So yeah i've been to the dealership about this and they said my "Display" was gettin to much voltage. They had it for around 4 days or so and said they couldn't figure out the problem. I had to get my clutch replaced about 3 months ago and i told them to fix that problem while it was there.

They gave it back to me said it was fixed and yet the problem came back within a day. Now there saying they'll have to charge me by the hour to figure out whats wrong with it and after having it for 4 days and not figuring it out i'd really not want to pay for 2 weeks of labor to fix my display.

So IF ANYONE could help tell me what it might be and stuff like that i'll start testing and trying to fix it myself. Also my power steering doesn't work and they said its being caused by the same thing. Which i feel like they are full of **** and tired of dealing with me. Considering i paid money and they didn't fix the problem.

Heres Videos of the problem.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB1Ps0CFXWg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEoMluIAP3Q

 

I know this sounds dumb but press on the piano black parts of the faceplate par that looks like a half half circle on the two end points. Basically push on the black faceplate on several different parts. My display was going BANANAS blinking steady all sorts of stuff it turns out that is what fixes it. hope it works/ helps.

 

Yeah i've tried stuff like that because i've seen the crazy blinking problems videos. Though i've never seen one do what mines doing. Thanks though. I'm hoping somewhere someone will have ran into this problem lol.

 

Also i wanted to throw out there that when i took it to mazda they replaced the display. At least they said they did. So that shouldn't be the problem...

 

I'm having the same problem with my 06 - 8. I also had the display replaced with no success.
Dealer now says it's the audio unit. Have you corrected your problem yet?

 

Most of the time people who experience display problems is caused by a loose connection.
For the display, it plugs into the back of the HU, so you would need to remove the HU to look at the connection and ensure there are no pins pushed-in/bent.
If you have any local RX8 buddies who would be willing to help, ask to swap with their HU and see if the problem carries over (but keep your display).

For your PS... I seriously doubt its related.
Is your PS out all the time or just sometimes?
If its out all the time, check the 60A EPS fuse in the holder next to the positive battery terminal.
If its intermittently going out, clean the connectors under the air box.
Search "power steering loss" for pics and solutions.

 

Here's an update
Took my RX8 in today to have the face plate changed. it appears the driver for the info display is in the face plate. That didn't work.
However Mountain Mazda is now taking an interest in my problem and wants to stick with it until it has been corrected. I've been back three times now and have only been charged for my oringinal visit.
I'll keep you posted as we progress.

 

I had the same problem. Mazda Ended up replacing my entire head unit and screen and the problem was fixed

 

Yeah i still haven't managed to have mine fixed just yet. I also payed to have mine fixed and they just replaced the screen. But when i took it back they told me they were gonna charge me hourly to "fix it". stupid stealerships.

 

I ran into a similar erratic display problem that would sometimes clear up as I pushed on the faceplate. Over time the problem got worse until last Saturday I had no display at all and the radio controls were non-responsive.

I started with the usual fuse checks. Using the procedure from this forum I removed my head unit. In addition to checking the connector & cable running from the rear of the head unit up to the display, I also removed the faceplate from the head unit. I found two hidden electrical connectors sandwiched between the head unit and the faceplate (see '1' in the attached photo) that were not mating properly because the faceplate was already slightly loose from the head unit!!

Why? There are 4 screws that hold the plastic faceplate assembly to the main head unit assembly (two of them are shown as 'A' in the attached photo). The screws thread into knurled brass sleeves that are part of the plastic faceplate assembly. In my case the plastic had cracked and two of the knurled brass sleeves were loose and pulled out about 1/8".

I applied J-B WELD to the brass sleeves before pressing them back into the plastic faceplate holes and let it cure overnight before reassembling the head unit to the faceplate. Everything seems to be working now with no display or control problems whatsoever.

When you reinstall into the RX-8, don't forget the single "hidden screw" under the dash on the driver's side of the head unit as it reduces some of the road shock where the 4 knurled sleeves attach to the faceplate plastic.

 

Good info
However we did try a new face plate with no luck
It's got to be a connection some where, I'm thinking it's the wire harness that goes from the info display harness connection and runs along the audio unit then plugs into the face plate.
I'll let you all know how that works out as soon as I can get my hands on this short wire harness.

 

I know its a serious thread revival, but since most of our cars are off warranty now, and the issue is still continuing, I figured I would come back with my results:

I pulled the radio out and removed the face plate like others have done but I didn't notice anything odd with my connections. What I did notice though was that the wiring harness that is held onto the side of the radio seemed like it was pinched awfully tightly. I removed it, straightened it out and then put it back on as neatly as I could, thinking that maybe there was a broken wire of some sorts. I also bent the mounting tabs on the radio itself away from the face plate a small amount so it kind of drew the radio tighter to the face plate, thinking that maybe it would tighten up the connection. One of the two things I did worked though because it seems to be working great now!