Hi,

I've just bought a 2005 6 speed manual RX8 and I'm seeing a couple of weird issues. I'm taking it back to the dealer tomorrow but would appreciate any advice

Engine braking - the car has really severe engine breaking in 1st to 3rd. Car will come to a halt really quickly in low gears, even downhill when I take my foot of the accelerator. I have to keep it on the gas downhill to keep my speed up.

On a steep hill in 4th it will accelerate a little. In neutral there is no problem, the car freewheels as expected.

Also, the car is pulling to the left. Its really noticeable under acceleration but even at constant speed its pulling a little (at first I thought it was just the camber of the road, but was confirmed by a friend). There is no pulling to the right under braking.


I'm hoping that all of the above is an easy fix as I have loved everything else about the car so far

Cheers,
GB

 

The engine braking is normal, the pulling to the left is not. Check your tire pressures (including the rear) and get your alignment checked. Verify that you have the same size tires on all 4 corners and that there is no tread depth imbalance left to right.

No need for a dealer for that, it's just going to take longer and cost you more.

 

That blows all my expectations about rotary engines out of the water then!
I expected to see very little engine breaking at all, but I am already developing some extra leg muscle keeping the gas on all the time

Tyres - should have said I looked at some of the other posts about tyres and have already checked the tyres are identical and the treads look even. Will check tyre pressure before speaking to the dealer about alignment. I also got the CEL after 3 days so I think I may as well get him to look at both and make some use out of my warranty.

Thanks for the advice!

GB.

 

Mazda actually plays with ignition timing when under deceleration. Why? Not sure, since it's supposed to be no fuel. But one of the guys playing with ignition timing maps found that it affected how his engine responded when decelerating off the gas.

Shouldn't require any leg muscle though, unless your gas pedal has an added super strong spring. Or up shift to a higher gear for cruising? I use engine braking all the time deliberately, but there are plenty of ways to avoid losing speed on a down hill.... (clutch in, shift to neutral, shift to 6th, etc...) It shouldn't be something difficult or complicated.

 

Sorry mate, was just being light hearted with the line about the leg muscles

Checked my tyres again this morning and I have a bridgestone on the rear left and the rest are Jinyu so going to rotate them round and put two identical tyres at the back.

Cheers,
GB

 

Does the car have any modifications? A lightweight flywheel will create higher than usual engine braking.

 

Exactly what I was thinking as well