Overheating exhaust.running bad
 

this is my first post so bear with me..
i have a 2004 rx8 6 speed manual that has 112000 miles and the motor is less than a year old.
i was driving down the road and it started feeling groggy...(please note i drive my car enjoyably..a 9000 rpm run a day atleast) so i picture it should not feel floody on the plugs.
i get out of the car and start noticing smoke and pop the hood open and look around and see the header glowing red hot. i look under the car from the side and see the whole exhaust past the catalytic converter glowing red as it shouldnt of course..it now continues to drive slow and the whole muffler system continues to turn bright red very easily whenever driven..what can be the problem.i know there will be many problems that can be noted but this is my daily driver so i must fix this problem as soon as possible..
(been told that it could be clogged cat or running lean somehow) but i dont think it would be a clogged cat if it glowing red all through out the whole system? heard it could also may be a sensor problem? just so puzzled..

your cat is fizzled. I wouldn't be surprised of other components of your engine are damaged, either.
Cat, plugs. wires, coils, both O2 sensors, etc

even if the cat is the problem. the rest of the pipe further down even glows red?? and the bad cat makes the car run bad as well. real low power and raspy groggy running feel?

if you plugged up your butt-hole, you'd run pretty shitty, too! (Pun intended :lol: )

just figured since it was a problem with the cat the only only hot spots would be around the cat and before it..not further down the pipe..

the RENESIS is one hot engine.
Pull your cat down and inspect it. Test your plugs and coils.
Read the stickies and find the info you seek ;)

ok...i guess i need to replace them..might as well replace the whole exhaust system while im at it. perhaps a catback to get rid of the cat up front

A cat back is everything after the cat.
You need a mid pipe to replace the cat.

if i get the midpipe will i need to get the rest of the muffler? such as a catback exhaust..just wanting the car to run right

Your exhust system comes with three components.

An Exhaust manifold bolted to the engine.
A midpipe/catalytic convertor.
And a Catback exhaust system (muffler).

You may change any component independently without the need to change any other part.

Installing just a midpipe is commmon place. Just remember that you will get a Check Engine Light (CEL) from removing the catalytic convertor from the emission system. It will not pass a state (DMV) emissions test.

engine> header/manifold> cat converter/ midpipe > catback.

Fizzled, reminds me of Portal. Lol.

so i guess the conclusion is that i will need to replace the catalytic converter and hope all works well...seems thats what all the problems point to..

I just feel sad that people have ZERO idea how things work these days ...

get an aftermarket replacment cat, around 300 bux and it usually has 3 to 5 years warranty.

but then he would have to call them after the packing blows out in a a few weeks.

i suggest either buying the oem cat from mazda, or BHR midpipe, or racing beat v2 midpipe. These 2 will keep the sound levels close to the stock cat from mazda.

i want to pass emissions and not send an engine light..opinions on magnaflow?

Hot exhaust and misfires
 

Hi,
I have a 04 plate rx8 and the other week it died and took ages to eventually restart but had very little power and ran very lumpy then there was smoke starting to come inside from the exhaust been red hot, I have since replaced the cat and both O2 sensors and the plugs and still exactly the same!!
Any help/info would be excellent.
Thanks.

when was the last time you changed coils

Changed the coils about 8 months ago.

^It's time for a compression test