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Mazda RX-8 Problems and Solutions
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I did your other stress test, punching her off the line as hard as she would go in full auto mode. Going up a slight hill stretch, she got to 6500 RPM before she shifted. Going down a slight hill she got to 7000 RPM before the shift. On a flat stretch she also got to 7000 RPM. The shifts were smooth, with no rattle/popcorn/marble that I could tell at least and I was the only passenger. I also had the AC turned off, although I think AC would would let go automatically under heavy take offs like that. I had 93 octane Shell from my favorite station in the gas tank.
I'm gonna still wait for your more long term results before acting. I've got a trip to Maine planned for July. There are some nice road trips up there, with lots of dips and curves that'll let the true sports car nature of the RX-8 shine.
Also, my heater control unit has been on back-order (because there's a bunch of them out there screwing up) and it has arrived as well. No more pot luck on whether we're enjoying hot or cold air on any given day!!
The price on the other hand to me is not worth the 10 hp. Then again it is your car. I am waiting till the warranty runs out before I do anything but body mods.
Just wanted to let all RX-8 owners know that there will soon be a turbo kit available that brings the RX-8 horsepower up to 390.
It was featured in this month's Car & Driver magazine:
http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=77999
http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78000
Pathstar posted enough cautions for me to wait and see, although the low end and midrange 80% torque increase looks mighty fine. Fine enough to think about some of those super wide tires.
As for the gurgle/popcorn/rattle sound that I still hear at lower RPM ranges when accelerating, I've concluded that it's part of the exhaust systems explosive detonation of the remaining gases as left over from the engine.
I've only registered the issue with Mazda as there are no other problems like check engine lite, loss of power or engine roughness.
The noise seems to be less and less noticed however and so hopefully, it's just a continuing break in issue, like the limited slip differential vibration. Do you have the limited slip differential issue?
If the rims were damaged, check the tire sidewalls carefully. If there is evidence of damage on the sidewalls, I'd be tempted to have the tire pulled off the rim and inspected internally. It is possible to damage a tire sidewall by scraping it hard on a curb - and you don't want it blowing out at 75+ MPH! If there is no damage evident on the sidewalls then the tires are probably ok.
The exhaust can cause rattles - the most common cause is loose heat shields. I've even seen gravel between the heat shield and the exhaust pipe cause rattling.
Yes the brake squeak can be fixed under warranty. There is an updated brake pad and shim kit that Mazda has out. It fixed mine. As far as my rattle noise, mine has still to be fixed. I have had the computer removed and re calibrated and flashed. Still have the rattle, even changed fuel brand as per the tech line request. No change. Mine goes back in again on July 3rd. If this doesn't fix it then I will be talking to the Mazda regional manager of my area about them replacing the car.
In fact I was out car shoping yesterday, the most any dealer will give me for an 05 RX-8 sport with 7200 miles is 19,000. That was even from Mazda. The retail is 25,000+.
I still hear the gurgle/popcorn/rattle but only after the car has warmed up. I believe there is less of the noise as well, but I could be less sensitive to hearing it at this point.
PathStar seems fairly sure that's the normal explosive exhaust burning up left over gas. My gas millage is unchanged.
I have registered the issue with Mazda USA.
When I got home to the internet, I looked up the TSB's for the car and saw there was one. I called them back and told them there was a TSB for squeaky brakes and they ordered me a new brake kit immediately. I still have a squeak from time to time (not nearly as bad as the squeeling demon sound they were making), but I'm satisfied with the fix.
Those TSB's were listed on a Mazda dealer website and I'll be happy to post a link here if I can find it again.
PS Both front sway bar links were also popped out of socket and they fixed those during the bake job.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/bulletins_index.html
Thanks
First, hold the accel. pedal to the floor and crank the engine, 10 sec. cranking, 30 sec. cool down. Do not release the accel. pedal until it starts to fire! Holding the accel. pedal to the floor shuts off the fuel injectors so you don't add even more fuel to a flooded engine. It usually takes up to five minutes of this to get it started. You may need to recharge the battery if it was flooded too badly. Note that once it starts it will smoke a bit due to the excess fuel inside the engine. DO NOT shut it off until it warms up!
If this doesn't work and if you are a little mechanically inclined, remove the spark plugs (note which location each was removed from - there are two different types and you want to put them back in the same location - leading and trailing plugs). Inject a squirt of oil into the front and rear rotor housings leaving the plugs out. Turn over the motor - this will eject some oil and fuel (hold the accel. pedal to the floor so it will not inject any more fuel into the engine). Once you've done this, you can reinstall the plugs (check them to see if they are clean and clean them if not - if they were soaked with fuel they need to be cleaned or replaced). Then you can start the engine (do not touch the accel. pedal). Note that it will smoke a bit from the excess fuel and oil inside so don't panic. Don't shut it off until it warms up.
