what a bad spark plug looks like!
#1
what a bad spark plug looks like!
So, i just bought my 8 with 76,000 miles on it. And i took my car to the Mazda dealer for all the recall check up. They told me the small idle problem with car that requires changing the spark plugs, coils and wires. I told me it will cost about $300 for them to do it, so i said no thanks. I went online bought all the parts i need it with unbeatable price and did the whole thing myself yesterday. Here are some pics of the old spark plugs and coils.
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07761.jpg)
i just bought the car 2 weeks ago, and i don't know if the last owner ever chang the damn thing, it looks pretty bad to me.
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07760.jpg)
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07759.jpg)
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07758.jpg)
the coils didn't turn out too bad.
After i've changed all the parts, i went on a test drive and experienced no change. The idle is still there(only noticable when car is moving). So, i question if for it is normal for all the rx-8 owners with about 76,000 miles on their car. Also, i've heard the recall on the starter and battery? is it true?. My car doesn't start up right away. it has like a second or two delay.
any thoughts?
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07761.jpg)
i just bought the car 2 weeks ago, and i don't know if the last owner ever chang the damn thing, it looks pretty bad to me.
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07760.jpg)
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07759.jpg)
![](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/jdmmugenek9/DSC07758.jpg)
the coils didn't turn out too bad.
After i've changed all the parts, i went on a test drive and experienced no change. The idle is still there(only noticable when car is moving). So, i question if for it is normal for all the rx-8 owners with about 76,000 miles on their car. Also, i've heard the recall on the starter and battery? is it true?. My car doesn't start up right away. it has like a second or two delay.
![Uhh](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/uhh.gif)
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jamezmazda (04-14-2020)
#8
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
im shock that ur car actually runs with only "little" idle problem.
Coils ~ Cant really tell by those white spot. cuz I had gone thru 4 sets of Coils in 45 K miles. 3 of them has "almost the same" kind of spot. but judging the way those plugs look, Im pretty sure the last owner never really cared about the car's maintenance.
Coils ~ Cant really tell by those white spot. cuz I had gone thru 4 sets of Coils in 45 K miles. 3 of them has "almost the same" kind of spot. but judging the way those plugs look, Im pretty sure the last owner never really cared about the car's maintenance.
#9
im shock that ur car actually runs with only "little" idle problem.
Coils ~ Cant really tell by those white spot. cuz I had gone thru 4 sets of Coils in 45 K miles. 3 of them has "almost the same" kind of spot. but judging the way those plugs look, Im pretty sure the last owner never really cared about the car's maintenance.
Coils ~ Cant really tell by those white spot. cuz I had gone thru 4 sets of Coils in 45 K miles. 3 of them has "almost the same" kind of spot. but judging the way those plugs look, Im pretty sure the last owner never really cared about the car's maintenance.
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#10
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holy ****...that's bad. coils look like they got a little hot. i don't believe those are factory plugs...mine looked different.
#12
Lubricious
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Aside from the ground electrodes being half-eaten, the plugs seem to actually have been firing ok -- the center insulators are a nice tan color.
Definitely past due for replacement though. These must be original plugs from a 2004 or early 2005?
You did get separate leading and trailing plugs for replacement?
Definitely past due for replacement though. These must be original plugs from a 2004 or early 2005?
You did get separate leading and trailing plugs for replacement?
#13
Aside from the ground electrodes being half-eaten, the plugs seem to actually have been firing ok -- the center insulators are a nice tan color.
Definitely past due for replacement though. These must be original plugs from a 2004 or early 2005?
You did get separate leading and trailing plugs for replacement?
Definitely past due for replacement though. These must be original plugs from a 2004 or early 2005?
You did get separate leading and trailing plugs for replacement?
#14
Lubricious
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Then feast your eyes on these
http://www.classic-car-magazine.co.u...ide_chart.html
Aside from wear, the OP's plugs might show a bit of glazing but it's hard to tell. In any case, 76,000 miles puts to rest the notion that this car necessarily "eats plugs".
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
http://www.classic-car-magazine.co.u...ide_chart.html
Aside from wear, the OP's plugs might show a bit of glazing but it's hard to tell. In any case, 76,000 miles puts to rest the notion that this car necessarily "eats plugs".
#15
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
Then feast your eyes on these
http://www.classic-car-magazine.co.u...ide_chart.html
Aside from wear, the OP's plugs might show a bit of glazing but it's hard to tell. In any case, 76,000 miles puts to rest the notion that this car necessarily "eats plugs".
![Smilie](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
http://www.classic-car-magazine.co.u...ide_chart.html
Aside from wear, the OP's plugs might show a bit of glazing but it's hard to tell. In any case, 76,000 miles puts to rest the notion that this car necessarily "eats plugs".
for some reason, I always find that Mechanical Damage one pretty funny.
#16
White is purdy...
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How often is everyone changing their plugs, anyway? Mine are stock, and have 23k miles. I changed out the coils and that made a decent performance difference, but haven't changed the plugs and wires yet. I'm thinking around 30k or next spring, whichever comes first..
#17
Metatron
iTrader: (1)
Don't forget to dab a little anti-seize compound on the threads - you're lucky those even came out of the holes! Looks like the threads were just about ready to rust in there, longterm.
I changed at 20k - two insulators were cracked, changed again at 50k - one of the trailing plugs was snapped off at the metal/porcelain joint. I'd have to recommend no longer than 20k as a schedule.......
S
I changed at 20k - two insulators were cracked, changed again at 50k - one of the trailing plugs was snapped off at the metal/porcelain joint. I'd have to recommend no longer than 20k as a schedule.......
S
#18
White is purdy...
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Wow, they're that prone to failure? Guess I should do it before winter hits. They're so hard to get to though, especially since I have large arms and hands. Oh well. Thanks.
#19
Vtak just kicked in yo!!
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Mine has a bad idle also, im an 04 with 72K. Ive ALWAYS had a less-than-smooth idle. Even after replacing coils, plugs, and wires. And it only got worse with intake screen removals and a typhoon intake.
If your truly worried about it, run a compression test but with a 1.3 liter, the idle isnt going to be V8 smooth.
Also, keep the fan off, thatll help with idle; my idle drops to 700 when I turn the AC on, then itll bump back to normal, then dip, then bump back to normal.
After a blip of the throttle to 6K, the idle will go down to a rough 700 for a split second than smooth itself out again at 800-900.
Its done this since day #1 at 19,000 miles and its still okay now at 72,000 so I wouldnt worry about it.
If your truly worried about it, run a compression test but with a 1.3 liter, the idle isnt going to be V8 smooth.
Also, keep the fan off, thatll help with idle; my idle drops to 700 when I turn the AC on, then itll bump back to normal, then dip, then bump back to normal.
After a blip of the throttle to 6K, the idle will go down to a rough 700 for a split second than smooth itself out again at 800-900.
Its done this since day #1 at 19,000 miles and its still okay now at 72,000 so I wouldnt worry about it.
#21
Lubricious
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And on a rotary, each plug experiences a combustion event once per RPM while on a piston engine it is once every other RPM. Combine that with a 9,000 rpm redline and that's a hostile work environment for RX-8 plugs!
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