I literally just bought a used RX8, its a 2006 petrol.

Well, I accidentally flooded it... I spent ages trying to unflood it and eventually I got it started by simply just walking away for 15 minutes.... After reving it really highwhilst turning the key.


However when I started it, the DSG light and another light (a skidding car) were on - sorry I am not really a technical person -


The car was also different, it wouldn't rev high and stayed at a low speed, it would not go past 30 mph a d there was a very strong burning smell.


When I eventually pulled over, the underneath of the car was glowing red! With a little box thing (the cat?) letting off some major heat and glowing.


The car also loses power and shuts off when left at idle....


I was just wondering if this had happened to anyone else? And what they did to fix it... It was literally running like a dream until I flooded it.


I feel so stupid! I knew these cars were hard to drive but I thought I did enough research, turns out I was wrong.


Is there any chance that it will fix itself overnight?


I know I am an idiot

 

Your CAT is likely plugged solid. The fix is to replace it with another CAT...or pull it and remove the Guts ...or replace it with a midpipe

 

Thank you for such a fast reply! So I take it that my numpty flooding issue is what blocked the cat?

So, cleaning the cat might solve all of my problems? The loss of power whilst driving, the low revs and the slow speed?

 

Likely your flooding issue is caused by weak ignition components that killed the CAT as well


If you compression is good...and the ignition checks out ...then you need the CAT replaced

If you compression is poor you will need a new motor sooner than later

If the compression is good and the ignition is weak..you will need the ignition fixed and the CAT replaced or hollowed out

 

I also recommend reading the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. Tons of useful info to get you started

 

You guys have been wonderful, I have just booked my car in to have the cat replaced by a mobile mechanic...So I dont have to risk driving it. Hopefully this will be enough to make the car run properly again.

£210 though! Yikes!!

 

Ok but it will plug again if you don't refresh your ignition components. The flooding and cat problems are all symptoms of ignition coil failure. Change all 4, as well as the wires and spark plugs.

 

At the very least, ensure that all of the components Loki listed above are serviceable.

 

a couple of notes. driving with a bad cat will destroy the engine quickly. Do not even start teh car at all until it is checked out.

As another note 210GBP is not expensive at all for a Cat. The rotary produces large amounts of heat that will destroy a cheap cat. There are a few reported to last while, but they still end up destroyed. Either go back with a Stock mazda unit for around 1200 USD before install pricing. Or take it out.

I doubt a mobile mechanic will have the equipment to do a rotary specific compression test either. If he doesn't there's no need for him to do that for you.



The cars are not hard to drive or take care of. your car is 10 years old. They require some maintenance from time to time. you can pay someone to do that or do it yourself for a reasonable savings. Oil every 3K or so check the ignition system at least every 30K miles. No matter what miles you have after 10 years you should probably have all the fluids changed, and belts. If you drive a lot do them by 100K miles and you'll be fine. There are specific checklists, but if you do these at a minimum it should last you pretty well.

 

Just to keep you updated...

The cat was completely clogged, they took it off but it did not help the car at all. The garage said it was misfiring and all sorts.

They smashed guts put of the cat.

Eventually they came back saying that there was no compression at all on one cylinder (they said they are no experts) but one cylinder was reading perfectly and there was nothing from the other.

I asked about the coils etc and they said that they werent at fault.

So looks like the engine is toast

 

That sucks big time molly. Thanks for the update. They really help when someone fins the thread later with the same problems.

What's your plans for it?

 

In all honestly, I dont really know what to do with it...

I am not in a position to have the engine rebuilt.

I was thinking of stripping it and trying to scrape sone money from the parts... The garage guys seemed pretty keen to dig deeper into the issues... they have never had one apart before.

 

I'm sure it needs a rebuild. A reman engine normally runs 3300 us or so over here. Don't have it rebuilt by some one who doesn't know what they are doing. I'm not sure if there's any known builders in the UK.