The condition of my tires is gonna let someone know how I was driving until I replace the tires. I tore off 1/3 of the first tread block row on my front outside tire, and took some pretty good chunks off the rear too the last time I was at Pacific Raceways.

It's a great way to speed up the tire replacement process!

 

blinking means it happened ONCE, solid means the error was detected MORE THAN ONCE.

 

Gotcha, we autocross on a blacktop/asphalt type surface and it's VERY easy on the tires. Our local Kragen equivalent autozone does not have the CAN scanner so I couldn't get the codes pulled. I went ahead and pulled the neg terminal off the battery and held the brakes for 5 seconds to reset it. Drove home and then did the brake pedal pump, the car seemed to drive MUCH stronger for a few days after I did the brake pedal pump reset.

 

Last year I took mine in for a CEL that wouldn't clear itself (from a track day). They noted that at the time I had the CEL, I was at something like 7500 rpm and 84 mph. *Blush*

Oh, and about the DSC at the track... At Summit Point / Shenandoah Circuit there's a banked turn. Last year I forgot to turn off the DSC one time and it kicked in right in the middle of that turn. Scared the crap outa me - I thought a tire had fallen off or something!

 

If I had a dealer that claimed "abuse" because the car misfired while it was running at some rpm below the fuel cut, I'd suggest the dealer talk to my lawyer. There is a reason why Mazda set the redline and fuel cut where they did in these cars, and you - as the end user - have a reasonable expectation that the car should run correctly at any engine speed below the fuel cutoff.

As for recording speed at time of misfire - the dealer isn't in the business of law enforcement. Just because a misfire happened at an extralegal speed doesn't - in my mind - imply any kind of actual abuse of the eqiupment. Again, my question do the dealer would be "If operating the car above 75mph could cause potential damage to the engine, why didn't Mazda's engineers install a speed limiting device? Did Mazda knowingly sell me a product that could be operated in an unsafe and potentially life-threatening manner?" I assure you they don't want to answer that question, because the legal implications would be horrendous.

Just a word on my background - I'm an engineer involved in engine systems design for large self-propelled mining equipment. I'm quite familiar with the protocols and rationale used to develop and set engine limitations. When we set engine limitations, we have to go on the assumption that the machines will be used at any and all combinations of throttle and RPM within the ranges we allow. To do anything less would open us up to litigation in event of a machine failure. The biggest difference between my company and Mazda is that our end users are a little more educated about their legal rights, and a lot more willing to take matters to court (you would be too if you'd just paid $3mil for a machine). They know that we'd need a lot more proof than an engine that was running under factory set limits when it failed to claim "end user abuse".

 

All very good points, but I'd definitely like to avoid having to go through the hassle of fighting it in court. Mitsubishi actively searched forums and voided the warranties on all of the Evo's they could find that had been to track days or autocross events. From what you are saying it sounds like the owners have a legal leg to stand on, although I don't know the legal conditions of the warranty, but the process of fighting it would definitely suck. Fortunately I haven't heard of any cases of Mazda doing the same. Still, I'd personally rather not test this.

 

They do paruse the forum in the shadows

 

Not sure if it has been covered.

Please take care of your brakes. Let it cool down by running a cool down lap with moderate speed, minimal braking.

Then in the pit, do not put on your hand brake, put the car in gear and shut it.

That will not wrap the disc or leave burn marks. I learnt it the hard way.

 

You're a perfect candidate to do this DIY and tell us all the results

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=brake+ducts

Nevertheless, excellent advice, and the last bit about no hand brake, needs to be an absolute ingrained habit!

 

Yes Spin.

I want to do it so long, but has not get my *** up and do it.

I read some Japanese article about brake cooling and Endless pads. The rotor is say 500C after the session, it will still be above 300C after 5 min sitting down

 

500C?? That's 1060F !! Have you measured it at that temp?? My guess is our brakes would be closer to 300-400C in session. Mine were measuring ~280C post session before the brake ducts, ~165C post session with ducts installed. PS I have 2-piece rotors this season, but the temps were only somewhat higher w/OEM rotors.

 

I know. I just meant that as far as I know Mazda hasn't actively tried to void warranties for autocrossers and track day junkies like Mitsubishi has. Big brother is always watching though!