Hey to anyone that may have some info for me, I have a 2005 RX-8 6-speed. Ever since I installed the motorsport ramair intake, I have been getting check engine light!! It comes and goes, I believe now it came on after I installed a exhaust system?? Any ideas?? would be appreciated!! Thanks Jim

 

It's almost definitely the intake. I don't recognize the brand, so I'm guessing it was probably an ebay one. Our MAF is very sensitive, and I'm betting that one or more of the below is true:

- No screens, causing unstable airflow
- MAF too close to the filter, unstable air flow
- Something not hooked up right

and "ram air" is just a fancy more appealing way of saying "hot air". Our engine bay gets REALLY hot, and pulling the engine air from the engine bay is terrible. Almost guaranteed that you have lost power by installing it. Even the higher priced tuned and developed intakes are only about 1hp gain. Our OEM intake is VERY good.

Get the code read and post it here for confirmation. And/or re-install your OEM intake and see if the CEL returns.

 

Bring it back to oem specs, then you'll be fine

 

Thanks for the feedback, but it went away again on its own??? The brand for the intake is, SR-MOTORSPORTS: this company was on this site and the RAM-AIR is acheived by getting air through the grill and forced through aluminum housing that contains filter that is similar to K&L TYPE!!

But now I have a new problem, my remote doesn't work and I have changed the battery 2 times since I've had the car; since Oct of 09. Is this normal to ahve to change the battery so frequently?? Also the push button to open the trunk doesn't work???? Which has nothing to do with the remote??

Any Ideas would be appreciated!! Thanks, frustrated Co, 2005 6-speed

 

Small button in glove box to activate the trunk remote, check that.

You have a current 'leak' somewhere.

 

FYI, the "ram" air effect is entirely marketing garbage.

There isn't any direct airflow through your grill to the intake unless you have it sticking out in front of the car.

And even then if it was....

read up on this article discussing "ram air" on motorcycles, which have completely unobstructed intakes exposed to the pressure of air as they drive forward...

Part 1: http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_9910_ram/index.html
Part 2: http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_9912_ram/index.html

Read the articles completely, including the picture captions. Note how unstable the airflow is / becomes when 'ram air' begins to have an effect. The LOWEST speed that it had an effect at for any of the bikes was at 60mph, and it was the bike with the most work put into the system, very fine tuned, the graph shows how stable it is, and they noted that Kawasaki's aircraft history has most likely trickled aerodynamics of air pressure and engine induction of that down to their bikes.

Every other bike didn't start seeing a benefit until 85,90, 95,100...

The Hyabusa didn't see a benefit from it until 145mph!

Note that they calculated a 70% efficiency LOSS on these types of intakes just due to design...and these are exposed directly to the pressure wave of air in front of the motorcycle.




So...what is my point? If you have these bikes, with admittedly LARGER intake areas than the RX-8, and those intake areas are exposed directly to the airflow and pressure wave of air in front of the bikes, and are seeing such small gains, and not until illegal speeds...

What do you think an intake would do shut up in the hot engine bay of the RX-8?

All it's doing is creating unstable airflow.

I highly recommend reverting to stock.

 

First off, thanks for the info!! The issue on the intake, so is there any aftermarket airintake that is functional???

Second, the remote button in the glovebox; will this fix the button in the car by my left knee?? or will this fix my keyfob as well?? Like I said, I have replaced the battery twice since buying the car in about 11/2 years!!!

Third, where might I have current leak??? I have not touched anything on this car but, replace the battery when purchased, and the air-intake and the exhaust?? The one thing that I noticed was when removing the factory exhaust, I noticed on the muffler there was a short wire-meshed cable that was attached to the frame; almost like a ground??? Since the replacement aftermarket didn't have this, I ignored it??? Is there current through the exhaust??

 

First, that is a ground on the exhaust. It shouldn't cause any leakage, but try and ground it again anyway for the hell of it.

Second, have you had any issues with condensation in the tail lamps? that can always be a cause.

