Desperately need help for Mazda RX8 engine light problem
Discussion
I am new to Piston heads and need help/advice on what do about a problem that has plagued me for 2 years now!
I bought a 2004 54 plate, Mazda Rx8 231 from a dealer in Romford, one previous owner. great fun to drive, doing around 9000 miles a year urban driving. I try and revv it as least once a day to help the carbon problem but still doesnt help.
Since I bought it the engine light will come on for no apparent reason at least twice a week and stay on for a whole day. When its on sometimes the engine is clearly not happy, revving and sometimes even cutting out for the first 20m of driving. Recently this has got worse and the consumption has gone from 200 miles in a tank to 160!
I have taken it to the dealer 12 times! It recurrently comes up with a P0172 fuel trim too rich bank one sensor fault.
They have replaced the sensor twice, and even replaced the ECU on the last occasion to see if that would help. and most of the the time it goes there the engine light goes off so they say nothings wrong!
Can anyone suggest anything else?
Does anyone also know of a good independant mazda mechanic that I can take it to in North of the river in London?
Thanks!
I bought a 2004 54 plate, Mazda Rx8 231 from a dealer in Romford, one previous owner. great fun to drive, doing around 9000 miles a year urban driving. I try and revv it as least once a day to help the carbon problem but still doesnt help.
Since I bought it the engine light will come on for no apparent reason at least twice a week and stay on for a whole day. When its on sometimes the engine is clearly not happy, revving and sometimes even cutting out for the first 20m of driving. Recently this has got worse and the consumption has gone from 200 miles in a tank to 160!
I have taken it to the dealer 12 times! It recurrently comes up with a P0172 fuel trim too rich bank one sensor fault.
They have replaced the sensor twice, and even replaced the ECU on the last occasion to see if that would help. and most of the the time it goes there the engine light goes off so they say nothings wrong!
Can anyone suggest anything else?
Does anyone also know of a good independant mazda mechanic that I can take it to in North of the river in London?
Thanks!
The low MPG sounds like the cat failing but doesn't explain the fault code.
Get over to www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk for some advice.
Get over to www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk for some advice.
Hi,
I ran one of these for 3 years and carried out all the servicing myself.
It sounds like the source of the fault from what you describe is ignition coil failure. These are not servicable items on the rx8 but it is widely know (to those on rx8ownersclub.co.uk) that these fail and need replaced every 30k miles otherwise the knock on effect can be catalytic converter failure and ultimately engine failure. This is caused by unburnt petrol washing the oil from the rotor chambers and then entering the exhaust and cat.
Low mpg would indicate that the coil failure may have already effected the cat. If so do not replace the cat until the source of the problem is sovled - the coils. Otherwise you risk destroying the next one.
Your going to need to replace your ignition coils (circa £200 for 4 from internet suppliers such as Mazda Rotary Parts) and cat if neccesary (circa £400 from Mazda Rotary Parts*). Hopefully there is no further damage to the engine.
Andy
I ran one of these for 3 years and carried out all the servicing myself.
It sounds like the source of the fault from what you describe is ignition coil failure. These are not servicable items on the rx8 but it is widely know (to those on rx8ownersclub.co.uk) that these fail and need replaced every 30k miles otherwise the knock on effect can be catalytic converter failure and ultimately engine failure. This is caused by unburnt petrol washing the oil from the rotor chambers and then entering the exhaust and cat.
Low mpg would indicate that the coil failure may have already effected the cat. If so do not replace the cat until the source of the problem is sovled - the coils. Otherwise you risk destroying the next one.
Your going to need to replace your ignition coils (circa £200 for 4 from internet suppliers such as Mazda Rotary Parts) and cat if neccesary (circa £400 from Mazda Rotary Parts*). Hopefully there is no further damage to the engine.
- I have no affiliation with this company I just found them far better and cheaper than Mazda dealers.
Andy
Edited by R26Andy on Monday 15th November 10:56
^^^^ What he said. I ran one in 2006 and it went through 3 cats and 2 exhausts (as apparently the disintegrated bits from the cat knackered the silencers as well).
Luckily it was under warranty, but the first couple of times they just replaced the cat only for it to fail again within a couple of months.
Luckily it was under warranty, but the first couple of times they just replaced the cat only for it to fail again within a couple of months.
Try rx8ownersclub mate, someone will be able to point you in the right direction.
You need a correct diagnosis 1st (I`m 99.9% certain its the coils that have failed and they have taken the cat with it).
YOu then should to get the parts yourself and you will save ALOT of money by ordering from MRP or Pettit Racing or even getting a second hand cat from ebay (your right not to go near MAzda dealers they are rediculously expensive - 4 MAzda coil £800, 4 MRP coil £200 - SAME coils!! - Mazda cat £1200! MRP £400).
Once youve got the parts you should a) DIY fit them or b)get a local independant garage to do it.
The coils can be fitted DIY using the guide on the owners club or possibly with the help of a friendly local member. The cat can be ordered from someone like MRP/Pettit racing and then you can either DIY it also or book it into your trusted independant local garage for fitting for buttons.
If you dont want to go down the DIY route, someone on the forum can probably help out or reccommend a garage to do the lot. Coils and cat should be no more than 2-3 hours labour.
Hope you get it sorted mate.
R
Andy
You need a correct diagnosis 1st (I`m 99.9% certain its the coils that have failed and they have taken the cat with it).
