Hello and tricky one!
 

Hi guys - I am about to come by an RX-8 55-plate 192 by a very odd route, and was hoping for some advice.

It belonged to my ex-wife, who is not a car enthusiast and rarely opened the bonnet I am sure. She returned to her home in the US in February and it has stood on someone's drive ever since. She now says I can have it to keep or sell. Great - but obviously could be a money pit. It had a problem just before she went where it wouldn't start, which she THOUGHT was spark plugs, but that is about as far as her guesswork goes. It was serviced and MOTd in December by Mark at Freelance Mazda in Chatham, and a few months before that he replaced the cat. That is about as much as I know about it!

SO - things to look out for? Warning bells I should heed? Don't want to say no to a free car, but neither do I want to find it needs ££££ spent to get it into running/saleable order, and I do know these cars need looking after under ownership - not convinced she did a good job of that!

Thoughts?

I should add I come from a long history of MX-5/Eunos Roadster ownership and tinkering, and am used to Mazdas being pretty reliable and bulletproof. ;)

The 192 is an Automatic over there in the motherland is it not?

Well if it is an auto ..... scrap it

No it's a manual :) I am in the UK

What year is it?
How many miles?

So is it still not starting?

Common problems are Coils and the Cat which is replaced.

Get a compression test done ... that will tell you how healthy the motor is ....
If you have a healthy motor than it's likely worth fixing any supporting parts ..... like coils and plugs.

Here are some good links to general info

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/congratulations-you-got-8-a-202548/
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/new-rx8-owner-faq-1-25-09-a-163824/

Thanks!

It is a 2005 and has done 42k miles. Apparently it won't even turn over or unlock doors except manually with key, which to me screams battery, but some local garage she had look at it just before she left the country said battery was fine. Weird.

I guess i need to get it towed somewhere where they can test it out as you say.

Won't turn over? Mmmmm Battery or Starter.
This is a TSB for a upgraded starter for that year, well at least in Canada there is ... the new starter turns the motor over faster.

Can't help you with the Key Fob issue .. but I found this DIY on the topic ..
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...amming+key+fob

Yeah I just read about the uprated starter motor available after 2005 in the faqs, will definitely bear that in mind :)

If it's a manual, did you try and pull start it?
About 18mph in 2nd gear and let the clutch out.
At least this would tell you certain things.

I haven't even been to see it yet - it is at her friend's house 30 miles away and I am waiting for me to give me the phone number so I can go take a look. I just like to get some advanced knowledge before I venture out :)

Oh.......sorry.............well tow starting it will tell you how it runs(assuming it does) and may tell you if it's merely a starting issue or not.
To be honest, with not knowing how it was taken care of, I would probably pay to have the compression check done, but unfortunately you would probably want to have the plugs and coils done before that. Even in the UK, you can search on here in the vendors area and get decent prices on those. Check out Mazmart............. www.mazmart.com for some coil/plug/wire combo's if you wish to remain stock.

Thank you! The coils were only changed last year so I would hope they are ok!

Wasn't that back in February? If it's been sitting since then, the battery will be run down by now, and possibly not good any more. First thing to do would be to see if it will take a charge, or if a jump start will work.

Bring a voltmeter and a set of jumper cables with you.

Ken

Yes it was - thanks for the advice. Any other problems an RX-8 may have from standing unused for almost 6 months?

A dire depletion of TLC

LOL True! I was wondering if it may need an oil change

Tires (oops...that would be tyres) might be flat spotted. Change all fluids after you get it running.

Be prepared to call a garage to help get it started. Probably Mark in Chatham. Then the two of you can mutually grump about how your ex mistreated cars.

Ken