RE: Shed Of The Week: Mazda RX-8

[otolith]

Yep. Might be able to figure out what it's doing with a CAN scanner. I would have thought that Mazda would prefer the logic in the PCM simply because it's then easily changed with a firmware update, but if it's nothing more than a glorified temperature gauge, maybe not.

Actually, it's a variable rev limit, isn't it, not just a variable warning? So the PCM must be performing the same calculation.

[Fastdruid]

Well the variable rev limit is certainly in the PCM.

Doesn't mean the warnings are there, it could be as simple as the following logic in the clocks.
Temp < a = 3 Warnings bars
Temp < b = 2 Warnings bars
Temp < c = 1 Warnings bars
Temp > c = All Warning bars off.

[otolith]

Could well be. The downside of that is that if, for example Mazda decided to alter a, b and c in a service reflash the instruments wouldn't know about it.

[Fastdruid]

I'm almost certain that the clocks will be re-flashable as well.

[otolith]

The idea of duplicated code is upsetting my programmer sensibilities

[Fastdruid]

That assumes there is a duplicate and a/b/c are at the same temps as the rev limiter.

[otolith]

That's even worse! I'm going to have to go and sit in a darkened room for a while.

[405dogvan]

thelawnet said:

Gear? For a two mile journey?

We live in a country where it rains a lot - even if it's not raining it could still be wet and frankly, even a 2 mile dry ride will reduce your appearance to 'well scruffy' in most parts of the UK and some people need to not look "well scruffy" at work ;0

Also - cycling to pickup your daughter is an interesting concept - tow her home on a skateboard?

[pstables]

I'll throw my 2p in here as an ex-owner of a Series 1 (bought new in 2004 and ran for 4 years).
Loved the RX-8 in the 4 years I had it, replaced with a Leon Cupra (K1) and loved that too, then family grew and got a Skoda (Octavia vRS) but always hankered after an RX-8 again and picked up a white R3 pretty much this day last year (as a toy, still have the Skoda).

First time I drove it through the twisties I had such a massive grin on my face and yes, not as torquey / powerful as either of the turbo cars, the throttle response is immediate and the kids (4 and 6) love it. And the handling - oh, the handling.

Car and driver (US) claims the RX-8 is the third best handling car under $100K, a bold claim;
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2010-mazda...

Great car, rebuild cheap in the grand scheme of things, rest of bits / servicing cheap.

[RobCarless]

Hi all, can anyone confirm if the specific car originally listed has sold, (for certain) or did anyone happen to take a note of the sellers contact number/save the page the ad appeared on? The ad has been removed but I'd like to be sure.

Thanks.

[Warnie]

cib24 said:

There are alternatives to transport for 2 miles unless you are so out of shape that you can't walk 2 miles (or if you are legitimately disabled). Walking 2 miles takes on average 20 minutes at a decent pace but like I said a bike is a great alternative for such a short distance. I agree with Tom the highway engineer. There is no point in driving such a short distance.

Oh, and sorry to be a tt again but it's whether not weather.

20 minutes! I'm a fitness bore and I can't walk it in 20 mins. Double that and your close. So your perfect world would see her finish at 5pm so away for 10 past. Coat on with umbrella as it's Britain we live in, carry laptop and other work stuff on a walk home. She gets home at quarter to six if she's lucky. Drops off belongings and begins the 20 minute walk to the childminders (1 mile away, perfect world so must walk). Its now 10 past 6 and she pays the childminder an extra £6 as she's 40minutes late due to walking of course. She then begins the walk back and arrives back home 6.40pm, not held up in any way. This is 1 hour and 20 minutes later than usual. By the time the kids have had their dinner its their bed time at 8.30pm.

At that onto the morning commute then your talking over 2 and a half hours extra a day on top of working full time. Your perfect world isn't perfect for everyone no matter how retarded you may think it is.

Anyway she's having an Alfa gta so I can use it at weekends. 15mpg max I reckon for that 2 mile commute.......

[rogerhudson]

Fastdruid said:

TBH I thought it was salesman boll*cks anyway, if it gave more power or better enough mpg it might have been worth it (allegedly my 2.5T has more power running on super, I can't tell, I do get a couple more mpg better, not enough to justify the cost though).

I don't seem to have read anything here about using metered shots of synthetic 2-stroke oil during petrol filling to help with seal lubrication and extend life between rebuilds. Many USA RX8 owners seem to use it.
That such a quality car is at 1000 due to needing an engine rebuild shows how the 2nd hand market is nuts.

ps. I have a classic with spring trunnions, grease every 500 miles. Greasegun in motorway service carpark?

[mikeyr]

This seems as good as any RX8 thread to resurrect - I've seen one that has had a rebuild 25k ago but is apparently showing hot start issues again but is on the original starter motor.

How probable is it that this could be cured with a new battery(?) and starter combo ... or is it likely the engine is losing compression again? I'd assumed that if it was a starter issue then the car would be hard to start whatever it's temperature?

[ShaunTheSheep]

mikeyr said:

How probable is it that this could be cured with a new battery(?) and starter combo ... or is it likely the engine is losing compression again? I'd assumed that if it was a starter issue then the car would be hard to start whatever it's temperature?

That will hide the issue for up to a few thousand miles, but it's only deferring it not curing it.

[Fastdruid]

I'd have thought all the 04-05 cars would have had the uprated starter and re-flash by now but the uprated starter isn't really for hot start issues, it's there to prevent flooding.

[otolith]

Fastdruid said:

I'd have thought all the 04-05 cars would have had the uprated starter and re-flash by now but the uprated starter isn't really for hot start issues, it's there to prevent flooding.

Dealers were fobbing punters off with the starter upgrade, though, when failing compression started to cause hot starting issues. And it fixed it - for a while.

[ShaunTheSheep]

Yeah the faster you can spin it over the longer it'll keep running.

Eventually when they're about dead, they won't run below 3k rpm once warm so they stall really easily and you can't get going again.

[mikeyr]

ShaunTheSheep said:

mikeyr said:

How probable is it that this could be cured with a new battery(?) and starter combo ... or is it likely the engine is losing compression again? I'd assumed that if it was a starter issue then the car would be hard to start whatever it's temperature?

That will hide the issue for up to a few thousand miles, but it's only deferring it not curing it.

So looks like the consensus is that it's unlikely to be a knackered starter motor?

In general, anyone got any thoughts on longevity of the rebuilds?

[Fastdruid]

mikeyr said:

ShaunTheSheep said:

mikeyr said:

How probable is it that this could be cured with a new battery(?) and starter combo ... or is it likely the engine is losing compression again? I'd assumed that if it was a starter issue then the car would be hard to start whatever it's temperature?

That will hide the issue for up to a few thousand miles, but it's only deferring it not curing it.

So looks like the consensus is that it's unlikely to be a knackered starter motor?

In general, anyone got any thoughts on longevity of the rebuilds?

How long is a piece of string! About the same as the original build. Some of them ran to >100k without a rebuild, others needed one pretty early. I'd expect 50k though, as an example the rebuilders are offering up to 3 years/36k as a warranty.

[mikeyr]

Cheers Druid - the car is up for way under a grand so not expensive but don't fancy a large Mazda paperweight.

Having had a 996 version 911 I know that the Hartech rebuilds seem to be more highly regarded than the original engines (due to uprated parts) so was wondering if he same had occurred in the RX8. Sound s like it's more of a problem with the integral design then with no magic bullet.

Seriously tempted by one still despite it's shortcomings.