Unable to accelerate after driving 75-80 mph after driving 20-30 mins.
 

RX8 Guru's,

I have a problem and I'm needing some advice and if anybody else has heard of this, I'd be in debt to know how i might be solved.. haha


PROBLEM:

Car will not excelerate after driving for 20-30 mins


RX8 Mods:

1.) I have Racing Beat Exhaust with hi-flow Midpipe
2.) Racing Beat REVi intake system


Description:

If I drive my car relatively fast, 75-80 mph consistently for 10-20 mins, at some point i'll notice it slow down and have trouble excelerating if I have cruise control on.

This happens most frequently when its hot in summer time and the car has had time to warm up.

I literally push the pedal to the floor and it makes a buurrrrrrr sound and doesn't excelerate any faster.. I've noticed that if I down shift, SOMETIMES it can then accelerate but soon i get the same issue..


I'm ready to answer any questions.. I have not messed with the engine any except for adding the RB REVi intake and HI-FLOW cat and RB Exhaust..


Mateo

what happens if the cruise control is off?

It doesn't matter whether the cruise control is off or on, I just mentioned that to point out that i'm driving along at a constant speed and then the car loses speed ... I take it out of cruise control and it STILL does the same thing..

Does this have any resemblance to the MAZDA engine recalls??

Did you have the problem before you changed the cat? Is it only at 75-80 wich is around 4k rpm right? While you are having this accl problem have you tried stopping completley and then trying to acclerate. last one, while you are having this problem, can you acclerate quickly up until a certain speed or a certain rpm, meaning you can accelerate up untile 5th or 6th gear. To me it sounds like a cat problem but it could be a thousand other things. I have heard of the insides of a brand new cat comming loose and plugging up the cat. Just something to look into

My guess is a defective CAT. If you can rig a test with it off you will know for sure. You might even be able to just look inside it and see if its damaged.

Well, I took the stock cat off and I have a straight midpipe..

Its header }{mid-pipe}{Racing Beat Exhaust}

The truth is, I don't think I remember having any issues UNTIL after I put on my Racing Beat Exhaust, then mid-pipe and RB REVi intake..

I think I can accelerate up to a certain point and this is indeed only up to 5 and 6th gear..

in your original post you said you had a high flow cat, not a straight mid pipe.

Do you have a way of getting the coolent temps? Could be a thermostat issue. If you could get to a code reader right when this happens it might help.

It could be the Cat, but maybe he isn't getting enough oil injected. Do you have all you updates?

Also take the air filter out of the RevI ( just to test) and see if that helps.

My bad.. your right.. I changed it.. I have a Straight mid pipe..

Maybe what i should do is pick a hot day coming up and then literally take it to a dealer and drive it with a tech in the car, and then go 70-75 for 20 mins and let them see me push the pedal to the floor right then and there.. LOL :banghead:

Great idea.. I'll take it out and check to see.. There's no packing in the straight midpipe so there shouldn't be anything clogging up..

Also...

sitting at a stop... my idle is below 1k and if I turn the A/C i've noticed that it is really close to almost stalling out.. rough idle sorta..

This is just extra info.. and happens when you first start the 8'

Sounds like new engine time alright.

Man, I don't know how the heck I would get the dealer to do that.. Anybody have similiar experience with the dealer or knowledge...?

Good point.. I've been pouring over the rx8club site and I read about the carbon buildup...

Sorry but what is BG44k and where do i get it?

oh, and also.... I drive 55-60 mph everyday on cruise.. YES, EVERYBODY I'm A GRANDMA.. but still, do you think that i've got carbon buildup since i don't drive fast that much?? (WAITING TO BE FLAMED =p)

Year?
Transmission?
Mileage?

Was it said and I just missed it?

All may not be lost for you Mateo. A healthy dose or two of cleaner could set you right. I had exactly the same symptoms. No acceleration after long cruise, horrible sounds in the upper rpms, very bad idle when hot or after long cruises. I was worried my car was breathing it's last for a while.

I got immeadiate relief from a can of Techron. It took a few tanks to really get it back up to 100% but she's good as new now. I started using it every few tanks back in Jan and rev it out often.