It is still possible to flood an RX-8 but it has become less common these days with the newer flash in the PCM. You should always let the engine warm up before shutting it off (wait until the temp gauge starts to move off the lower peg).
My 2005 RX-8 AT has 13K miles. She appears to be burning the same amount of gas (13.5 city/23 highway), but oil consumption seems to be less. Driving around in the heat of summer for the first time, seems to really be breaking in the engine and tranny much more than the previous cooler fall, winter and spring temps. The engine seems much livelier, idles smoother, and the Lim Slip Dif vibrates less on corner take offs.
1. Would driving at higher shift points near redline help prevent these problems, at least in part?
2. Could using a brushless car wash have caused water to get in and cause these problems?
Thanks
2. If you're talking of the brushless carwash you drive thru, no. The hood is closed. Jets of water would have a very difficult time getting to anything sensitive. If you used a high pressure washer on the engine bay, then yes.
I had been thinking of getting one due to my good luck with my 2002 Millenia S. I finally did have a mechanical problem with it. At 87,000 miles the passenger side front wheel bearing went. I replaced the brakes at 55,000 miles which is maintenance. Needed an adjustment to the gas tank lid and the air bag light came on. Problem was moisture in a wire under the driver's seat. Probably due to me sloshing coffee around in the car. Problems with tires due to bad potholes. That's it for problems in almost 4 years.
As far as flooding, the car doesn't flood unless you try really hard to make it. Most owners haven't seen a flood, and probably never will.
Don't base your opinions on what you read here. Here you only find the owners with problems reporting.
Take care all and enjoy the drive!
I just don't think any forum exists anywhere where a significantly large enough number of RX-8 AT owners can get together. Significantly large would only need to be 2-3% of RX-8 owners in total, but that would be a 100 times more than the current crowd here, as far as I can tell.
Mazda would listen and do a recall for sure, but the concerned activists here are you and me with PathStar as our unofficial advisor and mentor. This forum, as with most forums elsewhere on the internet, are not regarded with any kind of real respect. Every corporation on the planet makes absolutely sure that their online forums have no power.
As for my popcorn/rattle, what is your pure city MPG. I'm at 13-14MPG if I paddle shift at 3500RPM minimum, 15-16MPG if I light foot it on full auto.
Overall mpg in summer i would say is close to 20mpg. Winter months that may drop down to 17mpg.
Have really had few problems with the car....
As I said, some owners aren't bothered, some are.
I haven't "dismissed" the weak AC unit, or any other "problem". You can call it a problem if you like, but it does work, just not well enough for where you live. The one I have experience with works just fine where I live. Have you addressed the A/C issue with Mazda? They have a "fix". It has helped some owners. Others still aren't cool enough.
What I said was the car was NOT plagued with problems as the original poster claimed - and he didn't even own the vehicle. Like any complex mechanical contrivance, there are bound to be some things that fail, some that are underengineered, and some that are just plain wrong!
How is the glasre looking out over that bright color when driving. I test drove a pearl white RX-8 and decided I couldn't deal with the brightness of the hood.
The popcorn/rattle can be heard when driving up against a jersey barrior when the RPM range is low 2-3K. After idling in traffic, for a long period, the popcorn/rattle is quite pronounced. Boston traffic creates this situation everyday.
I think that in traffic idle conditions, the rotary apex seal is not as good at completely sealing and so gas simply can't burn completely in the engine. The gas ends up being ejected and burning in the exhaust system.
You could always open your own CarSpace and post a whole gallery for us to see :-)
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i really don't mean to "diss" the car. I do love it. Even with these problems, I still love it. I just am getting a bit warn down from going to the dealership constantly and now that I'm over 50,000 miles and out of a warrenty it's bothersome that every time i get it back its rarely below $350. They gave me a loaner car while my 04 RX-8 manual transmission was in the shop and my loaner Ford Focus air conditioner was more than double the cold and power output as my car...it just doesn't make sense.
and I do appreciate all the advise from this forum. It has really helped us trouble shoot and understand our vehicle better. We knew buying this car we'd be using it as a commuter car and we do put a lot of miles on it. We love the fact that the engine gets "better" with time.
You did sound frustrated! Hope you get the problems resolved.
My wife drove her boss's Infinity G35 Coupe today in 85F Boston heat (we call that hot at least). Her comment was that the AC was really weak. She never complains about her Saturn LW200 auto AC, but she was appalled at the G35 AC. She also said my RX-8 has a much smoother ride.