New '04 RX-8 owner, have some Q's
11-17-2014, 03:33 AM
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New '04 RX-8 owner, have some Q's
First off, im not new to rotaries. I have owned 3 FB RX-7's; an 83 GS, an 84 GSL-SE, and an 85 GSL-SE; all 5 speed manuals.
My new (to me) 6MT RX-8 has a few issues i am currently resolving; heater control goes bonkers (0-16 fluctuates and only goes over 0 after warm up; resoldering tomorrow), heater core needs flushed (only blows warm air at best), maintenance unknown at 117k miles but previous owner installed an oil catch can (no oil in it) and unknown exhaust. He also had FB and FC RX-7's and knew all about rotary maintenance/quirks; it runs well and pulls hard. He had maintenance logs in a notebook as well as notes, spare bottle of oil and rags in the trunk, and noted the exact fuel and gas stations he bought fuel from (93 or 94 octane only).
Ignition system is due for replacement (BHR on the way) has the occasional flashing CEL (misfire) and steady CEL (have codes pulled), and there is a relentless, audible clicking sometimes when i go over bumps from the lower passenger side keyless entry system module that sounds like a bad relay. 2 connectors are unplugged, yet remote trunk and panic button on key fob still works; not a huge concern to me; every car i've owned i rarely used the keyless entry anyways.
Anyways.
I have about 2 weeks to figure everything out and fix it, have searched, read, downloaded and readied myself for the work, but 2 questions still nag me.
I don't know for sure if its a Sport, Touring, or Grand Touring, and i don't know if the motor has been replaced (can i call Mazda with the VIN and will they just tell me?). Compression is excellent per some rotary friends/fiends i know, so i suspect a replacement motor. Everything else is just little things that need fixed. Im pretty mechanically inclined, and am more than capable of doing it all myself.
As for the Sport/Touring/Grand Touring, the car has the following...
HID projector auto levelling headlights
cloth/alcantara seats
aero package (front lip, side skirts, rear bumper add-ons, factory spoiler)
6 disk bose cd changer
fog lights
manual seats
DSC/traction control button
but has no side window defrosters, heated seats, or leather (which is perfect; less electronics and less gizmos to go bad, and i despise leather anyways). I was told it is a Grand Touring model, but suspect its a Touring model based on the moonroof, DSC, and cloth seats.
Anyways, LOVE the car; drives rides and handles like a mature version of my 13B FB's; even smells the same. Other than fixing whats wrong and maintenance, i probably wont do much besides a lightweight flywheel when the clutch goes, and Mazdaspeed or AEM intake, and might go back to stock exhaust (car came with stock muffler) due to the drone/noise.
Thanks for the input! Figure i finish the intro with some pics!
My new (to me) 6MT RX-8 has a few issues i am currently resolving; heater control goes bonkers (0-16 fluctuates and only goes over 0 after warm up; resoldering tomorrow), heater core needs flushed (only blows warm air at best), maintenance unknown at 117k miles but previous owner installed an oil catch can (no oil in it) and unknown exhaust. He also had FB and FC RX-7's and knew all about rotary maintenance/quirks; it runs well and pulls hard. He had maintenance logs in a notebook as well as notes, spare bottle of oil and rags in the trunk, and noted the exact fuel and gas stations he bought fuel from (93 or 94 octane only).
Ignition system is due for replacement (BHR on the way) has the occasional flashing CEL (misfire) and steady CEL (have codes pulled), and there is a relentless, audible clicking sometimes when i go over bumps from the lower passenger side keyless entry system module that sounds like a bad relay. 2 connectors are unplugged, yet remote trunk and panic button on key fob still works; not a huge concern to me; every car i've owned i rarely used the keyless entry anyways.
Anyways.
I have about 2 weeks to figure everything out and fix it, have searched, read, downloaded and readied myself for the work, but 2 questions still nag me.
I don't know for sure if its a Sport, Touring, or Grand Touring, and i don't know if the motor has been replaced (can i call Mazda with the VIN and will they just tell me?). Compression is excellent per some rotary friends/fiends i know, so i suspect a replacement motor. Everything else is just little things that need fixed. Im pretty mechanically inclined, and am more than capable of doing it all myself.
As for the Sport/Touring/Grand Touring, the car has the following...
HID projector auto levelling headlights
cloth/alcantara seats
aero package (front lip, side skirts, rear bumper add-ons, factory spoiler)
6 disk bose cd changer
fog lights
manual seats
DSC/traction control button
but has no side window defrosters, heated seats, or leather (which is perfect; less electronics and less gizmos to go bad, and i despise leather anyways). I was told it is a Grand Touring model, but suspect its a Touring model based on the moonroof, DSC, and cloth seats.
Anyways, LOVE the car; drives rides and handles like a mature version of my 13B FB's; even smells the same. Other than fixing whats wrong and maintenance, i probably wont do much besides a lightweight flywheel when the clutch goes, and Mazdaspeed or AEM intake, and might go back to stock exhaust (car came with stock muffler) due to the drone/noise.
Thanks for the input! Figure i finish the intro with some pics!
11-17-2014, 06:35 AM
#2
Welcome!
Mazda can definitely tell you if the engine has been replaced via the VIN. They should also be able to tell you the trim levels. The seats you describe are not like any I have seen in an 04 thought. And, for an 04, check out the congrats thread in my signature. And, again, welcome.
Mazda can definitely tell you if the engine has been replaced via the VIN. They should also be able to tell you the trim levels. The seats you describe are not like any I have seen in an 04 thought. And, for an 04, check out the congrats thread in my signature. And, again, welcome.
11-23-2014, 08:19 PM
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Welcome!
Mazda can definitely tell you if the engine has been replaced via the VIN. They should also be able to tell you the trim levels. The seats you describe are not like any I have seen in an 04 thought. And, for an 04, check out the congrats thread in my signature. And, again, welcome.
Mazda can definitely tell you if the engine has been replaced via the VIN. They should also be able to tell you the trim levels. The seats you describe are not like any I have seen in an 04 thought. And, for an 04, check out the congrats thread in my signature. And, again, welcome.
so will call about motor swap/mileage and misc q's tomm.So far i have resoldered the heater control PCB which fixed the 0-16 heater dial issues, cleaned/flushed the heater core with Krud Kutter (aluminum safe/radiator system safe according to label), so i have decent heat again (full flush/cleaning coming in spring). Disconnected overflow tank sensor to get rid of the coolant light (not low, sensor is shot), fixed the keyless entry system (bad door ajar sensor), cleaned/checked gap on spark plugs, and ordering BHR ignition system asap. Still need to pull CEL codes; hoping cat is still good! lots of backfiring. Also removing generic eBay oil catch can (nothing in it; not even mist/residue), wet sanding/clear coating the yellow headlights, and thats about it.
HUGE thanks for all the tech info; really helped me nail issues down and fix pretty much everything!
11-23-2014, 10:41 PM
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Coming from someone who has had alot of rx7's and still have 2 you will quickly learn that these are two completely different cars.
I've learned a great deal from the members on here and continue to learn something new about the 8 everyday.
Note: The only thing the two cars have in common is they both have apex seals and you should use NGK plugs. Lol
Posted From RX8Club.com Android App
I've learned a great deal from the members on here and continue to learn something new about the 8 everyday.
Note: The only thing the two cars have in common is they both have apex seals and you should use NGK plugs. Lol
Posted From RX8Club.com Android App
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