RX-8 acting FUNKY! Help?
 

My tire pressure warning light was on today, so I took it to the gas station near my house to check the tires. While on the way to the station, I stopped to make a right turn, gave it some gas, and my car became sluggish as hell... didn't want to pick up at all. It also started jerking while switching gears automatically, too... not smooth like usual.

Thankfully, made it to the gas station, checked my tires, and my back passenger-side tire was at about 22 psi, so I added air to make it 32 psi. On the way back home, my car seemed to be driving better. It's super hot today... about 90 degrees... but I've never experienced this kind of driving performance, and I've driven it before in similar hot weather...

Has anyone experienced this? Could it be that the low tire pressure had something to do with my car's performance? Or is it just a coincidence? My car has about 35k on it... think it might be the spark plugs? Loose wires? Don't want to get raped by the car dealer just yet... any suggestions/tips are appreciated! :) I am about 2 months over for my oil change... eek...

where in cali are you?

when was the last time you changed out your spark plugs/wires and ignition coils?

San Jose. I bought the car used in 2006, no spark plugs/wires have been changed since I've had it. I know major service should be done around 30k, which includes changing spark plugs... I'm 5k over that mark...

Think it's the spark plugs/wires, eh??

I will wait and see how my car runs tomorrow morning...

My money is on the coils. Mine went out while driving, car bogged down under acceleration. Mine happened to throw a code for misfire at 8500 rpm, but I don't think it will throw a code unless it misfires, etc. Heat afects it as well. Mine stalled once I came to a stop and would not restart until it cooled off for 5 minutes. I had 2 replaced at Mazda that day and ordered 2 more to install myself later. I had about 55 to 60k on it at the time with no prior replacement. I did replace the wires and plugs myself when I did the second pair of coils but the main cause was the coils.

Good luck.

I drop my rear tire pressure to 24 PSI to hook up on the drag strip; the car handles funky till I add air after drag racing. (and you were at 22PSI)

So it seems my car was driving fine this morning... no longer sluggish, no more jerking.

I'll wait to see how it drives later today... it's supposed to get hot again... about 95 degrees. If it starts acting up again, then it must be the heat that my 8 is not liking, I guess.

shouldnt matter. its been over 100 everyday for the last month it seems like here in texas and mines been running fine.

DSC turned on and the ECU compensated for it.