Questions Before Purchase
02-17-2010, 04:03 PM
#1
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Questions Before Purchase
Hello, I am new to this forum and figured I should join and post up after days of raping threads with my eyes.
I'm currently looking at an '04 MT and it will be the first rotary that I own (so far I have had the pleasure of driving them and not being tasked with ownership). I've got a few things that I plan on asking the dealer (don't flame; there are no privately available RX-8's around my area right now) to either do or find out for me before I decide to purchase:
Compression Test (and how many rotaries have been replaced in it)
Upgraded Starter
Updated Fuel Map
Clutch Pedal Assembly
Replace SSV (from what I've read they're a PITA to DIY)
Driveline Issues/Replacement
Oil Pressure
If all of those check out (the car still has the core warranty [that's what the sales rep called it] for a while) then I'll probably buy it. Are there any other suggestions that I should/need to do in regards to checking/replacing parts? So far here is my list:
Change Oil to Synthetic (heavy weight)
Upgrade Battery (suggestions?)
Upgrade Engine Mounts
Upgrade Ignition (coils/wires/plugs)
Check Ground Connections
Check Vacuum Lines
Install Catch Can
Install Secondary Oil Cooler
Upgrade Radiator and Cooling Fans (I'm assuming the Renesis has the same heat problems as the 13B-REW)
Install SS Clutch Line
I'm just trying to kill as many underlying problems that may exist at once before I expose my potential RX-8 to my driving style. I understand that rotaries naturally burn oil and that some people prefer a miniscule amount of 2-stroke for pre-mix and are essentially heavy on the maintenance, but I'm fascinated with their simplicity and they sound... well, awesome. I know some of these have been touched on in other threads, but I added them anyway so can have a somewhat organized list of what I want done before and after I make my purchase. Is there anything else I should ask of the dealer and/or do once I make this purchase?
Thanks in advance and I look forward to getting flamed in my future posts by the resident RotorHeads.
- Nero
I'm currently looking at an '04 MT and it will be the first rotary that I own (so far I have had the pleasure of driving them and not being tasked with ownership). I've got a few things that I plan on asking the dealer (don't flame; there are no privately available RX-8's around my area right now) to either do or find out for me before I decide to purchase:
Compression Test (and how many rotaries have been replaced in it)
Upgraded Starter
Updated Fuel Map
Clutch Pedal Assembly
Replace SSV (from what I've read they're a PITA to DIY)
Driveline Issues/Replacement
Oil Pressure
If all of those check out (the car still has the core warranty [that's what the sales rep called it] for a while) then I'll probably buy it. Are there any other suggestions that I should/need to do in regards to checking/replacing parts? So far here is my list:
Change Oil to Synthetic (heavy weight)
Upgrade Battery (suggestions?)
Upgrade Engine Mounts
Upgrade Ignition (coils/wires/plugs)
Check Ground Connections
Check Vacuum Lines
Install Catch Can
Install Secondary Oil Cooler
Upgrade Radiator and Cooling Fans (I'm assuming the Renesis has the same heat problems as the 13B-REW)
Install SS Clutch Line
I'm just trying to kill as many underlying problems that may exist at once before I expose my potential RX-8 to my driving style. I understand that rotaries naturally burn oil and that some people prefer a miniscule amount of 2-stroke for pre-mix and are essentially heavy on the maintenance, but I'm fascinated with their simplicity and they sound... well, awesome. I know some of these have been touched on in other threads, but I added them anyway so can have a somewhat organized list of what I want done before and after I make my purchase. Is there anything else I should ask of the dealer and/or do once I make this purchase?
Thanks in advance and I look forward to getting flamed in my future posts by the resident RotorHeads.
- Nero
02-17-2010, 05:29 PM
#3
Momentum Keeps Me Going
Not sure where you got your info but (see below comments)...
enjoy your ride if you decide to get it...we certainly have been, and I speak esp. for myself for the '04 I own!
Hello, I am new to this forum and figured I should join and post up after days of raping threads with my eyes.
I'm currently looking at an '04 MT and it will be the first rotary that I own (so far I have had the pleasure of driving them and not being tasked with ownership). I've got a few things that I plan on asking the dealer (don't flame; there are no privately available RX-8's around my area right now) to either do or find out for me before I decide to purchase:
Compression Test (and how many rotaries have been replaced in it)
Upgraded Starter
Updated Fuel Map
Clutch Pedal Assembly
Replace SSV (from what I've read they're a PITA to DIY)
Driveline Issues/Replacement
Oil Pressure
============
Just ask for a printout of the TSBs/recalls done. Only the starter/ECU flash is a TSB, the rest are only if the car has problems and most of them don't exist to begin with to my knowledge... Fuel map??? (do you mean ECU flash?) nothing about Clutch pedal is a TSB, have no idea what an SSV even is??? ..or driveline issue, or oil pressure?? Where did you get this info from? Strange...
