Mrqng

Hi sonics, thanks for your input, my rx8 has passed its emissions test 2days ago, can a blocked cat pass emissions??? Don't think so, i haven't checked the plugs yet, but from experience if it's the plug the code will be different from what I'm getting at the moment p2259. The only thing i have not done is vaccum leak and compression test.

Mrqng

Have you actually watched my video posted by loki

thebubbadog

I feel a clogged cat could possibly pass with less gas's escaping thought the exhaust, But i don't know exactly how that work's.

Mrqng

Hi bubadog, I haven't ruled out anything i have not checked, I have personally removed all 3 solenoids and bench tested for vacuum, all fine, been under the car and pried the exhaust and cat from front to back, held the exhaust and wriggle it thoroughly up down sideways, nothing shaking inside, removed the air pump, tested all ok. The only thing i have not done, is a compression test and plugs and wire replacement.

thebubbadog

When testing the solenoids did you heat them up there are some videos about it I put mine in an oven and then tested them? They work fine cold sometimes and then stop working when warm but i really don't think that's your problem the solenoids wouldn't cause a sound it would just make the car run weird after it's warmed up. Did you look on the inside of the cat? just because you don't hear anything wiggling around doesn't mean it's not melted on the inside, it could have cooled down and welded to the exhaust so aka nothing shaking around.

Mrqng

Action speaks louder than words, proove it by posting videos and pictures.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

ask around or search my threads. i aint proving **** to some noob from across the pond. ive hosted many 8 meets, drives, bbqs, let members crash at my house from all over the country, asked my brother to close his auto shop (his business) for 8 club wrenching meets etc.

thebubbadog

I haven't listened to the video yet, haven't had time since I'm only on this form at work and can't listen to pc sounds. You should try listening to the Trans I know it may sound weird but I've heard of clutch bolts coming lose that haven't been properly torqued down and you did say you had the clutch replaced, just and idea. You could also try taking the air box out and battery box to get deeper inside the engine bay and you can try putting a wrench on the lower pulley and manually spinning then engine over to listen to when it exactly happens. You could also try taking the fuel pump fuse out and just spinning the engine over and listen if it happen when it's spinning over or if it only happens when it's running.

Mrqng

No, tested the solenoids for vacuum, applying voltage and blowing through one end.
I didn't check inside the cat, but my mechanic says it's something mechanical rather than electrical and if the cat is clogged it would not have passed the emissions test.
The only thing left i think is compression test or something loose in the transmission, but then it drives fine and pulls all through the gears perfectly without problems. I will have to do a test drive tomorrow, it hasn't been done since the cleaned out ssv.

Cosmo Canuck

On the clutch, the noise is just rhythmic enough to be a loose bolt hitting the inspection splash pan between motor and trans.

Mrqng

Thanks Cosmo, you, bubadog and Loki are really making sense in your comments, when i do a test drive tomorrow and confirm no lights are coming on the dash then I'll get my mechanic to drop the transmission and check for loose bolts.

​​​It's better than jumping to conclusions that the seals are blown or it needs a rebuild when it doesn't show any sign of needing one.

Ricky SE3P

iTrader: (10)

Your motor sounds fubar'd. Like a lawnmower.

I'm willing to bet your ignition coils are also toast.

Your cat is probably destroyed again thanks to your motor being fubar'd and your coils probably being toast.

I passed California emissions testing with a motor that had terribly failing compression and no catalytic 3 months ago. Don't be ignorant and believe a emissions test which have proven to be unreliable.

If you don't take the steps to ACTUALLY check the components we are telling you that you should take a look at, then you and everyone here is wasting their time.

Mrqng

Thanks Xero, you are the only one that has mentioned coils being toast, if you listened to the video properly you'd notice the noise diminishes as i moved away from the engine bay, i did mention that these parts, plugs coils and leads has not been looked at, but first things first, i have a P2259 code and need to sort that out first, hence why i took it to my mechanic to get the ssv cleaned, spoke to the mechanic today and raised the points i received from the forum and he said if the cat was bad i would have failed the emissions test and he could have recommended a new cat put in. He is 90% sure the fault is from the engine bay area or transmission. When i get the car tomorrow and confirmed the p2259 code has disappeared, then I'll start looking at these components i haven't looked at, plugs leads and ignition coils.

Mrqng

Hi all, been to the mechanic and he's test drove my rx8 and the Eml has come back on, I'm back to a situation that's not been solved. P2259 is the only code i am getting, my mechanic is not convinced that the catalytic converter has a problem nor the clutch, but as he's not a rotary specialist, I'll be picking up the car in a few days to change spark plugs, coils and lead, then see how it goes.

​​​​​​

Loki

iTrader: (1)

While replacing those parts is good, I hope you're not expecting them to fix a clearly unrelated problem. The mechanic is not getting paid to guess or be convinced, he's paid to investigate and repair. If he's not doing that, he's wasting your time and money.

Mrqng

Hi, went to the mechanic to do my MOT, front pads, rear springs and clean the SSV which is the related cause of the problem, but since that hasn't worked, i intend to take it to a rotary specialist to continue the investigation as my mechanic doesn't know much about rotary engines. At least now its passed the mot, i can drive it to Essex rotary to do the almighty compression test and maybe a rebuild if that is needed. In the meantime I'll be doing some more investigation on my own with ideas from this forum, etc.

