With 1200 miles on my beauty, I did a routine oil level check this morning. I had to pickup a flashlight to put the dipstick back in, and discovered to my horror, a spark plug with no wire on it!!!!

I immediately called the local dealer (whom I did not buy the car from) and scheduled an appointment. I got in this afternoon. They told me that BOTH of the "bottom" plugs had to be connected!

I've been driving on one set of plugs and never knew the difference (other than gas mileage, which is horrendous).

Can you believe that???

 

No you are BSing.

 

I dont know RBazz1, Swoope is always talking about that spark plug wire falling off.

 

yeah, its tricky there really is no way to reconnect it fully unless you take off the wheel. I have small hands and even then its impossible to actually push it fully on.

 

33" arms and I changed them all with no probs. I even took my friend Mikeluvs8 spark plugs off and checked his with out removing the wheel.

 

I was refering to:
"I've been driving on one set of plugs and never knew the difference (other than gas mileage, which is horrendous).

Can you believe that???"

They don't call me Razz for nothing.

 

You crack me up, Glen.

Having the two leading plugs disconnected will lead to terrible power, but your idle will be OK.
I suspect there are probably lots of people that wouldn't notice.

 

Wow. Were the wires fully disconnected on one end? or were they missing entirely?

 

They where prob just not pushed in all the way.

 

I posted awhile ago that after having my brand new rx8 for a bit I started to get a blinking CEL when I would redline the car. The car would start up a bit roughly. One of my lower spark plugs was completely disconnected. I was amazed to find this. I had to remove the wheel to get it back on. It has not popped off and the car has about 10k miles on it now.

 

I got mine in without taking the wheels off.

but I agree it will be 10 times easier with the wheel off.

 

You should've just push the plug back yourself.

Search is your friend.

 

No BS. I had been driving it since new without those two plugs, so I never knew the difference.

The Dealer's guess was that the other dealer put in the "new" spark plugs, then forgot to hook them up. And the power was okay without them (try for yourself if you wish). The most noticeable difference with them, so far is the exhaust sound.

 

..... if u cant feel the differents, you have a problem.

 

Its very likely that hose plugs are pretty fouled by now.
They need to be replaced (or at least cleaned).

 

time for new wires.

 

^ +1

 

I asked that exact question -- the fouling. Predictably, they said that they'd be fine. Well, how would I know if there's something wrong? Other than a rough idle when cold, and one start-and-die, which could be the plugs, or could be that I'm letting the key go too soon, I don't have any symptoms. Honestly, it ran fine without the two plugs, and runs fine now. But what you guys say makes sense. Confused!

 

You can tell if the plugs are bad by removing them. It's not that difficult.

 

Ahh I see. Well one way to know if they are off is if you get a Engine light on rough idle yada yada yada and by turning your wheel all the way to the right and looking at the plugs from the driver side wheel well.
You can see them in this pic



More info right here
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=spark+plugs
Hope that helps.
-Gil

 

now you make me want to double check mine!!!

 

take it out and look at it urself.

if you dont have the right tools, its time for you to invest in some.

if its brown, its fine for now.

but if its black or some gluey thing sticks on the plug. no good.