I couldn't drive my Mazda for a couple of years because of a medical condition. Recently I had the Mazda dealer here in Eugene get my RX-8 ready to drive again. And it drives perfectly. It's still as much fun to drive as it was when it was new.

But...I consistently get 12 mpg. If my memory is right, I used to get 18 mpg. Now, a couple of things: I'm driving it normally, maybe even babying it. I shift at appropriate times, not revving up the RPM. It drives perfectly. It idles steadily at 700 rpm. It shows no symptoms that it needs a tune-up. Other than the 12 mpg, it's perfect. I love being able to drive it again.

I told the service manager at Mazda about this. He said that it needs "new coils, spark plugs, wires." That sounds like just a tune-up. Even though it shows no evidence of needing a tune-up, I don't have any reason not to get one. Oh, yeah...there is one reason. He said that it would cost $1.699.89

I know that a Mazda dealer would be expensive, but that does seems high, Besides which, I don't know why I'm getting only 12 miles per gallon, and if that would fix it.

Any ideas? I'd appreciate any comments.

 

A tune up couldn't hurt. Fresh oil, filter, plugs, and wires. On the fence about the coils, I don't see how they could degrade too much just sitting. The plugs may just need to be cleaned up, depending on how many miles they have seen. Fresh fuel too. The only other thing I would wonder about is the cat, if you still it. See how it does a little higher in the revs. If it pulls nicely, then I would think it is ok.

Mine tends to get around 18mpg. I don't know how many miles are on it, but it compression tests ok. just for comparison.

 

Thanks for you comments. My car has only about 35,000 miles on it.

You said to try higher revs. What would that indicate? I'm certainly willing to try it. If nothing else, it's always fun.

Doesn't $1,700 seem like a lot? Oh, when I took it to the dealer after it had been sitting for so long, they did a lot. New oil, lube, that sort of thing. And, when I got it back it ran perfectly, Still does,

Any reason not to take it to another mechanic? The Mazda dealer is, of course, probably the best. But another $1,700?

 

Hi do you have a Code reader to help diagnose the problem.
or you could try and clean your airflow meter with the proper cleaning fluid.
then I would be trying new o2 sensors pre cat and post cat. code reader helps here before spending money on parts.
is there a intake air leak or exhaust gas leak before the cat. or is your car de-catted.


hope this helps.

 

If you wait to have symptoms of needing coils and wires, you'll also be needing a new engine. I know you're not a new owner but these things are silent killers of rx8s and at 35k are overdue. I would not ignore the suggestion.

But yes 1700 is way too much. You can buy appropriate coils, wires and plugs from AutoZone, or if you want a bit more peace of mind, BHR. Installation is easy if you're handy.
Rx8help.com has condensed knowledge on this.

 

Stealerships are called thusly for a very well earned reason. On top of that, they like to cause collateral damage. I took my '09 in for the fuel pump recall with a freshly restored interior including a brand new leather steering wheel, and they put a giant gouge in the leather (I'm short, and the tech didn't adjust the seat to accommodate the knife clipped to his pocket). They tried to blame me, saying the (again, brand new, from Mazda, with something like 500 miles) wheel was covered in grease from my borderline OCD hands somehow... The guy then proceeded to pull out some hardcore degreaser and wiped the steering wheel down with it, pulling some of the dye out of the (now formerly brand new) leather, and called it grease as if I was a complete idiot. I took the key and left before he could cause more damage...

Unfortunately, I feel that the indies have caught on to the fact that they can charge more in recent years, though they typically take better care of your car. The exception would be if you can find a proper old school shop in your neighborhood that's familiar with rotaries, and... well, those aren't easy to come by...

Alternatively, do your cost analysis, and figure out how many hours you'll need to work at your rates to offset whatever some jamoke wants to rip you off at. Your title will probably need to start with a capital-C and we'd all likely need to be regular patrons of your company for those numbers to break even (assuming the cited $1,700 and my own guesstimate of 2 hours at my pace).

