Hi Guys,

I'm Fairly New To The Rx-8, I Got My Car (2005 Base Mazda Rx-8-6 Speed With 82k Now) In August Of 2011, about 3 weeks ago i was on my way to work when i got a weird "st udder" from the car and a flashing CEL for about 5 seconds, i let off the gas and put it into neutral and let it roll a little for about 10 seconds, put the car back into gear and the car was fine for a few days. About 3 or 4 days later i was driving around and all of a sudden the car would barely function With The Flashing CEL, i got home and looked underneath the car, what a surprise... my cat was glowing. i tried to start the car back up the next day to check this issue out and the car started then immediately stalled and would not restart.

i bought a new Cat (Magnaflow High Flow Cat) and installed it last weekend. Went to start the car and it wouldn't start (I concluded the engine must have flooded). i tried all the tricks posted on this forum until i pulled the plugs out and blew the remainder of the gas out and cleaned the plugs off... and the car started.. got a lot of smoke after the deflooding. Then i went to drive the car and it would bearly move... still. i made it up my driveway and the car stalled and would not restart. And i looked underneath the car and the brand new cat was glowing...

i cleaned the MAF sensor and checked the plugs again (they are only 2 months old). the car seems a little better but still is not functioning correctly. the cat is still glowing and i am getting a po301 and a po125.

If anyone could give me some insight on what to do i would really appreciate it.

i'm trying to avoid going to a mechanic because i'm 21 and supporting myself. also, the cash flow is not as nice as i wish it was (Doesn't everybody?)

Ive Changed the Following Since I Bought the Car In August:

Spark Plugs, O2 Sensor (After), Oil & Filter(5w30 Mobil 1 Synthetic), Installed Magnaflow High Flow Cat

I Have Extensively searched the forum and have not been able to find anything like my situation. i think my next step would to replace the coils & plugs (Checked the wires already, they are fine) - i also spoke with a friend who is a mechanic, he is blaming the o2 sensor before the cat.


Anyone ever experience anything like this?

 

well if your cat is glowing, that means its obviously bad, its clogged up somewhere. try installing a full on straight pipe. Misfires can also lead to a bad cat making the problem even worse and vise versa (bad cat can cause misfires too). also looks like youre having misfires, and since you say your plugs are brand new maybe you should install new ignition coils and spark plug wires. easy DIY. doesnt seem like your o2 sensor, a CEL code wouldve appeared for that indicating its bad. as far as your p0125 code i have no insight for you, maybe another forum member can chime in for you

heres the thread with all CEL codes
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/rx-8-technical-info-cel-codes-pcm-pin-list-collision-guide-26291/

and heres a DIY for changing out the coils, simple stuff
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-mazda-ignition-coils-pics-178515/

 

any suggestions on a midpipe and a o2 eliminator? and how would i have a bad catalytic converter if it's brand new? lol... sounds like $600 in the trash =[

 

i dont know of any o2 eliminator, look in you local FS section for a used midpipe, your always gonna have a CEL with it but at least you know its not holding your car back from the power its supposed to make.

you might wanna check your cat, cus just like a stock cat if its clogged its gonna glow. i dont know how sufficient magnaflow is with the rotary engine, you might wanna do research on your cat too.

 

Thanks, I'll Do some Research To Locate A Midpipe And An 02 Simulator,

Anyone else Have Any suggestions?

 

No one has really had any success with 02 sim.

There's a good possibility that you've already clogged or destroyed you cat already. I don't know the specs of the magnaflow cats or if they capable of handling the heat of a rotary.

Code: -P0125
Insufficiant Coolant Temperature for Closed Loop Fuel Control.

Try cleaning your maf sensor. If dirty it can cause misfires as well.

That's all i have to add to dozer's advice.

 

where are you located at? try getting some locals to help you figure out whats going on with your ride

 

O2 sims are a 50/50 but you can find them on ebay, ive purchased one from here

I dont think electronic O2 sims work for our cars... something about a test signal or something.

the only thing that can mask the cel is the cobb ap.

