adamci24

iTrader: (2)

Hey everyone, So I have had my 05 auto RX8 for a year now. This past summer I had some major issues with the car which ended up in a new engine and a lot of new parts including new CAT, radiator, battery, plugs, wires, and coils...I drove the car through the end of the summer and into November with zero issues.

I put the car away for winter and finally took it out about 2 weeks ago when it was nice out for 2 separate drives totaling only about 30 miles with no issues. Today was nice again, so I decided to go get the oil changed at my dealer. I noticed the car had a rough idle all of a sudden on the way to the dealer....on my way back, the idle got worse and the car would stall at idle. I was able to instantly start it back up everytime. The CEL eventually popped on with 2 codes reading p2097 and p0172, which have to do with the bank 1 o2 sensor. I bought MAF cleaner, and cleaned the MAF sensor, which didn't help.... So I was able to get the car back home and now it is back in the garage.

I'm wondering what exactly is going on here. I had these codes last year but they never came back on ever since I got my car back with the new engine/parts. The only thing the dealer told me back then, was that the plugs should get replaced soon because the old engine fouled them up pretty bad, Even though they were only a few months old.

I have the BHR ignition kit on the way...But idk if I should take the car into the dealer before I install it, because I could see them giving me crap for aftermarket parts, like they did with me when I was getting it fixed last summer. But on the other side maybe the plugs are what is causing this? But then on the OTHER side (lol) The car starts and runs perfectly and has been until today, when I got these codes for the o2 sensor. So maybe its just the o2 sensor failing, causing bad oxygen readings, and giving me a rough idle/stalling problems??....

So... I guess thats why i'm posting this. Because I would like to know what you guys think about this.

Mazurfer

Not sure why you bought MAF cleaner when you got two o2 codes.

Might be overstepping my bounds here, but I wonder if it just needs a good long run since it's been put away awhile. Have you put any "new" gas in it? If not, I would do that and take it for some more runs before panic set it.

It is strange you are throwing o2 codes though, so you could have a bad o2 sensor, only time will tell.

adamci24

iTrader: (2)

I have new gas in it, I also put in some fuel cleaner in this tank. I cleaned the MAF because that had helped before when I had trouble with the rough idle...It was just weird that it ran fine for the first 2 runs, but then acted up. Like I said, I had the p2097 code last march when I got the car as my first CEL...the dealer said the o2 sensor passed, and blamed it on the aftermarket OBX header that was on the car...I had replaced that header with the stock before the engine and cat were replaced, and that cleared the code...never came back or had problems for months. Maybe that aftermarket header screwed up the sensor before, and it is just now clunking out?

I will most likely take it back to the dealer to see if they will test the sensor again considering the CEL is on, before I put on the BHR.

adamci24

iTrader: (2)

Ok, I looked back at my post, I used to always get the p2096 code which is system too lean...now I have it too rich with the p2097. I'm just trying to narrow down what it could possible be considering I had so many parts replaced, which resulted in a perfectly running car for the rest of last summer. So it must be a part that was never replaced, taken off the old engine/cat and put back on the car. Which would be the plugs or two o2 sensors.

I did notice on the highway today on my way to the dealer, The car was hesitating between 3rd and fourth gear (I have a 4 port). It was having trouble going past 70/80mph with the pedal all the way down, but then it eventually would boost up and I could go as fast as I wanted. I thought oh know my cat may have gone again, but it only has 5k on it! ...BTW Mazurfer, thanks for your help, you helped me a lot in my old post before i got my engine replaced.

bumblebeerx8

iTrader: (7)

i had a code for system too rich once bacause of a issue with the maf being dirty. This caused the front o2 to get drenched in gas and damage it. I was getting rough idle. it would run good driving and either stall or almost stall at a stop. I changed the front o2 and it was all good. Im also not saying this is 100% the problem

adamci24

iTrader: (2)

Thats what I'm experiencing...drives awesome except for idling...Is the o2 sensor covered under the 80k emission warranty?

Is it hard to change the front sensor myself? Do you have to take off the cat to get to it? I thought I remember it being up above the header?

*sigh* I should just take it to the dealer but I don't have the time right now with work...

Mazurfer

Don't think it will be covered......sorry.
www.finishline.com has them at not too bad of a price. www.mazmart.com may also have them.
Also, I don't think the front one is too bad to do by yourself, but search as I think you may need a modified socket(don't quote me on that).

Now..............we don't know this is the issue just yet, but it sure is beginning to sound that way.

adamci24

iTrader: (2)

Update:
Ok, well I have an appt for the dealer tomorrow, but this morning, since the snow melted, I decided to unplug the battery and reset the ECU. I then, started it up and drove it hard for 30 min. The staling and rough idle went away.

I noticed this morning that my negative battery terminal was loose. I'm wondering if it was loose enough for it to mess up the electronics last time I drove it....possibly throwing off the fuel trims?

The terminal is now tight with the ECU reset, and I don't have a CEL anymore, and car seems to idle fine.

I'll prob cancel this appt at the dealer unless the problems happen again.

The car was definitely running rich, because I could smell gas when i started it this morning.

Hopefully it will run fine until I get my BHR kit.

Mazurfer

Negative terminal can wreak havoc.
That was probably it!