RX-8s are aging into 'classic car' status in some jurisdictions though (20 years is 20 years...), and with the classic car hobby comes certain responsibilities. Add to that the exotic engine with which even most car enthusiast and/or professionals only have a theoretical familiarity. Coils and plugs are a two banana job, tops. And the second banana is just because they're down on the side and you have to reach through the wheel well rather than being up on top like an old school inline engine would conveniently have them. I'd allow a casual Saturday morning with a good podcast for a raw amateur. Gather your parts and tools, print out the pages of the manual if you don't have a copy to hand, and enjoy some zen. Bonus, the feeling of having done it yourself is its own reward.

 

When I had the Mazda dealer checked the Code reader, it didn't show any problems. I don't know what's going on.

 

I wouldn't even try doing it myself. I don't even know what "coils" are. Can you help?

I've called around mechanics shops in Eugene. So far, nobody is willing to work on an RX8. So, the dealer might be the only choice. $1700 is a lot right now.

 

After not driving the car for at least a couple of years, I took it to the dealer. He quoted me thousands!, but I haven't added it all up. But, many thousands. Some things I new weren't needed. Example: "new front rotors and pads and squeal kit (who even knows what that is?), rear rotors and new pads and squeal kit $1195.00"
What was his diagnosis for why I needed all new brakes? Rust! I drove the car, the rust disappeared of course.

I was scared to go back and try to get my car back, it was so much money, Full detail $375 (yeah, I know that details are expensive)

headlight restore $154.95 (I bought a kit from Amazon. The headlights look new,
Here are some favorites: left and right tail light assembly $1361.98 (which it needed; they were broken) I bought a pair on eBay for under $200.

I called and said that I couldn't afford it. So he said that they'd just do what was needed to drive it. $585.

So it really makes me wonder how much was actually needed. I called around for mechanics here in Eugene. Nobody would work on an RX8.

Also, I got some replies here on RX8club. Some guys are only getting maybe 15 mpg. So, maybe I'll just live with it. And maybe fill it up with regular next time and see if it runs the same.

 

I understand your local mechanics are scared of rotaries, but are there rotary specialists in nearby towns? Maybe local shops would be willing to perform specific work rather than diagnostics? I can see how "rx8 drinks gas" sounds like a bunch of risk for them, but if you come with "rx8 needs new coils, wires and sparkplugs", and you bring the parts, and all they do is turn the wrench, that might be more palatable.

It doesn't sound like you're set up to DIY this stuff, so either you bite the bullet and follow DIY guides here for ignition replacement, or you continue to drive and eventually need a new engine. Could be tomorrow, could be in 5 years, but poor ignition is what usually kills them, and poor fuel economy is one of the first symptoms.

Also your dealer prices are kinda wild... But maybe that's the market there.

 

..
A car sitting in the garage for a long is a great opportunity for a family of mice to set up
house keeping in the air filter. You might want to check the air filter for homesteaders,,,
..

 

Find a PDF of the service manual online or buy a print copy (preferred for my money), search for plugs and coils, and do what it says. It's slightly more difficult than changing oil.

Quick and dirty: Jack it up, remove the LF wheel, pop the hood, pull the air box stuff that's in the way (the manual tells you every single nut, bolt, pop tab, etc. complete with torque specs if you don't feel comfortable looking for nuts and bolts and tabs, and can't avoid yanking on things like a gorilla), and then the coils are right there on top. Plugs are down on the side through the wheel well behind the dust flap. Four of each. Do it one by one, coil to wire, and you can't even get them mixed up. Don't forget your greases. Put the induction goodies back, turn key, drive. Two bananas, tops.

 

YOu're right. That's what happened, but the Mazda dealer cleaned that all out.

 

YOu're right. That's what happened, but the Mazda dealer cleaned that all out.

 

You make it sound possible for me to do. I appreciate your suggestion and might even try it out. I'm scared, since I don't have any talent in this area. But, if I can't find a real mechanic to do it for less than $1700, I might try it.

 

Sounds possible, maybe even for me. I might take a look and see if it's not too scary. Meanwhile, I'll try to find a real mechanic.

