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I noticed there were several people who created a diary of sorts as a record of life with an RX8. Well here’s mine.
After too many months (about a year and a half) of snooping around on this site and various other research activities my wife finally noticed my interest in these cars February this year. To my surprise she was very supportive of me getting one. Now the hunt was on.
Unfortunately I spent the next month working on the north coast of B.C., not to return until the day before the plague shut down our province. Fun times.
Once the fur settled I got around to looking. Found three potential cars - too slow on one, compression test failed on the other, last one the owner pulled from public sales site. This last car was good enough for me to hound the owner until it now resides in my garage.
Here it is outside the insurance office:
There were a few minor issues to address, first being the removal of the K&N intake. Took a few weeks to get a used stock one shipped. I got lots of good advice on what to do/not do regarding replacement of this along with MAF cleaning. Must remember to always buy associated gaskets or face the dreaded CEL.
New to me intake installed:
Now the paranoia of plugged catalytic converter induced death arose. Got to spend a few days laying under the car (I’m slow) taking out the mid pipe and changing transmission, differential, and engine oil. Discovered the PO had a quickie lube shop oil change done. Wrong oil filter installed.
After more good advice (and rolling my stubby flashlight around inside the mid pipe) the cat isn’t plugged or trying to kill my car - yet.
Garage scene and cat: Had my neighbour confirm stand locations. It had been a LONG while since working on cars or under them. Could see clear light straight through. Happy
Now I’m closing on the end of the beginning. New thermostat and all coolant hoses are coming soon. Also have plug leads and plugs coming. Coils are next on the list followed by typical N/A gauges - water & oil temp along with oil pressure.
Haven’t gone on a long trip yet. Teenagers lose feeling in their feet after an hour and a half.
Starting the hunt for steel wheels and snowies. Not like we get much snow here, mostly rain.
Got the chance to put faces and names to a couple fellow RX8 people last night. Was a good night.
Found out there’s an aftermarket alarm system in the car. I thought a flashing blue light on the rear view mirror was stock. It closely matches the door light colour. Need to remove that little gem before I’m locked out.
Now the crazy bird is on the laundry pile. He loves towel to an inappropriate level.
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow. Well that MO has worked out before, but maybe not so well with air filters.
Just got the cabin air filter while away in Invermere working. Expected to see a dead rodent in the duct with the debris on the old filters. It looked like a nest!
This weekend upcoming will start the cooling system replacement (hoses).
Acquired used snow tires on steel rims a while back from a local member. Spent a quality day off grinding the rust from the rims. Just finished painting them. Look good from a distance, not so much up close.
Had an issue with the driver’s side footwell flooding earlier this week. Turned out to be clogged drain holes at the windshield cowling area. Touch wood, the flooding issue is resolved.
Not sure if we really need winter tires on the west coast. If you want to have a set, I recommend getting something more rain-oriented, not snow-oriented. Just park the car when it snows for a week at most.
I used to use Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 on my RX-8 for a while. The grip was not good on wet or dry grounds. Michelin CrossClimate Plus did a much better job in the rain. In the snow it was meh.
Consider that most people don't know how to drive in snow here, I think I will take a bus or taxi...
And for steelies, good enough is good enough.
Last edited by UnknownJinX; 09-28-2020 at 02:08 PM.
Agreed - SW BC drivers are as bad at snow as some red plated tourists are at driving mountain highways when there’s a corner. I’m staying home for the couple snow days we typically have.
Both my sisters live in Alberta so I’m not Albertanist.
I also had terrible luck with later Nokian tires. First ones were brilliant, then they went for mileage tread which suck in the rain.
So far so good - car is still running well. Odometer just rolled past 100,000 this weekend. 4 months ownership and no tickets.
Think I’ll turn the Thanksgiving weekend into a 5 day span since I’m owed a few days OT. Then I’ll have time to install my hitch, replace all the coolant hoses/thermostat, and whatever else needs doing.
