Hi All,

Before i begin, this thread isn't intended to be a 'slag off' session on the 8. I am about to purchase a mid '05 RX-8 from a dealer and wonder if it would be possible to summarise here the major problems that may have occurred over the life of the RX-8, what production years/months that were affected, and whatever was done to rectify the problem.

From my reading on here i have seen there has been a recall for something to do with the fuel tank needing heat shielding, though i understand this affects earlier vehicles. I see there has been a couple of attempts to get the engine mounts right, with the latest version having heat shielding being introduced on vehicles made late 05?? I have also read something about starter motor upgrading? Is there a problem in this department? I've read something very briefly about cold start flooding as well, has this been fixed via flash update?

Just be nice to know what questions to be asking about before signing tomorrow and make sure the vehicle has had all the necessary fixes done.

Thanks all.

 

Have you read this thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/australia-new-zealand-forum-37/all-you-need-know-about-recalls-here-oz-67807/

The short answer is that most of the issues you have raised were cured by the time the car you are looking at was built. Can't comment on engine mounts as I don't know enough about that issue (although mine did get replaced recently - 4/04 build).

Good thing is that yours is still under warranty so smart thing to do would be to get its service history and have the service manager confirm that any and all necessary recalls have been done.

 

Oh, BTW, if I am wrong and the starter motor issue wasn't sorted by the time your car was built, you need to know that it was never the subject of a specific recall.

However, most who complained about trouble starting the car got a new starter motor, battery and plugs, no questions asked. Makes a big difference if you're having starting trouble.

 

Thanks revolver thats perfect, just what i was looking for....should have searched a few more months backwards i guess.

Cheers,

 

The RX-8 is more reliable than a Roller.....

 

Hehe touche Gomez. Similar fuel flow rates though i hear....

 

Yeah, but more fun in corners...

 

If its a purchase from a dealer then wouldnt you expect all of the recalls to have been done?

 

A reasonable expectation but given what we know about our wonderful dealers would you take it on faith or ask?

 

I trust them just like I trust information on the web :-D

 

True . My 1.3 litre rotary burns through the phosgenes at the same rate as my 5 litre V8. I have a lot more fun in the Mazda, but...... .

 

Umm.. Gomez, please forgive my essay into pedantry, but phosgene is a poisonous gas, also known as carbonyl chloride COCl2, and was used in the first world war to kill people. I would imagine (and would sincerely hope) the amount in petrol is vanishingly small.

 

That's what I like about this place... sometimes you even learn stuff

 

Is there an antidote for phosgene 'cause I have a feeling that Timbo might need some after the post with the P word... Gomez never mentions things by mistake..

 

You are correct, and you are forgiven....

Phosgene is also emitted when the flux in flux-cored 60/40 lead/tin solder is heated. This is what they told us during the high reliability soldering course I did yonks back in my RAAF days.

Since it was the buzz word of the day, we short haired pretty boys adopted it and bastardised it's use so it became the nickname for the commodity we V8 drivers were most concerned with.......guzziline!!

Cheers,

Gomez.

 

For those who are interested to know I checked with the dealer regarding the recalls (thanks for the nudge in the right direction Revolver) and yes they had been completed...he pointed out that whenever recall work or inspection is carried out a small sticker is place inside where the drivers door closes on the A-pillar. Oh and i bought the car by the way....what a beautiful thing....having had a bit of a drive to get it back to Sydney i can say only this...the Victorian government obviously had the foresight to design the Great Ocean Rd the way it is knowing the RX-8 was coming