My 2004 MT has 75k miles on it and last Fall my attempts at good gas milieage and cheap gas caught up with me :eek: Never again! Rev the wee out it regularly and gas it up right with a quality cleaner gas like Shell, Chevron, or Phillips 66. I dodged a bullet. You can too :)

https://www.rx8club.com/search.php?s...5&pp=50&page=2

lots of info here.. and if you dont have the last recall done. well get it done..

if you have had it done. well they did not do it right..

beers :beer:

Na.. I just forgot to note it...


This is a 20004, MT, and i'm aat 41,000 right now..

Yeah.. I'm going to drive it different now if I get this issue somehow worked out.. I mean, every now and then I'll push it but mostly its just 60 mph 30 miles to work and 60 mph back..

I'll hit the 44k and see what it does.. While Gumout work just as effectively?

Swoope,

Did you happen to ever have this occur on your 8? I noticed you have the REVi intake and probably the cold air ram(?) on yours like I do so I was wondering if this occurred after you put that on...

I'm afraid if I take off the REVi, ram cold air, midpipe and exhaust, the problem won't occur..

LOL.. Yeah, my miser-ly driving, while with good intentions, probably has caused hassle, so I guess i'll get a couple bottles of cleaner and start working on this issue..

I think my gameplan will be to:

1.) See if I can remedy the issue with a cleaner and as much carbon buildup burn as I can.

2.) Clean the MAF and clean the REVi filter just in case

3.) Wait till it gets hot in OKla, and then take it in to the dealer for a test drive and hopefully a compression test..




ALL,

Where is the TSB for this particular issue? I looked through TSBs and didn't spot it.

It's a recall...

MY bad.. i 'm just tired.. LOL :banghead:

+1. You will catch immortal hell if you take the car in and its not stock, especially with the midpipe on there. They will find a way to blame it on your aftermarket parts and you will be stuck. Lose the intake and midpipe. This may clear up your problem. I had the same problem a while back and it ended up being my intake was not installed properly. Put the stock one back on and I have not had the problem since. You're not gaining much HP by having it anyway. Really just getting a sound that can get annoying after a while.

They may try to void your warranty completely if they see the midpipe. While this is not legal, they could (not saying they can) get away with it since you are in violation of emmissions standards. It all depends on how "aftermarket friendly" your dealership is.

I wouldn't use cleaner before going to the dealer. The last thing you want to do is mask the problem just enough that they won't fix it, even if it's still there. Take off your after market parts and go to the dealer for a compression test.

I hear ya.... I was afraid of that but maybe I should try and put the stock intake back on.. I may just put the cat back on and try it without replacing the REVi because i have a Revi plus a Racing Beat RAM air and it took a long time to put that in..

First thing does your car have warranty?
Second, if it does take it to the dealer and have it checked.
Third, Make the dealer fix it.
Problem solved.

Sounds like it's time for a new engine to me.

I have not had your issue, but..............I wouln't take the ram air or the Revi intake off before taking it in. CAT might be another story. I have the Revi intake, Ram air, Revi exhaust and a bunch of other stuff and my dealer hasn't ever given me static about it. I've only had it in twice however, and that was for unrelated stuff, but they did see all that stuff on the car and actually commented, liked it, and ask questions. They did do the reflash while I was there the first time over a year ago and all that was on the car then.

yep,

got new motor. problem went away.. i also premixed to mask the problem for about 6 month.. i would put about 5 oz of synt two stroke oil for one tank and see if that helps...


you might find the thread about the last recall. the info it there. it is not your intake or exaust, though it could be a cat. but you have a straight pipe..

if and when you take it in. put the cat back on, or you will have problems.

beers :beer:

i'm almost certain they will say something about the intake as well since your problem is engine related. i know i'm overreacting about this but when i took my car in for the same problem, i hadn't been gone 10 mins before they called bitching about my intake and trying to blame the problem on me.

It's not your intake. You have to take off the midpipe before you bring it in.

