Hard start and engine revving rough
 

Got into my RX8 this morning to go to the college for a run at the track, anyway, went to start it and it was a little hard to start and didn't sound too good. Understandible since it was 36F outside. I let it warm up for about 5 minutes or so and left. The car sounded a lot louder, deeper in tone and the engine didn't rev smoothly like normal, felt rough. Also, before shutting it off I let it idle and the exhaust was doing a little light popping.

I am thinking and hoping it is due to the cold since just yesterday it was 80F.
Anyone have the same problem? Is this normal for such cold conditions. I don't remember it doing this last winter.

Thanks in advance and Happy Thanksgiving.

Not really normal.
Need specifics on car.....year, auto or manual, miles, maintenance history, and CEL's at all?

It's a 2004, manual transmission, 75,000 miles, I just recently changed the plugs and wires about 3 months ago, changed the oil and oil filter 5 days ago. It has all of the flashes called by the dealer in the past. No CELs.

Think it would be a bad connection to the spark plugs or possibly an ignition coil needing replaced?

I bought a 2004 rx8 last week which seems to have these same issues as well. It is auto and has 60000kms.

Would anyone seem to know if these issues are concerning?

Could be a number of things. We need more specifics as mentioned above.

OP, it just may be the cold weather. My car was doing the same before I stored her for the winter. I started it again the other day after being in heated storage, and it was fine. Could you update us and check the outside temp when you do?

I'm sure the cold weather had something to do with it ... .however consider this.

Living my entire life in a area that gets a hot summer (90F) and a very cold winter (0F) my experience has been that if you have anything wrong with your car it will reveal itself when winter sets in .... ie) battery, plugs, wires, etc.

My point is that something isn't up to snuff .... my car runs completely normal in cold conditions all things being equal (its not a rotary thing) ... it's just that the cold weather revealed it, don't ignore it if the weather turns favorable in your area.

Anyways cold conditions often reveal weaknesses in:

Battery
Alternator
Plugs
Plug Wires

I checked my car yesterday, it was in the upper 50's and had the same problem. I let it sit and warm up for a while. Before starting it I checked my plugs and wires, everything seems normal. Like I said, the wires and plugs were changed 3 months ago. Running the same as it was the other day. Hard to start again (sounds like it is choking and coughing up crap), then I let it warm up for a while. Gave it some gas and the higher the RPMs the rougher it sounds. Like before, sounds rough and raspy. It sounds like engine sound is coming from behind the glove box, not sure if that helps or points to anything.

I live in Texas, so summers are hot and some winter days get down in the 30's. Once it started cooling down here my car was running great, I definetely felt more power. The day before Thanksgiving I changed my oil and oil filter. It was about 80F outside. Drove the car around the same day and everything was fine. Checked my oil level again like I always do. The next morning was 36F and the car was like I mentioned in this thread. I was thinking maybe the cold, but it has been like it since. I should also mention that I have been using 89 octane the past 3 fill ups do to money being tight. Actually, I haven't even been filling up, just $15 here, $15 there. When I changed my plugs and wires 3 months ago I didn't change my coils. I tried to check my coils the other day but couldn't get the coils off, I decided to stop because I didn't want to force them and mess something up.

Do you think the coils could be the problem or the gas? When revving it the other day it was a little hesitant at first touch of the gas pedal, also when idling the rpm needle is dropping from around 700rpms to about 500rpms and back up. (just an estimate). Although it has always idled a little rough, seems to be a little worse now.

I am thinking today I will fill up with 93 octane again.

Oh, and I should mention that at idle, even with the rpm gauge going up and down a little, everything seems to sound normal, just makes the rough raspy engine tone when it's revved.

Ok, here's a video of what my car is doing. I recorded it with my cell phone when leaving the bank today. It actually starts a little easier when it's warmed up, but as you can see from the video, the car dies right after starting. That's something that has never happened before.

Something to note is that when I did my plugs and wires 3 months ago, I used mazdatrix wires, but everything has seemed fine with those wires.

I was getting on it on the back roads and recorded it, but my phone decided to start messing up and not save recordings, so I only have me revving it after getting home after putting some 93 octane in. Honestly, I don't think it is the gas that is causing this, but I could be wrong, I am no car expert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmnpgtfqyp4

I only bought the car last week so i'm not too sure what parts have exactly been changed however, the previous owner did say that the done a service 3,000kms ago.

It is currently on 59,000. It is auto. Year is 2003. It has been serviced every 10,000kms and oil change every 5,000kms in between the 10.

The 60,000km service is coming up which is when all the plugs etc will be changed.

In regards to temp, I do live in sydney australia so for the past week the temp has been ranging between 71-82F (21-28 degrees).

Is it normal while you let it idle before turning it off, that the exhaust does little popping sounds?

Did you ever replace your ignition coils?

Re-check the plug connection.

You need 91 Octang

Clean your MAF
Check your CAT
Clean your battery connections.
Replace battery?
The noise from the glove box is air bubbles in the system.
Burp the radiator.

I've had the car almost 2 years, so I don't know when the coils were changed last or if they ever have been.

Cleaning the MAF I can just use a carburator cleaner, right?
How do I check the CAT, just take it off and look through it?
Also, how do I burp the radiator?

I know the MAF and the ignition coils might have something to do with the starting and idle problem, also with the hesitation when touching the gas. Do you think any of those would have anything to do with the engine sounding and running rough?

You have a coil dropping out. Most likely a trailing coil. If it was a leading coil you would get a CEL. Coils are really common on these cars. When it gets cold out, you will find out the weakest coil pretty quick. I foud out today I need 2 coils. It was 28 here and my car didnt start. I did a quick coil test and found out 1 leading and 1 trailing coils were bad.

You have a coil dropping out. Most likely a trailing coil. If it was a leading coil you would get a CEL. Coils are really common on these cars. When it gets cold out, you will find out the weakest coil pretty quick. I foud out today I need 2 coils. It was 28 here and my car didnt start. I did a quick coil test and found out 1 leading and 1 trailing coils were bad.

That will be the first place I will look then. Can you recommend a good place to order coils? I've seen people on here saying they have gotten a set of coils for $100, but I haven't found any cheaper than $40-$50 a piece.

Thank you.

With the price of coil sets, xmas around the corner and me leaving for the army in a month I am just going to wait on buying anything for my car. It will just be sitting while I am gone, so I am wondering if anyone can give me any tips on what are some things to do for my RX8 before I leave since my RX8 will be sitting for around 5 months. Thank you.

Clean the Eccentric Shaft Sensor while you are in there.....
If its dirty or has a piece of metal stuck on it ..... the car will run like crap

how long will you be gone? i'd suggest giving it a nice clean/ wax, putting some gas stabilizer into a full tank and taking the battery out

Will do, thanks. I will be gone 5-6 months. My car will be outside so I will keep it covered. Should I air the tires up a few psi higher than normal and let it sit on cardboard so the tires don't get flat spots?

twin_rotors you're the man. I didn't like the idea of just leaving my 8 in that kind of condition while I was gone so I decided to just spend the money on the coils. I changed them out today and that was the problem. My car hasn't ran that good in a long time. It use to lose power at around 7000rpm and would be a little rough, but now it revs smooth all the way to 9k and I feel power I haven't felt for a long time.

Might I add that I got them for around $36ea from rotaryfx.com. I was thinking for that price they weren't actual Mazda parts, but they are.:icon_tup: