exaust pops and engine hesitates (cold start)
 

Hello,
I have add my 04 231hp RX-8 manual for a year now (30k miles on it), I am delighted with it. I did have to change the ignition coils, but I was expecting to spend a few $$ (buying a second hand sport car).
Now, something unusual is happening, and I am a little worried.
When I start the car (cold start), I can hear the exaust pops slightly when increasing rpm (car stopped). I'm not sure if it is misfiring, but something is not right (my car never did that before, increasing rpm at cold start has always been very smooth).
I have no warning lights on, and the problem seems to go away when the engine temperature goes up.
Now, it might be something small (i.e. bad petrol quality), but for me "something" means $$$$. I am always listening to every single noise when I start the car and drive, and I know when something has changed.
What should I do? Should I bring the car to the dealer for a check? As other people experienced this before? is there any troubleshooting I could do to help me identify the problem?
I just hope my engine is ok, we have no extended warranty in Europe (and mine is out of warranty).

Thanks,
Yann

You could check the fuse for the 'airpump' - it may have quit.

S

Thanks for the quick reply, I will check this at lunch time.
I also noticed a weird smell out of the exaust, but maybe I'm just getting paranoid...

All fuses are ok.
I went for a drive a lunch time so did another cold start. These hesitations happen only during rpm descreasing. I started the car, rev it up to 2000 (car stopped) and let it go back to idle. It is during the phase of decreasing rpm that I can hear the exaust pops and hesitations.
They went away pretty quick as car heats up (the car drives fine, no loss of power), but because this is new, I know something is wrong...
If I bring it to the dealer, can they run some diagnostic checks even though my CEL is not ON?

Yannc,


Have you checked the plugs and ignition wires. You say the car is an 04 and the plugs may need a change and the wires. Remember this is a sports car and it is ment to be run hard, an occasional run to 6000 rpm on the road is good for this engine. I've found the harder I run my baby the better she runs. Quick question, this car requires hi test gas of at least 91 octaine, using regular could also cause your symptoms. Hope this helps.

The best
BOB9995

PS You may know all this already but can't hurt to mention.

Im sure his gas is up to par, he is in europe....he would have to search to get low octane fuel. Check plugs and wires, sounds like plugs honestly. It wont hurt to freshen those up anyway.

Sorry, no offense intended. Sometimes the basics are overlooked.

BOB9995

Yeap, we only have unleaded 95 over here. The only other option here is diesel, and I'm sure I didn't do that :-)
I do run it hard on the weekend (up to 9000 rpm), but I do short runs on the week where I stay below 4000 rpm.
Hopefully, it is the plugs, I will get this checked.
Never had to get my hands dirty with this car to be honest, it's been running like a clock for the past year.

sounds like your hearing a "normal" overly rich condition. I have no cat and a Hymee cat back and it will burble like crazy on a cold start.

I had the same problem at about 35k-40k miles, replaced the plugs and everything was real smooth

Thanks for all the advices, it really helps. I will get my plugs checked.