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When i first got my car I noticed it had a bad idle. It would literally kick back in before it died, when I sat in neutral. I took it to the shop and they told me that I had a cracked engine block and within a week i had a reman-engine installed.

I noticed today that my idling is really rough. I sat in a drive thru in neutral and it began to shake more then normal and really sound like it wanted to die. It did it a couple times but always quickly kicked back in. It's hard to explain. But basically it was quite loud and would just go low to high. There are no loose wires nothing missing. I'm hoping that It's nothing major and maybe just something the rx8's do. I was wondering if anyone has the same issues or if this is normal.


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Take an hour of your time and read the sticky post.

and most important is the Latest *MSP16* TSB.

Please put some effort into this matter, remember, its your car.

 

I think your answer is in your signature line:
Ebay intake
I'm not being a smartass here. You really need to dig up some threads about intakes on the RX8 and why certain components (screens) must be left on or accounted for. I will bet 99% of your problem is from that intake jacking up your MAF readings.

 

i think thats a joke, it looks like the AEM/MS intake

 

No it's not a joke i spent $60 on the intake off ebay. It's not the intake because my car has done this before.

thanks nycgps i will read that. I'm new to the rotarys i've only had my car since august so i'm not familiar with everything yet.

For proof this is everything i've purchased:

Ebay Intake- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEAFB:IT
Transformers Shifting ****- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEAFB:IT
Crank Pulley- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110229910921
alternator & waterpump pulleys- http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=280205199395


and if you're talking about the ecu sticky i've failed to mention i've allready done that. Pumped the break several times within 20 seconds which moved the oil guage. I did this other day when I had a C.E.L which ended up being the 15a room fuse. So yes i've allready done that.

allright read everything I'm going to call on monday see if they can do a re-flash hopefully they won't give me problems with the pulleys and intake on the car/

 

First, take the Ebay intake off and put it back to stock.

Cuz seriously, there are only few of the intakes on the market can actually give you the MAX 5 hp increase. MOST of the intake on the market actually can *hurt* your hp for example, ebay intake and Weapon-R intake.

You might want to take that intake out b4 u go to the dealer, if for some reason u cant do it (no time or whatever), then just go to the dealer and tell them u want to update your ECU cuz u want to. They will do it.

 

the intake is fine. i didn't buy it to get some incredible hp increase. I got it for the sound and because after talking to several rx8 friends they do help the car out. I enjoy the intake and it's not a problem. Several other people have bought a similiar one that i've spoke to. As for going back to stock if i have to i will if they won't check it out with it on. The pulleys shouldn't be a problem but i have all my stock pieces here.

 

I don't speak to anyone in AZMC.....I am not part of AZMC....Chickenwafer did help me out when i did the ecu thing. Todd told me the intake should be fine.

And the filter on the ebay listing is not what's in the car. I went to autozone and bought the blue one because the one in the listing doesn't fit. So I have a different filter on.

 

Well, if it isn't the intake it could be:

- Bad Gas
- Spark Plugs
- Fuel Filter (it's on the fuel pump)
- Bad MAF

maybe something else

 

its most likely the intake....without the straightening screens your maf cant get an accurate reading thats why its fluctuating so badly ....put your stock intake back on and drive your car a couple of times and youll be good....if not have your plugs/coils checked....and have the dealer check your catalyst efficiency......

 

No one else has had issues with an intake. and others with a similiar one have done fine. I think it's the plugs and the plug wires i'm going to go check into those. I'm gonna look at every option before i call the dealership. She's not losing power or anything

 

This is not normal.

Please read the stickies. Measure the inside diameter of the MAF housing. Measure the length before and after the MAF.

Then report back to us.

 

every car is different some people remove both screens and idle fine some like myself have to keep at least one in....

 

if you're going to look at every option before you call the dealership why not start with the intake?

 

i'm a she! just to let you know.
2ndly the intake where the MAF sensor goes was put on wrong so we had to turn it and put a bracket over it so it went the right way. There are no vacuum leaks. I've read every sticky so please stop telling me to read them. My best friend is in the process of reading them too since he helped me out with my car so he understands everything too.

I've reset the ecu. I'm keeping the intake. Other people i've spoke to have NOT had a problem. some have it's just a personal choice. I will double check the intake but like i said we've allready pulled it apart. it does not have the filter that you see in the ebay listing it has a different one.

