spoddyandthemazda

Hi all

Well my luck ran out last night as I had just finished installing my strakes and front splash guards, so decided to start the car and move it over for a good wash.

Car started ok, ran normally, then started to chug and the rev needle drop down below the 1, so fearing it would stall and the engine being cold, i jumped in and put my foot on the gas. Car was hesitant, but took the boot, idled normal but there was the intermittent drops etc. I moved the car over and let the engine reach normal temperature before switching off. I then washed the car for 30 mins and jumped in to start her and move her back again. Car started ok, was some hesitation now and again, didn't feel like herself all the same.

So this morning I got in to go to work, started the car ok, and drove off with the odd hesitation, got into town and i noticed i needed to give her the gas a bit more to move off in 1st and 2nd. Then the engine light started to flash on and off and the car started to go slow and make this burpppp noise, I do have a CAT back SS exhaust which would make it noisier, but could only muster about 30mph.
I then pulled in and called the RAC breakdown, the guy came out and was telling me how he was saving up to buy an rx8, and only had fixed flooding problems. He connected the laptop he had and diagnosed the fault as a misfire on cylinder 1. He tried clearing it and restarting the car, eventually it fired but was running rough. He then tried pulling the electrical connectors to the coils and found that when the last coil that is nearest the window was pulled the engine died.

So it looked like 3 ignition coils had burned out, I then got towed to my mechanic and he explained it all to him. He rang to confirm that it was the coil pack and to order 4 new ones. They are £90 each at the dealership, we could not locate any locally cheaper at motor stores, all said dealer part etc.

I have ordered them at local Mazda dealership, no choice, but I was wondering from all of your experiences, would I be best putting new spark plugs and leads on too. My mechanic suggested the coil packs, but I have read if the spark plugs are bad it can cause the coils to burn out etc.

For the sake of an extra £80-£100 I would get it done, can anyone suggest that I would be right? Or would cleaning the plugs do, its alot of money I know, but I hate having my baby off the road, everyone was stopping and coming over and admiring the car, and surprised at it breaking down.

For info, previous owner I was told by dealership, had changed the coil packs, I think he bought the car at 57000, I bought it at 62800, current mileage is 71500 when this happened.
Also car drove ok last week, I had not driven it this week, cause of fitting strakes/mudflap problems and weather. When the breakdown guy was trying to look at a plug he noticed one of the leading leads came off very easily and it looked rusted on the spark plug and lead to me.

After reading through the previous threads for coil/plug problems I was thinking I should replace coils/plugs and leads all at same time.

I had replaced the air filter with a K&N straight replacement a few weeks ago, but no problems and car had more omph, I always red line at least once a day to keep carbon at bay and she was fine climbing though the revs. I was gutted today as I hate breaking down, its embarrasing especially when people stop to tell you how lovely and tidy my 8 is.

What do you all think, and help would be appreciated, my mechanic doesn't deal with rotary engines and the guy beside him who actually does was burgled and is quitting in 2 months, its so ironic, as when I found out he strips/rebuilds rotary engines, I thought my lucky day incase of any problems?
I also don't know the rotary guys phone number, neither does my mechanic or neighbouring shop people, all you see are mk 1 and 2 rx7's outside his unit garage.

Sorry for long winded speel, but wanna give as much info as possible, as was scared that engine had blown!

Many thanks

Race Roots

iTrader: (64)

I would unless they have been replaced recently.

Wires oddly as well I would replace, Topgear8 just called me and his stock wires were coming off the spark plug by the engine he was having misfires and flames out the tail pipe. Kind of silly for something like that to happen but it does occasionally.

That is expensive for each coil I just shipped a set for $135 for a complete set and I think shipping was only $65 or so dollars for a customer in Ireland.

I stock these and ship internationally as well so next time.

spoddyandthemazda

hi

thanks for your reply, i was really worried today because when reading peoples reviews they were told, oh needs a new engine and my dealership warranty finished 3 months ago.

i only drive this car twice a week and it was going fine, i have never driven another rx8 to compare, but once the revs build up she goes fast enough (you sort of get used to it).

the exhaust was crackling as normal when she did run on the one working coil, but then the guy couldn't start her again, so i am praying nothing serious has happened.

i would have got them off of you, but was unsure of US parts for UK models etc.
also will take too long as car is at mechanics and he promised to lock it in his garage workshop to keep safe etc.

i am just crapping myself as reading stuff on the net outside of this site which is pointing to more serious problems, although the breakdown guy said it was the only code that came up and when i tried starting the oil guage wouldn't move off the L. When he got it going again it went up to the two ticks above the half way mark. i have heard its a dummy, but was worried about compression etc, if replacing the coils/plugs and leads fixes it, i'll be happy but nervous.

its a long wait till tuesday, cost not shown up on my credit card but no way of shipping to me by tuesday, plus they charge import tax etc.

but thanks for your reply, if all goes well, i'll maybe get some off of you next time, although i hope i don't have to keep replacing these parts?

