Whenever I start driving in the morning, or even the first time I drive the car later in the day, after I drive for maybe half a minute the car shakes back and forth a few times and then resumes normally. Today though it did it twice when I drove it out, once around when it normally does it and again about half a minute later. I notice if I stop giving it gas right around when it usually starts it makes it a much gentler shake but it's still there.

I was just wondering if anyone else had this happen to them or if anyone knows if something is wrong? BTW as far as I know the dealer has done the M-Flash on the car and it's fairly new (4 months + 7K miles).

Thanks!

 

My car does it too...i donno..i think it's just something it does perhaps...sorry i'm not more helpful--but at least you know you're not alone!

 

I've heard this from several Auto RX-8 owners... so while I don't have an answer for why, you're not alone and it's probably 'normal'.

 

Don't know if this is what you're talking about, but I noticed that I get a shudder if the tranny is cold and in third gear when the torque converter goes into lockup (too many prepositions there, but i'm too tired to fix it :D ). I just attribute it to cold fluid.

 

I get that same jerk as well in my AT 8, usually when I'm running the engine cold. Happens during third gear, if I keep my speed at 30 or below, I get a jerk. Doesn't happen if I keep it above 35 in third. I thought about mentioning to the dealer at my first oil change, but...that's just one more opportunity for them to screw things up, so maybe not. Simple solution is to just keep it in second gear at low speeds using tiptronic mode, until the engine warms up.

 

Do you all have DSC or traction control? I don't, and mine doesn't shimmy. I'm thinking one of those systems might be self-testing like the ABS does. If you look at some of the techical videos on Taka's site, you'll see that there's an amazing amount of self testing going on at various times.

 

It's probably the AC compressor cutting in and out.

 

Well guys I took Vertigo-1's advice the last 2 mornings and it looks like it took care of it! As long as I don't let my car go into 3rd gear until after I get over 35 for the first time it seems to be ok.

Thanks!

 

The AT RX-8 does seem to have some issues with shifting smoothly at low speeds. I experienced the jerkiness again the other day while moving between 1st and 2nd in crawling traffic, with the engine warmed up. I can't imagine driving this car in full auto mode, considering all the jerkiness when shifting gears, and its tendency to stick in a higher gear when you need some immediate power. It's interesting in that this is the first AT I've driven where I can actually feel the engine lugging when I'm in too high a gear.

 

Maybe your electronic control module for shifting of the tranny is off. Shifting too soon.

Have the dealer check it out.

 

Any updates regarding this problem? I experience a similar shudder yesterday during the first 5-10mins of driving. Also the weather is a little colder now, I never experience this before when it is warmer. Maybe a better AT fluid will fix the problem??

 

I would check the plugs asap! Sounds like a miss/fire or bad s/plugs to me.

 

If it was the plugs I would think the shudder would happen all the time. This is happening as the car warms up from a cold start while driving low speeds.

 

there was already a thread about this exact problem, and someone had a solution that worked...had to do with keeping revs low and warming up properly I think.

click the SEARCH button.