Trex87

Hey fellas.. I need some help

I've kind of known in the back of my head that through the year in which I've owned my 8, I did not reach its full power potential yet. The other day I go into a shop that's familiar with rotaries so they can check up a chirping noise coming from the clutch which they replaced a few months ago. They end up not finding the issue but.. The noise disappeared, and I get back in the car to get home, i get kicked back into the seat and go off on first gear like a bat out of hell. I've never felt such power from this car. The engine sounded fuller. I call the shop what they did that made it run better thinking they tightened an exhaust leak or something but they said they just fixed a starter bolt that was loose. Before my visit at the shop my clutch pedal would be inconsistent, tight and soft randomly. One time it stuck to the floor for a sec and popped back up. When I left the shop the pedal was firm, car was catching gears quicker with more power. Ran this good half way home then chirping came back with some power loss. The next day I pump the clutch cuz it was soft and figured the "slipping-like" power loss is do to bad slave/master. Guys at the shop spent some time engaging/disengaging the clutch to find the source of chirping the previous day so i gave it a shot. And so the pedal got firm and the car drove excellent. (Chirping goes away with slight pressure on clutch pedal.. Throwout and pilot bearing replaced with clutch)

Now could a bad master and slave cylinder cause such power loss? Or is it just a coincidence and the mechanic somehow fixed a grounding issue when working on the starter?

My rx8: manual, 100k, ignition replaced few months ago tested working fine, new cat, new exedy OEM clutch, prolite flywheel

Any help appreciated, thanks

Trex87

Anybody?

Requiem-X8

Can you narrow the problem down? those are two aspects.

Trex87

OK, well I thought it would be the master cylinder causing the "slippage like" power loss and the chirping. so I went to the shop to get it installed. Master and slave at the same time. master was leaking so that did fix the chirping and clutch feels good now.. but the power loss is still there. The car sounds and feels as if it was running on three dying coils, the engine whines like something is pulling it back, that's the best I could describe this issue as. Also when i disengage the clutch in between a slow shift, I can hear whining. I tested the spark plugs with spark tester and all showed a spark. I thought maybe a wire was loose on a plug but I checked. It's weird cuz that one time i drove it, it was full of power which i haven't felt since I've owned my 8. That lasted two days and it went back to losing fairly significant power.. I replaced the ignition 5k ago when I still had a clogged cat, do you think that the cat made the coils start falling so early? Thanks for replying btw

Requiem-X8

Ok, we narrowed the problem down. I am sorry you are going through this, by the way. if every Mazda RX-8 was equipped with a Multi-Stage 2 - 3 Clutch, let's say, you can only use stock, but you receive a free upgrade at 30,000 miles, with a reinforced pedal, there wouldn't be problems.

Sounds like the issue is involved with the ignition or the engine?

btw how's the prolite flywheel running as compared to stock or an Exedy one?

Trex87

Yeah I think it's the ignition failing prematurely because I have no other idea..
The prolite wheel feels very light and sensitive compared to stock. it definitely freed up some horses

Requiem-X8

you mean on the feel of Clutch pedal and the Acceleration as well?

do me a personal favor and purchase the BHR ignition kit.

if you want to, you can also nab a BHR Midpipe.

Trex87

The clutch pedal remains the same but since the light flywheel let's the engine work easier, the gas pedal becomes very sensitive so overall shifting feels different. The rpms rise and fall faster, which frees (not adds) up some horse power A few days and you get used to it.

Yeah I'll consider bhr ignition in the near future