Notices
Series I Trouble Shooting This is the place to learn more about or discuss any issues you're having with your RX-8

Overheating

Old Sep 29, 2008 | 12:17 PM
  #1  
drchris6000's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: MA
Overheating

Recently my 04 6spd 8 has been overheating intermittently. Basically whenever I idle for long periods of time, like traffic. I assume the fans aren't coming on, I just ordered a new thermostat. Does anyone know where I could find instructions for replacing this? And also does anyone know what else might cause the fans to not turn on; relay issue, fan control switch, etc...??
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2008 | 12:39 PM
  #2  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,606
Likes: 3,474
From: The Dark Side
check the fuses for the fans.
How do you know it's actually overheating? Is the stock gauge moving?
That guague wont' even move until you're sitting at over 230 degrees (it's more or less a 'dummy' gauge)
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2008 | 11:09 PM
  #3  
mazdaverx7's Avatar
RX-Heaven
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,287
Likes: 256
From: Vermilion Ohio
if the t-stat were bad your engine would overheat/overcool all the time. i wold look into the fan switch and the actual fan motors as being the culprit. how often are you experiencing this problem?
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2008 | 08:17 AM
  #4  
drchris6000's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: MA
It overheated on me 3 times... the gauge pinned and it started to boil over... all three times it was when I was stuck in traffic idling for long periods of time.... I checked the fuses and the relays.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2008 | 09:18 AM
  #5  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by drchris6000
It overheated on me 3 times... the gauge pinned and it started to boil over... all three times it was when I was stuck in traffic idling for long periods of time.... I checked the fuses and the relays.
It should not overheat like that.

Thermostat is not that hard to replace, its just hard to take it out of its location cuz there are engine harness and some the mount above.

When was the last time you replace your coolant ?
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2008 | 10:29 AM
  #6  
rx8-rus's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Princeton, NJ
Originally Posted by drchris6000
It overheated on me 3 times... the gauge pinned and it started to boil over... all three times it was when I was stuck in traffic idling for long periods of time.... I checked the fuses and the relays.
I had the same problem this summer. I replaced termostat and temperature sensor. It didn't help. Finally I replaced coolant reservoir cup, and this finally helped.
In this car there is no radiator cup, that keeps cooling system under pressure. Coolant reservoir itself is under pressure, and its cup has to keep it. So in case of overheating you need to replace cup first and then reservoir, since it is made of plastic and may deform.
By the way in my case engine temperature didn't exceed 212 degrees until it started boiling.
I checked temperature using CAN scanner. It rise to 212 and coolant started boiling at that time. If I new that there is no radiator cup before that, it would save me money spent on termostat and temp sensor replacement.
Now temperature gets as high as 230 degrees in stop and go traffic, but without coolant boiling.

Last edited by rx8-rus; Sep 30, 2008 at 10:45 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2008 | 11:19 AM
  #7  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,606
Likes: 3,474
From: The Dark Side
Originally Posted by drchris6000
It overheated on me 3 times... the gauge pinned and it started to boil over... all three times it was when I was stuck in traffic idling for long periods of time.... I checked the fuses and the relays.
that is NOT good.
how long since you flushed the coolant out?
are you still in warranty?

random thought: have you relocated your license plate?
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 10:51 AM
  #8  
drchris6000's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: MA
haha with the random thought... I just did..... but it's not blocking anything, it's way out of the way.

I guess I'll just start replacing stuff till something works.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 11:06 AM
  #9  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,606
Likes: 3,474
From: The Dark Side
where is the plate? I only ask because a local member here relocated his license plate and it caused overheating issues.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2008 | 12:35 AM
  #10  
swoope's Avatar
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14,603
Likes: 36
From: orlando, fl
Originally Posted by drchris6000
haha with the random thought... I just did..... but it's not blocking anything, it's way out of the way.

I guess I'll just start replacing stuff till something works.
do the fans run? or can you spin them with your hand?


btw, replacing stuff till i works always fails..

bees
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2008 | 08:10 AM
  #11  
drchris6000's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: MA
The fans aren't running, that's why I guessed it to be the thermostat or a fan control switch. I need to find some instructions on how to replace the thermostat.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2008 | 08:15 AM
  #12  
luis@championsmotorsports's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: sunny florida
id say replace your oil and filter as well if the thing got that hot 3 times thats not good on your oil.good luck.
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2008 | 02:27 AM
  #13  
swoope's Avatar
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14,603
Likes: 36
From: orlando, fl
Originally Posted by drchris6000
The fans aren't running, that's why I guessed it to be the thermostat or a fan control switch. I need to find some instructions on how to replace the thermostat.
thermostat has nothing to do with this.. fuse, or fans have failed. or something has stopped the fans from turning..

check to see if you can spin the fans by hand. if not look for rocks or something stopping the fans from turning.. it has happened before..

beers
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2008 | 09:54 AM
  #14  
RX8BANGLA's Avatar
RX-8 with no Mazda Dealer
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Dhaka, Bangladesh
I changed my water pump pully to Greddy and also filled in new coolant with the factory coolant. Since then engine overheats within 5 minutes of driving. It overheats fast if I turn the A/C on. Average outside temp is 44 degree celcius with 95% humidity.
Any idea why this is happening?
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2008 | 02:09 PM
  #15  
drchris6000's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: MA
Well I fixed it... it was the fan control switch, and a fuse.... the fans kick on now.... didn't bother replacing thermostat.
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2008 | 03:15 PM
  #16  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,606
Likes: 3,474
From: The Dark Side
^ glad to hear it's all fixed!
Reply
Old Oct 5, 2008 | 07:27 PM
  #17  
mazdaverx7's Avatar
RX-Heaven
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,287
Likes: 256
From: Vermilion Ohio
me too!! i figured it may be the fan not kicking on. which fuse was blown?
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Luiss7
RX-8 Discussion
54
Aug 20, 2019 08:56 AM
Silver_Excalibur
Series I Tech Garage
23
Jun 6, 2019 07:23 PM
tommy26Germany
Series I Trouble Shooting
11
Sep 29, 2015 10:33 AM
iwannarun
New Member Forum
1
Sep 6, 2015 01:37 PM


Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:54 PM.