mryoshi

Hello everyone

I just got my first RX-8 2005 36,000 miles.

It has a couple issues I didnt notice presale unfortuneatly...
Can you guys recomend a good HONEST place to get work done. I dont have a lot of money so cant afford to just try and pray.
I took it to Galpin Mazda for oil change and to have them check everything over and I could swear that before taking it in I felt nothing and after it all of a sudden has a shudder over 70mph and brake pulse... They said I need rear brakes which are at about 3mm. I can do brakes myself.. but I really would like to find a place that works on rx-8 s around me that I can trust.

It also has a slightly rough idle. It doesnt feel like it gonna stall or anything but not buttery smooth either.
Is this "normal" as Galpin told me or is there possibly a problem with the engine?
Doing research I have found the recall listed for my car on the engine and it doesnt have the campaign sticker on it so I am guessing it wasnt done. When Galpin saw it they did do a recall that flashed the PCM but that is all they did.

Thanks
Yoshi

dozer

iTrader: (3)

look here, first page has rotary tuner shops all around socal...hope fully this can help

https://www.rx8club.com/west-rx-8-forum-34/socal-lounge-139025/

mryoshi

Good reference thanks.
Unfortuneatly all are fairly far from my house and with hours I have to work gonna be tricky but oh well. Good to know who is trusted

Does anyone else have idle issues or am I being picky about small things?
I dont have any other 8s to drive as comparison so I dont know how mine fairs power wise to another known good one.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

idle issues?

have you changed your spark plugs/ ignition coils?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I know it might be a bit of a drive but I hightly recommend NeptuneSpeed in Huntington Beach. The owner Yoshiya is awesome.

Idle issue? Can you give us a little more details?
The shudder @ 70 mph sounds like a bad motor mount. There's a service bulletin for that...
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...21-06-1559.pdf

mryoshi

Like I said it was exhibiting no weird behavior before I took it to Galpin...
it feels more like a wheel out of balance it actually gets a little smoother once you get past 85... It not severe by any means I am just a very picky person.

As far as the idle. when it sits at about 900-1000rpm its really smooth. after its good and warm at idle in neutral. the idle will drop to what looks like 700 or so and you can feel it in the car. again not sever just annoying, as I think it should idle silky smooth all the time.
I saw that TSB recall on 04-05's that actually calls for engine replacement. Mine is in the effected VIN range. I'll look up the PCM reflash they did when I get off work tonight and post the designation of it.
No I have not changed plugs or coils.
Is why I wanted it checked out. to see if anything was wrong that needed to be addressed. Wife is already pissed that my "new" car is needing work already...
According to the window sticker it called for oil to be changed at 39,000 (has 36,700 currently) but the date it listed was August. So it had sat for a while before selling is why I went ahead and changed the oil anyway.
I was told it belonged to an older man who decided he wanted something less sporty is why he was selling it.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

register with www.mazdausa.com in the owners section. have your VIN handy and it can tell you if you've got recalls outstanding. (I'm assuming you don't since the dealership would HAVE to perform the recall prior to selling the car)

check your lug nuts to make sure they're on tight.

the idle dipping down could be the A/C system cycling, the PCM should counter it and maintain the rpm. if you feel a shudder, most likely it's a bad motor mount.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

sorry to hear the wife is pissed, but you did get the car used....

guy before probably didnt know wtf to do with it...might wanna look into get new plugs/wires and coils...

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

if you have time, just jack up the front left side of the car, put a jack stand in place, remove wheel and straight ahead are the spark plugs.
Having an extension and a swivel joint makes it easier.

brown is okay
black is bad

dozer

iTrader: (3)

mryoshi

This is the only recall campaign sticker I found on the vehicle. 3305G
http://www.mazdaforum.com/recalls-an...108/Recall.htm

This is the recal that I saw that made me wonder if it could possibly be this issue.
http://www.coremazda.com/tsb/rx8/rx8...res-recall.pdf

Although as I have no comparison, I dont think has sever lack of power. It doesnt feel as fast as I think it should be.... but hard to say. say compared to my friends 07 350z its not nearly as fast acceleration wise, but it is down about 60 hp and a lot of torque on him.

