What have you done to your RX-8 today????

[johnbb99]

ESS = Eccentric Shaft Sensor
This sits at the front of the engine and has a magnet that senses a toothed wheel behind the main drive pulley.

ESS.jpg

This is how the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) measures engine revs and also the "evenness" of power pulses, by which it judges misfires and flashes the EML (Engine Management Light).

Being a magnet it can attract metallic debris, which then plays havoc with the signal to the PCM.

[Rotary Potato]

Dave, does this power the rev counter and rpm reading on the OBD port?

So if the rev counter rises to 250rpm-ish while cranking and the OBD logger gives a sensible reading while cranking, then the ESS is fine?

Or is it still worth checking even if those are looking normal?

[johnbb99]

Thanks Dave, very clear and useful information.

[warpc0il]

Loose debris on the ESS can cause sporadic inputs to the PCM. This may or may not affect it's ability to measure rpm, as it's the absolute detection that is used to trigger the ignition and injection timing that's much more critical.

The PCM performs some pre-flight checks on the ESS sensor and wiring, that will trigger a solid EML and prevent starting/running, if they fail, but it can't detect all sensor issues, including external debris.

[PeteH]

Dave, does this power the rev counter and rpm reading....
So if the rev counter rises to 250rpm-ish while cranking.....the ESS is fine?

Ah, we were typing at the same time. This was my answer. Yes, the PCM uses this for the rpm. But it does much more than that. The trigger wheel has a particular tooth profile, with gaps and solid bits. The PCM uses this pattern to establish exactly where the engine is in its cycle, so that it can time all the injectors and coils. That's why the ESS magnet has to be very clean. A false signal can cause the spark and injection to be significantly wrong (remember that these need to be perfect to within a degree or two).

[Rotary Potato]

Thanks gents.

So basically check it anyway.

[Twistedmonkey]

Had great day at japfest

Saw loads of nice 8 and had a good time on track overtaking a lot of faster cars


























Good to meet some fellow rx8 owners aswell


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[Dove66]

An RX8: powered by voodoo and magic triangles.

(With slight edits)
Love it!
Maybe the Club should have some decals/ stickers made up showing this.

Very good. A sticker like the owners club sticker would be good.

[Humane-Hobgoblin]

I thought P**N wasn’t allowed in this forum?!

Regarding the JapFest pics


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[Rotary Potato]

So ... took off the inlet trunking. There was some oil in there, but nowhere near as bad as when it threw a side seal.

Cleaned it all up - noticed the MAF was very loose and had been bodge fitted with a couple of cut down screws during the rebuild. Rummaged through my pit of odds and sods and found two (mismatched! ) that fitted nice and tightly.

Put it all back together and hooked it up to the Mondeo (just for some extra help cranking). After about 4-5 bursts of cranking for 10 seconds or so it spluttered into life. It was definitely not too happy idling, but didn't cut out. After letting it warm up I drove it onto the driveway (about 30 feet) which it did fine. I then revved it a few times and it pulled cleanly to 9k (in neutral - so not under load). It then idled pretty low (about 750rpm) and didn't sound too happy, but again didn't die.

[David H]

I panicked after my first ever oil burp today. A little too fast around a very tight bend. Embarrassing clouds of smoke and loss of power.

But all seems well now.

[Dazza44]

U still not got to the bottom of the issue you was having huw ?

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[Rotary Potato]

U still not got to the bottom of the issue you was having huw ?

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I just left it a few days as I was nobbed off and had lots of jobs to do. After sweating in the garden for most of the day today, decided to have a quick look.

I'm happy it fires up and revs cleanly, so the next step is a proper drive to see how it reacts. Probably be next weekend now.

[13Black]

For future reference that will soon get swallowed up and lost in this thread:

MAF self tapping screws are prone to being over tightened and stripping the plastic out.

If such a thing happens, I find that an 8-Gauge self tapping screw to be the right step up to grab onto some fresh material. Easy to remember: RX-8 MAF ... #8 screw.
About 10-12mm length will be what you want. In metric money it's about 4.2mm diameter.

[obakemono]

Changed both engine mounts and added a sohn adapter while i was there.

[untakenname]

Spent most the day working in the sun, fitted a HKS exhaust and thought it was a shame that you can't see it when fitted....

