Got my self an RX8

[cjay03]

Hey all.

Just bought an RX8. Firstly i would like to say that its an absolutely awesome piece of engineering.

Sound - great
Handling - great
Misfire around 8000rpm in 3rd gear or above - not so great.

Just tried calling Mazda and the technical guys are in tomorrow.

So in the meantime i thought i would pick your brains.

Its a 54 plate, 70,000 mile, full Mazda service history, 1 owner car.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[sherman]

Have a look at the owners club website. There is a lot of useful information on it

www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk

When searching the owners club website I came across this for you.

http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php...

If it is whats wrong it wont be a cheap fix.

[Syndrome]

cjay03 said:

Hey all.

Just bought an RX8. Firstly i would like to say that its an absolutely awesome piece of engineering.

Sound - great
Handling - great
Misfire around 8000rpm in 3rd gear or above - not so great.

Just tried calling Mazda and the technical guys are in tomorrow.

So in the meantime i thought i would pick your brains.

Its a 54 plate, 70,000 mile, full Mazda service history, 1 owner car.

Any ideas?

Thanks

They are fun cars that's for sure. It's dificult to diagnose the problem without seeing it first hand, but i'd hazard a guess that it's a failing coil pack. If it is the cat will be FUBAR as well, and that's a lot of wedge if there is no waranty.

[wolves_wanderer]

Sounds like a cat breaking up. Mazda will want £1300 or so but a decent hi-flow cat will be more like £3-400, the owners club has lots of good info about these sort of issues

[Ozone]

cjay03 said:

Hey all.


Misfire around 8000rpm in 3rd gear or above - not so great.

As well as what others have said, it could be the 3rd port sticking - a good thrash in the beep zone would sort that out.
Have you had the engine light come on?

[cjay03]

Ozone said:

cjay03 said:

Hey all.


Misfire around 8000rpm in 3rd gear or above - not so great.

As well as what others have said, it could be the 3rd port sticking - a good thrash in the beep zone would sort that out.
Have you had the engine light come on?

I thought something like that. I read somewhere that the 3rd port opens at around 7.5k rpm and there is a noticeable surge from there upwards. For some reason I cannot feel this surge.

Thanks for everyone’s help.

Spoke to Mazda today. They seem to think it’s the CAT. They say if it was the coil pack or spark plugs I would get a very noticeable drop in revs. Which I don’t.

I will have a hoon to work in the morning.

Cheers

[sherman]

I have found that taking the cart out for an Italian tune up every so often does help.

[wolves_wanderer]

sherman said:

I have found that taking the cart out for an Italian tune up every so often does help.

Who cares if it helps?

[sherman]

wolves_wanderer said:

sherman said:

I have found that taking the cart out for an Italian tune up every so often does help.

Who cares if it helps?

I just like to make sure the 3rd port is running at its optimal efficiency.

[wolves_wanderer]

sherman said:

wolves_wanderer said:

sherman said:

I have found that taking the cart out for an Italian tune up every so often does help.

Who cares if it helps?

I just like to make sure the 3rd port is running at its optimal efficiency.

Don't forget eliminating carbon buildup. It's good to have ready-made excuses for a blat!

[Huggy1111]

Have just bought myself a RX8-PZ with 16K on the clock. What you've read is definately correct, there's a very noticable surge from 7500 to the beep! so if it isn't happening then somethings definately adrift.

[nottyash]

From what ive heard it seems that these cars flood easily, especially on short journeys. This puts unburnt fuel into the cat when eventually it ignites blowing the cat up.
Best thing is to not start/ stop the car so frequently.
Just from the info I have gathered.

[sherman]

nottyash said:

From what ive heard it seems that these cars flood easily, especially on short journeys. This puts unburnt fuel into the cat when eventually it ignites blowing the cat up.
Best thing is to not start/ stop the car so frequently.
Just from the info I have gathered.

This only happens if you are moving the car very small distances i.e. shifting cars round on the driveway. There is a very easy way to stop the engine from flooding if you do need to this though and that is once the car is in its final position rev the engine to 4k rpm and then whilst the engine is at that speed turn the engine off and take your foot of the accelerator at the same time. The centrifugal force of the rotors will spin all the excess fuel out of the system leaving it dry and ready for use the next time.

[Wadeski]

sounds like a precautionary sports cat, and a good thrash

[missing the VR6]

sherman said:

nottyash said:

From what ive heard it seems that these cars flood easily, especially on short journeys. This puts unburnt fuel into the cat when eventually it ignites blowing the cat up.
Best thing is to not start/ stop the car so frequently.
Just from the info I have gathered.

This only happens if you are moving the car very small distances i.e. shifting cars round on the driveway. There is a very easy way to stop the engine from flooding if you do need to this though and that is once the car is in its final position rev the engine to 4k rpm and then whilst the engine is at that speed turn the engine off and take your foot of the accelerator at the same time. The centrifugal force of the rotors will spin all the excess fuel out of the system leaving it dry and ready for use the next time.

You need to hold it at 4K for about 8 seconds if memory serves.

[frosted]

My friend gas just parted with his 53 plate 68k 231 . Same problem as your and aster spending 300 on a cat it didn't solve the problem . Cue 2 weeks later the cdplayrr dash button breaking also . He had to sell it for 5 k 2 months after he bought it

[rx8er]

New exhaust now on and all is working great.

Oh how i love the flames!

[wolves_wanderer]

rx8er said:

New exhaust now on and all is working great.

Oh how i love the flames!

Did you decat then? Funnily enough I had the same problem last week. I went to MIJ Performance and got a hi-flow cat and a fairly antisocial exhaust installed. I can't believe how good the car sounds now

[rx8er]

wolves_wanderer said:

rx8er said:

New exhaust now on and all is working great.

Oh how i love the flames!

Did you decat then? Funnily enough I had the same problem last week. I went to MIJ Performance and got a hi-flow cat and a fairly antisocial exhaust installed. I can't believe how good the car sounds now

Spot on the money there my friend.
Antisocial lol.
How much did the CAT set you back?
I drive it to backfire now though, childish but oh so much fun

[wolves_wanderer]

rx8er said:

wolves_wanderer said:

rx8er said:

New exhaust now on and all is working great.

Oh how i love the flames!

Did you decat then? Funnily enough I had the same problem last week. I went to MIJ Performance and got a hi-flow cat and a fairly antisocial exhaust installed. I can't believe how good the car sounds now

Spot on the money there my friend.
Antisocial lol.
How much did the CAT set you back?
I drive it to backfire now though, childish but oh so much fun

The cat was £360 and they built a stainless exhaust to spec for another £400. I went for the "midsports" option which is grumbly down low and screams like a motorbike at the beep. I get pops and bangs but not as much as you! Have you had a cel yet from the oxygen sensor as if not a decat may be on the cards for me as well.