Third, have you check out all lighting such as brake lights etc, to make sure all bulbs are operating? Sometimes a burned out one will short.

Fourth................what button by your knee?

Fifth, there are a few aftermarket intakes that will work....an the SR while not the best should work. You never answered the question about what you did with the MAF screens and how many are left in the intake stream? One? Two? None?

Sixth, you need a manual for your car(assuming you don't have one), download one at www.mazdausa.com

Seventh..............You could be changing batteries so often because you may have a defective trunk latch. Depending on how you want to say it, this could be the cause of leakage current as well. Close your trunk and then look through the pass-through between the rear seats and see if your trunk light is on!

Eighth........phew........I'm sure I missed some, but you really need to go have that CEL read and report back the code. Although all of us know it's most likely associated with the air intake or your installation method of the intake.

 

I'm trolling your posts today apparently...

This is for the remote for his car, the trunk button doesn't work and hes replaced the batteries twice in 2 years. Which seems normal to me but I've never had a remote for my 8 bought it with just a valet key (go me!!)

Also for everyone else the SR intake isnt a ram air intake, its a cone filter with a billet sheath around it it ends exactly where the stock intake ends, and it might even hook up to the vfad or rb duct.

Since its SR it boasts massive HP gains and costs entirely to much, enjoy!

 

Hi, I have a 2010 rx8 and I just install megan racing exhaust system and the check engine came on, do any body know what I can do about it ?

Thanks in advance.

 

The last line in your post is TOTALLY ironic, because that is exactly what you should do.

Take it to Advance and get the CEL read. (or PepBoys, Autozone, any other auto parts store that reads them for FREE)

Once you have that code, then come back here and search for what that code means. It could be anything from "your gas cap is loose" to "your car is on fire."


Until you have a code, I'm going to insist that it's "your car is on fire" because it's has the safest recommendation that covers everything else and ensures you don't die from that CEL, giving you the maximum amount of time necessary to address it correctly.

 

Thanks, I will do that

 

I went to advance and they told me that could be the oxigen sensor but my car has only 9k miles, do u think that I should put back the factory mid pipe ?

 

Just so that we can all be sure of this, I will clarify what you just said so that everyone knows:

Kenixus owns a 2010 RX8.
He installed a midpipe in place of his catalytic convertor.
He now has a check engine light on, most likely for bad convertor efficiency.
He wants to know if switching back to his stock convertor will cure his CEL.

Who wants to properly answer his question for him?

Any takers?

Team?
You're usually pretty good at this.
Or did you swallow something you were drinking the wrong way, and blacked out for a while?

BC.

 

I think I'll pass.



Except to comment to kenixus:
You didn't post the CEL code. What was the point of going to get it read if you didn't get the code? It's like going to a bank to deposit a check but not signing the back and leaving with check in hand when they asked you to go ahead and sign it.

 

@ Shadycrew31, your description of my SR motor sport is correct, but I installed it to the directions that came with the product and didn't install it incorrectly unless the direction was incorrect. I think that once the warm weather returns, I'm going to re install the original system. But I still can't figure out the issue with the KEY FOB, why it won't work and I've replaced it twice in less than 2 yrs?? Don't want to go to the dealer and pay them to reprogram it!! Does anyone have suggestions on ant turbos that work well with the RX-8?? Where and if possible to get 3 or 4 rotor engine installed?? I just wished my RX had more HP/TORQUE!!

 

Hi Jim-


One thing about the intake etc. that is being overlooked is that you (we) are at altitude, which affects how much the ecu can compensate for the increased airflow before it gets pissy and sets a CEL. Obviously it would help to know which code, but I am guessing this is a part of the issue. If you like, feel free to reach out to us and come by and check out our race cars for some ideas and we can maybe help you with some direction.

Cheers,
Don

 

@ d walker, hey Don, where RU at?? I assume it's got to be near the Denver area if you know about our altitude. I'm not a wrench by no means, so yes I would certainly appreciate any help from someone who knows more. If you could get back to me, I would appreciate it! Thanks Jim