Dr Bonnie says we’re not to have big in house dinner parties which suits my home of introverts just fine. Won’t feel guilty enjoying myself instead of cooking a turkey.
It’s been fun getting back into cars after a 20 year break.
Its been a long few days proving yet again that I’m slow.
The Curt hitch arrived a few weeks ago and I had an opportunity to check the fit on Thanksgiving weekend. Boo - the support braces that project forward in the car to the frame rails interfere with the mufflers. Swapping the brackets so the short tab is on the hitch instead of the long tabs fixed the issue.
After grinding off the supports I took the hitch into a local shop that i use extensively for boat maintenance and custom equipment installations. Took all of 1/2 hour and I had the hitch back with the supports welded on.
Installing the hitch was very easy - had more fun getting the cat-back reinstalled on the rubber hangers.
Snow tires are installed in the hopes we have a winter instead of just cold rain. No way I’m driving to work with the general public in the Vancouver area.
2” of snow gives most of them a panicky frontal lobotomy. I will take the car out late evening to do doughnuts in the local mall parking lot to see how it handles. I’ve been told by several of the Queen’s Cowboys I know that they won’t give a ticket if you use a few traffic cones where you’re practicing.
Short - long tabs swapped. Brackets swapped and painted.
Hitch mounts with minimal fuss and no modifications to the bumper.
Well I managed to get all the coolant hoses replaced except the one under the UIM cause I ran out of time and motivation. Also installed the lower temperature thermostat from MazMart.
That hose replacement will be reserved for Christmas break when I plan to clean the SSV.
Wish I’d watched the Driven by Madness video on hoses prior to starting. Almost lost my s$&t trying to get the lower rad hose off. Went and bought super long nosed pliers and a hose clamp tool eventually. Looked far easier going through the wheel well.
Also did another oil change and replaced the differential fluid. Previous owner stated that was done just prior to purchase - wrong.
Truly enjoyed myself (not) removing the alarm system from under the dash. Got worked up over nothing. Car wiring isn’t any different than boat wiring.
Used snow boots are on - Thanks Dodo23. Who needs to be afraid of wiring? Not me. Just cut away and it all works out. Hose nightmare. I hate those compression clamps. Missing a bit of skin.
Finally took the 20 minutes required to install a new windshield washer pump (whopping big $38 from Mazda) and have clean windshield now (no I didn’t disconnect the battery for this).
I’ve noticed over the past few times after disconnecting the battery fuel economy goes WAY down. Last tank it was around 13 mpg. Prior to the last bit of work it was around 17 mpg. Same thing occurred the previous time the battery was disconnected.
I’m not looking for an econo-box level of fuel economy. If I wanted that I would have kept my mom in law’s Accord. Just find it interesting that 1 tank of fuel is required for the fuel maps to relearn.
The fuel learning thing isn't normal. It takes a couple of drive cycles, but surely not a full tank. And anyway, it's running off the O2 sensor as soon as it's up to temp.
Not sure how to explain what you're seeing but it's not expected. 17mpg is on the low end of expected, but 13 is should never happen to a healthy car. Possible the battery reset resetting the trip odo has something to do with it?
Thanks Loki - researching areas to look into for what is happening with the car. I’m meeting up with a couple local forum members today. Will add this to the conversation and see what comes of it.
This was for the 2nd tank after changing hoses as you guessed correctly, the trip meter reset.
I’ve got an excel spreadsheet for parts and expenses along with fuel consumption with a tally running since I bought the car. It’s useful for spotting trends - not so good when reviewing finances with my wife as I can’t claim ignorance.
Well hell, heard a strange noise like a branch dragging under the car when I was almost at the office. Parked to car and looked around to see nothing. Got back in the car and went for a short run (under 1 km).
The battery warning light came on so I thought “Okay no problem it’s just the alternator belt”. What a dumb ***. It’s also the WATER PUMP belt. Saw the gauge climb right up so shut off the car and coasted into my parking spot.
Well hell, heard a strange noise like a branch dragging under the car when I was almost at the office. Parked to car and looked around to see nothing. Got back in the car and went for a short run (under 1 km).
