new to rotary long time car nut
09-13-2013 | 10:32 AM
#1
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new to rotary long time car nut
OK guys I guess this is my entry into the abyss of the piston less engine. Upon first arrival of the rx8 I thought the doors are cool the car is tiny. And has no real power. Back in 2005 . I then purchase a 03 Tiburon gt and join some forums get myself locked up in 6500-8000 worth of mods enjoy the car (boosted) but hate the heavy steering front wheel drive of the vehicle . To no surprise on my way north on a business trip I am blasting through traffic 10-15 over when an oncoming vehicle veers in front of me. I mash up the brakes and turn only to slide straight through him totalling the car and breaking my neck. now I had a pretty tight emotional connection to this car being I had her for 3 years and was my second car. I receive and move on to a mustang gt 94 model. I decide to get a one owner fully restored full paperwork car and keep it clean and original which lasted 1 month. had to change those ugly wheels then needed some sound from that 302. then heads upper and lower im ring and pinion valve body shift kit the works I then purchase a shell to build me a car for the strip a 1995 hard top gt slap a built 383 CSB 
and strip it bare. Car bed up cammed out straight line fun. Well on my way out to the strip in the street car to test her ability I sling a rod.... so I sell both and enter back into the imports with a 2012 genesis coupe 2.0t rspec Bathurst black I had the car with 12 miles and at 42 she was scattered across my yard. I was building that car into what it should have been from the get go. Gt35.71r turbo intake exhaust piggyback injectors flash launch control wheels custom tails and halo black housing headlights. After 8 months of tuning and driving I get her to 411hp with a few probe I drop to 360 all day and run the hell out of her until I lost my position and job. She was returned to the dealer and I lost my second love. After the loss I purchased a Lincoln mark 8 4.6 4v trans went out. 92 lifted f150 4x4. Clutch went wheel bearing ecm fuel pump. I learns to hate ford in general. well after fixing the truck I roll by a lot with a pretty beat up rx8 with a sticker of 2850. I had to stop. After teat driving and talking I offer 1100 he refuses I gave my last offer of 1500. He bit. I left the lot thinking I just got this guy. low and behold I take it to Mazda the car is 2004 6spd with 140k never was taken in on recalls and no engine replacement. well that's both good and bad. Well over the past two weeks I have worked on the body damage and missing exhaust and taillights and did an oil change and cleaned her up now my probm arises. She overheated and blows steam and smoke every other day while driving has a thump or pounding sound up front when it does this and I can't figure it out I filled and burped the system which fixed it for two days same thing again. So I repeated this which it took a lot of water again to fill it. So that works for a few more days then today same thing again... its in the 80-90* range here but I'm driving around 3-4.5k at 50-55 and should be cooling via water and airflow but seems to do it now randomly. So now with the rotary in my hands I can't decide whether I love the car or hate the car.
and strip it bare. Car bed up cammed out straight line fun. Well on my way out to the strip in the street car to test her ability I sling a rod.... so I sell both and enter back into the imports with a 2012 genesis coupe 2.0t rspec Bathurst black I had the car with 12 miles and at 42 she was scattered across my yard. I was building that car into what it should have been from the get go. Gt35.71r turbo intake exhaust piggyback injectors flash launch control wheels custom tails and halo black housing headlights. After 8 months of tuning and driving I get her to 411hp with a few probe I drop to 360 all day and run the hell out of her until I lost my position and job. She was returned to the dealer and I lost my second love. After the loss I purchased a Lincoln mark 8 4.6 4v trans went out. 92 lifted f150 4x4. Clutch went wheel bearing ecm fuel pump. I learns to hate ford in general. well after fixing the truck I roll by a lot with a pretty beat up rx8 with a sticker of 2850. I had to stop. After teat driving and talking I offer 1100 he refuses I gave my last offer of 1500. He bit. I left the lot thinking I just got this guy. low and behold I take it to Mazda the car is 2004 6spd with 140k never was taken in on recalls and no engine replacement. well that's both good and bad. Well over the past two weeks I have worked on the body damage and missing exhaust and taillights and did an oil change and cleaned her up now my probm arises. She overheated and blows steam and smoke every other day while driving has a thump or pounding sound up front when it does this and I can't figure it out I filled and burped the system which fixed it for two days same thing again. So I repeated this which it took a lot of water again to fill it. So that works for a few more days then today same thing again... its in the 80-90* range here but I'm driving around 3-4.5k at 50-55 and should be cooling via water and airflow but seems to do it now randomly. So now with the rotary in my hands I can't decide whether I love the car or hate the car.
