vacuum leak, help?
 

Hey guys, it's my first thread. But ever since i got the 8 the CEL was on. I got it checked and the code they gave me said it was a vacuum leak. I took it to my mechanic and he said he couldn't find it. The car runs good, the breaks need bleeding, someone said it is cuz of the vacuum leak. Anyways, there's times where the idle drops a little and the car shakes, also there's like a whistle sound once i get to a point on the throttle peddle. I have a AEM cold air installed, but it still did it with the factory filter. Any help? I'm still blind on the rotary engine. Thanks guys!

I have the same whistle at maybe ~5% throttle. I also have idle issues. If the brakes need bleeding, it has nothing to do with a vacuum leak.

What's the code causing the CEL? Sounds like whoever scanned it gave you their opinion instead of usefull information. Maybe a vacuum leak could cause whatever code they read but it could be other things as well. Have them give you the code number.

Yea the whistle sound comes about that certain area. And i just got it read in auto zone and they said vacuum leak. But I'll get the code today and I'll post it.

I got the code. It used to read vacuum leak, now it's random misfires. The code is p0300.

That's what I figured it was.

The whistle at part throttle is just air in the throttle body. You may hear yet another whistle at closed throttle which is the jet tubes and is normal. First thing I'd look at for missfires is the plugs. Check the color too. That will tell you a lot. Others here will recomend the regiment of rotary rigmarole required to run rev and resist random missfires.

Well the car was rebuilt die to a small accident. So since i got it had it. I accidentally flooded the rotary cuz i didn't know. But the dealer said that they changed the spark plugs and wires. But i should check then anyways? And also when i start out, it like struggles a little but still starts.

When was the last time the coils were replaced?

Stop taking it to the dealer if you can, you will get horribly ripped off. Plugs wires and coils can be done relatively cheap yourself and they are also very easy to change. A dealer will charge you a lot of money for the parts and install.

It's the only time i took it. I didn't had the acc on here by then and i didn't know what was going on. And coils, i haven't checked them. And the dealer didn't do that either.

I got the cel checked again, now it read the code p2259 with p0300. Any suggestions?? The guy said it could be coils if i haven't replaced them.

Replace the coils, plugs, wires.
Misfires ,p0300, are usually do to worn out ignition systems.
At least from what I understand. :)

Well i just replaced the coils. Would i have to replace the wires and the plugs as well? The plus and wires were done by the dealer almost a year ago.

If you had a bad coil causing a misfire, you could have fouled/dirty plugs as well. 1yr old wires should be fine.

Check the VFAD nipple under the upper intake manifold near the throttle body. When you installed the intake that nipple needs to be capped off or it will cause a vacuum leak

I haven't checked that. Like i said, i got it with the CEL. But I'll check for that tomorrow. And i was looking at a diagram that came with the intake, and it shows a hose running through the front of the throttle body and i have a feeling like there's something missing.

I can't find a nipple that's sitting without a plug or cap.

best way to find a vac leak is to do an evap test (i think its called). you use a machine to fill the intake with smoke and look for the leak with a flashlight. i found one of the caps on my lim service ports had a crack in it. i would have not noticed w/o the smoke.

Well i looked for that vfad nipple and i don't have one. There's no hole either where it should be. And where can i get that test at? Just any mechanic shop? Haha sorry for all the questions and this shit, i just want to get rid of that light.

not all shops have this machine. there are otherways to check for vac leaks. what do you mean you dont have a vfad nipple? is your car an auto? recheck the couplers on the aem

Yea, the car is auto. And i don't think it's the couplers cuz it had the light on even with the oem filter. But i never felt comfortable with one of the coupler cuz it slides in instead of going over for a secure fit.

iirc, the autos at least 04/05 didnt have a vfad. im not sure what you mean about the couplers. could you post a pic?

Idk how to post the pic it's asking for a URL. But before the pipe goes through the frame (the one that bends) the coupler that goes to that one goes inside the pipe, not on top.

Make a photobucket account ^_^
Hmm, how many miles have you put on the car within the last year? (since the plugs/wires were replaced?)

Based on the info you provide your problem is a p0300 which could be taken care off by changing coils, plugs, and wires something you have already done. Your second code p2259 has to do with your secondary air valve solenoid located behind the throttle body.

What makes you believe that you have a vacuum leak? The whistle sound could be due to your AEM intake or a failing air pump (hard to tell though without a sound clip). When you say unstable idle, what exactly do you mean (rotaries do have a small rpm fluctuation when idling)? Unstable idle could be caused by a bunch of different factors including fouled plugs, dirty maf, dirty ess, bad motor mounts, etc... Based on the info you provide I am not convinced that a vacuum leak is your issue.

How many miles you have on your car? What year is it?

I've put approximately.... 15,000 more i think.

And i have 71,9xx on it right now. I got it with a little over 49xxx. And it's an 04. Majority of them are hwy miles.