Mrqng

Updates all, I'm considering doing an engine swap for a better one, don't have the money for a rebuild, so I'm using corona holiday to get some testing.
I took out all ignition coils and tested with a multi meter, perfect reading, no burnt marks on them except a little bit on the last trailing ignition coil.
Now the bad news, took out all plugs, no oil marks on them except very little on one, amazing to me all the plugs are of the trailing design denso make.
Could that error be creating the noise in my video or could it be the stationary bearing.

Hunting for a very good 192, 5 speed manual, if anyone knows one selling please let me know, I've got cash waiting.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

OE multimeter test = fail

burnt markings generally mean zilch/nada

they have to be spark tested under load using an HEI test plug tool or similar

that’s the only true test you can trust

.

Mrqng

Thanks for your response, if the ignition coils weren't working my rx8 won't be running, it has never skipped a beat, even with the knocking noise i am getting, starts first time on the ball. I'm more concerned about the 2 spark plugs that was wrongly installed, in other words 4 trailling plugs was installed (not under my ownership) so I'm keen to find out if the effect this plug error could have contributed to the knocking noise coming from my rx8.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

The plugs wouldn't make a knocking sound, but obviously having all trailing plugs is a problem.
Don't discount coils so quickly, you can lose a trailing coil and not even notice it. You could have weak / intermittent spark and not complete failure, which would clog your cat in short order just the same.

But, that aside for the moment, you need to narrow down where the sound is coming from if you want help troubleshooting this over the internet. It's possible the SSV actuator is knocking, they can get loose without any detrimental effects except noise.
Knocking deep in the engine is never a good sign, however. Can you narrow it down?

Mrqng

Hi Loki, you have viewed my video and responded to it, see older responses.
The noise is coming from central front section under the engine, however I'm convinced it's not the ssv, because the sound doesn't change when the ssv mechanism is agitated.
Yeah i get the scenario on weak spark whilst still able to run, after looking at the plugs without the shadow of a doubt, I'm 100
​​​​% sure it needs changing, however looking a the coils, all look brand new, no burnt marks except for 1 tiny one, they are not oem ones as no make written on the body and no resistors in them, except a spring. If anyone can recommend a good source, I'll be grateful.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

going on about burnt marks means absolutely nothing except you don’t understand what you’re talking about.

the only way to be sure is the test I told you about previously. I know it has nothing to do with your clanking unless it’s not clanking, but detonation from misfires. It’s probably not that though, but you’re the one bringing up coils and I’m trying to educate you on it because you clearly don’t understand how to determine if they’re functioning properly or not. Which likely means most of what you’re trying to explain about this problem is potentially half baked too.

That’s the most difficult and frustrating thing for experienced members here to overcome trying to help people with internet analysis and problem resolution. Please just accept that you need help, try to listen, follow directions more, and stop acting like you understand more than you do. Because you don’t. What a coil looks like means absolutely diddly squat nothing, but that’s what you keep posting about.

Mrqng

Hi team rx8, if i didn't need help i wouldn't be posting anything here. The issue of plugs and coils came to light because i wanted to change them and thot I'll post the condition and appearance on here to see what response i get and possibly link it to the clanking noise i am getting. My car has stopped working at the moment and I'm considering an engine swap to better lower mileage engine instead of a rebuild.
Before all this my car ran beautifully, no smoking, no misfiring and no loss of power even with the clanking noise. See video @ ( )
You'll also be surprised how many rx8 specialist i have been to and all said something different and trying to sell me rebuild. The closest was Essex rotary who said it was the stationary bearing has gone which if done is not a guarantee that the compression would improve. I didn't have low compression cos the car started first time hot or cold, confirmed by mazda Corby who did a recall on fuel tank, air bag and suspension.
​​​​Mazda Corby and Sussex said its most likely the ssv, again nobody mentioned the exhaust, if the catalytic converter is blocked, it could cause a back pressure which can blow a seal.
Help!!!!!!! Before asking me to do a rebuild.

Kiwiaudio

Man, you gotta start pulling things apart. My educated guess would be a clutch pressure plate bolt. Just because something is new, doesn't equate to it being good ! We have all seen "new" parts fail, or the installer screw up !
In fact when **** happens, i look to what has most recently been done first !
The cut down wooden broom handle or long screwdriver in your ear should point you to where to start. As noisy as that is, id think it easy to locate.
Now, you have to cut everyone some slack here as they are doing their best to interpret your issue from reading between the lines and watching a video. Not always easy !

Mrqng

Thanks Kiwiaudio, i have thanked all that have contributed to this thread, Loki, team rx8 etc, i know its not easy to diagnose when one is not physically with the car to see how it behaves.
The clutch replacement was the most recent major work done on my rx8 and since then i have had one issue or the other, ssv code, knocking sound out of nowhere. Can a clutch pressure plate bolt stop the rx8 from cranking, also clutch and gears are operating perfectly and never had a problem with both since the clutch was changed.
Any response is appreciated.

Thanks.