Theres always Agency Power midpipes on the FS section but they are like 230 new.

 

I'm in ohio, and no one can help me with my wife's problems






I can't help it.

 

zinnggggggg

 

wheres the like button at!!!!!!!!!!!ahahhahahah

 

 

i live in ny on long island. i contacted the seller of my cat to see if we can Come to some resolution on this issue. ive only ran the car twice since i got the cat on and no longer than 10 mins (just until car warmed up). im thinking i got a defective part...

 

Yeah, regardless of who makes it, that little of time shouldn't kill it. Hopefully they can work with you and get you something to replace it.

 

yeah you might wanna look into that part, i dont think ive seen anyone on here with magnaflow hi flow cat. either defective part or poor design for the rotary engine.

 

Doesnt look like anyone else has said anything yet, but A: WHY THE HELL ARE YOU USING 5W30? AND B: WHY IS IT SYNTHETIC?

Im still relatively new to all of this stuff myself; but one thing I have learned is that you should stick with conventional oil, and the recommended viscosity.

Maybe your bad oil is not burning off and is clogging the cat?

Get that bad oil out of there ASAP, all 7 litres of it with a full tip side to side change (enough oil to empty and refill the oil coolers), and then possibly decarb (seafoam) your engine as you might have put some undue wear on your internals?

I am probably reading too far into this, but it cant hurt.

 

i highly doubt it's the oil but i'll take a look into it. i used what my mechanic suggested a few months ago. i'm planning on changing the oil shortly anyway. i was planning to get royal purple oil.

ill keep you guys updated on my progress. thanks for the input i appreciate it

 

Go to a new mechanic. seriously first thing is to get rid of the synthetic oil. dont run the motor again untill you have done so.

 

Get that SynJunk out of there. As we all know, synthetic is designed not to break down or burn up, and rotaries require that the oil burns up in the combustion cycle.
Dont waste your money on royal purple or any other fancy oil. Convention oil works fine, as you should be changing your oil every 3-5k miles anyway.

 

What weight ? i was planning on changing the oil after repairing this issue first. the synthetic oil has only been in there for about 800 miles. so as soon as i resolve the other issue i will change it. i cleaned the MAF already (It wasn't very dirty). i'm assuming i should do the coils next (and Plugs).

I know nothing about these cars yet, i want to learn, i had camaros and firebirds before this so it's like im relearning everything again.

Also My Stock wires Are fine, would you still suggest changing them?

 

nah, theres PLENTY of people running synthetic. after my first oil change i went 5-30 and been running the same oil for 4+ years now, and its never clogged my cat nor has it giving me misfires.

yes, next thing i recommend is doing your coils.

 

a cat can glow and not be bad, if it keeps on glowing because there is a problem that does get fixed then it may eventually go bad

also, I have run 20W50 for years, please stfu with that clueless noob crap

 

link please at to where you are getting this information from. i dont use synthetic but i do run 5w30 all the time, i understand that the owners manual says 5w20 non synthetic, but there are plenty of people running different wieghts synthentic and non synthetic, and i dont think anyone who has their engine blown has had any issue as with mazda testing for what kind of oil was used. if mazda refused a bad engine it was only because the owner decided to spill the beans about using a different weight.

 

Ignition Issues Would Cause The Cat To Also Glow Because It's Putting To Much Stress On It To Burn The Excess Fuel That It Could Not Burn (Caused By The Misfire) Correct?

I'm Going To Change My Oil This Weekend And Hopefully Get the Coils And Plugs.

Are The Coils From Advanced Autoparts / Autozone Okay?

By The Way, I Really Appreciate Everyones Help In Diagnosing My Sickly Rx-8

 

contact nycgps, he may be able to help you.
Don't listen to the idiots yelling at you for your oil choice. It's actually better than theirs.