I found a car to work on this summer.
2004 MT
Good news: It runs. Drove it home about 30 miles on the Interstate. Engine pulls strong. Idles smooth. Starts easy when warm. Car feels fairly solid going down the road.
Bad news: The power steering doesn't work. The engine is running way too rich. The steering wheel is offset to the left. Somebody installed a really loud aftermarket muffler or it may be the cat is gone.
Lots of little odds and ends you would expect on a car this old with 99k miles.
Well I wanted a project.
Time to look up some stuff.

 

Awesome man, just got done finishing up an engine swap on a project rx8 I bought in FEB.

 

I had an issue with the power steering in my 04. I just disconnected the large connectors in the engine compartment and sprayed the pins with parts cleaner, and then used compressed air to dry them and reconnected and now it works great.

 

Check out www.keislerautomation.com if you really want to take it to the next level.

 

How do you know engine is running rich? These guys smell like fuel all the time and REALLY consumes alot anyways. Is the CEL on the dash?

Also, many people just take the cat off since it may ruin your engine when its clogged up with oil and carbon.

Gl with the project, it sounds good and healthy!

 

It does have a CEL. I haven't been able to get the codes yet.
Standing behind it, I was almost chocking. Reminds me of my old 62 Chevy with a stuck choke.
I smelled that all the way home. But it did idle good and accelerate strong.
Does anybody put the converter back on these?

 

I would not suggest putting cat in these cars, just get decent mufflers / resonators to make it sound good and up to your taste.

For the CEL, is it flashing or on constantly. if its flashing it would indicate missfire. This could lead to excess fuel dumping in to the exhaust and giving you a strong fuel fumes smell.

 

The CEL is steady.
Getting a code reader this weekend.