggestions so far - back looking at it tomorrow after i've finished work so will definitely get him to check all the connections - so you think it's likely that a lead maybe causing the problem??? surely i wouldn't need to replace the spark plugs as i only did that 7 months ago :uhh:

last time i had this sort of problem it was towed and then it was bumped started - now i know you have to be so careful doing that but i am at about the end of my rope with it!!! lol

Plugs should be ok as long as u havn't flooded it....I DEF think it's something wiring/connection related since it's not stationary on just one coil or plug..

Well take the plugs out to check and make sure, you never know.

thanks for the suggestions - would try them but the guy who was helping me with it appears to have split up with me (although can't confirm this as he just isn't talking to me) and i am just not that mechanically minded. time to just bite the bullet and pay for it to be towed to the garage - another £150 before anything is diagnosed - great!!!