My car makes a very strange sound sort of like something on the passenger side is loose but in the engine area. It sounds like sand particles in the engine type of noise. Very vibrating sound. Mostly if I rev to 7-9 rpm in second and third gear.

It is an RX8 R3 brand new.

I thought it was something in the glove box but it was empty, then I realized it was coming from the engine area versus in the car although from the passenger side it is loud and clear.

I brought it in today and the guy said it may have to do with the firewall needing some sort of plug which they ordered.

Anyone else had this kind of issue?

 

if its not the plug int he firewall, its probably air in the heater core. your car needs burped

 

Ahh ok I will mention this. Thanks!

Just seems odd with only 196 miles on the car that would be the issue already, but ya never know.

Any other suggestions I can bring his way the better

 

When cold. Jack up car so it is tilted. Open radiator cap. Start car. Let idle until she begins to over heat.

You have just burped your new baby.

 

I have an 09 R3 that does this also.
Were you able to get it fixed? What turned out to be the problem?

 

This one.... new owners always think it is a flaw or a problem - I know, me too when I first got the car.

There are several answers to this issue (which really isn't an issue) - do a search, you'll see this problem has been asked and answered to death.

The sound is caused (from what I remember) from the sudden heat generated at those high RPMs, which occurs a bit faster than the cooling system can adjust to right away, the result is that you hear bubbles as the water boils through.

Is it a problem? nope.

It's completely normal.

"Sounds like sand in my motor"
"Sounds like sand in a blender"
"Sounds like air pockets in my fuel line"

We've heard them all
If anyone asks "Woah what's wrong with your car?!"
Answer: "It's a burning passion of mine"

 

What happened to the prescribed break in period for the engine?

 

Theres a break in period? lol

 

Yeah, but our engine is completely unreliable you know

 

So the solution was a plug in the firewall which stopped the 06-09 non insulated coils from hitting the sides at a certain RPM.

 

Hello, this is my first post. What a great site and forum. Glad to be here! I just got my new 2009 RX8 (Sparkling Blk Mica) on Monday. This car is Awesome!!! Handles like a Porsche, has four seats for less than half the price, WOW!! Sorry, I know this goes on another thread.

A couple of days after getting my car I noticed exactly the same sound that Tristan described between above 7000rpm. From your replies, it sounds like it's normal but being a brand new car I took it to the dealer. I got lucky. There is a Mazda training center a mile from the dealer and a Japanese Mazda engineer (from Mazda HQ) is looking at my car. As has been stated, the sound at higher rpm appears to be normal (an RX8 thing) caused when more cooling is required at the high rpm. The Mazda engineer has taken recordings of the noise and believes that it can be reduced substancially (although not eliminated).

I will keep you posted on what I find out.

It is cool to have a site for RX8ers!!

 

It's fixed. The noise above 7000rpm is gone. They installed a small restrictor just downstream of the thermostat. They are not sure whether this will become an SB but it is available for those that drive in the upper ranges and find the noise an issue.

 

That's what was wrong with mine as well. Got it fixed yesterday, and everything is working great. The folks at Burt Mazda did a nice job.

 

sb?

 

Service Bulletin

 

Trubach, glad it workrd for you. They say it will have no impact on heating or cooling so it looks like a good fix. Mine sounds great now too.