Karack

be sure you installed the plug wires in the correct order as well as not mixed up the coil pack clips, i semi recall them all being interchangeable as well as reach other coils.

once you install the 2nd set of coils let the engine warm up thoroughly before you try to drive it, initial start after deflooding the engine will not want to be raced because the ECU detected the misfires and is modifying too many variables to run right.

and pull codes again to see what you have now, if anything new popped up.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

All 4 coils are interchangeable, but the order of the plug wires from coil to plug is not.

If you haven't, you really need to verify that you have the plug wires in the right order.

Yes, you will need to chance all 4 coils. In theory, you can get away with only changing coils that are shot, but the ones you don't change are within a few hundred to few thousand miles from failing, so might as well do them all at once. Plug wires (leads) and plugs degrade too, so they could still be a source of problems if you only replace coils. Given how unsure you are about everything, I would recommend replacing those as well.

Flashing CEL is always a misfire. 100% of the time, no exceptions.

Clean the MAF and the ESS while you are messing with everything (easiest to get to with the air box out, which you need for the coils anyway).

Driving with misfires will destroy your cat in very short order. Usually less than a few hundred miles. It literally can be as fast as ~10-15 miles, depending on the various other conditions. That is a $1,300USD bill added unless you gut it, go with a midpipe, go with one of the cheap cat options, or find a used replacement. If your cat clogs instead of blowing out, expect to add O2 sensor damage to the repair list. If you persist beyond that point, add engine damage.

Yes, a $35 coil failure can lead directly to enough damage that it would be cheaper to buy a replacement RX-8 (high mileage 2004) than pay for the repairs.


Misfires are caused by many other things as well, including vacuum leaks, compression loss, O2 sensor failure, cat failure, bad fuel, fuel injector problems, corroded electrical grounds, etc... Failing ignition is the #1 culprit though, so we generally don't even bother pursuing one of the other options until we know you have replaced the ignition (coils, plugs, and wires).

Climber-of-rocks

Hey guys,
Just done coils, cleand MAF.
She is puriong now, even a little better than before. But engine light is still on.
Do I need to get it reset by garage?
Thanks for all your help

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

If it's solid, it's most likely just from "I flashed at you enough and you didn't solve it in time, so I'm going solid to make sure you have to acknowledge me to clear it"

Yes, shops can reset it, as can a battery disconnect for 30-60 seconds. However, I'd recommend getting the code read just to make sure it was just a misfire code and not something else you also have to address. Most autoparts stores will read the code for free. You can buy an OBD2 code reader for about the same or less than the diagnosis cost at a shop, which would make all future OBD2 code pulls essentially free at that point. For you and your friends and family. (I'd recommend that to every car owner personally )

Climber-of-rocks

HI all,

thanks for all your input. I replaced coils on second rotar and she purss now.
Just got the other two coils to chnge out on first rotor in about an hour or so.

Engine light is still on, but you guys on here says, need possibly up to 10x normal driving runs for ECU to recognise fault cleared. If this doesnt go by end of weekend ill have my mobile guy come out and plug her back and in check codes again and clear them.
I have been around everything else and all is good.
She has little more 'power', better throttle responce and idles very nicely.

This weekend am going to do oil and filter. Dipped it yesteerday and oil was on lower limit so topped it up.
Checked oil today and a small amount of white was apparent. If normal engine id say head gasket on its way, or could it be cause I topped it up?
Either way she will benafit from a full change out, and I guess at this point ill know what that is.

Just wanted to say thanks for everything and any more comments please drop me a line on here.

Thank you gents very kindly

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Frothy stuff on the dipstick is normal.
Glad you got it worked out. A word of caution: the coils don't just up and fail one day, its a gradual decline over time, so before these problems manifested the spark was likely weak for a while, which can cause extra fuel in the exhaust, which hurts the cat. Suggest yoi check the cat for clogging just in case.

Climber-of-rocks

Loki,

You have posted a few times, thanks for your input. Just for an FYI for everyone:

changed all 4 coils
changed all 4 leads
changed all 4 plugs
cleanedd MAF
cleaned ESS
20 stomp break method applied successfully
Booked int for oil filter and change in 2 hours (i will ask if they can have a quick badger with cat)
full tank of high octane (98 octane) fuel added
Engine light still on but as adivsed on here am looking to see if it goes away once ECU has learnt problem has gone. Ill give it a day and around 4x complete drives, unless i feel even the slightest hint of a problem.
If it is not gone i will get my mobile guy out to pull the codes and clear.

I have just started a thread about high flow CAT and also engine remap. Not looking for any massive gains really, just a little leaner on the exchaust flow, teak on bhp and economy. Re map will cost about about $280 USD, £150 GBP (seen as im in UK)

Glad to hear thoffy stuff on the dip stick is normal, got me worried when I have never ever seen this at all untill i topped up oil this time. As i say she is on for a oil and filter change in an hour $100USD roughly.

All in all spent
£116 on wires and plugs ($160 USD ish)
£280 on 4 coils ($385 USD ish)
£70 on oil filter and change ($100 USD)

£466 or $630USD approx - ouch! My months party money gone! never mind.

Any more comments guys?

Thank you kindly

rotarystu

hi im new to this forum i have an 05 rx8 its drives fine but the other night i was backing into the drive way (tight squeeze) and i stalled it and tried to start it again a few times and it wouldnt start im guessing must likely flooded its happened once before and i fixed it but this time i connected the jump leads and tried to start it and nothing it wasnt cranking just one click when i turn the key i know its a vague description but im just wondering of any recommendations to my next step to fix this. it had no hot start issues but starter coils pulgs leads and battery are all original from 05.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Hey Stu ever hear of a punctuation?
Couple comma's and periods dispersed with a hard return might help people read this.

Read this repost read this repost read this repost

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

not sure why rickeo thinks you can't drive it without all 4 coils replaced at once, beyond it being a matter of principle... much like replacing tires in sets.

Isolated to a single rotor simply means one might run better than the other. Since we're entertaining the whole notion of winning an ugly contest, I figure that's better than replacing just the leading or trailing in one.

PS - our car is a 1.3L

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

hey wcs long time now hear how you doing i cant remember the last time we had a good run at the newbies anything new in your neck of the woods i bet it is cold up there hows the beer met any hot chicks lately being married i can look but not touch wonder if that will have any longterm impact on my health oh well nice chatting with you tschuess

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Nothin, ur car will just run like a 1/2 *** car

1000RRZ06SSRX8

Mine had this problem the other day when my battery was low it had a misfire I charged the battery then cleared the code went for a drive red lined it a few times it smoked then stopped smoking and has been fine ever since

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Hahahahha Dude you're on a roll today! (yesterday)

WIN

I loved the chirping bird pic, I spit beer up in my nose when I saw that.

But to answer your question i am doing fine and i have not been running at the newbs lately you know new year a new leaf but i could not stop myself with stu maybe the booze and i am working right now in detroit at the steel mill right beside the ford plant called severstal so no hot babes or no nice weather and palm trees but there is a great bar that sells guinness for 2 dollars on tuesday and this makes me smile my car is currently up on blocks in the garage and i am starting to do some more work on it because the turbo install was rather well fugly and i would like to make it pretty as well as fix a few leaks and add some heat shielding and repair a broken radiator fan and install new gauges i hate the aem gauges i have and maybe a new exhuast and i still have the nitrous kit and it is still some what hooked up still like all the plumbing so i was thinking about put that back on along with the turbo no really i was and i checked the coils but i think i have a bad one oh and i need new tires and i hate my wheels