Skinless

Yesterday when I started my car it didn't start the first time I tried and reluctantly started the second time. I've been noticing that it's been getting a little more difficult to start lately but normally it runs fine. When I got out on the road it started to surge quite a bit and felt like it was misfiring. I also got a flashing CEL. My car has 33,000 miles and I have been planning to change out the coils/plugs but I haven't done it yet. Given the RX8 coil issues and number of miles my assumption is that this is probably related to coils. My problem now is that we have relatives coming tomorrow to stay for a week and we really need both of our vehicles in good working order. My 8 isn't driveable in it's current state. I've called all around trying to find coils but nobody seems to have them in stock except the Mazda dealer and I'm not really willing to pay $87 each for the crappy OEM coils. Some of the other auto places can get coils in by the end of next week but that's too late for me.

So my questions are:
Is it a valid assumption that this is most likely my coils/plugs?
If I just change my plugs without the coils for now until I can get new coils is it likely that I'm just going to foul a new set of plugs if the coils are the real issue?

Also, the day before this happened I had my car detailed. On the way home from the detail shop (15 miles) I didn't notice any issues so I'm assuming this isn't related to anything they did, but is there something else I should check?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Bladecutter

You could try switching the leading coils to the trailing coil positions, and see if that gets the car by for the time being.

BC.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

mazmart should be able to ship you new plugs/coils fairly quickly, at a very good price.

eretromicin

that looks exactly like what happen to me just a week or so ago (except, at the end of it all, my car caught on fire).... definitely coils...so, i say, do away with the stock ignition solution altogether... get the BHR kit, or make one yourself using those Yukon coils (d585's).. $25/each with lifetime warranty on ebay.... the whole kit will cost you about $320 to make(coils, plug wires and harness), and your misfires will be no more... i run my kit on old spark plugs (~20k miles on them), and everything runs perfect...

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

Did you try O'Reilly(formerly Kragan's)? Mine came in within 24 hours. Anyway, try what Bladecutter recommended, flip the coils.

eretromicin

any reason you're misquoting? it caught on fire with the crappy mazda coils...and runs perfect with the D585's

Bladecutter

Why the heck did your car catch on fire, and how do you blame it on the stock coils?

Oh wait, are you the one with a race pipe and aftermarket spoiler with exhaust tips that are way too big and your plastic bumper caught on fire after misfire?

You can't really blame that on your coils, entirely.

Lots of people with stock exhaust systems don't have their cars catch on fire when their coils crap out.

Your situation is unique.

BC.

PeteInLongBeach

^ What bladecutter said. That is all....

eretromicin

What race pipe are you guys talking about? the spoiler is stock...the exhaust system is Greddy SP, so yes, the exhaust tips are slightly larger than stock... i'm not saying that every car will catch on fire because of bad coils.... also, most people have their coils go out slowly, while in my case the LH coil died completely without any prior signs of going bad... but if you want to know how a bad coil would allow for unburned fuel to get into the exhaust system, and possibly (like in my case, which actually is not an isolated case), cause the car to catch on fire, then all you have to do is think a little... no need to flame people... all i was trying to say is that replacing stock coils with another set of the same stuff seems quite unreasonable on these cars... especially if there are much better options available for a similar price... moreover, the person asked if it's ok to replace coils without replacing the spark plugs, and the answer is "yes"...at least, from my experience

Skinless

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I picked up some plugs this weekend and when I went to change them out and try switching the leading with trailing coils I found that one of the plug wires was completely off. I obviously should have checked that immediately when it started happening. I was in a hurry and just assumed it was the coils. I had the oil changed the week before so I'm guessing they knocked it loose then and I started getting the bad symptons when it came off completely. I doubt the detail shop had anything to do with it (a few days after the oil change), but who knows. Anyway, it's running great after putting the plug wire back on. Now I need to pick up the new coils. I know about the BHR kit but hadn't heard about buying the d585's. I was just planning on ordering some from Orielly's but they can't get them for 10 days in the local shop. Online they are $37.99 from Orielly but they'll pricematch to Advanced Auto Parts ($27.99) in the store.

Now I just need to decide which route I want to go and do it, so I don't end up with a real problem.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

eretromicin

Haha, an easy fix that's always nice. The d585's are the Yukon coils BHR use on their kits... so once you have that you'd need to fabricate the bracket... BHR does all of that work for you, plus from what I understand, assist in installation in addition to any other q's you might have...but, if you don't mind having to change those coils once in a while, then $27.99/coil is a great price too