============
If all of those check out (the car still has the core warranty [that's what the sales rep called it] for a while) then I'll probably buy it. Are there any other suggestions that I should/need to do in regards to checking/replacing parts? So far here is my list:
Change Oil to Synthetic (heavy weight) ..why? if you want syn, just do it yourself.
Upgrade Battery (suggestions?) This is a TSB
Upgrade Engine Mounts This is a TSB ..only affected cars
Upgrade Ignition (coils/wires/plugs) no TSB, maintenance item
Check Ground Connections ...good
Check Vacuum Lines ...???
Install Catch Can ..eh ...why?
Install Secondary Oil Cooler ...why? you have 2 already!
Upgrade Radiator and Cooling Fans (I'm assuming the Renesis has the same heat problems as the 13B-REW) .. wrong... maybe .. and only if you're tracking... but not likely even then if not in south
Install SS Clutch Line .. why?? SS brake lines maybe...but clutch?
I'm just trying to kill as many underlying problems that may exist at once before I expose my potential RX-8 to my driving style. I understand that rotaries naturally burn oil and that some people prefer a miniscule amount of 2-stroke for pre-mix and are essentially heavy on the maintenance, but I'm fascinated with their simplicity and they sound... well, awesome. I know some of these have been touched on in other threads, but I added them anyway so can have a somewhat organized list of what I want done before and after I make my purchase. Is there anything else I should ask of the dealer and/or do once I make this purchase?
>>> again..have them produce a list of work done under warranty...even TSB are a $$ item once warranty is done.
Thanks in advance and I look forward to getting flamed in my future posts by the resident RotorHeads.
...why wait...you can be flamed anytime
- Nero
I'm currently looking at an '04 MT and it will be the first rotary that I own (so far I have had the pleasure of driving them and not being tasked with ownership). I've got a few things that I plan on asking the dealer (don't flame; there are no privately available RX-8's around my area right now) to either do or find out for me before I decide to purchase:
Compression Test (and how many rotaries have been replaced in it)
Upgraded Starter
Updated Fuel Map
Clutch Pedal Assembly
Replace SSV (from what I've read they're a PITA to DIY)
Driveline Issues/Replacement
Oil Pressure
============
Just ask for a printout of the TSBs/recalls done. Only the starter/ECU flash is a TSB, the rest are only if the car has problems and most of them don't exist to begin with to my knowledge... Fuel map??? (do you mean ECU flash?) nothing about Clutch pedal is a TSB, have no idea what an SSV even is??? ..or driveline issue, or oil pressure?? Where did you get this info from? Strange...
============
If all of those check out (the car still has the core warranty [that's what the sales rep called it] for a while) then I'll probably buy it. Are there any other suggestions that I should/need to do in regards to checking/replacing parts? So far here is my list:
Change Oil to Synthetic (heavy weight) ..why? if you want syn, just do it yourself.
Upgrade Battery (suggestions?) This is a TSB
Upgrade Engine Mounts This is a TSB ..only affected cars
Upgrade Ignition (coils/wires/plugs) no TSB, maintenance item
Check Ground Connections ...good
Check Vacuum Lines ...???
Install Catch Can ..eh ...why?
Install Secondary Oil Cooler ...why? you have 2 already!
Upgrade Radiator and Cooling Fans (I'm assuming the Renesis has the same heat problems as the 13B-REW) .. wrong... maybe .. and only if you're tracking... but not likely even then if not in south
Install SS Clutch Line .. why?? SS brake lines maybe...but clutch?
I'm just trying to kill as many underlying problems that may exist at once before I expose my potential RX-8 to my driving style. I understand that rotaries naturally burn oil and that some people prefer a miniscule amount of 2-stroke for pre-mix and are essentially heavy on the maintenance, but I'm fascinated with their simplicity and they sound... well, awesome. I know some of these have been touched on in other threads, but I added them anyway so can have a somewhat organized list of what I want done before and after I make my purchase. Is there anything else I should ask of the dealer and/or do once I make this purchase?
>>> again..have them produce a list of work done under warranty...even TSB are a $$ item once warranty is done.
