littleRX8boy

Hey there. My name is Mike and my friend has a 2004 RX8 with just around 49000 KM on it. Mods include Greddy SP2 catback, AEM CAI, Agency power pulley

Last time the car was fully functional was this past Saturday. I was with him for the majority of the time and the car ran great. After he dropped me off at my house, he later texted me telling me how much his car was backfiring when letting off the gas in 1st and 2nd gear. I didn't think much of it and just kinda ignored the text with an ' LOL '

The day he tells me that he tried to start the car and it wouldn't turn over. I asked him if it was clicking when he turned it over, and he said 'no' (cause i thought maybe the batt was dead). I told him that it might be flooded, and that he should wait until i'm back in town to deflood it.

Today we decided to try and deflood it. I used the method of pulling the 15A ENG INJ fuse, cracnking the car over for 5 sec with the throttle full depressed, then waiting 10 sec, and continuing. We did this for about 2 min, then would put the fuse in to start it. After 4 attempts of this method, it finally turned over.

At this point, I had to mash the gas to keep it going. The revs wouldn't go above 3krpm. I held it there for maybe 3 sec and then let go, but still had the clutch full depressed. What I noticed at this time was the massive amount of smoke from the exhaust, the traction control light, CEL, and how quite the car seemed to sound.

After about 1 min of idling, I let the clutch go and the car continued to idle steady at 2krpm. I then switched on the headlights because we needed light to get the jumper cables off and such (as it was night time)

I then made a video, which I shall attach to this thread, explaining what was going on. Basically everytime i was push the throttle, it would go no more than 3krpm.

After the video, I said to my buddy, 'lets just shut it down and call it a night' I shut the headlights off, and all of a sudden the RPMs started bouncing up a down between 900-3300 rpm and my friend starting yelling "theres sparks/flames and smoke coming from the exhaust". I immediately shut the car off, and re-opened the hood. The radiator fan was just constantly blowing and some smoke seemed to come out of the bay (not very much, might have been from the exhaust)

The rad fan seemed to stay on, with the car off and keys in hand. I suggested to turn the car to "on" and then off, which then turned the fan off.

This is when we just called it quits and I went home.

Any help on the matter would be great. I honestly would just like to know what is wrong, and what costs we're looking at.

Any help is much appreciated

—Mike

Video link:
http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/j...t=IMG_0103.mp4

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

hmm... sounds like a bad spark. Coils and plugs is a good place to start. When were the plugs/ coils last changed?

ShinkaEvo

iTrader: (3)

^+1
Might wanna check his cat afterward, since he doesn't have straight pipe but got sparks/flames around 3k rpm..
I'm more curious about the traction control light and smoke from the bay...hum....

49000 KM really isn't much, that's around 30k miles. Does your friend drive hard?

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

You sir have a clogged catalytic converter. Look under the car after it's run a bit to see if the exhaust is glowing close to the engine. Do this at night for best results.
Don't know where you live so can't say whether you would have warranty. USA is 80,000 miles. Find out what the CEL is and it sounds like it went into limp mode.

littleRX8boy

routine maintainence was done this past summer he says, not sure what that included, but he said the spark plugs were changed

he doesn't drive the **** outta it, but will have fun on the occasional on ramp to the highway and such. what got me thinking was how come immediately after i flicked the headlights off, it started jumping up and down between 900rpm and 3krms (at a rapid rate i might add). could it be electrical? only electrical mod done is replacing all the interiors lights with red LEDs from super bright LEDs.com

we live in toronto, ontario, canada and i believe the warranty is up at 80000km. when we have time, i'll start it back up and check the cat. he said that he has had to replace the cat before or something like that... could it be due to the fact hes running the greddy sp2 with any headers/high flow cat/midpipe?


thanks to everyone who has replied

ShinkaEvo

iTrader: (3)

On the OP, it didn't mention anything about header nor midpipe....double check with him.
As for jumping rpm...check the AEM intake, see if the screen got stuck at TB...but it happened after you shut the headlight.....weird....

He replaced plugs, how about coil?

littleRX8boy

Coils have not been done as far as i know. as for headers and midpipe, its all stock except for a cat back greddy sp2



I talked to him today at the gym, and he said hes just going to get it towed to the mazda dealer and tell them to fix it for w/e cost. i told him i'd rather them tell you what needs to be done, so i can relay it to you guys and hopefully tell me whether it should be done or not.

hes the type of guy that will do WHATEVER the dealer tells him, even if it shouldnt be done. Dealer once took out his LED parking lights due to the fact they said it was going to make the stock electrical catch fire... also charged him $50 for install of new halogens to take the LEDs place.....

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

Your friend should just join the forum! There is plenty of useful info that he could pick up, and he could even do most of the work himself! (s far as his present situation goes. It's very simple to do)

littleRX8boy

I'm the one who works on his car mostly LOL... My dad has a 1993 RX7 TT that just sits in my garage with 60000 original KM on it... one day i hope to have it, but thats just a dream.


All I'd really like to know is what you guys think is the issue that is going on.

So far I've marked down the cat, possible coils, and possible plugs...

Hopefully after this weekend, if it hits the dealership, i'll have an update

ShinkaEvo

iTrader: (3)

Most likely the coil and also the cat.
The cat should still be under warranty.

But if your friend got money lying around, the just let the stealership take care of it...

littleRX8boy

ya i know what you mean... i just wouldn't wanna see a good friend of mine have to pay more for things that aren't needed.

if it is the coild and cat... or w/e it might be, what would be the estimated costs he's looking at? (take it as if there is no warranty)

ShinkaEvo

iTrader: (3)

Stock cat is about $1600 USD, coil is around $200 for a set, I think.

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