Race Roots

iTrader: (64)

Well hopefully all goes well.

Keep us posted.

bse50

71500miles, i would change the whole "ignition" so new coils, plugs and wires as Brice stated.
Parts are even more expensive here so that price seems right.
Anyway i would ask them to check the fuel pump as well, its scheduled maintenance is, if i remember right, 60.000mi With the proper tools is a 20minutes job

spoddyandthemazda

Hi Guys

Well I rang my local parts store and managed to pick up 2 leading NGK spark plugs for £40, I have ordered the trailing plugs so should arrive by Tuesday. I also picked up some HT leads for £23 including P&P off ebay. What bugs me is the cost of the coils, found a few UK web sites selling them for £200 for four, but take 2 weeks to arrive. Funny enough my mechanic was looking last night on the internet and found the same site. He was shocked at the price of each coil, I also have to pay VAT on them so its more £103 a coil, absolutley outrageous I know, but it must be the costs of importing them and what our great government get out of it that shoves the price up.

So I saved some money on the plugs and leads, I would order some off of you but unless you can fly like superman, I wouldn't get them in time, no way I am paying out money like that again. Can coils not be repaired, my mechanic gave me one to bring with me to the dealership to ensure they are the same etc and it looked ok on the connection, how do they make them? My father knows a man who repairs starter motors etc, I was wondering is it a specialist job making them?

Just got to roll with mazda's punches lol.

On the up note I got talking to the rotary engine mechanic who has a garage nearby and he told me he has worked on rebuilding engines etc since he was 19. The 8's engine is a strong one, as mazda sorted out the apex seal problem, with using better material in 1978. He said the engine should be ok, and recommended replacing the plugs/leads along with the coil pack.
He told me the coils are the weak point of the engine and there is a whole debate about the warranty on them and how mazda should stand over them. I mean the HT leads I am getting I have seen have a 3 year warranty. I am happier I have someone who knows rotaries and can rebuild them etc, when I get on the road again cross fingers, I'll take out a warranty on the engine so at least I can get him to do the work and the warranty cover it as he said it can cost a few thousand rebuilding an engine depending on what has broken. You cannot tell until you strip the engine down what needs replacing, what can be reused etc.

If the ignition parts sort it and they had better, I'll save up for the fuel pump etc, I will be broke after this for a while, but at least I am not getting it done at a dealership

One other thing I asked was how to look after the engine, he recommend using the correct oil, not babying the engine, even red line once a week and to use some injector cleaner in the petrol to keep them clean. He also recommended I check with Mazda did they reflash the ecu, I told him I didn't know as they had the car in to replace the CAT and just read the error code but no other error codes came up.

I take it when you replace the 'ignition' parts, the ecu needs to re-learn and the car would maybe smooth itself out after a few cycles?

Well I'll see how it goes just need to wait, man its unbareable lol.

bse50

Have you considered asking Charles R. Hill from BHR about parts too? I paid $40 for an entire ignition kit shipping. I live in Italy and here prices are even higher, like 600€ for the coils and cables. I saved money with his upgrade in the end
I believe that he also has spark plugs wires that fit the OEM ignition system.

spoddyandthemazda

Hi

Thanks for the info, I rang the two main mazda dealers and they checked the prices again, one was £83 plus VAT so £96 each, rang the other and they shall be in tomorrow and was quoted £355 including VAT for the four, best I can get them in such short notice.
The two trailing plugs cost £50 and still waiting on my leads, hopefully arrive tomorrow.

Had another laugh a minute night tonight. My mazda mx3 broke down coming out of the hospital I work at, so called out breakdown service again, had to wait a few hours as an audi TT broke its clutch pedal, so mazda aren't too bad after all. Anyway diagnosed problem as my distributor having no current coming out, but current going in from ignition coil. Ah the old days with no fault codes lol.
I had put a new ignition coil in after she quit on me coming out of the gym and refused to start a few weeks ago. The mileage is 245000 km, and she drove like a dream this morning to work. However very warm day for our country and RAC man said probably original part, so for a 1992, not too bad reliability wise, all things wear out. I can get one off ebay for around £89 to £110, just need to ensure it will suit. I put on magnacor leads a few years ago and like I said the new coil.

