Its been between -25 and -35 in Calgary for a while now. I noticed something strange when I start the car after it’s been sitting in the cold all day. When I start it up it idles for about 10 seconds then goes into this cycle where it fluctuates the rpms......kind of like it just burps the gas until it gets to a certain temperature. This usually lasts for about 5 mins then levels off to a normal idle.


has this happened to anybody else?....it only has been happening since its been very cold and my car has been in the parking lot all day.

 

Used to do it more before the 'M' flash.

It would rev between 2500/3500 until it warmed a little. There is also a rev limiter that cuts in somewhere between 3500 + 4000, you cannot 'rev up' an engine that cold.

S

 

do you have a block heater, rotten?

 

I have the M flash....I don't have a block heater. I thought that the dealers said that a block heater would void the warranty. Besides, the only time its outside for a period of time is when I'm at work and we don't have plug-ins. The rest of the time it sits in my garage.


Like I said It only has done this withthis extreme cold weather.

 

Rotten, it doesn't happen on mine but then again I have rarely let it stay out for a long time at very cold temps like you did (being in Toronto). Does it feel like a little misfiring is taking place?

BTW How are your gears/clutch/tranny at that temp? Are they very stiff and clunky when trying to shift? Is it easy to downshift in to 1st while going slowly? I almost have to be at a complete stop and force the stick a fair bit to get back into 1st! Once its warm, its better but far from being smooth.

 

Its not a miss....I swear it seems like it suposed to do it. Its been very consistant. Under -20 it doesn't do it.

Clutch and tranny are fine at the cold temps...maybe a bit sluggish at first but no problems shifting......but man does it ride like a tank when it is that cold.

 

mine does it at just about every temp. Moreso in the cold (for about a min) than the warm (about 10 seconds). Then again, I need new plugs.

 

Hi Rotten42. Mine does the same thing. Yesterday was the first time though, so it does seem to be particular to temps below -20. It does sit all day in an open parkade at work. I do have the M flash. With respect to Shamblerock's question, yes my tranny is stiff and clunky in the extreme cold. It's fine when it warms up, but that takes awhile in Calgary these days

 

That;'s one thing about this car...it takes forever to get the engine up to temp whenits this cold. Even my wife's Windstar heats up quicker.

 

Mine revved up to about 3000 then dropped back down to idle and back again today ... just like you described. Ha ha ... today my engine temp didn't get to the halfway mark by the time I got home (commute is about 10-15 minutes).

 

It happens to me all the time - I live in Winnipeg and it's also been -30 for awhile ... the only time it happens is if it's below -20 and it's been sitting for over 5 hours ...

 

Any of you guys upgrade your batery to something with some more cranking amps?
I am in Winnipeg and mine seems to struggle to start after sitting in a garage for 2 weeks.
I went in for the new cold starting flash thingy and the mechanic told me that rotary engines need a lot of juice to start and that the OE battery is weak. Thats why they tend to flood. He recommended I get a more powerfull battery if I am going to winter drive the car.
For now it is constanly on a "smart" trickle charger. Seems to be doing the job.
Problem is after sitting at a mall or wherever in -30 I am not exactly confident that it will start.

 

bean438 ... I don't know if it's the battery causing the revving cycle. Mine starts fine (with regular M flash), it's just that during warm up that it revs. I don't know much about cars but isn't the battery involved in starting the car and after that, it's just the combustion of gas that keeps the engine running. I'm thinking this phenomenon is more of a ECU/PCM programming thing.

 

Hey Gang!! Since I have got the new PCM cold weather flash I no longer have that problem. I recommend you take your cars to the dealer to re-flash.

 

Hi Rotten42. Mine does the same thing, and sometime the trottlebody does't work.....nothing on gas pedal.my dealer do a tech flash to mazda canada to resolve the problem....
p.s. i have the last 5 update and my rx-8 still do that.....

sorry for my terrible english....i'm living in quebec and i don't practice my english ofthen

 

MINE does that on very cold days. It happend a couple of weeks ago.