Yeah, I did my intake install correctly and it fit, smooth like butter, so I'll leave that alone.. Not sure how finicky they will be about the intake but I've thought about it and it probably would be a smart idea to take that straight midpipe off and put the catback on.. Might take 2-3 hrs max and it will allow me to have more pulling power (no pun intended) should I have to heckle with the service dept. They have been pretty good in the past and loved my 8.. I have taken it to them before about this issue once, so they will see that in my record. I'll fight them if they try to blame it on my intake in any way... grrrr :icon_no2: hehe

1.) Yes I have a warranty.. I also bought the 100K extended...

If I put the cat back on, I should be able to call the shots..

Did you get any questioning by them when you took it in? You know service depts... and knowing what i know, they may bristle up when I let them know about the recall and that I'm requesting a new engine.. I think I'll let them know the history, what it has done, and request a compression test..

Maybe but they will probably be much more picky if it's going to cost them a new motor. You'll get one shot at this. My advice is just pull it all off, show them the recall and ask them to perform it.

Yeah.. If its a recall then I wonder if it is actually going to cost the dealership.. I would think Mazda would be picking up the whole tab... and if there are things like official mazdaspeed intakes already being produced, they'll have less of a leg to stand on if they try to blame it on that.. Anyway, I get the point...

Could be true....and might not be worth the battle........I will admit.

FIRST OFF, I KNOW I KNOW (this is an old thread ok)

I have not been around for a while but here it goes, this same problem, exactly begun to happen to my rx-8.... now the problem is compunded by the fact that there was smoke coming from under the car... with a nasty smell to it, I checked my engine bay, checked everything, I did add some fuel cleaner (techron) and tried to drive it but there was no power, it bogged down to a stop, and it was popping something fierce, I had to tow it home and now I am thinking I made a mistake by buying this car, I have no idea how to fix it, I have all stock except for my custom one off exhaust, which BTW stil keeps the stock hangers and the cat converter... first engine light came on a few days back, then went away, now it came back and all this has happened...

I live in hot so-cal also, had all my recalls done, if this is the cat I would be happy, but if this turns out to need a new engine and mazda is going to be dicks about it, then I may just , just, you know what, this is my only car right now, and frankly after my separation, my credit is not that great, I owe too much money in this car... suddenly that desert eagle action express pistol is looking very sexy at me...
and I hope you all don't take it as a joke, but this car has put me at the end of my financial limits, I am no rich kid, just wanted something nicer than the falling apart pontiac I used to drive, now without transportation (cannot rent a car forever) how can I keep my job? this is why I have not been around much, I have not had a single good thing happen to me since I bought this car, I love the way it drives, but hate the way I have been treated by it and by mazda, I have been insulted by techs, yelled at by parts guys, and even fooled when I took it for the recall as the guy did not even bother looking for the cause of my engine light... he simply disconnected the battery and then sent me on my merry way telling it was all good...

Is there another mazda dealership in your area? Sometimes a dealer can make or break you and sometimes one can just outright suck.. Sounds like your dealer sucks big time..

no, i was able to demonstrate the problem with the master tech in the car... this was about 6 months before the recall.. i had to wait..

premixing covered it till then... dont call the shots let them do the work..

beers :beer:

Understood... They should be the experts so I'll let them handle it and hopefully I be able to minimize the hassle involved.. A loaner car would be great hehe.. I think the recall dictates that the customer receives some type of loaner so that will help me out big time.. I'm a 8-5 m-f engineer so no cuts in the schedule is a plus...

I'm actually going to have to wait till it gets hot here in Oklahoma because it only occurs at 90 F or higher and at 65-85...

Umm doesn't this sound like a coilpack issue?!?

Yes, Mazda will take on the whole bill. (minus maybe the labor) As for the intake, you should be able to leave it in. It doesn't do anything to your warranty if a dealership installed it. BUT you said you did, so MAYBE just to be safe, you should yank it. I'd say it would probably be ok, but better safe than sorry you know?

As for the midpipe, its gotta go. Get the stock cat on there.

nope,

dry apex seal issue.

beers :beer:

I'm sidelining my car on thurs and fri to put the stock cat back on after work.. shouldn't be hard, just take time.. Then its on to mazda and let the battle begin :spank: