I have an 04 AT rx8 with 58k miles on it. I bought it used back in January and have had some troubles with my rx8 so far.

I was in the middle of a 4 way stop today and the car just stalled. I had driven it maybe 10 minutes. Redlined it once. I noticed, like always, the car was taking a second to really accelerate. I'd push the gas down, and it would click then start rolling. Pull up to the intersection, mid turn the engine completely shuts off. All the warning lights and everything came up. I put it back in park, and started up the car. It took longer than usual to catch, but it did. Went thru the rest of the ride home worried at every intersection.

This has happened to me before twice. I cannot seem to find many consistencies. It might be because I was driving it hard, but to be honest I only really drove it hard today once.

I just took it into the shop a week ago because the check engine light had came on. They went in and ran a bunch of tests and they found out it failed the emissions test. Charged me 110$ for labor , tests, and to replace the gas cap. Thats all they found wrong though. The last couple times that it happened they couldn't find anything either.

I live in Houston. I have only been going to the same mazda dealership. I use regular gas. Could this affect it? I have read somewhere that it might, but on older rx8s premium isn't required.


Thanks for the help

 

many factors involved here.

With 58k miles have your coils and plugs been changed?

Some 8s run just fine with regular gas, some don't. You're might be one that doesn't run well with regular gas.

It may be because your not driving it HARD enough. Redlines are good for this car.

 

Also, since this happened, do you have a Check engine light on again? If so get that code pulled and bring the code back here.

 

Check the ignition wires, plugs, and coils. Mine was doing the same, and I went and pushed on the backs of all the wires and it stopped stalling out; mine literally would NOT RUN.

 

I had the 60k check up early back in Feb. Coils i believe were replaced then, plugs i know.

I drive my car pretty hard. I feel like if i redline it more, it will make it stall more.


I read back at some posts from when it originally happened, and people were suggesting i get my cat. converter inspected. I never had it done, forgot, should I go take it to the dealership tomorrow and get this inspected? Because I know that i can still get away with more tests if something is wrong with the car

 

check ignition wires, sounds stupid but its worth a shot.

 

I would suspect the cat would be failing If you feel your car is sluggish in the higher RPMs. Is this the case? Do you feel this way?

 

its probably your cat and I dont think coils are part of a 60k checkup, could be wrong though, I would bet its one of the two though

 

now that i think about it, back in june i had some misfiring injectors. they replaced a couple of them i believe.

it's not high rpms, it's low. first 1-2k when i give it gas, it feels like its taking a second to pick it up. its really hard to explain.

i dont know how to check the injector wires. any dyi? thanks!

btw, engine light didn't come on when i stalled. i mean everything came on, restarted car, and nothing came back up.

 

That's gotta be your plus, wires, and or coils. Just a guess though. I'm would think a bad injector would give you a CEL. But I don't think a bad plug wires and coils give you one.

 

The coil wires are real easy to check. You go buy them at an auto shop *autozone or so I'd imagine has the parts* then you swap them out. They are the yellow wires on the drivers side of the engine..Not sure if they are all yellow, just using this as a picture so you know where they are.

 

Good lookin engine right there. How many cylinders is it? J/K

 

yeah that's the v8 i think haha.....jk either way check the coils/wires/plugs andsee try running 93 octane if thsi does not work "WELCOME TO THE NEW ENGINE CLUB"

 

Oh yeah from now on to be safe I'd stick to 93 Octane.

 

okay cool, thanks for the info. but what will i be looking for wrong with them? how should i check them?

 

The best and only way to my knowledge on 'checking' them is replacing them. They usually don't run too expensive.

 

Also, if you replace your wires. Do one by one. Each wire goes to a specific plug. Dont mix them up.

 

aight, do you think i should take it in the shop first, since they still might cover it?

 

I just reread the original post. Guys this doesnt have something to do with it does it?

10 mins of operating is awfully short to be redlining it. Could the car just be stalled? In 10 mins you think that's enough to get to fully operating temp?

 

My car reaches full operating temp in 5 minutes of driving.

 

you know what... i got an 04 MT 30k on it.. and lately experiencing.. harder to start, as if it was flooded... and i already did the whole deflooded trick i got from the rx8 CD i from mazda so it aint flooded, a slower take off, it feels like i have turbo lag and yet i dont have a turbo..at high rpms she feels normal but still feel as if i lost like 25 to 30 percent of power .. and trust me i make sure she gets her redline a day.. i think i made her sick when i used castrol oil on her for the first time..ive normaly been using royal purple (and yes ive seen the threads and oil wars with royal purple so lets not make it that kind of thread...if you think its the oil.. just say oil.. and ill paint the rest of that picture.. i had her a little over a year and ive done at least all royal purple for the first year until i went on a 6 month deployment and i put castrol in her for the time ive been gone.. and now that im back i ve given her her normal royal purple treatment...i dunno.. ill probably push on the wires.. jus wanted to share..

 

this is the exact same things i've got. cept i don't use any fancy oil.

 

Yeah, he should be up to temp in 10 minutes of driving for sure.
From what I have read and I should go read again........I believe it's..........

1.) Coils
2.) Plug Wires(loose or just bad)
3.) CAT

 

I just took her out for another 10 minute spin.

Only things I changed really was, put oil in it (meter said full but i haven't topped it off in a month or so?) and took the engine cover off. Ran like a charm. I redlined pretty much every opportunity to do so; even let it sit in first at about 8k for a few seconds. No signs of stalling or slow acceleration.

I am really stumped now. The only thing i can think of now that is relative is that i am close to needing an oil change. Everything else has been mentioned.

 

Highly unlikely in my opinion.
Hate to say it, but I think it will be back. Even though I may hope it doesn't.
Do make sure you let it warm up to operating temp before slamming it though.
Think I'd still check and make sure my plug wires were all tight. Maybe think about testing the coils. http://www.finishlineperformance.com...16-07-1793.pdf