Yes, ironically, other RX8 owners have complimented on how well my car idles compared to theirs. I've thought about the premix and am actually going to start on my next tank of gas. I saw that post and it's not like that at all. That car never stumbles and I didn't lose any power. I've spoken with another 8 owner that had this happen and found another post about this from clmantis21 and both said it was a one time thing and it hasn't happened since. clmantis21's post was in '05 and it happened to vIce^gRip almost a year ago. Neither one have had any indications of problems since. This weekend, when I get home, I'm going to take it for a 100 mile drive and see if I can get it to replicate.

 

Yeah the ping noise was/is very distinct. Not unlike that of a stuck lifter or rocker of a piston job. It is definitely NOT the exhaust ping and pops that everyone keeps referring to. it is was to rhythmic and frequent to even consider it being that. Mine happened on a trip to Jersey.. ChrisM heard it too. My 8 was running (idling) and he was in his car and heard it. so as you can tell it was audible enough to make mention. I still from time to time "think" i hear the ping after a strong drive and then idle, but not as bad as that one time. I often write it off as engine failure paranoia.
There is defiantly something there though from time to time. Not detonation, nor exhaust. It may be something very simple. I have wondered if it was possible for one of the housing valves/ports to make that noise "ping" the tick-tink-ping did seem to get faster with RPM until the motor was louder than the ping.

 

I dont know exactly what solenoid it is, i would assume a purge solenoid. that i had ticking (pinging) on mine after a long drive. The solenoid is mounted in the middle of the upper plenum. I know this was it because i felt it while it was running and doing this and unpluged the connector and it went away. It sounds like a lifter or exhuast tick. It only happened the one time and hasnt happened again. Im not for sure what solenoid it is, but it could possibly be what u heard.

 

Would you mind taking a picture of where you are referring to? I'm away from home(and the car) for work and can't picture in my head where there is a solenoid up there.

 

my digi cam broke, but it is in the middle of the upper plenum, cant miss it.

 

I believe it's the purge solonoid. Now if I can only get it to replicate for the dealer.

 

Im pretty sure it is the purge solenoid. Mine acted up the one time. I unplugged it and plugged it back in. Ticked for about 10 secs then stopped hasnt done it since then.