IMG_20180507_161404.jpg

[untakenname]

Took a pic this morning as it was dark by the time I finished yesterday, pretty pleased with the result as was unsure if it would be visible but it is very much so (sunlight hit the exhaust just I was walking away and had to look away due to the glare).

IMG_20180508_074636.jpg

Noticed I've refitted the numberplate lights incorrectly
In progress pic of fitting the mesh.

IMG_20180507_170145 (1).jpg

[warpc0il]

Opening up that rear mock-grill helps with the visual effect when you've go a nice shiny exhaust behind, but I've no idea what it does for the aero.

I suspect that you might get a lot more road muck drawn to the back of the car though aero impacts can be quite complicated and the result may be positive.

[Eddie_r32]

Opening up that rear mock-grill helps with the visual effect when you've go a nice shiny exhaust behind, but I've no idea what it does for the aero.

I suspect that you might get a lot more road muck drawn to the back of the car though aero impacts can be quite complicated and the result may be positive.

I would say it will be a positive thing, Will reduce the (if any) parachute effect that back bumpers can have. I have done it on mine and you do get a but more dirt on the bumper above the vents. I wouldn't be surprised if they were originally designed to be open, why else make a fake grill?

[warpc0il]

The fact that they are a fake grill is what made we wonder if there may be negative impacts to opening up.

Imagine that the original design had a real open grill and (for some reason) it was decided that wasn't going forward into production and was replaced with a fake moulding.

The reason(s) could include;
- aero
- cost
- crash protection
- visual (with a non-shiny exhaust)
- noise (wind or exhaust)
- something totally different...

The actual open grill on the front, directly below the original numberplate, had to be blanked-off after pre-production testing showed that it created too much wind chill in the engine bay and contributed to condensation in the engine breather and a higher temperature gradient between the hot and cold sides of the engine block. I find this interesting as many people get paranoid about "excess heat" in the rotary engine bay - which relates to RX7 turbo installations and has no bearing on a standard Renesis.

[Juey]

6 Monthly, 3000 mile oil change done with Pela pump - 4 litres out, 4 litres in. 15 minute job.
I thought these cars were supposed to be high maintenance? All done until Oct/Nov.

[xwing]

Finally got round to fitting the d585 coils and new spark plugs yesterday.
Also cleaned the throttle body and MAF sensor as it it looked like I may have had an little oil burp!.
As you can see by the old coils and plugs this job needed doing. The plugs had done about 21000miles the coils not sure.
Car seemed to run fine before, but now just seems that bit better and smoother.

Also a little question, I have a K&N air filter how often do they need cleaning, how many miles or months. I have ordered a cleaning kit for this and will do it when it arrives, but would be nice to know for future services.

[kopite72]

6 Monthly, 3000 mile oil change done with Pela pump - 4 litres out, 4 litres in. 15 minute job.
I thought these cars were supposed to be high maintenance? All done until Oct/Nov.

Try doing that on an R3!! Oil out no problem,replacing filter not so much

[ChrisHolmes]

Finally got round to fitting the d585 coils and new spark plugs yesterday.
Also cleaned the throttle body and MAF sensor as it it looked like I may have had an little oil burp!.
As you can see by the old coils and plugs this job needed doing. The plugs had done about 21000miles the coils not sure.
Car seemed to run fine before, but now just seems that bit better and smoother.

Also a little question, I have a K&N air filter how often do they need cleaning, how many miles or months. I have ordered a cleaning kit for this and will do it when it arrives, but would be nice to know for future services.

Wow! They all look well goosed. Definitely a bin job!

[New Duke]

Also a little question, I have a K&N air filter how often do they need cleaning, how many miles or months. I have ordered a cleaning kit for this and will do it when it arrives, but would be nice to know for future services.

Assuming you mean the K&N Typhoon intake? Or are the panel filters they do washable too? Don't admit to having a Typhoon around here... they'll burn you as a witch.

If it is the Typhoon; K&N say to clean it every 50,000 miles. I'm doing mine once a year. On close inspection you'll see if it's full of crud and needs a wash. It's quite a satisfying task anyway.

Saw the other day that you went for the 10 inch Pumpkin. I have the 7inch but might get another at some point. Do you find the 10 inch too big for the space (like covering the air vents, buttons) or does it feel fine there?