2008 RX8 Engine failure?
 

*sigh* Here we go again with yet ANOTHER problem.

After driving from the valley (180 miles), I arrived in the city and stopped at an intersection. The car stalled then died. I had to crank it a lot and really step on the gas petal to get it moving again. 5 minutes later it died at another intersection. Again, crank it but wouldn't start - only until i really pumped the pedal. Then I revved it to red-line and got it home (no intersections).

I'm reading that it's likely an engine failure. WTF? I just had the coils and plugs replaced and a tune-up in November! Not to mention the carborators (or something) were cleaned 2 months ago! Battery tested fine. THe dealership told me (when I had the car cleaned) that it was no longer under warranty as of Dec. 2012, nothing (even though I've read that the engine was covered 8 years or 100,000 miles - my car has 46,000).

Any advice? I plan to haul it to a dealership, but is it likely the engine? If so, is it really still covered under warranty? I'm really tired of all these problems I've had with my car.

Yes, this sounds like the engine

Healthy coils and plugs don't prevent you from having an engine failure. There are LOTS of ways an engine can die. The only one that has a connection to ignition health is if bad ignition clogs the cat and that clog damages the engine. Still plenty of other ways that the engines can die though, coolant seal failure, oil ring failure, slow wear, insufficient lubrication from the OMP (failure or clogged lines or too little oil injected), excessive carboning, etc...

Um, there are no carborators in the RX-8. No idea what you are referring to here.

It's 8 years or 100,000 miles whichever comes first.

That being said, there is no way that a 2008 RX-8 is past the 8yr mark. Likely the dealer was referring to a different warranty. Call Mazda North America to check on the Engine Core warranty status, then get it to a dealer for a compression test.

Could be the catalytic or a bad fuel pump as well ... just a thought

Go to the dealership and get a compression test.

Try not to redline the engine.

edit ... beat me to it RIWWP

The carborators, wrong word. They cleaned something that was really clogged and causing the check engine light. Fixed the problem and it drove beautifully.

The warranty - my car is approaching its 6th year (I'm the 2nd owner - previous owner bought it in 2007 September).

If you are under 100,000 miles then the engine is still covered. But they will ask you for proof that it has had regular oil changes so get that before you take it to the dealer.

Took it to the dealership today but they wont be able to troubleshoot it until tomorrow. I went 10 min to closing time.

I forgot to also mention that my cigarette lighter stopped working some weeks prior to that. Months prior to that, my installed ipod deck stopped charging my ipod when off. Prior to that, the ipod would charge even if the car was off.

Sounds like a lot of issues
When did you buy it and when did the problems start?
DO you have maintenance records from the previous owner?
This car rewards preventive maintenance and enthusiastic driving (once warmed up)
Good luck resolving this.

Bought it March 2009 with only 5000 miles on it (the previous owner supposedly bought it september 07).
First problems were in November when the thing was just driving rough. Had the coils and wires replaced, plus a tune-up.
Next, the check engine light came on February this year and something was really clogged and I had it cleaned.
Now it's the crap I mentioned above.

Hey guys,
The tech just texted me that they ordered the new engine and it should be here today/tomorrow. Seems it was the engine after all but it's still covered under warranty. But really, wtf, failing at 45,000 miles?

Anyway, would Mazda cover me if I got a rental car? Sharing with my Mom is really putting a strain on both of us.

Don't fell bad, my first engine died at 22k due to a loss of compression.

People like to point to the fact that the problem is primarily only on 04' and 05's but my buddy is a Mazda tech and for the past couple of years he has done numerous replacements of every year RX-8 and recently has started seeing more and more 07 and 08's. They increased the oil metering rate thru an ECU flash but that did little to extend the life of the engine. The only changes that were made that were significant to reliability were in the 09+ Series II RX-8's.

Lets be honest... the Renesis was a joke... The Series I Renny should of never been released... As much as I love it, Mazda did themselves no favor with the Renesis...

i feel like i agree, but i do remember we were doing FD engines under the 3/36 warranty...

True, but yall had Boost... Boost complicates things in general... Combine that with a Rotary and the effect is compounded... The Renny was NA and even they couldnt get that right... 3 oil injectors/sweepers should of been on the FD, not 10-15+ years later on the Series II... Seems pretty logical to me... but what do I know... Im not a Mazda Engineer... :yelrotflm

the FD wasn't a cluster-f under warranty because of the metering system....

No, wasn't their problem the limited cooling and the rat's nest? :)

The FD had alot of problems... Some of it was OMP some of it was Cooling and Vac lines...

:lol: I would think j9fd3s would know, he did the warranty work. Plus I have never heard of an OMP issue on the REW.

I am thinking the OP heard carburetor but the tech said catalytic converter. It fits the scenario. The cat failed, clogged the shit out of the exhaust. Mazda replaces it, car runs well for a bit, then engine fails due to low compression that was caused by back pressure damage from the clogged cat. Its all "after the fact" theories, but may help the OP understand why this happened.

not true... if its an 04 hes shit out of luck. Its what ever comes first

thread title says 2008

It's a 2008, read the thread title and STFU.

I suppose I should of specified, OMP issues as is there is only one oil injector/sweeper over the center of the apex seal which led to greater wear on the outside shoulders... Im sure he knows what he's talking about, i never discredited him...

calm down e-thug i wasnt being a dick and im not the one who brought this thread back from the dead

More uninformed "advice" going around?

What the hell are you talking about? The OP posted today, no one brought it back from the dead. Just read before you post or STFU, it's simple.