Although I've been a member here for several years and have owned RX2, Cosmo, and a first get RX7, I have a few questions about starting my 04 RX8 after about a year of sitting in a garage.

I purchased this car back in 07 for my then 17 year old daughter who drove it through high school and later through four years of college. She has since married and I gave the title to she and her new husband. Shortly after they're marriage the engine with about 80k miles lost compression and my son-in-law paid for a rebuilt replacement engine from a Mazda dealership. I believe he paid around $6,000 for this engine and to have it installed. They wanted to put a new catalytic converter on but he decided to let a muffler shop install one, to save money. Anyway, they both are snake bit on the car and parked it after driving it for a couple of thousand miles and bought my daughter another car.

That brings it full circle back to me. I bought the car back and need to go start it and bring in back home so that I can clean it up and sell it.

Questions? What would you guys do before starting this engine? How long should Mazda rebuilt engine last?

Thanks for any feedback you are willing to share.

 

I'd pull the plugs, squirt a small bit of oil into each rotor face (turning the engine over by hand), then unplug the ESS and give it a couple short pulses from the starter. Make sure the plugs are clean when they go back in, and hopefully the fuel is still good, otherwise you'll have to drain it.. Thankfully a year isn't too terribly long.. Others may have more suggestions. Best idea might be to call your dealer and ask.

As for your question about how long the engine will last, let me answer your question with a question; how long is a piece of string?

 

the rebuild should be fine if its that new but greasing it up is def a good idea

 

Thanks ZiG. I'll do that.

 

I hope so. I'd really like to keep this car for a year or two. I've always been a big fan of the rotary. In fact I still have my 79 RX7 sitting in a barn waiting for me to pull the engine and rebuild it, or do I drop something a bit bigger in that engine bay?

 

i'd just charge the battery and start it. its just car.

once its running, you will want an oil change, put air in tires, etc

 

That's probably the best advice yet.

I did haul the car home yesterday and will need a new battery. My Son-n-law did tell me it was running when he parked it, but had taken it into his local Mazda dealer for them to check the SSV. Sounds like it needs clean/replacing? Because the car battery is down, I can't see the odometer, but based on the receipts from the engine replacement and the last oil change, it appears the engine has around 5,000 miles. Total milage is around 82k.

My daughter did spend time cleaning the interior and it really looks pretty good. At least it doesn't smell like it's been sitting for about a year. Hopefully I'll try and start it tomorrow.

If anyone else has any suggestions, let me have em.

Thanks,

 

Progress report:
I dropped a new battery in the car, turn the key, waited 5 seconds and it fire right up. No smoke no sputter, it just ran. Had a DSC light on and a low tire light and that was it.


Nice to behind the wheel of a rotary. It's been several years and I'm having fun.

Now to get the new under tray, wheel shields installed and I'm going to drive this for awhile before I but it on the market.

 

Excellent. Turn the steering wheel all the way lock to lock and cycle the power and the DSC light will go off.