Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

Second failing air pump... (sound clip included)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 03-09-2009, 10:00 AM
  #1  
Anatomy of a corner...
Thread Starter
 
fullsmoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CT
Posts: 536
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Second failing air pump... (sound clip included)

This is the second pump to start doing this--first one was replaced by dealer. Does yours sound like this? Also, note the horrible spin down sound @ 1:05.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPhX638aNLU

My concern is should I bother to get this fixed as I am out of warranty? I don't need to pass emissions so if I could chunk it, I'd be fine with that--BUT will losing the air pump cause an early catalytic converter failure?

I'm always embarrassed on cold startups...

FS
Old 03-09-2009, 06:07 PM
  #2  
I don't buy Kool-Aid
 
DOMINION's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Vegas Baby!
Posts: 8,823
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Dude that sounds bad. What steps have you told the dealer?
Old 03-09-2009, 08:14 PM
  #3  
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
kersh4w's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DC Area
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
you should tell everyone you had a jet engine installed.
Old 03-09-2009, 08:43 PM
  #4  
Grasshopper
iTrader: (1)
 
Jon316G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Streetsboro, OH
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 0
Received 44 Likes on 33 Posts
Originally Posted by fullsmoke
BUT will losing the air pump cause an early catalytic converter failure?
Yes!
The air pump promotes earlier light-off of the catalytic converter and earlier combustion of Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide.
Old 03-09-2009, 08:49 PM
  #5  
Mu ha.. ha...
 
Razz1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cali
Posts: 14,361
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Its not bad. It still funtions just makes noise.

Goes away after warm up, right?
Old 03-09-2009, 09:49 PM
  #6  
Zoom Zoom....
 
Silver06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Western Canada, eh?
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Talk to someone who's going Turbo. They usually pull off the airpumps.

Bad luck that you've had two of them go bad, though. Just for fun, check the voltage going to the airpump - vague possibility that something is burning up the motors. An even more vague possibility is that the outlet of the pump / tube to manifold, is somehow restricted.

G'luck.
Old 03-09-2009, 09:51 PM
  #7  
Anatomy of a corner...
Thread Starter
 
fullsmoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CT
Posts: 536
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Jon316G
Yes!
The air pump promotes earlier light-off of the catalytic converter and earlier combustion of Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide.
This is what I was worried about. Seems like it's the same reason why all my 7s have air pumps--that's why none of my 7s have a cat However, I want to keep the 8 as stock as possible. Is there any way this issue could be fixed w/o buying a new pump? Or how much will one set me back?

Razz1: The noise does go away after warm-up, but the embarrassment is forever.

FS
Old 03-09-2009, 09:52 PM
  #8  
Anatomy of a corner...
Thread Starter
 
fullsmoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CT
Posts: 536
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Silver06
Talk to someone who's going Turbo. They usually pull off the airpumps.

Bad luck that you've had two of them go bad, though. Just for fun, check the voltage going to the airpump - vague possibility that something is burning up the motors. An even more vague possibility is that the outlet of the pump / tube to manifold, is somehow restricted.

G'luck.
I don't have the PDFs handy, but is there a blown up image of the air pump and it's workings?
Old 03-09-2009, 10:11 PM
  #9  
Zoom Zoom....
 
Silver06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Western Canada, eh?
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
^ Fullsmoke,

The Service Manual has a section on testing the secondary air solenoid valve and the airpump.

PM'd.
Old 03-09-2009, 10:27 PM
  #10  
Registered
 
shazy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Montreal,QC
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sounds awesome! I would so keep it and say "I just put a special motor".
Old 03-10-2009, 12:07 AM
  #11  
I don't buy Kool-Aid
 
DOMINION's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Vegas Baby!
Posts: 8,823
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
^ no!
Old 03-10-2009, 12:31 AM
  #12  
Oooh, shiny!
iTrader: (1)
 
maskedferret's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 908
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Aaagh!!! Kill it!!! Put it out of its misery!!!
Old 03-10-2009, 12:35 AM
  #13  
3-wheeler
 
Flashwing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 2,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I had an airpump sound similar and it was close to failure. I had it replaced but since I have the accessport the airpump CEL is removed. I ended up removing it. Last thing I want is an electric motor seizing under my hood and causing a fire.

You can easily remove it and then seal up the vaccum source.
Old 03-10-2009, 10:44 AM
  #14  
Anatomy of a corner...
Thread Starter
 
fullsmoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CT
Posts: 536
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Silver06
^ Fullsmoke,

The Service Manual has a section on testing the secondary air solenoid valve and the airpump.

PM'd.
Thanks! I'll get to checking that when I get some free time.

FS
Old 03-12-2009, 05:08 AM
  #15  
I don't buy Kool-Aid
 
DOMINION's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Vegas Baby!
Posts: 8,823
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Tell me this. Why would you remove it? why?
Old 03-12-2009, 05:22 AM
  #16  
Wanna be 8 owner
 
Eric1987's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Long Beach, California
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah I personally think it sounds bad ***.
Old 03-12-2009, 05:36 AM
  #17  
3-wheeler
 
Flashwing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 2,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by DOMINION
Tell me this. Why would you remove it? why?
In my case, the purpose of the air pump is to bring the cat up to temperature faster for emissions purposes. I don't have a cat so technically it's totally useless. It's another electric item that can fail and removing it frees up room under the hood for more important things.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dmengel
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
10
02-16-2016 09:47 PM
akagc
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
7
08-11-2015 07:07 PM
CMRine04
Series I Interior, Audio, and Electronics
0
07-27-2015 09:46 PM
dbarber
Series I Trouble Shooting
14
07-25-2015 01:34 PM
AussieGray
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
0
07-16-2015 03:58 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Second failing air pump... (sound clip included)



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:18 PM.