I'm 17 y/o and been keen on getting an RX8 for awhile now, after first seeing one in a dealership about 6 months ago, I could not see myself buying a different car because of how unique they are!

In anycase I'd done alot of research and was 100% aware of what I was in for and the possibility of being without a vehicle for awhile if it were to have engine problems.

So last week I finally ended up buying an 03 model with 130,000 on the clock, I test drove it and scaled the car over and under and was more than happy with the condition!

Over the week I've had a few little things occur that I just like to bring up to double check that there not a huge issues that can be put off until I get it serviced next week.

1. When I go the start the engine it's not straight away starting and takes roughly 3 seconds or so to start. I've read abit about this and from what I've gathered it could a bunch of diffrent things but theres a good chance its only something small like a loose connection or spark plugs. (Starts exactly the same cold & hot)

2. On the second day of owning it , I had a check engine light come on. Dad is an auto electrician and also use to own a rx2 when he was younger and has told me that until I get my service done (which is booked for next week at a rotary specialist) that it will be hard to exactly know what's wrong with it, Though I have alot of black dust all over the rear bumper that makes me think it's running rich and maybe the o2 sensor is playing up as I've read alittle about people having issues with the same thing.(I'm still driving around a fair bit as dad says that a broken sensor isn't going to cause any other problems down the road if its only for a week, just wanted to double check this was the case)

3. When listening to the radio I find the volume goes up and down all the time, I've read that there is an inbuilt microphone that adjusts the volume for if people are talking or the windows are down etc, but cannot manage to find out how to turn off the setting.

Apart from these issues I am absolutely stoked with the car and loving it too bits!! Now feel that even if the engine was to give out in 10,000k's or so, I still would not regret buying it!

Massively appreciate any advice/help that could be given! =D
Thanks all!

 

You're a smart young member.
Welcome on board and happy sailing!

Make sure to check or replace the coils and ignition system during your first service, also check your compression and starter.

Then... have fun searching for: maf cleaning, catalytic converters, premix (given the mileage... i'd say from your next engine!), clutch pedal related stuff and service schedule\intervals.
Don't use 5w20 in your engine and you'll be fine

That's the basic knowledge that will really make you a conscious rotary owner. RIWWP thread's are also useful.

 

I'd recommend pulling the plugs and having a look at them. If you can get a code reader, you can look up what is causing the check engine light. In my own case, bad coils ruined an O2 sensor.

 

At your next service, have them check if you have the original or the revised starter.

 

Thanks bse,
appreciate the advice!

 

Thanks Long,
I have looked up scan tools already , and only found a few dodgy looking ones around the $100-200 that are most likely going to give me a faultcode that I don't understand.

Do you know somewhere I can find faultcode explanations or a cheap scan tool that already has it?

 

Black dust on back bumper could be a worn out cat (also cause the check light) I got a midpipe on mine and get the same crap but it shows up worse on yellow.

About the radio my first base model 8 had an option I think it was AVL or ALC turn it off and it'll stop doing it, or if its the BOSE model its called AudioPLT but don't really notice it change the volume.

 

Yeah I've also got a yellow, Been washing it almost every second day at the moment because the dust is accumulating so quickly.

 

Hello, if you have a smartphone you can get the Torque app. $4.99 + $20-30 for Bluetooth dongle. Search for more info & opinions. Have fun!

 

Welcome,

Radio is the Audio Pilot, push the setting button, to the right, to go through the menues and kill it. Mine is very aggressive, and only raises the volume. It is on the list to figure out.

For the rest, Dad has a good plan. There is a list for spending your first $100 in my signature. It is all the stuff I learned in the first year for an 8 of that vintage.

And, again, welcome.

 

welcome!

re the radio, if its a Bose unit, it has a thing called Auto pilot, like 04green says.

i find the thing actually works well, but had a few quirks. there a couple small things that can go wrong, and it'll send the thing into a feedback loop, where it just keeps adding volume

the microphone on a LHD car is located right above the drivers right knee, so if say the shifter boot is torn, and the transmission noise is loud, it will try and compensate.

or possibly more common, the relay for the door amplifier goes bad, and since that speaker is pointed right at the microphone, if its not there, it just adds a TON of midrange, and it'll get into volume wars with itself.

the relay is a cheap and easy fix, there is a DIY in the DIY section

i've fixed those two little things on mine, and i have the autopilot on, and its totally unnoticeable, however on the drive home, it would try to blow my ears out

 

So I've just got back from the mechanic, Turns out I've got more issues than expected ..
Need my coils, plugs and a fuel pump done which I've been quoted $1800 from a rotary specialist. He said to me I'm lucky I went for the service when I did or I would of lost my engine doing much more driving..

So I'm now saving the money and not driving the car until I can afford the parts and replace them myself.

 

Hi. Don't forget spark plug wires also. Just recently did my tuneup. Took members advice and pulled drivers wheel off. Already had wobble extension. Uni. swivel will work also. Someone posted a diagram for coils & plugs. Very handy. I labeled my old wires with masking tape, then matched up lengths with new ones. That helped. Pretty easy. Just don't cross up anything and you''ll be ok. Be sure to get laser irid. plugs. $20 each sucks but it matters. One of my fav sayings is "Never enough time to do it right the first time, but always plenty of time to do it over" I don't know about fuel pump. Good luck.

 

Thanks Caljun will do !