Smithkjnc

Hello. Is it possible to completely replace the ecu and related components to the immobilizer from another identical rx8 to fix the problem?
I can get the stuff from a donor car much cheaper than going to the dealer

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

There is a list of CAN bus information called the " as built data" that is specific to your car.

All of the CAN bus modules talk to each other basically using those instructions. If you switch ECU's the ECU will not match the "as built data" and won't talk properly to the other modules

You can get another ECU that is the identical part # and have it programmed with the " as built data" so it is identical to the original ECU. Some dealers will do it....some won't. Some can do it...and others can't get it to work

What makes you think you need to do it?

Smithkjnc

I was talking about all the related modules and ecu.
I just hate paying a dealer to reprogram my key.
I'll probably do it anyway... Just sucks that Mazda not only put an alarm on these cars but an Imobolizer in addition.... Over kill in my book and a way to feed more money to dealers

Smithkjnc

Well, theafte dealer coul be any thing and cost several hundreds of dollars... I'm going another route Selling the engine transmission and going to the dark side with lt1/6speed

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

LOL

Doing a swap is way cheaper than getting a couple of keys cut 😄

Smithkjnc

Dealer quote first key $120 if nothing else is wrong with the car .. Second key $65 + $120 programming
So that's almost $400
Just for a couple of keys .. I just pulled a 92 corvette lt1 with 6speed for 1k
After everything.... Around 3k and have a screaming car with better gas mileage, tons of torque and no worries of the little dorito going south.
Already done two.. Fb and fc... Now number three

Smithkjnc

How long does it take to be able to post???

Loki

iTrader: (1)

10 posts And you can post all day in the new members section until then. Like you did..

Hey with that LT1 and "everything", I hope you weren't counting on a/c or power steering or.. I dunno, working gauges. This isn't an FB.

Also I think the question above was why you feel you need to replace any of the electric components or the ECU. They're not usually the problem.

Smithkjnc

AC, power steering and guages???
Lol.. .Already been there twice and always got them working like factory. Not my first rodeo.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Things have changed a little since FCs. Everything is computerized, the gauges are fed by CANBUS and the steering is electric.

Smithkjnc

Oh...and this is my 13th post and still cannot post things in the other forums.. Smh

Smithkjnc

Not a problem.... Easy to keep all the sensors needed and ecu... Will be keeping the original alternator and acaccessori compressor...

Smithkjnc

And I love it when someone says it can't be done... Lol the best part is showing it can!
I was taught at an early age... The word CAN'T does not mean anything.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Nobody said it can't be done, what I was trying to illustrate is that it $3k isn't enough to do it properly. If it was, there would be a lot more of these running around with V8s. There are build threads here by people who have done it, you may want to look through them.

Smithkjnc

I have been researching my butt off... The only thing is that I'm using a lt1 setup VS the much more expensive ls1 setup.
Already have engine and transmission and all related items needed... Harness, ecu, driveshaft, etc. The Hinson kit is 1200 and that's if I decide to use it...but this thread belongs in the swap section

Smithkjnc

the last swap I did was on a 91 about 15 years ago. At that time . Not many of them were done..and even fewer done correctly.
at that time..I had less then 5k in the entire swap. Everything worked great and in my first car show won best of show. That tells you it was done nicely.
be the same this time around too
but again ....if I was allowed to post in the correct forum...smh

UnknownJinX

$300 is not that bad for 2 keys. Most modern cars are like that.

I'd prefer paying for good keys over having my car stolen and all the headache that comes with that. Granted, it's a stick shift and not a lot of people drive them today, but I have a friend who had his 93 stick shift Civic stolen. Better safe than sorry.

And for me, that handling and 9k redline are worth the crappy gas mileage and screwdriver low-end torque. I personally prefer American V8's in American muscles/ponies.

Either way, drop-key LS swaps for RX-8 start from $10k. RX-8 is much more electronics-heavy than RX-7, so I would expect it to be not as easy.

Smithkjnc

I guess I'm just old school and hard headed.
And I hate paying for stupid stuff.
Just like the previous cars I have owned..the rx7 is a great little car and very unique...but very tempermental and expensive to work on. They should have had a rock solid car by now but they keep dropping the ball.
it's actually funny because this one runs really well butt I absolutely refuse to give the dealers moneyfor stupid ****.
Especially for a 14+old car.

Smithkjnc

And Mazda already had the immobolizer built in...is called a flooded engine...lmao

UnknownJinX

Well, stick shift is usually a good enough immobilizer in North America for most thieves.

RX-8 engines are not that easy to flood, BTW. A healthy Renesis doesn't flood. One with a failing compression and/or dying ignition components will.

Piston engines can also flood. I have a friend who did just that when he was working on a tiny single-piston engine out of a motorcycle last week. His tune isn't perfect and he is still working on the fuel trim on cold starts.