I am getting about 15mpg no matter if I drive nice or naughty as well.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

if you had sever lack of power, belive me it would be super noticable. Some of those guy who lose most of their compression literally have to MASH the pedal in 2nd and the car struggls to get up to speed.

don't worry about the recall campaign stickers, dealerships are lousy about putting them on the car. Mine got the recall done, no sticker.

forget the hp difference between us and the Z, it's the lack of TORQUE that does us in. I've lovingly referred to my car as the torque-less wonder.

if youre fuel mileage is that bad, throw a bottle of Lucas fuel injector in the gas tank, and check those spark plugs. If the car was owned by an older gentleman, it's likely he did not drive the card very hard. The rotary can build up carbon deposits if it's not driven to redline often.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

a redline a day keeps the carbon away.

how ironic, we come up with sayings like that to reminds us of engine failure, but at the same time, its good for our car...so nice to know, that if we drive the **** outta our engine, it seems to last longer...

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

Galpin sucks. It wouldn't surprise me if one of the wheels was not on straight. They're that bad.

My car is at JRX rotary right now getting worked on. I'm in West LA and its a little far, but the owner, Juni, starts late and works late so the time issue isn't a problem. He has a ton of rotary experience and a bunch of cool project cars, but I'll let you know how it goes.

btw Galpin sucks

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I hear Galpin Sucks.

mryoshi

My VIN is not in the effected range on the recall. about 2000 on the plus side manufatured in 06/2005
But I did just do the 3rd gear 3000rpm test and it definately had a hesitation.

I'm gonna go ahead and change plugs this weekend.
I wonder if it does have cracked engine mount if mazda would warranty anyway even if my vin is not in the effected range.

Also what have you guys heard about Star Mazda in Glendale? Since any warranty issue need a mazda dealer to perform...

TrochoidMagic

mr yoshi,

i'm taking a wild guess that you maybe japanese, yes?

if you're located around the west L.A. area, go to the local marukai or other supermarket in little tokyo and pick up copy of L.A. auto guide.... that magazine is mainly in japanese/english. there are many shops that may just as well speak your native tongue and ease the issue on trust for you.

hope this helps. and anything around PCM and such would need dealership service.

all other issues can be taken elsewhere for... but if the vibration IS a motor mount, then dealership for part. but other than that, have ur brakes cut and pads installed. have your air intake system looked at, or its maybe the motor mount for the vibration...can't tell yet...

happy holidays

gregs

iTrader: (7)

You have tri point eng that's near you if the shudder is only felt while braking theres a good chance your brake rotors are warped

mryoshi

Im not japanese. Yoshi is a nickname. Goes back a while to when I was doing a show and there were already 3 other Joshs. My EP started calling me Yoshi and it stuck.

I am planning on replacing all the brakes (rotors and pads). Rear rotors are worn with pretty deep grooves and driver front is very slightly warped after close inspection. I like the idea of starting with fresh hardware on 4 corners, prolly have brake fuild flushed and replaced with higher quality too.
Now to find best deal on full brake set... would love to upgrade to nicer rotors but dont have big budget at moment...

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

yoshi: send a PM to Charles R. Hill, he can get you some nice brake stuff.

shadycrew31

iTrader: (6)

hey what up man.. I'm in west la off santa monica and Barrington I can help you out with the basic stuff. let me know..

Ill be back form philly around the 5th.

mryoshi

Is that a shop? Im only a few blocks from there.
I will always welcome advice and help of others. Never ever have too much knowledge in my oppinion.
I am transplant from Bay Area so dont know LA area or many people.

I am pretty good mechanically just dont have all the special tools I bet I will need.
I used to work with motorcycles. Yam/Kaw/Suz/Hon factory trained. I crew chiefed a privateer superbike team for a couple years then ran a dealership in Redwood city. Built all the race boats we sponsored.
Passed all the ASE tests but never went and worked at shop...
I have never worked on a rotary before though. I was more focused on bikes but always helped friends with their cars.

mryoshi

Def inately need to replace plugs. I'll do wires while I am at it.
Gaps were way off, not a one was even close to .090" (my biggest feeler gauge) I am guessing like .15"...


So who can tell me the best place/$ west side that I can go pickup a set of plugs and wires. I really dont want to have to order them.

Cheers
and Merry X-Mas

dozer

iTrader: (3)

go to autozone and get them, NGKs only...then i also think they have some kind warranty, where you can take em in and get a brand new pair every 25k miles or sooo

DynamicDookie

iTrader: (3)

i ordered the oem ngk irridiums from fluid motorsports in the vendor section/$80 shipped