Hey took the 8 to the car wash to get rinse the salt off a few hours ago. While I was sitting waiting for the auto wash to do its things I smell a faint electrical smell briefly. When the wash is done, I put it into gear to leave and the transmission starts slipping in and out of gear. I drive out to the curb thinking maybe I just gave it a little to much gas, its an AUTO, and go to take off down the side street. Drives fine and handles fine, stop at another stop sign to get on the main road and once I hit the gas there is hardly any power and I slowly take off. ( it felt like I was trying to take off in 4th gear from zero) I don't drive to far due to the light turning red when my power steering light comes on and my AT light ( that turns on when you initially turn on the car) as well as the dsc light. The gear numbers start flashing in and out and my radio lights and the computer section right above it starts fading in and out, the lights going off and then coming back on as well as the radio actually turning off.

My head lights are on, and the car is idling properly, as the light turns it again seems as if I am taking off in 4th. After I get through the light and the turn onto a side street I notice that all my lights on the dash start flashing like a christmas tree, the power steering goes out and then my head lights dim to next to nothing. With the radio turning on and off with all the interior lights blinking on and off.

I let it sit a while just idling giving it gas to make sure it doesn't die on me or anything, but eventually it does. I opened up the hood and its bone dry in there, so it doesnt seem like water got in, I also opened up the fuse box and the cpu box and they were both dry.

So my question is where the hell do I begin to look, to figure out what could be wrong?

 

for kicks, i would check harnesses underneath the car... o2 sensor wiring for example. Make sure they are not damaged, cut, etc. sounds like you have a short going on.

 

I went back to the car about 80 minutes after my break down. when I turned the ignition to acc and got ready to start it back up, the power steering light and charging system light were on. When I actually tried to turn it over it did the dead battery dimming of the dashboard and rurr rurr. Just trying to add enough details.

Thanks for the reply paimon.

 

When I was having my cooling system problems, I had all those symptoms at one point when the coolant overflow hosed the top of my battery (no battery cover)

Disconnect, clean, and re-seat the connectors on the posts as see how it goes.

 

thanks Riwwp, will check later today when I can get back out to it.

 

Did this and it fired right up. but with a few new codes.

p2070 Intake manifold tuning valve stuck open bank 1.

p0420 Catalyst efficiency monitor malfunction (no cat on her)

p0649 the PCM has deteremined that a malfunction exists in the control circuit for the intake air heater.

hmm how to get rid of these

 

Hey there local RX8 owner. I think that first code is the SSV if I remember right. Also it kinda sounds like a battery issue and or maybe the Alternator. Kinda sounds like you got water under the hood in some bad places or lost total power.

What part of Louisville are you in.

 

Pull the 15A Room fuse for 15 minutes (fuse box by drivers left leg panel) to clear the codes, then reinstall the fuse and see if they come back after you start driving it.

 

Thanks TeamRX8 I didnt realize I could do a fuse in the cab for to clear the codes.


Im in the east end. What about you?

Yeah the way the dash started blinking and my lights would go dim then full power freaked me the hell out. Practically had a break down when the steering froze up. This car has been a huge pain in the ***, her saving grace is the beauty, soft line and handling.

 

South end here. Actually northern bullitt co.

 

I threw a P2070 code earlier in the month that has since gone away, once it warms up I plan on troubleshooting and cleaning the SSV. However I JUST washed my car yesterday (It was nice in Florence KY) and when I stared her up to get her back in the garage I threw a code again.

No idea what code it was, let her warm up and then I shut her off. About to go for a spin now to Autozone to get it checked out.