My new 04 RX-8
Drove the car to work yesterday and got the P0301 code to pop up. Rotor 1 misfire. I do hear a slight miss at idle. I cleared the PCM of stored crank position memory and cleared the code again yesterday. It did not pop back on on my way home from work so we may be making progress or I didn't drive long enough for it to trigger again. If it does trigger I'm going to swap my rotor 1 coils to the second rotor and see if it triggers a P0302 code which is a rotor 2 misfire. If it does then I know that I have a bad coil. Other than that, I have no leaks or issues which I'm happy about!
Here are some pics I took when I got home from work last night:
Here are some pics I took when I got home from work last night:
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 474
Likes: 850
From: Eastern, NC
It looks good! The work you put into the paint before, definitely shows, and appears well worth it. I have thought about doing the same (instead of having it repainted next year) but It has some areas that need actual repair, so I think it would be better just to have a shop redo all of the paint. There are only a few panels that either arent scratched or dented or have some type of issue. It's swirl marks galore all over as well... only downfall of the BB is all that stuff is so obvious up close. Tho it hides the 2 "dents" well.
The newly used engine has been running super well and the car has been without any issues other than needing new tires. The front tires are starting to dry rot and split. I drove the car to work yesterday and it felt great to be behind the wheel.
The engine has been running fantastic. The only complaint I have is the weak feeling clutch. Almost feel like it needs bled. I bled two master cylinders of fluid through it and it didn't get any better. I installed an Exedy brand clutch kit and I am less than pleased. Grabs as soon as you move your foot and feels like ****..
The next big fix sill be pulling the dash and replacing the evaporator core. It gave out last summer and its quite hot in the car without the A/C. My 06 BMW 330xi has been my daily driver because it has A/C, lol
The next big fix sill be pulling the dash and replacing the evaporator core. It gave out last summer and its quite hot in the car without the A/C. My 06 BMW 330xi has been my daily driver because it has A/C, lol
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 474
Likes: 850
From: Eastern, NC
Have you tried adjusting the clutch pedal? When I got my car I had to adjust it. It had a new Exedy OEM recently installed as well (when the engine build was done) and it grabbed RIGHT at the floor. It made it very awkward to drive. This happens because as it wears it comes up.. but sometimes it's still too far down after initial install. I probably turned the adjustment screw at least 3 times, if not a 4th time to get it right... the clutch feels way better now.. just make sure you leave enough play at the top of the clutch pedal travel. There is info in the user manual (I found online) that says how much play should be allowed at the top of the clutch, and the bottom, etc.
You know, I've thought about doing that. I had to adjust the pedal on a couple RX-7's after a clutch install. I haven't been driving the car too much lately due to the heat. Next day off of work I'll adjust it per the FSM and let you know how it goes.
I adjusted the pedal and oh what a difference! Why didn't I think of that hahaha, I do this for a living, lol. Well played that that adjustment. The car drive fantastic today!
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 474
Likes: 850
From: Eastern, NC
Thank you very much! I do really love this car! I haven't driven it much due to my work schedule and the heat. Its been a really hot summer and the evaporator core failed last year and no a/c in a black car with no sunroof on a day that feels like 100% humidity just makes for a miserable drive. I've been driving my BMW because of its nice a/c. The weather is getting to be a little more mild this week so expect more pics and updates as the miles go up!
Got some new goodies for my 8! Picked up a set of front and rear rotor accents which I will install today, a cargo net, and a newly used driver's side sun visor! Will post pics of the stuff and of the install!!
The original engine is on my garage floor, complete with all of the parts from the used engine. The used engine I installed has 83k miles. I figure I'll get a few years out of it and likely rebuild the original engine in the meantime and have it ready in case this engine fails. I do notice that I'm getting 3mpg less out of this engine than I was getting with the original engine. And this tank is getting even less, however it is mixed with BG 44k fuel system cleaner. The poor mileage this tank may also be due in part to me driving more aggressively with the 44k in the tank. Trying to get the maximum potential out of the fuel system cleaner. The used engine has never failed to start and has plenty of power.
Next stop, engine mounts and a new coolant overflow tank to deal with the failing coolant sensor in the tank.
Next stop, engine mounts and a new coolant overflow tank to deal with the failing coolant sensor in the tank.
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 10
From: Minnesota
I replaced the water pump gasket yesterday with a brand new Mazda gasket and put my original water pump on as well. The leak has slowed down and is at slight seepage. However, that's still too much for my liking. I'll have to pull the pump back off and recheck the mating surfaces.
I drove the car up and put some fresh gas in it and when I restarted the engine, the CEL was off. Odd. It stayed off for 5 or so miles and then blinked a few times and stayed off. Again, odd. I'm going to drive the car to work today and scan it. Then I'll toss it on my rack and check everything underneath for any leaks or seepage.
However, the last time I put one of my cars on my rack at work, the power went out and my 7 was stuck up there for an hour or so, lol:
On the plus side, it seems as though my rack likes my MR2. Its never given me an issue when I have it up there. Must be something about working on a Mazda at a Toyota dealership, lol
I drove the car up and put some fresh gas in it and when I restarted the engine, the CEL was off. Odd. It stayed off for 5 or so miles and then blinked a few times and stayed off. Again, odd. I'm going to drive the car to work today and scan it. Then I'll toss it on my rack and check everything underneath for any leaks or seepage.
However, the last time I put one of my cars on my rack at work, the power went out and my 7 was stuck up there for an hour or so, lol:
On the plus side, it seems as though my rack likes my MR2. Its never given me an issue when I have it up there. Must be something about working on a Mazda at a Toyota dealership, lol
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 105
Likes: 10
From: Minnesota
This....this was my first car... My grandfather gave it to me when I was 16 years old. He had promised to buy me a new car of my choice as a graduation gift. We had looked at a lot of cars and in the price range was a 97 Probe GT.. dark green, 5spd, black interior..That was the car he was going to get me. Unfortunately, he got sick with cancer and allowed to instead, pick a car that he owned to have as my first car. I chose this car over a 57 Bel Air, a 64 F85, a 61 LeSabre, an S10 and a couple unmentionables. I chose this car because the last thing that he showed me how to do on a car was shift a 3spd manual trans with a column shifter. I can remember it like it was yesterday..blocking the right rear tire and him in the passenger seat and me in the driver's seat and him showing me how to work the trans. I promised him at his request that I would not install a V8, cut the floor for a 4spd or generally hot rod the car. Before I left for the army, I sold the car to an older gentleman who wanted to restore it. Fast forward six years and I run into the guy at the grocery store. He offers to sell me the car back and when I see it, I can hardly believe how nice it looked. a deal was struck and I bought the car back in 2007. Here are a couple pics of the Falcon:
Now I want to know how the rest of the story went when your dad saw that turn signal lever in your hand... Any idea what kind of car it was your dad had?
The Falcon is a very sentimental car to me. Its not a collectible car and people walk right on by it at shows. Doesn't matter to me. I love it and my kids love it they understand what the car means to me and our family. I don't think I could part with it again. I drove it a little bit recently and it drives ok. The brakes need adjusted. Maybe I'll go and take it into work and do that this week or next if the weather is good. I'll see about posting more pictures if you're interested in seeing more.
The Falcon is a very sentimental car to me. Its not a collectible car and people walk right on by it at shows. Doesn't matter to me. I love it and my kids love it they understand what the car means to me and our family. I don't think I could part with it again. I drove it a little bit recently and it drives ok. The brakes need adjusted. Maybe I'll go and take it into work and do that this week or next if the weather is good. I'll see about posting more pictures if you're interested in seeing more.