09-13-2013 | 11:12 AM
#3
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OK guys I guess this is my entry into the abyss of the piston less engine.
Upon first arrival of the rx8 I thought the doors are cool the car is tiny. And has no real power.
Back in 2005 . I then purchase a 03 Tiburon gt and join some forums get myself locked up in 6500-8000 worth of mods enjoy the car (boosted) but hate the heavy steering front wheel drive of the vehicle .
To no surprise on my way north on a business trip I am blasting through traffic 10-15 over when an oncoming vehicle veers in front of me. I mash up the brakes and turn only to slide straight through him totalling the car and breaking my neck.
Now I had a pretty tight emotional connection to this car being I had her for 3 years and was my second car. I receive and move on to a mustang gt 94 model.
I decide to get a one owner fully restored full paperwork car and keep it clean and original which lasted 1 month. had to change those ugly wheels then needed some sound from that 302.
then heads upper and lower im ring and pinion valve body shift kit the works I then purchase a shell to build me a car for the strip a 1995 hard top gt slap a built 383 CSB and strip it bare.
Car bed up cammed out straight line fun. Well on my way out to the strip in the street car to test her ability I sling a rod.... so I sell both and enter back into the imports with a 2012 genesis coupe 2.0t rspec Bathurst black I had the car with 12 miles and at 42 she was scattered across my yard.
I was building that car into what it should have been from the get go. Gt35.71r turbo intake exhaust piggyback injectors flash launch control wheels custom tails and halo black housing headlights.
After 8 months of tuning and driving I get her to 411hp with a few probe I drop to 360 all day and run the hell out of her until I lost my position and job.
She was returned to the dealer and I lost my second love. A
fter the loss I purchased a Lincoln mark 8 4.6 4v trans went out. 92 lifted f150 4x4. Clutch went wheel bearing ecm fuel pump. I learns to hate ford in general. well after fixing the truck I roll by a lot with a pretty beat up rx8 with a sticker of 2850.
I had to stop. After teat driving and talking I offer 1100 he refuses I gave my last offer of 1500. He bit. I left the lot thinking I just got this guy. low and behold I take it to Mazda the car is 2004 6spd with 140k never was taken in on recalls and no engine replacement. well that's both good and bad.
Well over the past two weeks I have worked on the body damage and missing exhaust and taillights and did an oil change and cleaned her up now my probm arises.
She overheated and blows steam and smoke every other day while driving has a thump or pounding sound up front when it does this and I can't figure it out I filled and burped the system which fixed it for two days same thing again.
So I repeated this which it took a lot of water again to fill it. So that works for a few more days then today same thing again... its in the 80-90* range here but I'm driving around 3-4.5k at 50-55 and should be cooling via water and airflow but seems to do it now randomly.
So now with the rotary in my hands I can't decide whether I love the car or hate the car.
Upon first arrival of the rx8 I thought the doors are cool the car is tiny. And has no real power.
Back in 2005 . I then purchase a 03 Tiburon gt and join some forums get myself locked up in 6500-8000 worth of mods enjoy the car (boosted) but hate the heavy steering front wheel drive of the vehicle .
To no surprise on my way north on a business trip I am blasting through traffic 10-15 over when an oncoming vehicle veers in front of me. I mash up the brakes and turn only to slide straight through him totalling the car and breaking my neck.
Now I had a pretty tight emotional connection to this car being I had her for 3 years and was my second car. I receive and move on to a mustang gt 94 model.
