Melted air filter
 

I have a 2007 automatic, I just got her without really looking at it since it was so cheap, I figured worst case, I could part it out. She don't run, when I opened the stock airbox, the filter had hole burned through it and partially melted everywhere else. Does anyone know what could've caused this?

Is there oil on it? Backfire through the intake would do it, especially if there was oil in the intake. But that really shouldn't happen. What's the history of the car?

Yeah there was quite a bit of oil. As for the history, im not too sure, all i know is that (apparently) it was taken from shop to shop accumulated up to 8000 dollars in fixes. Ill confirm with the previous owner.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...586510ab39.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...0961a658d4.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...fc43fe9404.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...638712a703.jpg

Ah. Well, you probably want to read rx8help.com to get the basic new owner knowledge. You probably want a compression test before anything else since if it needs a new engine, which is likely given oil in the intake, then nothing else really matters. If you do want to get it to run, that mesh screen in the intake will need to be replaced for it to run properly, and the MAF might also need replacement given that it was exposed to fire.

If it has decent compression we can troubleshoot from there. Ask the previous owner what fixes were attempted by the various shops. It's hard to run up $8k without buying a new engine.

She is ghosting me so im just going off memory and the listing, she did have a new engine put in, but doesnt say any specifics, if it was a reman, or used engine, nor when it was put in, before or after the burning.

I'd get a compression test to figure out what you're working with. Also confirm which version of the engine they put in, 4 port or 6.