YOu then should to get the parts yourself and you will save ALOT of money by ordering from MRP or Pettit Racing or even getting a second hand cat from ebay (your right not to go near MAzda dealers they are rediculously expensive - 4 MAzda coil £800, 4 MRP coil £200 - SAME coils!! - Mazda cat £1200! MRP £400).
Once youve got the parts you should a) DIY fit them or b)get a local independant garage to do it.
The coils can be fitted DIY using the guide on the owners club or possibly with the help of a friendly local member. The cat can be ordered from someone like MRP/Pettit racing and then you can either DIY it also or book it into your trusted independant local garage for fitting for buttons.
If you dont want to go down the DIY route, someone on the forum can probably help out or reccommend a garage to do the lot. Coils and cat should be no more than 2-3 hours labour.
Hope you get it sorted mate.
R
Andy
Edited by R26Andy on Tuesday 16th November 15:44
thanks for all the help!
i have posted on the UK form site and will see if they can suggest anywhere to get the work done
would to good to see if it is the coils that have gone. would a mechanic be able if he just looked at them? would they be physically damaged? i dont want them to just plug in the computer and say its the same code fault again and dismiss the coil problem
i dont know much about cars as you have probably guessed!
i have posted on the UK form site and will see if they can suggest anywhere to get the work done
would to good to see if it is the coils that have gone. would a mechanic be able if he just looked at them? would they be physically damaged? i dont want them to just plug in the computer and say its the same code fault again and dismiss the coil problem
i dont know much about cars as you have probably guessed!
There is a simple test they can carry out to check the coils condition but often it is not a simple as pass/fail as they degrade over time rather than just stop working.
They can also remove the cat and see if there is any damage.
Get them to do both of the above before replacing any parts (and also get those fault codes read to be sure of the correct diagnosis).
They can also remove the cat and see if there is any damage.
Get them to do both of the above before replacing any parts (and also get those fault codes read to be sure of the correct diagnosis).
i took it to Petit racing the other day,
they were really good. checked the cat which was luckily fine but 2 of the ignition coils had gone as you said so had those replaced.
also the spark plugs and air filter were changed and its been running fine since then. have to change the cables over the spark plugs since one wasnt attached properly to the cables, but that shouldnt cost much i would expect
fingers crossed and will see what happens next few months!
they were really good. checked the cat which was luckily fine but 2 of the ignition coils had gone as you said so had those replaced.
also the spark plugs and air filter were changed and its been running fine since then. have to change the cables over the spark plugs since one wasnt attached properly to the cables, but that shouldnt cost much i would expect
fingers crossed and will see what happens next few months!
Good to hear. Looks like you caught it early! Alot of peope dont get the engine light and dont find out whats happening until its too late and very expensive!
Personally I would have replace all 4 coils for the sake of an extra £100 or so versus the cost of the damage they can cause when they go.
Pettit are good, they provided me with my remap for my Rx8 when I had it.
R
Andy
Personally I would have replace all 4 coils for the sake of an extra £100 or so versus the cost of the damage they can cause when they go.
Pettit are good, they provided me with my remap for my Rx8 when I had it.
R
Andy
Ive posted about this before but I had my RX8 for 2.5yrs and was a regular on the RX8 Owners club. When I sold my car the coils went 30 mins after the buyer drove it away. It only had 35K on the clock and it was sorted under warranty but I never knew they needed doing around 30-40K.
I think dealers should make owners aware that they will need replacing at some stage because if not caught they can wreck the CAT which adds to the cost.
I think dealers should make owners aware that they will need replacing at some stage because if not caught they can wreck the CAT which adds to the cost.
aa1599 said:
I am new to Piston heads and need help/advice on what do about a problem that has plagued me for 2 years now!
I bought a 2004 54 plate, Mazda Rx8 231 from a dealer in Romford, one previous owner. great fun to drive, doing around 9000 miles a year urban driving. I try and revv it as least once a day to help the carbon problem but still doesnt help.
Since I bought it the engine light will come on for no apparent reason at least twice a week and stay on for a whole day. When its on sometimes the engine is clearly not happy, revving and sometimes even cutting out for the first 20m of driving. Recently this has got worse and the consumption has gone from 200 miles in a tank to 160!
I have taken it to the dealer 12 times! It recurrently comes up with a P0172 fuel trim too rich bank one sensor fault.
They have replaced the sensor twice, and even replaced the ECU on the last occasion to see if that would help. and most of the the time it goes there the engine light goes off so they say nothings wrong!
Can anyone suggest anything else?
Does anyone also know of a good independant mazda mechanic that I can take it to in North of the river in London?
Thanks!
Hi I saw your post and I'm aware this thread is old but for the benefit of others that will check this forum I will recommend you a site that can help with your mazda parts problems!I bought a 2004 54 plate, Mazda Rx8 231 from a dealer in Romford, one previous owner. great fun to drive, doing around 9000 miles a year urban driving. I try and revv it as least once a day to help the carbon problem but still doesnt help.
Since I bought it the engine light will come on for no apparent reason at least twice a week and stay on for a whole day. When its on sometimes the engine is clearly not happy, revving and sometimes even cutting out for the first 20m of driving. Recently this has got worse and the consumption has gone from 200 miles in a tank to 160!
I have taken it to the dealer 12 times! It recurrently comes up with a P0172 fuel trim too rich bank one sensor fault.
They have replaced the sensor twice, and even replaced the ECU on the last occasion to see if that would help. and most of the the time it goes there the engine light goes off so they say nothings wrong!
Can anyone suggest anything else?
Does anyone also know of a good independant mazda mechanic that I can take it to in North of the river in London?
Thanks!
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