Please help me figure this out.
 

I know absolutely nothing about cars, except that I love mine and do not want to let her go. I bought her in March 2010, 43,000 miles, manual transmission and I named her Flo because she is bright red and never starts when she is supposed to. I have done a little research and have a very VERY basic understanding of some of the typical problems to expect. But I seriously need to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it. Everything was fine until about August 2010, on my way to the gas station I started losing power. I ended up parking the car and finally got her into the shop last week. They changed the plugs and said that should take care of everything. I left yesterday for work and the car died everytime I hit a stop sign. I finally made it to work and when I left, I had the same problem so I pulled over. Smoke started coming out of where the emergency brake is, as well as the hood and when I opened the trunk it was even in there! Anyway, I don't know what to do. HELP!

hmm, could be a few things.
1. when he changed the plugs, did he also change the coils? Probably want to do that if he didn't.
2. Check your catalytic converter. It's probably clogged/ destroyed. If you're under 80k miles, you're under warranty (provided you've done reg maintenance)

That being said, have you done regular maintenance on the car (oil changes, clean air filter, etc)? You should also check those

He did change the plugs but not the coils. Is that something that we can do at home or is it super complicated? Could I buy some kind of diagnostic thing to check the catalytic converter? We did regular maintenance as specified in the owners manual. Should still be way under 80,000 miles.

change coils first. usually people change then at 60k miles.
also how you drive it? do you take it to red line on daily basis?

No, I don't. My workplace is only a couple miles from my house, so I can't. I know its not a short distance car but I really want to figure out how to fix her and be able to drive her to work and back without doing any damage.

you should make a habit of trying to redline your car at least once a week to clear out the carbon.
Click here for coil change. It's not hard, but if you aren't at all mechanically inclined, you may need to have someone do it for you.

And, you can check the cat by a) after a hard drive, look under the car to see if it's glowing red (no good!), or b) remove it and look inside/ shake it. You'll know if it looks like it's toast, and loose material is no bueno ...

I had this same problem...Everyone including a shop will tell you change the plugs/coils/wires first. Changing the coils is not very hard, I'll try yo find the DIY link. But if that doesn't work, then your Cat is most likely dead. If the car is under 80k, The cat should be replaced for free under federal law. If the Cat doesn't fix it, then you need a compression test done because your engine could have low compression causing it to stall/lose power. I would take it to an authorized Mazda dealership, and have them look at it.

I guess this weekend we will change the coils and wires if we can get ahold of them and take a look at the cat. I'm take it to Mazda on Monday if that doesn't work. Im nervous though that they are gonna say these problems are my fault and not gonna fix 'em.

read this for places to get cheap coils https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/where-buy-ignition-coils-210238/
Dealership will charge you an arm and a leg, and your 1st born

Its the Cat
 

Sounds like cat failure to me.
Pull the cat off first and check it, this costs nothing.
Use oil on the bolts!!

With smoke coming out of everywhere, take it to a dealer. That's just not a symptom you want to continue having. I vote with everyone who says cat. I fail to see how coils could cause smoke...other than a misfire having killed the cat.

Ken

Considering this is a thinking man's car they won't work in Oklahoma!:sadwavey: :mdrmed:

No really, I always read manuals, myself, and Mazda never mentions that the coils on the ignition are for shipping purposes only.

I put the BHR ign kit on at 23K miles, and the factory coils were already burning up.

Coils like computers should last the life of the car.

This one mistake will crush many young dreams as used RX8's show up, and die all over the place.

The car has to have a strong spark for life of the car or the gas makes slow instead of go, and passes the hydrocarbons onto the cat to roast the car.:o:

1.) CAT warranty is 80k miles or 8 years like said above. This is NOT dependent on anything you may or may not have done.

2.) I have heard one other time where a coil was sooooooooo bad that it did in fact smoke like the devil and creep up into the cabin from the E-brake. I cannot say that this is your problem however.

3.) You've got some good advice above, and doing the coils is not hard. If you have a significant other, get him off the couch and have him look at the DIY section on how to replace coils.

4.) www.mazmart.com have OEM coils at $185.00, as a reference..............there was a guy today on here that said the dealer wanted $550.00 for the coils and to do the install. $185.00 and less than an hour is the way to go!

5.) Now............let me ask you this. Do you have a CEL(Check Engine Light) on or has it been on?
If so, you need to get that code read........most Autozone's and Pepboys etc. will read it for free. I wouldn't drive it very much at all in it's present state, but if you have one close by and do have a CEL, then go get it read and report back here what it is.

6.) Worst case scenerio would be that you need a new engine due to lack of compression. Well, they will most likely make you get coils anyway before they check for compression, so do them yourself. If it is compression and not the CAT, then all you really need is proof of oil changes and you'd be good to go for 8 years or 100k miles. Basically a free re-manufactured engine.

ugh..where to start?..I am definitely gonna buy new coils and put them on "mostly" by myself (might have someone else around for any brute force). My check engine light is on. The last time I asked my husband about it he said it has something to do with the gas cap or something..ALSO, he mentioned looking under the car and seeing that the cat was glowing red, so obviously I told him that I was concerned with it and he said it was supposed to do that. Summary: need new coils and have the guys at autozone read the code on check engine light before taking it in for tests. Will probably need new cat....ughhh I'm sad :(

The CAT will be free, don't fret over that. Not to throw something else at you, but it may require a new O2 sensor when they do the CAT.

Yes, the original CEL could have been for the gas cap, but really should get them ALL read, write them down and report them ALL back here.

If I were you, I would do the coils and then immediately head in and get yourself a new "free" kitty, cause if it's glowing red, then it's most likely dead and the source of most of your issues.

FYI..we are a helpful lot, so if you put just your city in your profile or in this thread, you might find that if anyone is local, they could come out and help.
Currency around here is usually a couple of beers.

Check out this thread to see what I mean! This was started just the other day. Too bad you can't get to the big "D".

https://www.rx8club.com/gulf-rx-8-forum-32/where-get-lowering-springs-installed-around-dallas-212363/

Above all else..............good luck. I'll see if I can find the best DIY on doing the coils and link it in here, so you can see what it involves. It's really not that hard. Check back later and let's see what I come up with.

How to change coils:

Holy Crap Batman, the 2nd post in this one is mine.........I forgot..I didn't type it all, just cut and pasted. Look below mine around post #4 for an easier way.


https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-how-replace-ignition-coils-168162/

Here's is another that has pics if the links still work, I didn't check.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ight=DIY+coils

Yeah unfortunately, poor Flo is a far cry from making it to the Big D and seriously doubt there is anyone local, because I pretty much live in BFE. Will let you know all the codes though and Im gna try finding those coils!

We have members in BFE............that's the whole state ain't it? :)

www.mazmart.com for the coils!

I think you need to send your husband to an auto class. Cats do get hot, but glowing red is out of the usual range. Be very careful if he offers to help you change the coils.

Loose or bad gas cap can cause a CEL, but lots of other things can as well. Given everything going on with your car, you really need to have the code read.

Ken

Update
 

The guy from Mazda called and said it was indeed the CAT. They replaced it, covered under warranty and ran a deflood and decarb which was also covered. All I have to pay for is an air filter 'n oil change. They said they will call me when everything is done. I am really happy that they are replacing the CAT, but I am just hoping everything is OK with the motor. Any problems with it should show up soon, before 80,00 miles or 2012, I hope. Can't wait to get it back!