Gabgoobie

I bought a nice 2004 RX8 with a blown engine for a good price. I also bought another RX8 (a 2005 model) that had been destroyed in an accident at the same time in order to use its engine. When I looked at the engine compartment, of the accident damaged car I found that it had a very expensive looking supercharger on it. That was enough to excite me about the whole thing. Sadly the engine transplant has not gone very well. I have tried the car with and without supercharger and it just does not want to run right. I get the check engine light come up with or without the supercharger connected and the car kangaroos and runs rough. It also appears to run out or power around 4000 rev/min. The piggy-back ECU which came with the Supercharger kit just does not work when connected. The car cranks but does not start when the piggy-back ECU is connected. I have taken the car back to stock now in order to get it to run properly in the un-modified state before I try to put the supercharger back on. This is where my problem is now – I cannot get the car to run properly in its stock condition. I get a P2004 fault code; the car struggles to start (touch the throttle during cranking and it will not fire). The car kangaroos and has limited power up to only 4000 rev/min. I tried substituting the air mass flow meter from the other car as well as fuel pump, all to no avail. Does anyone know what I should do next? The Mazda dealer in Dubai was told by the factory in Japan not to touch the car as these cars were never imported into Dubai and never will be. My car is a USA spec car.

Many thanks
Omar Shams in Dubai, UAE email : joemar@eim.ae

Razz1

Check your coils.
Re-set the ECU.

check your fuel pressure

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I dont think many people will bother to email you so I'll just reply you here.


when it comes to getting parts from a car that has gone thru an accident, there might be hidden damage somewhere, you just cant see it. the engine might be ok if the car just got rear ended. but even a side impact could damage the motor area.

First, Take the Catalyst Converter off, look through it under direct sunlight and see if its blocked inside, if it is, Replace or get a straight pipe. if it does not, move to next step.

if it does not want to rev over 4K, you might want to check ignition coils, ignition wires and plugs, there is not much supercharge on the market so I assume is the Blitz SuperCharger. Biltz's SuperCharger ECU does NOT work with USA spec Rx-8. That might be the reason why your car is not working with the ECU plugged in.

take a few pictures and video of your car in "action" and we might be able to tell you whats going on.

Gabgoobie

I have responded to thank everyone for the two replies but that reply somehow got lost in cyberspace. i had attached 5 images and they also went astray. I will therefore try a simple reply now and then if I am successful, I will post a proper reply.
thanks

Gabgoobie

I am delighted that I have had some response on my woes. Suddenly I don't feel alone on this issue. I will check the CAT - good call!!! the spark was tested against the engine case and I could see a healthy spark. should i do this test for all coils? what about the Fuel pump test? what test can i do for that?
many thanks again, and please keep any suggestions going...... anything is worth a try I am desperate and my only alternative is to scrap a perfectly good beautiful car that I have dreamt of owning for years.
thanks

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I've seen that SC somewhere b4. I dont remember where. But air filter located @ the middle right next to the SuperCharger ? wow what kind of Hot air this sucker has been pulling? Epic Failed.

Power Mod ECU? Isnt that the ones came from Australia or something ?

Go check the CAT first. or just run it without CAT and see if you still cant rev pass 4000 rpm (but cover your ears, cuz without silencer this engine will be CRAZY LOUD)

Gabgoobie

Thanks again for your reply NYCGPS.
The CAT will come off next week when the car goes into the garage.
The PowerMod is indeed an Australian ECU.
The location of the air intake is not optimum, perhaps I will find a suitable alternative place for it but for now it is in a small box with the rest of the SC kit until I can get the car to run well naturally aspirated.
when the ECU is reset, all is well, no check engine light for a while until you run it for a chort while and rev it - then the light comes on.... wierd!!
what about not starting if you press the throttle? are they all like this?
I would give anything to get this car on the road and running the way it should.
will post an update after the CAT comes off.
thanks

RK

iTrader: (1)

Isn't that the ProCharger?

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-major-horsepower-upgrades-93/procharger-148445/page2/



Looks close. Way shinier than his tho.

If you take the midpipe off completely make sure you have a steel pipe to divert the air down. Gets pretty hot under there and melting will occur if it comes straight out.

