Billy's Cousin? Or is that a different Idol?

 

Any updates on this issue?

 

I seem to be having a similar problem. On cold mornings, when I start the engine, the RPM is anywhere between 1500-2500 (in neutral or with clutch in). I'm going to the dealership tomorrow for a different problem but I'll definitly mention this. Do you guys have any idea what might be causing this?

 

I live in San Antonio and I was also experiencing a rough idle. I had just bought the car used about a month before and took in into service in August, when it was frequently reaching 100 degrees.

According to my service advisor, Mazda had sent a field engineer here to check out the problem because many 8's were suffering from it. My service advisor stated that they think that when it's over 96 degrees with high humidity, the oil is not getting cool enough and the rotors are getting so hot they are pre-igniting the fuel. He said mazda sent the engineer down here and to Florida, b/c those are the only places they were experiencing it.

 

The bouncy idle only when the clutch is out if most likely a faulty neutral switch. Get an ohmmeter and test it. It's on the top driver's side of the transmission and it has white connectors. The black connectors are for the reverse switch.

 

I have also have the same problem in cold weather, only sometimes. It seems to idle a little up and down for a couple of seconds and almost seems to want to stall. However it never does stall and there has never been any power lose as a result. So I have never really worried about it.

 

I have the same idle problem but, it happened after my my engine flooded. I noticed it before I left the dealer and asked them about it, they told me that my battery was also dead which caused the cars "memeroy" to "reset". He assured me that after 4 complete drive cycles the car would return to "normal". Since then I have driven it 3 times and the battery light has come on and off once, my engine trouble light is lit solid, and the car is still acting like it wants to stall. My 8 is a 2004 with 3800 miles, WTF! Im I a fool for trusting the dealer?

 

I am having a similar problem too after getting my 8 back from the dealer for the 2 recalls. What is happening is when the car is in neutral, the idle drops super low and sometimes stalls. this has become a pain when coming to complete stops in traffic. I also have a CEL on as well.

My dealer also stated that he replaced the battery, starter motor and plugs, though I did not ask for it. I didn't mind since it was all covered under warranty and my car starts up super quick now.

But the CEL and stalling is a no-no. Calling the dealer tomorrow.

 

Another me too. I've had other weird idle issues but this winter my car often goes through a strange cycle about 2 min. after a cold start. It stumbles badly - sounds like a two-stroke when running way too rich; then idles high (over 2500 RPM) for a few seconds after the computer straightens things out to get the engine running smoothly again.

I asked the dealer about it last time I was in, but they came to the conclusion it could be anything and they wouldn't try to take corrective measures until it got worse. I'm guessing they would have a hard time tracking down a cause anyway. It seems to me like it could be a messed up PCM, but that's just a gut feeling.

 

Oh yeah; tomorrow I'm gonna replace the air cleaner element and I think I'll try cleaning the MAF and see if that makes a difference. I will let y'all know.

 

Ok not like everybody was holding his or her breath but...


I replace the air cleaner element. The old one didn't look too bad, but I decided a ~15,000 replacement interval is a good policy anyway. (I couldn't see how it could be cleaned effectively as the owner's manual suggests)

I didn't remove and clean the MAF because I couldn't pick up a new o-ring that day, (maybe not necessary, but the manual says to replace when replacing the MAF and I didn't want to risk air leaks) but I did shine a flashlight into the intake tube to see the MAF.

There was no evidence of oil or dirt on the plastic parts or the wire that I could see.

I still wonder if the PCM has some kinda bug in its brain.

 

0.02s worth here...

2005 6M with a build date of 07/05 and just over 1,000 kilometres on it since I picked it up in January. The "hunting idle" I get in the morning in an underground garage varies between 800 and 2,500 RPM...always with the clutch out in neutral. What's bothering me is that even when it seems to steady after a few minutes, I'll be turning through the garage in first and suddenly it'll rev up and its like it wants to take me into a concrete pillar until I put the clutch back in. It's one of those condo garages developers build to maximize profit so there's some tight spaces.

Once I'm on the road a bit, it disappears. I'll take it up with the dealer at my first visit in a few weeks.

 

I've had the same problem. I've had it flashed in every way you can. Seemed to be ok until I got on it. Still runs like crap. Not sure what to tell you. The dealer thinks I am going crazy.

 

The hunting idle with the clutch out is most likely a problem with the neutral switch!

 

how about driving about 20 minutes at 80 degree weather and the car idle so low that it shuts itself off when i am at a light for more than 10 sec. happended 4 times off and on for 3 weeks now.

14000k miles
sr intake
sr exhaust

 

My first thought would be the intake you have, I would imagine it is ingesting alot of hot air. You can alway revert it back to stock and see if it still does it.

I have never had my car stall on me, and I have 26k on it now. I never had a problem last summer at the beach sitting in traffic with 90+ degree temps with 75%+ humidity.

 

could this be a bad MAF? i went stock and same crap. but sr stuff back on and checked for air leaks, were looking good. still same idle issue.

 

You could try cleaning the MAF and see if that helps. You might also want to try resetting the computer as well so it might relearn different settings.

 

thanks for your help. which way do you recommend resetting my settings?


i see so many on here.

thanks

 

I personally would disconnect the negative battery cable for 20-30 minutes, then after I put it back on would do the 20 taps of the break before I start it up. I am not so sure of the hold in the trip button to reset the computer, I personally think that just brings up diagnostic information from the guages and maybe the computer but doesn't reset the actual ECU. I could be wrong but never seen it reset a ECU in another car that way.

 

also check your plugs. They do not last as long as you think
Have you ran any techron through it yet? If not do so, sometimes carbon buildup can contribute to a bad idle.
olddragger

 

i'll try that. i disconnected the battery bud not the 20 taps.

thanks brice-rx8

 

Same old thing here guy's. I have a 2005 manual with 23000 miles. Never had a problem with cold start or idling until yesterday morning. Started it up to go to work and after a few seconds noticed high idle that would not come down from 1500. No problem. So at the first stop light it stalled! Got to work and it stalled when parking. Idle surging up & down. On the way home stalled 3 more times. Check engine light comes on. Had to hold the gas pedal some at idle to keep from stalling.

Well i went straight to the dealer.
New plugs, starter and reflash they said. Pick it up tomorrow!

 

Please post if the dealer visit fixed issue.

Thanks for the info!

 

Just got the car back today! My service guy Robert is a old rotary dude. Anyway he said they changed the battery, starter and plugs plus the ecm reprogram under warranty. You should hear this thing start. A very high pitch sound and starts in 1 second! Amazing

It seems to fix the problem on the drive home, no stalling! Idle stable at about 800rpm. Anyway i put a can of techron injector cleaner in. Ran the **** out of it. Good old but dyno says midrange has some more punch. Maybe the reflash!