Okay, the 8 has 57k miles now. Owned it 2.5 years and have put all of 14k on it. Well within the last 10k, probably more like the last 5k, have installed brand new battery, brand new tires, and dealer performed full tune-up as well as verifying the cat for me. Car has been running great for a while now. Now, twice in the last week, while sitting at a stoplight, feel a bad vibration and idle rpm's seem lower than usual and the engine just bogs down and cuts off. Then it won't restart right away. Wait a couple of minutes, restart it, it runs rough for a minute or two, and then everything seems fine again. No CEL at any point.

Any chance this could be caused by a bad batch of gas? It was filled up late last week and both incidences were while on the same tank.

 

it could be bad gas.
Have you cleaned the air filter and maf/eccentric shaft sensors?

 

Haven't cleaned any sensors. Pulled the air filter last night and it was pretty dirty but the dirt was concentrated on both sides right around the areas where the air is pulled in and pushed out. As is normal where I live, I couldn't find a new one at any of the local parts stores and Wally world doesn't even list or carry one for an 8. Since the filter is much larger than the area where the filth was concentrated, I turned it 180 degrees and put it back in. I also added a bottle of Techron fuel additive to the tank. So far, the issue hasn't come back. But, the problem is, it wasn't a consistent issue. So, it may come back still.

If anyone has any other ideas of what might cause this, I'd appreciate the input. I'll be changing the air filter as soon as I can get my hands on a new one.

 

When you get the filter get MAF cleaner. Remove the MAF carfully and drench it with the spray and let it air dry for 15 mins or so. Plug it all back up, reset the ESS and replace that filter. Than check back


ALSO look the DIY for cleaning the ESS as stated by RX8Soldier

 

time to hit the red zone.

 

That response is a bit cryptic. Are you suggesting a good redline or two may solve this? We don't redline it daily but we do do it often.

 

depends.
clean the MAF first see how it goes.

 

Redline cures all HAHA

 

Troubleshooting in the title you'd think it would be in the Troubleshooting section......