New owner of a 04 Rx8
#1
New owner of a 04 Rx8
Week ago bought my neighbors Rx8. She was the original owner and took pretty good care of the vehicle 3-4K it was at the dealership for some sort of maintenance. After 17 years and a pandemic the vehicle sat for about 4 months outside on the street with a dead battery.
After my old college roommate got a project 03 Jetta to work on I went searching for my own project car. This worked out great because not only was it across the street, the wife was also on board with the car because she liked them as well.
Easter Day after new spark plugs, some fuel treatment ( btw it got buried behind a mountain of snow for about a month), a oil changed, new battery and a deflooding procedure (where I had to cycle out my 19 countryman and 18 Tiguan doing jumping duties) it started!
800 dollars I paid for the car. They were just going to donate it and they were thrilled I offered to buy it. 153k on the engine which was rebuilt around 100k by Mazda under warranty. Car has Definitely seen some battles. During her tenure as “Persephone” the previous owners name it made 2 cross country journeys from Pa to Ca back to Pa. Its missing its front spoiler, under tray and some wheel well stuff. I have renamed it Rex as there is a T-Rex decal on the back eating a stick figure family which makes me laugh every time I see it.
So far over the last week I have been chasing P0661 codes. Which I think I have made progress on. I have replaced the broken fog lights and blown Bose speaker. I glue the Rx8 logos back in the door sills. Got my Mx+ scanner as my vagcom scanner though useful to get me started on troubleshooting was holding me back.
The sound of the engine is incredible and I can’t wait to work on it more.
After my old college roommate got a project 03 Jetta to work on I went searching for my own project car. This worked out great because not only was it across the street, the wife was also on board with the car because she liked them as well.
Easter Day after new spark plugs, some fuel treatment ( btw it got buried behind a mountain of snow for about a month), a oil changed, new battery and a deflooding procedure (where I had to cycle out my 19 countryman and 18 Tiguan doing jumping duties) it started!
800 dollars I paid for the car. They were just going to donate it and they were thrilled I offered to buy it. 153k on the engine which was rebuilt around 100k by Mazda under warranty. Car has Definitely seen some battles. During her tenure as “Persephone” the previous owners name it made 2 cross country journeys from Pa to Ca back to Pa. Its missing its front spoiler, under tray and some wheel well stuff. I have renamed it Rex as there is a T-Rex decal on the back eating a stick figure family which makes me laugh every time I see it.
So far over the last week I have been chasing P0661 codes. Which I think I have made progress on. I have replaced the broken fog lights and blown Bose speaker. I glue the Rx8 logos back in the door sills. Got my Mx+ scanner as my vagcom scanner though useful to get me started on troubleshooting was holding me back.
The sound of the engine is incredible and I can’t wait to work on it more.
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CaymanRotary (04-09-2021)
#2
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iTrader: (1)
Good find!
You're going to want that undertray back before it gets warm, critical part of the cooling system.
P0661: not uncommon, has to do with one of the intake valve solenoids. May as well replace them all while you're back there.
Have a read at rx8help.com for all kinds of important info.
You're going to want that undertray back before it gets warm, critical part of the cooling system.
P0661: not uncommon, has to do with one of the intake valve solenoids. May as well replace them all while you're back there.
Have a read at rx8help.com for all kinds of important info.
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RexRx8 (04-09-2021)
#3
Good find!
You're going to want that undertray back before it gets warm, critical part of the cooling system.
P0661: not uncommon, has to do with one of the intake valve solenoids. May as well replace them all while you're back there.
Have a read at rx8help.com for all kinds of important info.
You're going to want that undertray back before it gets warm, critical part of the cooling system.
P0661: not uncommon, has to do with one of the intake valve solenoids. May as well replace them all while you're back there.
Have a read at rx8help.com for all kinds of important info.
I just had the manifold off and changed them all out so fingers crossed tomorrow when I can play with It the codes will be gone.
id really love to find the front spoiler piece that’s missing but know that’s going to be like winning the lottery....
do have the coolant mod on the way from rx8 performance, a Cai, new remote casing, trim hardware and a new relay. Headlight relay even though it’s working has a hole in it
short term wish list:
-clear side markers
-Get everything under the car plastic wise replaced
-figure out if I really do wanna do some sort of suspension
-Bluetooth mod
-get interior cleaned up
-give cars exterior a really good cleaning
long term:
donor engine rebuilt cleaned and paint waiting to go if needed
Last edited by RexRx8; 04-09-2021 at 08:02 PM.
#4
Registered
To be honest, previous owner was likely a huge enthusiast. It's probably only rough around the edges. Just change those 3 solenoids on the firewall under the UIM. That thing is probably just fine. Get a compression test done to be sure before investing serious money, but for $800 you scored! Looks exactly like mine except for that front bumper.
Do yourself a favor and source a complete GT RX8 front bumper. It looks way better than the sport bumper you have on it now. Its also easier than trying to source the front lip. Can also find them in the same color so you don't have to paint it.