The only thing that we haven't checked/pulled out is the plugs and plug wires.

 

You should really, really listen to the advice you are being given. The thing about mods is you have to be willing to remove them and return to stock to see if they are causing the problem.

You should really consider pulling that ebay intake out of your car and replace it with the stock one.

Reset the ECU and see what happens.

The AEM, Mazdaspeed, and Racing Beat intakes are the after market intakes that are usually recommended.

You have to be careful when you install aftermarket intakes. Pipe sizes must be correct and if your remove both your screens before the MAF, rough idle is a major symptom.

The other obvious thing to check is your engine mounts. These are a major problem with the RX-8 and can cause rough idle.

Along with those 2, Plugs and dirty MAF, are also good candidates.

After that, its a kind of treasure hunt. It could be all kinds of things that its best to have the Mazda dealer figure out.

 

and as i've stated I will re-check the intake and everything else BEFORE putting it back to stock. The maf was allready cleaned when we installed the intake.

Everyone has their own ideas for different intakes. I got a good deal on my through ebay, the guy has great feedback, i've asked several friends they said it should do fine. I don't know what happened to the screens that were in my stock stuff.

The plugs are the ONLY things i haven't fully checked.

I have a video of how my intake sounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S4yIQC694Y


I do thank everyone for their advice, that is what I asked for. But I would appreciate it if, some of you didn't make me feel as if i'm a dumbass. (just how it's coming across). I"m still new to this car and new to how it works. I've only had it since august. There is no one in tucson with an RX-8 that i'm good friends with that I can just go up to and get advice. That's why the small problem that happens once in awhile is hard to describe without someone either being there or in the car when it happens. It doesnt' do it often. I will probably check everything either tomorrow or sometime this week. If it's not the plugs, or anything other than the intake i will put it back to stock and call the dealership.

KEEP In mind that i've been having this problem BEFORE i put an intake in. So I don't feel it is the intake. I just decided to ask about it now since it's happening more then once.

 

Okay Jennifer....chill out a little bit........we are only trying to help.

You should see how you are coming across.

Unfortunately it is going to be a hunt. I didn't re-read all of the above, and I know the issue was there before the intake, but is there any screen in that whole intake plumbing area at all?

Truth is......it could be screens, intake itself, plugs, wires, coils, motor mounts, and a few other more expensive things.

I take it your not throwing any CEL right? The stumbling gets me..............like it's not getting good spark. This only happens at idle right.......not at another time? Does it happen more with car cold or warm?

 

I didn't realize i was coming across in a bad way. My apologies. Just a little frustrated 'cause it's hard for me to describe the problem.

There is no screen, I honestly didn't know those were a big deal.

No CEL's I had one after the pulleys but all i had to do was take out the "room" 15A fuse and it reset and haven't had one since.

Yes only at idling and mostly when the car is warm. Not all the time either, but when I do notice it just shakes violently. That's the best way I can describe it. And the other day is the first time I noticed the needle move.

 

FWIW,
If you reset your ECU, you will also sometimes get an idle dip at stops for the first few drive cycles as the car learns its new fuel trims. Since you seem to think the intake is not the issue, then the next best guess would be coils, plugs, and/or wires. The excessive shaking is also a symptom of a failed motor mount. Another option, but very unlikely is a faulty neutral switch, but this is more of a see-saw idle that wonders from 700-1200 rpms.

 

Could be Carbon Buildup on the plugs or in the combustion chambers in general or Varnish buildup on the injectors.

I suggest you run a very good cleaner through to see if this helps - BG44k or Gumout Regane are very good ones (don't buy just any brand as most are useless). You could also try MMO, about 1/2 quart on first tank - 8 oz every tank thereafter, as it will not only clean but lubricate as well - my idle was good already and MMO smoothed it even more.

Other than the things you have already checked, I would also go ahead and replace the plugs, maybe the coils as well.

 

ok thanks. alot of people have been referring to the plugs and the plug wires. i'm going to look into that when i get some extra money.

This may be a dumb question but i honestly don't know the answer.

how can you tell on these cars if the motor mounts are bad?

 

shaking while driving....

 

easiest way is to look at them, all you need to do is take off the front wheels and they are right there.

 

O.k. thank you. I know shaking while driving but i meant if you physically looked at one how could you tell.