Gabgoobie

Well we now have an update.
Progress has been made!!
We took the centre exhaust piece off both cars and figured out that the 2005 model car had the smaller CAT unit. We then removed the contents of the CAT effectively making it a straight through pipe. The coils were also checked and the best 4 were selected based on resistance measurements and installed.
The car ran way better than before but still not perfect. Upon start up the car would oscillate between 800 and 2,000 rev/min several times, and then settle at 1000 rev/min. when driving, it would kangaroo a little, but not as much as before. As it warmed up, the Kangarooing reduced as did the hunting at idle. Upon driving (goodness me.. it is noisy without the CAT) I noticed that there is a flat spot at 5,000 rev/min and then it seems less pokey after that (as though it does not like the higher revs). In all this time, the check engine light is on and occasionally it blinks too. When I returned to the garage following my test drive, they told me that they cleared the check engine light but as soon as the accelerator pedal is pressed, the light comes back on. Clear it again, and the same story recurs. I asked what fault code we are registering now and they all looked blank. Maybe the man who could use the computer was not there to decipher the code. I will know what the code is tomorrow.
What now I wonder?
Any help would be most welcome.
Thanks again for your patience with this saga………. I think we will get there in the end.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

it is the dna procharger out of aus.

the cel is likely from the fact that you removed the cat.

flashing cel is from misfire. plugs, wires, coils. or combo of the three.

idle reving on start up, neu position switch, maf sensor, maf sensor connections.

also look closely for vacuum leaks..

good luck you have a big project ahead. btw, get a scan tool.

do you have a laptop.http://www.performancedesign.com.au/?content=scanalyser

good product.

beers

ramzesgd

Look at my thread, seems like we got similar problem

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/problem-rpms-power-stalling-152409/

Gabgoobie

Guys,
the feedback form all you knowledgeable people is overwhelming. Here I am thousands of miles away from you, and all of you trying your damnest to help......... it is very much appreciated.

Here are a few points:
The car is now configured as standard. No supercharger or piggy back ECU.. It is all stock apart form the battery being in the trunk.

I am almost convinced that the main source of my problem is an air leak.

The fault code we get now is still P2004 - on demand DTC. MRC bank 1 stuck open.
Does this mean anything to anyone?

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

P2004 is the APV. (Auxiliary Port Valve)

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...14-07-1777.pdf

Check that link for info.

Gabgoobie

brilliant link buddy................ many many thanks!!!!
are you a God???

jackhain

Gabgoobie, check your barometric pressure sensor. Try unplugging it while the car is running and see it it makes a difference. The car relies on that sensor to compute how much air is going into the engine.

Also make sure all of your vacuum lines are attached. There are a couple of tricky hidden ones on underside of the plastic intake extension manifold near the throttle body.

I also sincerely hope you have a copy of the workshop manual....it's a lifesaver. If you don't, just tell me where I can upload a ~28mb zip

Gabgoobie

man.............did'nt know about the baro sensor. is there one on a 2004 model?
thanks for the drawing. I am going to check the car out tomorrow after they redo the vacuum piping................. fingers crossed!!!
thanks again for your help........

jackhain

Yeah, it has a baro sensor. You can make the car run really funny if you apply a small vacuum to it.

The pic I posted earlier is straight out of the workshop manual. There is a copy online at http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/2003mazdarx8/. I have a copy on my laptop thats been stripped of all languages but English that I use all the time. It's only 28mb when compressed. If you'd like a copy, please send me a PM and we'll work out the details.

Gabgoobie

most grateful for the offer. I alreday have the CD with this information on it. I appreciate your kindness though.
I should get the car back tomorrow. will report on its status then.
thanks

Gabgoobie

in desperation, we looked at the vacuum pipes once more. I noticed there were two check valves on two lines that should not have check valves on them according to the manual. I instructed the mechanic to remove these and also told him to unbolt the inlet manifold away from the engine in order to verify that both air control cylinders are rotating and that neither fo them is stuck/ broken linkage etc.
Two days later (as manifold unbolting is a big job) i was told that the two cylinders worked perfectly and that the excercise was a wasted effort. however, the car is now running perfectly he said!!!
wow!!!
what did you do? i asked the mechie?
i replaced the injectors he said......... poblem gone away now!!
i am off to test drive the car on Saturday and hopefully take it home after a 3 month battle with warning lights.
i wish to thank all thos ewho helped me with my problems. you are a great bunch of guys..enjoy your Mazdas... I will!!!

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

congrats, glad it finally came together for you