Jaxrx8-4557

I drive normal for the most part, I do like to be first out of a red light but I don't dog the car bad. Who doesn't like these kind of things. I maintain her well with oil changes, plugs, air filters and such.

When the noise started I was -->close<-- to red line doing a power slide around a corner so that leads me to think its mechanical problems with the engine.

Mazda today said it may be wires, I knew the $180.00 total was crazy but I was there and the closest advanced plug wires sat in ohio so I did it. The car is WORSE NOW!

They ran some kind of pre-cat to post-cat diagnostic and it shows volts, temp and everything. The tech says it indicates a bad cat so I guess im looking for a high flow cat, anything besides there $1300.00 part! They confirmed they would slap it on with written consent, although I may rent some air tools or go to bub's muffler shop for this....

I am fed up with all this, the car is awesome and I love it but this gremlin may win here very soon....

Razz1

You will need to clean the MAF again in another week as there is still is oil residue.

First thing is to check your plug connections.

Then you should replace your plugs.

You need to get rid of that cell.

if it's not a stuck valve, its your cat.

Being first out of light will get you in an accident someday.

Go to a local meet for someone who can ride in the car and knows about rotories.

Jaxrx8-4557

your correct sir, I do look both ways first

The stealership replaced the wires today but ill check that when I get home from work as the car ran worse.. Maybe they reset something as the wife says its running somewhat better that upon picking it up from them.

He did say my plugs look somewhat fouled, I put them in 300 miles ago and he said they look 15k miles at least so I had the wife pick some up for tonight's round.

The cell is the p0300 and they cleared it earlier at the stealership for me and it will stay gone unless I get on it past 5k rpm and let it bog down and snarl at me.

I just posted to see if anyone local can help me from the dealer just throwing parts at the situation, I will be pulling the cat tonight to take a look. If its bad ill be taking a broom stick to it and ordering the RP cat.

Razz1

Just hope that last statement doesn't get to the Animal Humane society.

I see the headlines now...

RX8 owner taken into custody, now in jail for taking broom to his CAT.

Channel 5 eyewitness news

Jaxrx8-4557

lol nice.

working on it now.

hi1batu

I had exacccctllyy the same problem with mine (04 ). Dealer will first tell you to change plugs coils. I Changed the coils plugs shutter manifold. However i had the same problems.

Than, They ran some tests ( i dont even know what)

SO they changed my engine. Problem is gone now. runs like the first day.

You need a brand new engine my friend. sorry..I am %100 sure.

Call your dealer because Mazda has extended the 04-05 models ENgine and power train warranty for 10 yrs or 100,000. You might get a free one.

-=drift=-

Mine is not nearly as bad as yours, but similar. it only comes at the 3750 ish mark, and only happened once, after driving 3 hours straight, then getting on it. Mine has brand new coils, RB wires, and newish plugs( 1000 mile maybe, i dont drive it much), though im not running stock ones, Ive got BR7( 9 trailing)EIX, which is the same plug, only 1/4 the cost, but requires a thinner wall socket

It deff. doesnt sound like a standard Rx7 clogged cat. Ive had 4 got on previous FC's, 2 eventually had clogged cats ,so i know . It does sound though like when my jacobs ignition burnt out.
I will be going with the RB rez pipe i think, and preemptively, the BHR fuel pump.

Lets hope this is it Jax!

Jaxrx8-4557

Hey Guys,

I got up under the car and checked the cat, I certainly have a bad catalytic converter. Although I clean the loose front parts out the back part is intact and I left it until I order the RP high flow cat.


WHERE THE F*** DID THE TOP HALF GO?

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2648/photo2xhp.jpg

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/3082/dsc0582t.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6172/dsc0584b.jpg

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8964/photo1rm.jpg

I am still unsure if the cat cat really be causing the noises and loss of power, its almost as if there i no while trying to do anything over 30 mph or 3500 rpm...

Before this problem id notice during prolonged driving if i would rev the car up and then put it back in gear id have about 20% more pickup from the car, my guess that was the fuel pump.. could it have gone out further now and be making the car run lean to produce this noise and loss of power?

Once I replace the cat I guess ill be going back to the stealership...

On a side note has anyone had any luck buying a used MT 6 port of ebay with good compression?

-=drift=-

Well Jax, that, although bad, seems like it could be good.

Mine had a rattle just before I stored it. Might be the same problem.

How does the car feel now with it somewhat cleaned out?

Jaxrx8-4557

At first it seemed to at least have faster revs up to 4.5k before it made the noise but not after 45 minutes of driving it looses all power and staying at 70 MPH is a problem. If I rev it with the clutch in and then let it back into hear it will have a little more pickup for a minute or so.

I do not have the hot start problem ot anything like that but I am now getting major loss of power and that scary engine banging noise after 5k rpm.

I am cleaning the EPS tonight to see if that helps at all...

Jaxrx8-4557

Alright, I cleaned the ecentric shaft position sensor and she idles better but that is it.

I now notice that when the clutch is pushed in the knocking noises and banging go away and are not there during rev until I let the clutch back out.

The throaty noise only hits at 7500 rpm or so and the engine blinks p0302... i am going crazy here, still no ideas guys?

kma5783

iTrader: (7)

This part of your issue sounds like a bad throw out bearing to me...

I saw you mention a compression test earlier, but did you ever have the dealer do one?

Jaxrx8-4557

Yeah I am thinking that as well, I do have a ceramic clutch and thoguht it was chatter from that since its been the4re since install 30,000 miles ago but it has got increasingly loud the last week or so especially during warm up idle.

I have not done the compression test yet as its $250.00 and I know I need a cat converter so plan is to replace this first.

If I can stop the throaty noise at 7k rpm, misfire and provided the compression test checks out ok I will let them pull the engine, change the main seal and replace the throwout bearing and slap in a new clutch and flywheel.

The misifre an throaty sound are the mystery, also the clutch pedal looses all pressure when i rev it to 7k and then only comes back once it revs down to about 4k.

Jaxrx8-4557

** Update **

I have since had this issue fixed, the main bolt holding the flywheel to the eccentric shaft wa smissing, I suspect american transmission left it off a year ago when they refurfaced my stock flywheel during a clutch changeout. The flywheel/clutch kit was sliding fron to back gring the bellhousing as well as killing the back of the clutch disc.

Our guess is the balance was thrown off creating the noises and the loss of power.

I have changed the flywheel out to a racingbeat unit as well as installed a exedy 10803A clutch and pressure plate. Also my cat was dead so it has a been changed to a high flow cat.

Anyhow everything has been fixed with these parts, now on too the heat issue which is a while different animal.

Thanks guys,