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Hello, i'm new to these forums, just bought myself an 04 rx8 with the 6 speed, and hope to make the most i can of these forums!
The beast has 80xxx miles on it, and "supposedly" has a brand new crate motor dropped in it just this past winter. Unfortunately, i only got to drive it for about an hour before a ginormous cloud of white smoke appeared in the rear view mirror (honestly, i bet the neighbors house still smells like gas), and a misfire code popped up. ran through the usual steps, lots of gas getting to the engine, good spark, so i broke out the compression tester, and found the #1 rotor only has compression on 1 face, and the #2 rotor has no compression at all.
I'm not sure if the engine is just old, or if the new engine was just a bad rebuild, but i am finding out the hard way that these cars aren't very cheap! haha
Anyways, i just thought i'd introduce myself, as i plan to be digging through these here forums, and i'm sure i'll have some questions that someone can, or already has answered!
Welcome! It looks like you've already gotten to know the car.
If it really is a newer engine and a coolant seal is all that's failed you could be able to get it rebuilt at minimal cost. If it was a bad engine you would have to pay for it anyway :P
Welcome. But yeah, if parts are new, rebuild is cheaper. I think they reused one plug wire on mine. I may have let it go a little long. I suggest getting it someplace to check. tell people where you are, they maybe able to recommend a shop.
Just got around to pulling the engine out, everything came apart really easily, the hardest part was that stupid AC compressor always getting in the way haha. With how easily everything came apart, (those oil cooler lines shouldn't have came apart that easy with how rusty they looked) i'm sure that the motor was just dropped in last winter -- just like i was told when i bought it, so hopefully there's some nice reusable parts in it. it's got a nice stiff 2 stage clutch, and a lightweight flywheel.
I might be getting ahead of myself here, but the guy i bought it from installed headers, and put a really nice full exhaust on it, all stainless, but it would only go about 3 days before throwing a CEL for emissions because it no longer has a CAT, Then you would clear the code and be good for another 3 days. I was wondering if there was any clever way to trick the computer into thinking its fine.
Anyways, I live in Western Michigan, about an hour north of Grand Rapids. To anyone who knows where that is: Is there any good places to take my wankel to get her rebuilt and up and running before the summers out? Even if its out of state, I won't mind a road trip
You would know if it was a Mazda Reman, it would have a blue & silver tag on it with the manufacture date and part number. Which should be under warranty if it was purchased less than a year ago.
With your compression numbers, it is not coolant seals. Sounds like you spun the bearings, which we see a lot of. Spun bearing engines cost more to rebuild then just buying a Reman.
Last edited by Banzai-Racing; 06-03-2015 at 06:33 AM.
Question about these Mazda reman engines...so they are refurbished oem engines that were once broken? Or are they brand new unused made buy an aftermarket supplier? If you were to get a new engine from a Mazda dealer this is what they would send them? Who makes them and were do these engines come from? Also how much is it to buy one?
Thanks for the replys
Last edited by CptnPicard; 06-03-2015 at 09:12 PM.
There is no such thing as an all new engine from Mazda, they are all remanufactured. The engines were not necessarily broken, the dealers are know to replace engines for a variety of reasons. They typically come with new rotor housings. Call your local Mazda dealer, since import duties and brokerage fees from the US will be costly.
I take it that when Mazda dealers drops one into an 8 they come with a decent warranty? I don't need one and hope I never do but it's good to know...thanks! Knock on wood
FWIW, I just had mine rebuilt. I had extensive housing and rotor damage. The solution was to buy a reman, take both engines apart, use the reman as a parts kit, and build from the best of both. Return the pieces for the core when done.
The remain, as it looked in the crate, was disappointing. The housings looked nice, the bolts were dirty and greasy. It was a mixture of old and new parts. Just like the Banzi picture. I would have thought parts would have at lease been cleaned.
So i found a junkyard with a spare renny with low compression that they are willing to part with for $950, Would it be worth it to grab it now and use it for spare parts when i go to get it rebuilt, or should i just wait and see what the real damage is before i go spending money on a spare engine.
I know it's hard to know how bad the damage really is until someone tears it down, but here's what i got:
1) The engine did in fact overheat after it failed. (I was an idiot and kept driving it even after a ginormous cloud of white smoke was spotted in my rear view mirror)
2) No compression on 2 faces of #1 rotor, and no compression on any face of #2 rotor.
3) Plugs and rotors are Jet Black.
4) 5-6 oz of oil came out from the spark plug hole when i rolled it over by hand.
The reason i ask is because these engines are few and far between, and if i don't get it soon, someone else probably will haha
05-27-2015, 02:56 AM
New Guy, Signing in!