I decide to get a one owner fully restored full paperwork car and keep it clean and original which lasted 1 month. had to change those ugly wheels then needed some sound from that 302.
then heads upper and lower im ring and pinion valve body shift kit the works I then purchase a shell to build me a car for the strip a 1995 hard top gt slap a built 383 CSB
and strip it bare. Car bed up cammed out straight line fun. Well on my way out to the strip in the street car to test her ability I sling a rod.... so I sell both and enter back into the imports with a 2012 genesis coupe 2.0t rspec Bathurst black I had the car with 12 miles and at 42 she was scattered across my yard.
I was building that car into what it should have been from the get go. Gt35.71r turbo intake exhaust piggyback injectors flash launch control wheels custom tails and halo black housing headlights.
After 8 months of tuning and driving I get her to 411hp with a few probe I drop to 360 all day and run the hell out of her until I lost my position and job.
She was returned to the dealer and I lost my second love. A
fter the loss I purchased a Lincoln mark 8 4.6 4v trans went out. 92 lifted f150 4x4. Clutch went wheel bearing ecm fuel pump. I learns to hate ford in general. well after fixing the truck I roll by a lot with a pretty beat up rx8 with a sticker of 2850.
I had to stop. After teat driving and talking I offer 1100 he refuses I gave my last offer of 1500. He bit. I left the lot thinking I just got this guy. low and behold I take it to Mazda the car is 2004 6spd with 140k never was taken in on recalls and no engine replacement. well that's both good and bad.
Well over the past two weeks I have worked on the body damage and missing exhaust and taillights and did an oil change and cleaned her up now my probm arises.
She overheated and blows steam and smoke every other day while driving has a thump or pounding sound up front when it does this and I can't figure it out I filled and burped the system which fixed it for two days same thing again.
So I repeated this which it took a lot of water again to fill it. So that works for a few more days then today same thing again... its in the 80-90* range here but I'm driving around 3-4.5k at 50-55 and should be cooling via water and airflow but seems to do it now randomly.
So now with the rotary in my hands I can't decide whether I love the car or hate the car.
Sounds more like cars hate you.
sub'd and +1 on some sort of engine failure (coolant rings)
09-14-2013 | 10:29 AM
#4
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Lol phone doesn't like to break up into paragraphs. Well I have taken the car to a mechanic and no not a rotary expert but a guy and his crew are in fact familiar with the rx7-8 wankel. She stumbled in traffic and died on me only to not start back. Luckily the car weighs only enough to make you grunt when pushing across the road to a hill at which a kick started her from first- having to hold throttle to stay on.
At the shop I treated my cell o2 sensor as before no other codes. They check her out pulling random things and checking. *for free mind you. At which they open. Vacuum line and dust her with ether and of course she cranks starts and sounds healthy. Diagnosing it as a clogged fuel filter dirty soc or weak fuel pump. pricing labor at $55 if I supply parts and pump and filter at 347.
Being me I found parts for cheaper and will have her going in 4-5 days.
At the shop I treated my cell o2 sensor as before no other codes. They check her out pulling random things and checking. *for free mind you. At which they open. Vacuum line and dust her with ether and of course she cranks starts and sounds healthy. Diagnosing it as a clogged fuel filter dirty soc or weak fuel pump. pricing labor at $55 if I supply parts and pump and filter at 347.
Being me I found parts for cheaper and will have her going in 4-5 days.
09-14-2013 | 10:51 AM
#5
Hi, at the price you gave, you would expect it to need work.
My 04 was in excellent shape with 18k & I paid WAY more over a year ago.
You're overheating would be a major concern, as everything I've read here suggests that to be a major contributor to engine failure.
A rotary specific compression test would be a good idea before you start changing parts to see if your engine is still good.
You should search the forum for overheating issues to better prepare yourself for a possible rebuild.
*EDIT* Also, I believe you can still bring the car to the dealer for any recall work that was not done, I believe this to be true, but not 100% sure. You can get a comp. test done while you are there.
Good luck!
My 04 was in excellent shape with 18k & I paid WAY more over a year ago.