Thanks in advance and I look forward to getting flamed in my future posts by the resident RotorHeads.
...why wait...you can be flamed anytime
- Nero
02-17-2010, 08:35 PM
#4
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Ha ha, thanks for the info, guys. There's roughly 76,xxx kilometers on it as it sits today.
Spin9k: The items in the second list are essentially to safeguard it from any misfortunes I may come across during auto-x or track days. I've been reading old threads about driveline problems, carbon build-up, sludgy crap sticking the SSV closed in the intake tract and a bunch of other crap, which is the reason for the catch can, SS lines, cooling and blah blah. The FD's out here seemed to be inhibited by lack of cooling (oil, coolant, tranny) during local track days and they had crap for OEM cooling as it is, so I figured the brains at Mazda would have looked the other way with cooling on their current rotary-powered RX-8. As for the vacuum lines, those are evil, evil things to deal with because they can mimic another problem and cost unreasonable amounts of money before they are discovered.
Anyway, I think I'll ask for service records on that thing as far as warranty work. Never thought of that. Good stuff.
Spin9k: The items in the second list are essentially to safeguard it from any misfortunes I may come across during auto-x or track days. I've been reading old threads about driveline problems, carbon build-up, sludgy crap sticking the SSV closed in the intake tract and a bunch of other crap, which is the reason for the catch can, SS lines, cooling and blah blah. The FD's out here seemed to be inhibited by lack of cooling (oil, coolant, tranny) during local track days and they had crap for OEM cooling as it is, so I figured the brains at Mazda would have looked the other way with cooling on their current rotary-powered RX-8. As for the vacuum lines, those are evil, evil things to deal with because they can mimic another problem and cost unreasonable amounts of money before they are discovered.
Anyway, I think I'll ask for service records on that thing as far as warranty work. Never thought of that. Good stuff.
02-18-2010, 07:01 AM
#5
Momentum Keeps Me Going
...good for you if you've found an '04 with only 45K miles - isn't really that bad for an '04, mine has like 45K cause I hardly use it except for track. I know vacuum lines were a bitch on the old rotaries, but the 8 lacks these for the most part because it's NA and electronics have taken many of those tasks. Catch can would be a good idea only if you actually found the crap in the rubber intake accordian, ortherwise (like mine) no point. I had one on and it stayed clean as I had none.
I've tracked mine as hard and as long as is pretty much possible (like 4 hrs -on track- each day for 3 days running in Porsche clubs, adv groups at NJMP) and unless track ambient is down-south-US summer hot, you're likely not going to find cooling problems or even very elevated temps given engine, coolant, and oil are up to snuff.
If by driveline you mean trany, there are some issues with some people, mine I've only busted the clutch springs by ah-hem fast shifting
, trany is fine suprisingly. Engine did break once (warranty replace) so maybe pay for a compression check at a dealer to rule out or in the need for that before purchase.
I've tracked mine as hard and as long as is pretty much possible (like 4 hrs -on track- each day for 3 days running in Porsche clubs, adv groups at NJMP) and unless track ambient is down-south-US summer hot, you're likely not going to find cooling problems or even very elevated temps given engine, coolant, and oil are up to snuff.
If by driveline you mean trany, there are some issues with some people, mine I've only busted the clutch springs by ah-hem fast shifting
, trany is fine suprisingly. Engine did break once (warranty replace) so maybe pay for a compression check at a dealer to rule out or in the need for that before purchase.
02-18-2010, 07:29 AM
#6
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Ah, good stuff to know. Good stuff to know, indeed. I'll definitely be getting a compression check and getting a copy of the read-out. I heard that what the dealer finds acceptable and what the end user finds acceptable are two completely different things. So essentially if you just pay attention to routine maintenance, it'll deliver like a piston-driven vehicle? Even more good things to know. Well, I'm going to look at it tomorrow, so we'll see how things pan out.
02-18-2010, 10:04 AM
#7
Momentum Keeps Me Going
Yes, that's my experience...considering the workout my car has endured tracking it...something that I'd never, and have never done ever to any other car, it's stayed in amazing new-like condition mechanically. Others opinions defer here about reliability, but regular and persistent maintenance is vital (I'm a techie so it comes naturally and I enjoy doing it) and then I feel comfortable driving it to the full extent the performance envelope of the car allows........the rule IMO people forget is making a car perform to its limit is NOT abuse. Abuse is mis-treating a car, moding it to exceed its limits, etc. (it's only a machine) and the examples of what this does to a car is found all over this forum.
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