Question: my check engine light came on, then went away, then came back on. After checking my gascap, I took it in. The dealer told me that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. ? I know nothing about internal workings of cars, and my coworker said that cc should not be replaced until at least 50k miles. What gives? Why is this needing to be replaced at 1770 miles? Any comments are helpful.

 

I had the same problem. They replaced it and all is fine now. I had almost the same mileage as you when it happened. They told me something about a part that was not permiating properly.

 

I don't know if my problem is catalytic converter related, but lately I have been noticing and erratic low muted exhaust sound when my car is idling. It's hard to describe but it's like a putt...putt... sound every few seconds or so, the tach needle seems to be stable and the cell light does not come on. Anyone else experience this or know what it could be?

 

I'm right near 1700 miles and for the last week I've been hearing the same thing. Happens at idle. Tach gets to about 500 rpm, engine almost sounds like it's going to stall, then theres a pop pop and revs pick up a tad then the cycle starts over.

lol...I may quit reading this forum!

 

I know what you mean. the more I read the more paranoid I become.

 

Its the inside of the cat's the are no good. I think its a recall but Mazda will not say. I had my cat's replaced in a month when my CEL was on. I found some good threads with a search. I would not pay Mazda till you read up on this.

 

Pay Mazda?! No way...it's covered under warranty I believe. Ill look it up, thanks...at least the service techs and everyone there is very courteous. I've gotten to know the loaner lady by name now

 

i had the same problem here. car was in the shop for few days, mazda took care of me and gave me an awesome dodge neon rental car.

 

Hey if it was and SRT-4 then that ain't too bad.

 

I get the putt putt in the rx8 also. My 1979 rx7 and 1988 rx7 does that too. I think it is normal for rotaries to do that.

 

i wish it was a SRT-4. i woulda been boostin all day. sadly it was a base automatic neon.....however it did have suprisingly good bass from its stock stereo system.

 

johnny are you on the M flash?

 

Do/did you have any problems with the rev range/ Power loss at higher revs?

I had the problem along with a CEL and it was the cat. It was replaced and the car runs perfectly now. The other thing I noticed is when my cat was borked, the transmission tunnel was super hot on the outside, not even taking into consideration the beverage warmer compartment and ashtray/coin holder- I just thought it was normal since I did my research. now that the cat has been replaced, the tunnel is much cooler

it happens though- a car can't be manufactured in mass quantities perfectly every time. My wrx (may speed rest its soul) had a faulty transmission when I first bought it.

you get this with "new" models...

oh, for those that had a cat problem- what was the build date of the car? If you don't know how to find it- it's on the label on the inside of the driver door

I'm wondering if the problem is mainly with the early build cars

 

My dealer is about to get a 6MT Red 8 added to their loaner car fleet. That'd be sweet