Do yourself a favor and source a complete GT RX8 front bumper. It looks way better than the sport bumper you have on it now. Its also easier than trying to source the front lip. Can also find them in the same color so you don't have to paint it.
Last edited by CaymanRotary; 04-09-2021 at 11:04 PM.
#6
To be honest, previous owner was likely a huge enthusiast. It's probably only rough around the edges. Just change those 3 solenoids on the firewall under the UIM. That thing is probably just fine. Get a compression test done to be sure before investing serious money, but for $800 you scored! Looks exactly like mine except for that front bumper.
Do yourself a favor and source a complete GT RX8 front bumper. It looks way better than the sport bumper you have on it now. Its also easier than trying to source the front lip. Can also find them in the same color so you don't have to paint it.
Do yourself a favor and source a complete GT RX8 front bumper. It looks way better than the sport bumper you have on it now. Its also easier than trying to source the front lip. Can also find them in the same color so you don't have to paint it.
compression check is on the list of things to do for sure. I’m going baby it and it’s not a oh god I need this car to get to work.
I’ll cross reference GT cars and see what I can find. I haven’t done a search yet but I’m assuming that’s going to be all the same bumper support bar?
Allentown Pa
#7
RX-Heaven
iTrader: (6)
Amazing car you have there! Would love to see more pictures of the car!
As for the front bumpers, they are all the same on all trim levels. As Loki stated, you do appear to be missing the black lower section. There is an oem front air dam that was available that I think the other guys are talking about. It was available as an accessory and part of the aero package that could be purchased when new. It does look really nice and could be purchased separately from the aero package as a stand alone part. That part number is F151-V4-900F-color code of your vehicle.
As for the front bumpers, they are all the same on all trim levels. As Loki stated, you do appear to be missing the black lower section. There is an oem front air dam that was available that I think the other guys are talking about. It was available as an accessory and part of the aero package that could be purchased when new. It does look really nice and could be purchased separately from the aero package as a stand alone part. That part number is F151-V4-900F-color code of your vehicle.
#8
Amazing car you have there! Would love to see more pictures of the car!
As for the front bumpers, they are all the same on all trim levels. As Loki stated, you do appear to be missing the black lower section. There is an oem front air dam that was available that I think the other guys are talking about. It was available as an accessory and part of the aero package that could be purchased when new. It does look really nice and could be purchased separately from the aero package as a stand alone part. That part number is F151-V4-900F-color code of your vehicle.
As for the front bumpers, they are all the same on all trim levels. As Loki stated, you do appear to be missing the black lower section. There is an oem front air dam that was available that I think the other guys are talking about. It was available as an accessory and part of the aero package that could be purchased when new. It does look really nice and could be purchased separately from the aero package as a stand alone part. That part number is F151-V4-900F-color code of your vehicle.
it’s raining here in Allentown but yesterday I did hand wash and wax her just to get it looking better. The interior is coming together too. The red was really beaten up but with some hard work got all 17yrs of dirt off. Wheel is little beat and the airbag panel.
Coming together I love it. My son loves riding in it. Haha know the seat is pink but he doesn’t care.
Last edited by RexRx8; 04-12-2021 at 06:34 AM.
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CaymanRotary (04-13-2021)
#9
FULLY SEMI AUTOMATIC
iTrader: (9)
grats op. two of my buddys are on this forum and in your area, sonicsdaman, and keck03. im not far from scranton
#10
Thanks! Be great to see other Rx8s out there. I have gotten most of the items sorted out with the vehicle. CEL is off but pending code of SAI is lurking but after 100 miles ecu hasn't "confirmed" it yet. So I have trying to put miles on it and get the engine happy and hopefully burning some stuff that might be in there. CAI comes today at my buddies house some Im going to put that on today or tomorrow. While im in there I have one last Solenoid replacement I need to do and that will be completely done. Other than that ABS/TCS gods have been tormenting me with intermittent lights. Tracked it down im 90% is the pump itself. I do have battery voltage at the harness and the continuity test passes. Other than that I don't think I have a way to activate the pump to actually tell if its working via any tools. My Vagcom could do all that for my VW cars but I haven't figured out just yet how to get the mazdas with thier vagcom like tools to do it. Still researching that bit
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CaymanRotary (04-13-2021)
#12
Registered
The red and black interior is very nice. My 2006 auto has the same interior. Personally, the cloth interior is more practical and far less prone to wear damage. It's extremely hot here and leather and the dashboard don't like it. Very nice car.
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RexRx8 (04-13-2021)
#14
#16
where are you located?
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CaymanRotary (04-13-2021)
#17
Registered
345 for everything. Bumper, air dam, fender liners. They also gave me the grille an fog lights which I didn’t need and will be selling. Little more than what I wanted to spend but the air dam alone is running 100+ and I needed it to get the undertray back on right.
where are you located?
where are you located?
Last edited by CaymanRotary; 04-13-2021 at 07:59 PM.
#18
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200.mph (04-22-2021)
#23
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sonicsdaman (04-22-2021)