I guess I better make sure it's under warranty before they fix it. Although bumper to bumper to me would include a gas cap.

 

Yea I just met another professor last week who has an 8 - Dave from the Biology Dept - at Riverside Wine. I told him about the RX8 Club site and to join our group!

 

Finally did the compression test numbers on my engine.

Front Rotor PSI:
Face1.....Face2.....Face3.....RPM
102.29...100.54...105.43....242
108.62...106.50...111.83....250 (normalized)


Rear Rotor PSI:
Face1.....Face2.....Face3.....RPM
112.24...109.01...106.46....248
117.20...113.85...111.20....250 (normalized)

Mazda's Spec:
Normal- 120psi
Minimum- 98.6psi

I still want to recalibrate my tester and try it again... maybe next weekend.
Not that I think my numbers are wrong, but the waveform started at -19.30psi, so I basically had to add 19.30 to my peak numbers/waveform.

 

If you want to do a compression test on my car and see how accurate it is Jon you are more than welcome.

On a side note...Amy last week had her drivers side headlight go out on her after 6 months. Last night she called and said she was on the turnpike and lost the passenger side light. *sigh* I had lined up Brian to take care of it but I knew he had his hands full with Kristen's car this weekend. So this morning I went out and dropped the bumper and did it myself. Took me about 4.5 hours to do it with 2 hours of that spent driving around for bulbs. She is all straightened away and I did it myself. w00t w00t!!

 

I don't doubt the accuracy of the test, more just trying to figure out why the waveform is starting at -19.30psi instead of 0.
Also, why I have to use the R2 port (for testing two rotors together) instead of R1.
If there is a problem with the tester unit I may have to send it back.
But I want some data to send them if I go that route.

If you want me to run the test on your car I have no problem with it.
I'll probably work on my car Saturday installing the water temp coupler, fog light, and try to figure out why the oil temp sensor isn't working.
I also have to change brake pads for my dad since he just had surgery and can't do it himself.
So that'll be the best time/day.


I'm impressed John... I really am!

 

Well done!!

 

Jon - I figured my car since it happened to be the newest might show something other than the -19 to start. *shrug*

As for the getting dirty on my own...thanks

 

LOL... I don't think you're understanding....
The waveform not running the compression test starts off at -19psi.
Even with the transducer disconnected.
Something during the calibration made the software want to start reading -19psi instead of 0 as a "zero" reference.

 

Maybe a visual will help:

The black vertical line shows the current position on the waveform its reading.
On the far left it displays the current PSI, which should be 0 since its not reading anything.

 

Well, a public thanks to Brian for coming through for me big time this weekend. . .

Anyone bombarded with Kristen's hourly facebook "play by play" is already aware, but. . .

Was supposed to drive up to Rochester Friday night, Wedding Niagara Falls Saturday, then home Sunday. We took Kristen '00 Hyundai Ellantra cause the bronco gets 13mpg and the rx8 hasn't been fully re-assembled.

Its a 300 miles trip, give or take a few miles, and we made exactly halfway, to the NY-PA line. I'm cheap and get a full tank at the last exit in PA because NY marks it up an extra 20 cents/gallon. After the fill up, car won't start... we get jumped and head to the closest autozone. I'm hoping its just a battery, but after driving for 3 houra already, i'm thinking its alternator.

So, alternator has to be tested with a full battery while battery tested "low" but still passed as a good battery. So while the battery gets charged in about an hour, and I'm getting ready to start pulling the alternator in the autozone parking lot. I messed with it for like 15 min before I came to terms that this wouldn't be a job i could complete in the dark of a parking lot with a 10mm wrench and 12mm socket. . .

So, I called Brian to get his take on the situation. We ended up making the decision to come back to Ohio as best as we could on battery power, then get towed the rest of the way on AAA plus free towing (up to 100 miles with $3.50/mile overage charge.)

Brian agreed to have us tow the car to his house in Austintown (94 miles of free towing used up.) He let Kristen and I stay the night and tossed me the keys to the focus in the morning so we could make it to the wedding while he fixed the alternator. Drove back Sunday, traded cars back, and the ellantra is running like. . . well, its running again.

So mad props to Brian for coming through for Kristen and I.

Also, if you know of anyone with a 02-05 Civic Si hatch, let me know. I know a certain young woman that hates her car right now.

 

Way to go Brian!!!

 

Who still needs an 07 starter?

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-sale-wanted-44/used-mazda-rx8-2007-mt-starter-25k-miles-193571/

 

this has WIN written all over it.

 

BHR coils came into today. Imagine that, talk about an awesome birthday present to myself.

 

That sounds pretty good, but I prefer the type of presents that other people buy for me.

Don't throw away your OEM coils or wires... you never know when where or who will need them.

 

Steve, no worries man. Glad I was able to help out to get you guys to New York for the wedding.

John: Still shocked that you did the work on the car, all by yourself. Now you just have to figure out what to do with all the potatoes.

 

Well, I put the car back together last night. . . again.

Filled the system and rigged the car to run with most of the left side of the engine bay empty, airpump on the windshield, battery on top of the air box, and catch-can laying on the ABS pump.

(Jon, I was reading an air pump delete thread, and apparently, the wiring harness at the base of the air pump is a resistor for the fuel pump, and that's why my car wouldn't run without it being plugged in)

Anyway, used a coolant flush, brough it up to temp and pressure... no leaks!

But then had to wait for the system to cool before putting in the proper mix of water and coolant and to drain the flush I had put through the system. Of course I didn't wait long enough and the engine gave me a big steamy facial.

Buttoned it all up only to find that my RB coolant gauge wasn't working... in typical Steve problem solving, I hit it. . . that did the trick surprisingly (loose connection in the ashtray area from installing the short shifter probably)

So, my 8 is officially back among the living!

 

yup... i read that...

 

So you knew and didn't tell anyone. . . nice.

 

yup... guess I'm an ***... oh well...

 

I just read your compression test numbers... and you'll have to forgive me, but psi is positive pressure under compression, so a negative psi would be under a vacuum, . . . So does this mean your car sucks?

 

Saw a winning blue RX8 over by The Strip near Belden. Was it someone from on here?

 

Might have been the kid John, Steve, and myself met with filming our "mid-pipe" video.
I forget his name.

 

Wasn't it like Shawn or something like that? He said he was trying to sign up on the forum but couldn't or something. Who knows if he ever made it.

 

Could have been... I'm horrible with names the first few times I meet someone.