You're overheating would be a major concern, as everything I've read here suggests that to be a major contributor to engine failure.
A rotary specific compression test would be a good idea before you start changing parts to see if your engine is still good.
You should search the forum for overheating issues to better prepare yourself for a possible rebuild.
*EDIT* Also, I believe you can still bring the car to the dealer for any recall work that was not done, I believe this to be true, but not 100% sure. You can get a comp. test done while you are there.
Good luck!
Last edited by BigCajun; 09-14-2013 at 10:57 AM.
09-14-2013 | 07:48 PM
#6
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Thank for replies. Dealer refused warranty work. Also. I found my culprit the plastic and tank on the rad is busted its got a decent crack and since the splash guard holds. lot when sitting still I didn't notice until now compression is good big the intake tune before the tb has black sticky gunk believed to be burnt up oil. Still looking into that being the tb is clean. So new rad is on its way pricing an aluminum was double price so I just stuck with crappy plastic tanks.
09-15-2013 | 08:10 AM
#7
Thank for replies. Dealer refused warranty work. Also. I found my culprit the plastic and tank on the rad is busted its got a decent crack and since the splash guard holds. lot when sitting still I didn't notice until now compression is good big the intake tune before the tb has black sticky gunk believed to be burnt up oil. Still looking into that being the tb is clean. So new rad is on its way pricing an aluminum was double price so I just stuck with crappy plastic tanks.
I don't think recalls do. You said in your first post no recall work had been done.
* Unless recalls have to be addressed during warranty period? IDK.
Last edited by BigCajun; 09-15-2013 at 08:13 AM.
09-15-2013 | 09:43 AM
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From: Buddhist Monastery, High Himalaya Mtns. of Tibet
Don't mistake TSBs with Warranties & Recalls. There have been very few Recalls on the car. TSBs are merely bulletins to instruct the auto repair tech on how to take care of a problem. Then there are MSPs (MAZDA SPECIAL PROGRAM). These are similar to a recall, except it isn't government mandated. Changes to the ECU firmware are noted in these. Another is the SSP (Special Service Program). These are like a warranty. The extension to the U.S. 04-08 engine and drive train warranties fall under this catagory.
09-15-2013 | 09:50 AM
#9
Thank for replies. Dealer refused warranty work. Also. I found my culprit the plastic and tank on the rad is busted its got a decent crack and since the splash guard holds. lot when sitting still I didn't notice until now compression is good big the intake tune before the tb has black sticky gunk believed to be burnt up oil. Still looking into that being the tb is clean. So new rad is on its way pricing an aluminum was double price so I just stuck with crappy plastic tanks.
Sounds like a good find ... in the end ... assuming the rad replacement is the fix.
Welcome to the club. The addiction. The abuse
09-15-2013 | 10:02 AM
#10
Don't mistake TSBs with Warranties & Recalls. There have been very few Recalls on the car. TSBs are merely bulletins to instruct the auto repair tech on how to take care of a problem. Then there are MSPs (MAZDA SPECIAL PROGRAM). These are similar to a recall, except it isn't government mandated. Changes to the ECU firmware are noted in these. Another is the SSP (Special Service Program). These are like a warranty. The extension to the U.S. 04-08 engine and drive train warranties fall under this catagory.
So the PCM reflash can still be done at owners expense, right?
My 04 has the sticker, I searched and saw some do not. Is the dealer the only place with this info?
P.S. Leyland should have pinch run for Fielder.
09-15-2013 | 11:04 AM
#11
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From: Northern Virginia
The MSP16 reflash should be free even when out of warranty. The TSB says any car brought in for service should be checked, and reflashed if it has not been. No mention of limits or in/out of warranty.
Worth printing out a copy and handing it to the service writer.
My dealer never put stickers on for any MSPs or recalls. He does put the oil change reminder stickers on the windshield, but that's something different.
Ken
Worth printing out a copy and handing it to the service writer.
My dealer never put stickers on for any MSPs or recalls. He does put the oil change reminder stickers on the windshield, but that's something different.
Ken
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