 

whats your location? if you are local to me ill do your ignition parts and a few other simple tune up items for ya.

 

I'm going to write a long message about my discussion with Joe's Garage, who isn't afraid of rotary engines.

To your points, the woman I spoke to said that they only change coils if they are in bad shape. (The Mazda dealer just lists everything, needed or not.) She checked on the plugs, surprised how expensive they are. But they're good for 35,000 miles, so probably worth it.

I wanted to respond to your message, but I will write a general one about my findings today.

 

This could be a long message, but I'm so relieved at finding a mechanic shop that isn't afraid of working on a rotary.
All the other calls I made, I started with "RX-8" which scared them away. Today I called Joe's Garage, and started with spark plugs, wires, coils. A little later I said RX-8. I don't think that she (the woman who answers the phone) would have been scared off anyway.

I gave her my license plate number. With only that information, she was able not only to get all Mazda's specifications. But she was able to get my car's history. She said that it had got spark plugs at 15,000 miles. I have to ask her when I go down there how she was able to get my car's history.

She'll do a computer check anyway. She also said that they don't automatically change coils, only if they need it. Since I'm worried about mileage, she'll have the fuel filter cleaned and maybe other things.

My car has 33,000 miles. (Yes, not many miles for a 20 year old car. But for a long time it wasn't my only car. Now it is, and I can't risk not servicing it.) So if I got new 30,000 plugs at 15,000 miles and I only have 33,000 miles, that answers my question about how the car runs beautifully. The idle is steady at 700 rpm, no symptoms at city or highway driving.

I'll have to talk to her about which spark plugs to use. The ones that Mazda used have easily done well over 15,000 miles. (By the way, I don't know if I'll live long enough for 30,000 miles, or if I'll still be able to drive.)

I wonder if, in calling other shops, I had led with plugs, wires, coils instead of RX-8 they would have said ok. But I'm glad that they said no. This shop, judging my the woman who answered the phone, actually knows things.

I have worried, anyway, about finding a mechanic here in Eugene. That's why I went to the Mazda dealer in the first place. But they're way too expensive to continue.

Thanks to all RX-8 members for you suggestions. I didn't really expect so much interest.

 

That's good to hear, at least they're willing to take a look. Now the problem will be educating them on RX8 particulars. If they can bench test the coils, that might be one way. But avain, unlike a piston engine, the first detectable symptom of bad coils is a dead catalytic converter or a dead engine. The recommendation around here is to replace preemptively if over 30k miles of age. Plugs, wires and coils.
​​​​​

 

You're not the first one to mention catalytic converters. I don't have the expertise that some on RX-8 have, so I don't know the importance of changing the coils. Nor, the relationship with a catalytic converter. (That's why I ask questions here!) nevertheless, this seems important. $1700 ? Maybe, to save the engine. But I'm skeptical.
At least you guys on RX-8 club know more than I do, so I will follow all your suggestions (if possible?)

Thank you for your suggestions. I will bring them up on Thursday when I go to Joe's Garage.

 

I found an independent mechanic (not the dealer) who says that they only replace the coils if they need it.

 

On normal cars, yes. On RX8s, you replace the coils, or you replace the engine. It's not optional. Unless the mechanics you're talking to have rotary experience, their opinions are not reliable.

 

To add onto Loki's point, you have to consider that rotary coils have to fire once every revolution of a rotary engine vs. once every two revolutions of a 4-stroke piston engine.

So if you cruise at 3000 RPM on an RX-8, that's 3000 times the coils have to fire every minute, versus 2000 cruising RPM of, say, my current Mazdaspeed3, which means 1000 times of coil firing every minute. 3000 coil firings per minute would translate to the end of powerband on my current car (6000 RPM). If you rev your 8 up to 9000 RPM then that's 9000 coil firings per minute, so these coils have to undergo much more stress than a 4-stroke piston engine.

Doesn't help that the coils sit very close to the engine and have the internals facing down... Heat kills these things faster.