Ok im pretty sure everyone on this forum knows i need a new cat lol.

So that's first thing first im trying to find a new cat. Second my car has a misfire because sometimes when I start it up the CEL blinks and the car seems to sputter or something. So that's a misfire right? Im ordering new plugs today but i want to make sure I get everything I need ordered aside from the cat before i order everything.

My friend is going to install everything for me next saturday, Im not to familiar with cars but I want to see if i can check the spark plug wires and maybe coils to see if those are bad. Also I want to make sure my cat is bad as well im pretty sure he knows how to check that but just in case what would I be looking for once we pull that thing off?

Thanks again guys everyone has been a good help.

 

Take the coils out and take a look underneath the coils if u see a white burn mark i would replace them. They only last around 30k miles. If i was you i would upgrade the coils for the BHR ignition kit, they are supposed to last 100k miles.

 

hold on
WAIT
I say this as nice as possible ....
Wrong
There is no evidence to suggest that the white mark on the bottom means that the coils are bad..... all we know is that the OEM coils do not last that long.
And there is no evidence to suggest that the BHR coils will last 100k plus or minus

 

1) flashing engine light at start up with a bit of engine stumble mean a misfire .. you need to read the cel codes .... it could very well be a dirty eccentric shaft sensor or the maf needs cleaning OR worse case poor compression

2) To check the coils you are going to need some specific equipment .... if you figure it out let me know too please

3) As for the Cat.... unless the element looks cracked/clogged/ or is gone the only way to check is with an emissions test. The Cat can look visual fine and still fail an e-test. BTW there are two elements in there .... if the rear element is hosed ... you can't visually see it.

 

as i said im not a car guy so how would i take these out? What about the spark plug wires?

so i guess when he takes the cat off we will just look inside it?

 

so for the dirty shaft sensor of maf how would i clean these?

 

Contact Cleaner

The coils come out with a couple bolts...nothing too major. Check the DIY section.

You can't really see inside of it to see it being clogged without busting off some screens. Check the DIY section again for something about gutting a cat and you should get the idea.

You can test them with a standard multimeter if I remember right. Send a PM over to Jon316G ("Why Hello There Bus!")...and he can help you out with it if you really want to know.

 

so for the shaft or does this involve taking a piece out or just using the cleaner?

and for the cat, so would i have to gut the cat? Also what would you guys recommend its been a little while for my cat being bad and I don't want to cause more damage to the car so should i just continue and look for an OEM cat and drive or get a cat delete or the RP super?

 

The eShaft goes down the center of the rotors. You do not need to remove the eShaft to do what needs to be done. On the end of it is an electrical connection that you need to take apart and spray with contact cleaner. Go take a look at the DIY for engine deflooding and it will point you to where the connection is if I remember right. If it isn't there it is in the manual in the deflood process.

I am not saying you should gut your cat. In order to inspect it though you will need to remove the cat from the car and remove the leading screen so you can see into the cat. If it is an issue with the cat then you have a couple paths you can take all goverened by what you want to get out of it and the laws in your area. Also you never said year or warranty status on your car...a cat is covered under warranty and has been known to need to be replaced under that warranty on the RX8.

 

yea my warranty is already gone i live in cali and my car is covered under CA emissions which is a 7year 70k. Im just asking everyones opinion with what i should do. My cat has been bad for about 3 to 4 weeks and i dont want to cause damage to my car. So should i continue to look for an OEM cat or get a cat delete or RP super?

 

You can not pass calie emissions without a cat on the car. OEM Cats are really expensive and illegal to sell privately, not that you couldn't find one on the forum somewhere. A cat delete pipe is going to offer you power but depending on the midpipe you get make your car really loud. A supercat is probably the best way to go for you and still remain legal. However...this is only good if you know for sure that your cat is dead or almost dead. If it is just a hunch it could be a waste of a couple hundred bucks.

 

w00t found this link in another thread on the coil testing procedures

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...16-07-1793.pdf

But Thanks anyway DeViLbOi

Edit: Pm'd Jon anyway ... thanks again

 

Your bible for all repairs
http://www.blackhaloracing.com/shopmanual/

Eccentric shaft sensor clean is here
http://www.blackhaloracing.com/shopm..._S01_0268.html

 

Thanks devil yea i want to be sure my cat is bad so ill just have my friend take it off and we will look at it. If we take those pieces you told me to take off will i be able to put them back on?

WCS thanks for all the links def will use this when we take a look at everything.

 

The eShaft sensor...yes...the Cat screen...no.

 

so if i take the cat screen off then basically its gutted then right?

 

far far far from

 

ok then im going to check it out this coming weekend.

If i can't find an OEM cat soon you think i should just get a cat delete or midpipe?

I just dont want to cause more damage to the car.

 

To find an OEM cat go to the dealer with $1300 in hand. They are quite easy to find really.

 

1300 is a deal...
2200 here in Canada .. or at least from my shitty dealer

 

You realize the CAT is warranted for 80,000 miles. EPA and all.

 

Cuz I was bored....

http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=20-55XA-N3Y3

 

oh yea im not trying to buy no new cat lol 1G is alot of money just to spend out of no where lol. Im trying to find someone selling a used cat or maybe from a junkyard or something.

 

Like I said earlier...Im 99% sure it is illegal to sell a functioning cat.

 

i have seen people on this board selling them, they just get sold before i can get a hold of them...