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Help! Multiple engine problems...

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Old Apr 6, 2013 | 11:55 PM
  #1  
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Help! Multiple engine problems...

So my rx8 has multiple issues with the engine. Biggest problem is, the car idles rough and dies seconds after letting my foot off the gas. The problem is, it ONLY happens if I disconnect and reconnect the battery. When I try starting the car up after reconnecting the battery, it starts up and fires up to like 3-4m rpm and quickly settles down and starts idling really rough and going down to ridiculously low rpms, where it dies completely seconds later. Here's the funny part, it completely stops idling rough or dieing at idle if I rev the car a couple of times above 7k rpm. It runs fine and perfect. What the hell would cause it to do that?

Another issue, during this past summer, there have been several days where my temperature gauge went slowly all the way to the right. I obviously noticed it do that rather soon than later, and shut the car off and let it cool down. What could cause the temperature gauge to skyrocket all the way up? What do I have to look at or replace?

One last issue, my rx8 struggles to start many times when the engine's up to operating temperatures. Sometimes won't even start until I get it to cool down. What would cause it to do that? I refuse to say the engine itself needs to be replaced just yet because most of these issues are relatively minor in my opinion, my rx8 drives fine, shifts smoothly, don't have any power loss, getting steady 19-20 mpg, no unusual sound from engine bay, and it purrs like new when reving it. Maybe I'm just living in denial?

What do you guys think?
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 12:37 AM
  #2  
Lvis's Avatar
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Originally Posted by undeadmarshall
So my rx8 has multiple issues with the engine. Biggest problem is, the car idles rough and dies seconds after letting my foot off the gas. The problem is, it ONLY happens if I disconnect and reconnect the battery. When I try starting the car up after reconnecting the battery, it starts up and fires up to like 3-4m rpm and quickly settles down and starts idling really rough and going down to ridiculously low rpms, where it dies completely seconds later. Here's the funny part, it completely stops idling rough or dieing at idle if I rev the car a couple of times above 7k rpm. It runs fine and perfect. What the hell would cause it to do that?

Another issue, during this past summer, there have been several days where my temperature gauge went slowly all the way to the right. I obviously noticed it do that rather soon than later, and shut the car off and let it cool down. What could cause the temperature gauge to skyrocket all the way up? What do I have to look at or replace?

One last issue, my rx8 struggles to start many times when the engine's up to operating temperatures. Sometimes won't even start until I get it to cool down. What would cause it to do that? I refuse to say the engine itself needs to be replaced just yet because most of these issues are relatively minor in my opinion, my rx8 drives fine, shifts smoothly, don't have any power loss, getting steady 19-20 mpg, no unusual sound from engine bay, and it purrs like new when reving it. Maybe I'm just living in denial?

What do you guys think?
ouch..... get a compression test
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 05:16 AM
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when was the last time u replaced the ignition components?
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Old Apr 7, 2013 | 09:47 AM
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Hmm, spark plugs maybe about 10k miles ago? Engine coils about 25k miles ago? Are there any other components that need to be changed out? Right now my car is driving fine, it has been generally hassle free except for the battery disconnect/reconnect problem where the car will idle rough and die unless I redline it a couple of times, and the rough idle and die issue goes away completely until I disconnect the battery again. The other issues only happen when it gets closer to the summer time when it gets really hot outside. I'm just really curious what all reasons would cause the rx8 to not start when the engine's hot? Could cleaning or replacing the throttle body do any good? I've heard it's known to cause really bad idle issues when dirty or malfunctioning.
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 02:21 PM
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Bump...
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 02:35 PM
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disconnecting the battery shouldnt reset the fuel trims. Which it sounds like its doing everytime u disconnect it. Than you must take the car for a drive down the road to have it re-learn its fuel trims.

"hot start issue is a sign of compression failure"
go get yourself a compression test.

But. im willing to bet that if you replace your spark plugs, coils and wires Again. (even though not much mileage)
all your problems will go away.
(accept for the over heating issue) Make sure your fans coming on & your coolant has been changed within spec.
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 02:43 PM
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TX

Originally Posted by Lvis
ouch..... get a compression test
Stop, just stop dude.

Originally Posted by undeadmarshall
Bump...
You need to properly diagnose your issues. Try starting with the factory service manual under the troubleshooting section. It could be many things. It could be something serious, like a low compression engine or it could be something stupid simple like a vacuum leak.

http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/2003mazdarx8/
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