Can't go up hills...clanking sound in 1st
 

Hey, I bought a 04 Rx8 AT about 4 weeks ago. Its been totally awesome, but it seems if I drive for long periods of time (45min +) it just doesn't want to go as quick as it usually does. Its an automatic but I can switch it over to manual, which I always do. Anyways, my boyfriend lives up a really steep hill, and if I am lucky and there is no one in front of me, I can usually make it up the hill just fine. But sometimes, I stay in 1st but then when I get to about 5,500 RPMs it starts making a clanking sound, so then I switch to 2nd, but 2nd won't get me up that hill. Today I got stuck behind this slow fool and then my car just wouldn't go over 22mph, that is just uncalled for, I drive an Rx8 you know what I mean?!

So anyways, does anyone have the same slowness problem? Any suggestions? What about the clanking noise?

Thanks to anyone who reads this and reposts with some helpful info. I appreciate it very much. I used to drive a Pontiac Sunfire (I know, I know), so I am still learning how to handle this awesome sports car.

low compression, possibly detonation (bad stuff where fuel prematurely detonates) from a clogged overheating cat...any check engine light or anything?

It's not making a sound more like a PINGING is it. That gets louder when you press harder on the accelerator pedal. And what type and octane gas are you using? Also look under the car after a drive and see if the exhaust is glowing RED, That would indicate a bad Catalytic Converter. A bad Cat would cause a lose of power.

There are no check engine lights. I use Premium Unleaded gas everytime from Chevron. Sometimes Shell. How do I check if the exhaust is glowing red? Also, it is not a pinging, it is definitley a clanking like my engine is about to fall out.

Does anyone know if extra weight in the vehicle can cause problems? If I have every seat full, would that cause it?

Thanks for the responses so far!

The clanking could be just very loud pinging.

To check for the glowing red cat, just peep under the car just past the middle, towards the back. If the metal tubey looking thing is glowing red, or reddish in color, then it is very clogged.

Either way, sounds like you need to visit your dealer. Have al the TSBs been performed?

G/L,

Ed

Drive the car and look underneath it, at night is better and look for a red hot glowing metal pipe. You won't be able to miss it if it is glowing RED.
The car can handle four passengers and it should operate normally under that type of load.
I would suggest you take it to the dealer and have it looked at. May I suggest University Mazda.

Thanks! I will probably call the dealer tomorrow and see if they can take a look.

What are TSB's?

Technical Service Bulletins(TSB's), see this next thread. I gotta go find it first!

Here is one of the threads.............. https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/technical-service-bulletins-tsbs-recalls-rx-8-a-14453/

Clogged cat I will say.

I have no problem driving my other *overweight* friends, all of them are over 250+ lbs :P

Can't go up hills...clanking sound in 1st
 

I've heard ignition coils are something to check.Let us know what the dealer says.

Update from Dealer
 

So here is an update on my car. I took it in to the dealer on 5/18 to get looked at. I told them to please check out the cat and the transmission. They called me at noon and said someone had done some throttlebody work and didn't connect an airtube back together properly, so I picked it up that afternoon and was good to go. Well, the next day it started acting up again, but I thought I would give it a few more days. Well, it still wasn't fixed so on 5/23 I called them back and made another appointment about a week out. The guy I've been working with told me to call him right away if i had any problems before my appointment. On Thursday 5/24 I was driving to my boyfriends house and it was having a heck of a time getting up this hill, barely would go 25mph, and then I stopped at a stop sign and it just died. It started right back up, but I had it towed the next day to the dealer and made them give me a loaner because I went on a small road trip for memorial day weekend. It's been 12 days since they had my car. They told me last week they were in contact with Mazda Tech and were running some special tests. Well I just got a voicemail this morning saying they've ordered a new motor and it should be in within the next week. So it looks like I'll have this loaner for a couple more weeks. I'll keep you posted....

Final Update
 

So I finally got my car back after it being in the shop for 5 weeks. They installed a new motor in it. I've had it back for 2 weeks now and it has been absolutely amazing. I love it! Hopefully I don't have to go through this again, but from what I've read, I won't be surprised if I do. Thanks everyone for your help and support!

wow, glad it all worked.

Glad to hear everything went OK. Do you remember any other symptoms other then noise and no power up hill? Was your idle smooth, what was your oil consumption, anything? The sound that it made, was it what some call "MIAC" (Marbles In A Can)? If you had a large coffee can with a few marbles in it and shook it . It is the sound a Rotary makes when it pings or detonates, preignites.

Those were really the only symptoms I had. Idle was fine. Oil consumption was normal. I would agree that the sound was like MIAC.

Have you thought about Pre-mix oil in gas tank now?

Congrats!