Hey gang,

I think I have another issue with my cat converter. I'm sure you all remember one of my first posts on the forum ever...Which involved the cat: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/interesting-issue-cat-converter-136467/

So.. In the end of that, I got it replaced, along with ignition coils. They claim that my exhaust was so clogged that fumes went back into my engine and caused a misfire, and that one of my ignition coils blew and made a rotor stop spinning (sounds fun?) I'll admit.. I'm not HUGE techy.. I know a decent amount about everything here and there..but definitely not that great with basics. I'll admit, that story sounds believable, but a bit weird. Anyways..So that was fine...Sort of.

After that got replaced, as I drove on the highway... I noticed a sort of... "winding down" noise from 3.5k RPM and down if I let the car decelerate. As in...if I am in 4th gear, 6k RPM and let go of the gas on the highway..goes down..down.. smoothly and quietly...but when it gets to 3.5k and lower..suddenly a louder winding sound was heard... (when I took it back...they said that was normal...I've never owned a Rotory before so I wouldn't know.)

Another sound surfaced..when accelerating in lets say...2nd gear or 3rd gear... low RPMs (around 2).. I would hear a light rattling sound...ALMOST sounds like engine lugging..but obviously not. Not much to say here..it just was always there...period. I ask them about that..they too said it was normal. (I'll admit I don't feel comfortable with that noise over the winding down noise)

So.. I let it slide. Drive the car normally, having fun on my drive to works.. redline a day keeps the carbon away sort of deal.. couple of weeks pass and we come to yesterday evening. I started the car to go to the bank (was already warmed up because I was leaving from work) and suddenly...as I accelerated a bit out of the spot.. It literally sounded like some clumsy person just dropped an assload of pots and pans onto the ground...or a HELL of a lot of spoons. Now..I was scared shitless. I got out of the car..nothing on the ground..anywhere. After checking around, I drove it to the bank. Car seemed normal at first, no problems, nothing..But later in the day on my drive home...I noticed the loss of pickup again..just like when the cat was getting clogged. And that the two sounds I mentioned above, were a bit louder.

So (finally the punchline here..) I'm not sure WTF is going on and I would love some expert advise. why am I so worried? Because if it's not a piece of poop cat they put in..and it really is used up already...does that mean it's the engine? Now..when I say that..I'm refering to the 2004 RX8 engine recall. I'm curious if my engine is doing what those engines did (I own a 2004)...Thing is..dealership said my VIN checked okay and that apparently I had the swap..But no where did it say that on Carfacs or anything. So.. I'm curious WHAT this sounds like to anyone or what I should do. I have an appointment with the same dealership (Tulley of Nashua if anyone is wondering) on Monday to drop her off in the morning..but I really don't want to be jerked around. I just bought the damn car almost two months ago.. I just want my baby. :/

Anyways, if anyone can make recommendations or whatever..Let me know. Thanks in advanced and happy motoring.

 

just because they say it was in for the recall, doesnt mean it got a new motor... unless the specifically say the motor was replaced, you prolly have the original motor.

Does the sound sorta resemble 'marbles in a can'??

 

Which one? The acceleration one? If so, I'd say so. You heard it that night, remember? We were like "it's engine lugging..but it's not...but it's rattling..but maybe not?" but we decided on rattling in the end. Bah..But that little.. "dropping all the pots and pans" sound was so scarey and loud I literally jumped..

 

Hmm the infamous marbles in a can is your fuel detonating. do this long enough and youll need a new motor. what brand and octane gas are you using?

 

I'm using brand X.. The NO NAME brand. :P

Just kidding.. I most of the time use Shell V POWA.. but if I need gas and I'm not near a shell, I just go to Exxon or Mobil.

 

I would simply bring it to the dealer and tell them your getting detonation with 93 octane and want it checked out. thats what our warrenty is for

 

kk...just come with me on Monday...lol

 

Monday is my first day back to work!

 

Damn boston ...

I can go with u if u do come around NYC :P, not NYC dealerships tho. Maybe Wayne Mazda

It sounds like ur engine is no good , I could be bad plugs tho.

 

You guys really think it's the engine though, huh? Weird..:/ I just pray they respect the warrenty

 

you have 2 warrenties to choose from! the factory and the extended! no worries though, its not like this is a rare thing in our 8's

 

That sound is normal, it's the SSV valve moving, my car does it too. The difference with pinging is that pinging gets louder as the revs climb

 

Really? I'll have to keep that in mind then..Thanks. I feel a lil better already. Still doesn't explain the whole "rattle spoon dropping" sound though..and light loss of power. At least I know that sound isn't something I should worry about. Thanks for that a lot man.

 

maybe the "rattle spoon dropping" was something else.. maybe someone did drop pots in the general vicinity!

 

lol. I wish.. I really do. But if you were there, you'd been like..WTF was that?

 

They just called.. Did two road tests..checked the cat..and apparently everything checked out fine and dandy. The sounds are normal and were checked by both service manager and the technicians. (daisuke was right I guess.. :P even though Greenblurr's never made those sounds) and they said they don't notice a decrease in car ability. He's doing another run and all and said he'd let me know if he finds anything..keep you guys up to date.

 

In all seriousness, any type of abnormal noise is not good or "normal". Especially with a rotary engine. The only time I hear a little whine is when the car is cold and the audio sound comes from my speakers due to my subwoofer grounding I'm sure. That's it.

 

Well dealership called..said they drove it again...nothing wrong. they replaced the passenger side taillight due to condensation and thats it. :/

 

w00t! Free tail light!!

 

I noticed that same "engine lugging" noise daisuke talked about around 3.5k rpm. It must be the SSV like he's saying as I've had heard it in multiple RX-8s before.
Good luck Zelse.

 

I've noticed no one has mentioned anything about the "winding down noise" yet though.

 

I would have to guess that the winding sound noise is just transmission noise, which is actually pretty noticeable, but normal. However the part that bothers me is that you say the "winding down" noise suddenly comes in at 3.5K, where my trans noise gradually comes and goes with different rpms. Synthetic trans fluid helped a bit with my noise though. Maybe it will for you :\

 

Next Mod... Redline MT-90!

 

Yeah I was going to do a tranny/diff flush sometime soon anyways. Thanks Ishu. I'll keep that in mind. I guess that solves the mystery of the "annoying sounds".. now just for the power loss. Blurr thinks it could be my SSV stuck due to carbon build up (I drive low RPMs in the city... under 4k.. I guess that's bad... :P ) So i'll give her a lil run when I get her.

 

So, i drove the car yesterday and here's my thought.... DONT DRIVE LIKE SUCH A GRANDMA! the ONLY time i could make it do anything that remotely sounds like what you describe is when i was below 2k RPM and tried to accelerate.... there by 'lugging' the engine... when i drove it the way i normally drive (not aggressive, but no grandma either) the car pulled hard and made no unusual noises...

This Dr.'s perscription.... drive harder