God I hope thats the end of it, hopefully fingers and toes crossed the 8 will be running again, so at least I have some wheels, as taking train tomorrow to work, crap I know, but I have no zoom zoom, only zub zub.

cheers

spoddyandthemazda

Update, I got the coils/plugs/leads today, its boiling hot, but got my fathers
300d merc to skoot about in, great having some wheels again lol.
mechanic was on his own and it must be something in the air but lots of
cars not starting etc, so was inundated with people.

anyway by the time he got round to my car, it was about 9pm when he rang to say
he had fitted the plugs/coils etc, turned the car over, but battery was low, so he would
charge it up and look at it again in the morning. with the breakdown guy turning it over
it got flat, and he used his battery booster to try and start it.
mechanic did say the car was trying to start but battery too low, so i hope it will be ok.
when i got round to him with the parts he had the plugs out and cleaned, he told me they were really dirty, the leading looked a very dark grey when cleaned compared to the new set.
but i said stick them in anyway, when i picked up the coils from the dealership i got talking to one of their mechanics who had a winning blue like mine in getting a CAT replaced, the owner got one from a breakers for £250, the mechanic was an older man, but really great to talk too, he stopped and spoke away to me, i felt like i was taking up his time, but he was sooooo sound it was great, he told me to try and get the plugs with the RE7 code for leading as they are stronger and ignite better for flood prevention etc, i checked when i got back to the car and i had the 9's and 8's but no matter.
so please God let my 8 start ok tomorrow. i also got talking to the rotary mechanic when i got to my mechanic, and when i walked into his garage it was like rotary mazda heaven, he had about 10 rx7's from mark1,2 to 3 and 192 and 231 rx8 engines he was putting into a mk1 project. he was great to talk too, reassured me engine should be ok, as misfires/coils burning out very common, engine was just not getting ignition due to coils going. its amazing seeing the rotors and the engines out of the 8, they are so small. i couldn't believe how light a rotor is and how thin the apex seals are. the rotor was from a mk3 rx7 but the carbon on it was crazy, practically black, and he was explaining how you clean them etc.

i was really happy seeing it all, like a kid in a sweet shop, he was saying that in auckland in australia, you could fit all of the mazda rotaries into one town that we have in ireland, as they are rotary mad there. i don't get the 100000 mile warranty as i think its for the usa, why europe is kept out i dunno why, discrimination i say, so fingers crossed no major problems.

i'll keep you all informed.

spoddyandthemazda

well good news, I have my 8 back on the road and its like a brand new car yippeee!!!!

the mechanic changed the coils/plugs and leads ok, but couldn't start the car even after he charged the battery, so luckily enough the rotary mechanic was in his garage and he came over and removed the fuel pump fuse and turned her over, checked an old plug to see if spark ok on the leads and then tried some fuel mixture into the manifold. nothing so my dad said lets tow it and try starting it. so after a bit of a tow and dropping into 2nd then letting the clutch out, she fired into life then died, tried again and this time she fired up. bit of smoke out the back, but i was told there would be because of the fuel etc. it was fantastic the car was idling so smoothly, so drove back up the road to the garage, it was literally like a new car, pulled better revved better etc. the check engine light was on, but the rotary mechanic checked it and it was just a misfire probably me trying to start on the tow etc. i should have just done what i was told but in the stress of towing and trying to start up i was trying to fire the starter with the key etc, dumb i know, all i had to do was drop the clutch and hit the gas pedal, but got her going.

so after clearing the code, drove home lovely. was just fantastic to be back in the eight again, and its driving better than when i bought it, like new, not kidding.

so much for dealer saying new coils/plugs etc, you simply can't believe them, i think its best when buying a used eight to have the plugs changed.

so there you have it £355 for 4 coils, £90 for the plugs and £23 for leads, £20 for fitting. expensive i know but coils were the worse, mechanic showed me the 3 burnt out ones, all had white spots, like a finger print on the back, i do have one left so at least i can use it as a spare.

the rotary mechanic thought my starter was a bit noisey, so recommended replacing it after a month or so, i blame the breakdown guy turning it over trying to start on one coil etc.

now she starts very quickley, i do have some green phosphers stuff round one of the battery terminals, the one that the plastic cover fits over, not the lid. so positive i think.

i'll get the battery tested soon too, but now have wheels to go to work tomorrow in, fed up with the train, although handy incase of emergency.

now all i need is a distributor for my autozam az3 (mx3), found one with the same part number on ebay in washington, only $60 and $32:50 shipping/insurance so works out at £58.

there will be import tax no doubt, usually £25, but if i get my precious az3 back on the road too i'll be a happy bunny!

so thanks for all of your help guys i appreciate it, fingers crossed i'll be zoom zooming for a long time.