The battery warning light came on so I thought “Okay no problem it’s just the alternator belt”. What a dumb ***. It’s also the WATER PUMP belt. Saw the gauge climb right up so shut off the car and coasted into my parking spot.
Will know more later once I install the new belt.
Some lights only come on at the end of the event horizon - like the battery light. Hoping all is well.
Well hell, heard a strange noise like a branch dragging under the car when I was almost at the office. Parked to car and looked around to see nothing. Got back in the car and went for a short run (under 1 km).
The battery warning light came on so I thought “Okay no problem it’s just the alternator belt”. What a dumb ***. It’s also the WATER PUMP belt. Saw the gauge climb right up so shut off the car and coasted into my parking spot.
Will know more later once I install the new belt.
You are probably fine if you shut the car off in time.
AFAIK anything without a timing belt should have the water pump driven by the accessory belt if it's not electric. RX-8 has two accessory belts, one drives the AC, and the other drives the alternator and water pump.
Changing the belt isn't a bad process, though I am a bit surprised that yours actually snapped. Guess it was a good idea that I changed mine preventatively.
Note to self: when a belt looks worn, replace it NOW.
Apparently I have a horseshoe up me bum. Feeling very lucky as there are no detrimental repercussions to my alternator/AC belt failure. I must have shut the car down in time.
I got the belts installed and topped up the antifreeze. Shut everything down while I cleaned up tools at the office. Started up hot just like always and seems to have no power loss or vapour at the exhaust pipes.
a coolant pressure check would be best, but unless you overheated badly for a bit of time it’s likely fine ... the Renesis can generally take that better than the earlier 13B engines, lot of factors to influence it though
if you have an aftermarket ignition system you might also inspect the ignition coil wiring around the first coil or two. A few in the past had the belt flying off damage the coil wiring there. Just make sure there’s no bare wiring exposed.
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I took twice as long as required to install the belts due to looking around for damage. Visions of that belt flaying about were foremost in my mind. Will get a pressure tester tomorrow. Could probably borrow one locally but, they’re pretty cheap and useful.
Funny how this happens right after replacing the hoses because I was worried about overheating the car.
Mine "overheated" a couple times BREIFLY soon after I got my car, while I was in traffic (how I diagnosed the wiring on one of my cooling fans was messed up). I fixed it and have had no issues since. While you ARE in the danger zone as soon as that needle starts rising, there is some leniency if you dont keep it there. Hope all is okay. Nice to see another 8 diary :P
Well I finally got around to pressure testing the cooling system and the gauge stayed solid at 14 psi for 10 minutes. No damage apparent from my little overheating adventure.
It’s a great place to write stuff and not bother the diy, tech, or Oh S-/T my car broke areas.
I appreciate the story side of the forum with the struggles and successes that others go through. Makes it easier reading about the mortals once in a while.
It’s a great place to write stuff and not bother the diy, tech, or Oh S-/T my car broke areas.
I appreciate the story side of the forum with the struggles and successes that others go through. Makes it easier reading about the mortals once in a while.
Yay I'm glad it inspired you! Honestly I enjoy browsing my own thread occasionally, seeing the progress I've made over the years. It's nice to see others enjoy it as well!
UIM Removal (coolant hose replacement) and SSV Cleaning
Personal Log Star Date 2020-366
Started the process of removing the UIM to gain access to the last remaining coolant hose which resides underneath. This one is the second hose feeding into the throttle body.
Apparently I’m still needing more personal development. Does anyone else lose their mind periodically after several hours trying to access bolts in evil locations?
I have the added benefit of still waiting to get my right hand fixed. Ring finger on that side locks shut once I do get it to bend. Makes me grumpy.
Whining session over.
Great DIY’s available here on removing the UIM and the SSV which I’m cleaning up on this little foray. Once again I’m standing on the shoulders of giants - thanks to Jon316G and WCS.
08-21-2020, 09:24 PM
