RX8 - Oh dear.

Author
Discussion

DamianBPhoto

Original Poster:

1,935 posts

195 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Hi all, posting on behalf of a mate.

He has an RX8 and when he starts it cold it starts fine. But after it has had time to warm up, and he turns the engine off and on again it won't go. Takes about 15minutes to cool off before it will.

So he's posted the problem on the RX8 forum and asked owners and they all say engine is going to go, reckon it is to do with the rotor tips?

Either way he is panicking because he has only just bought it(just over a year) and doesn't want the engine to go just yet, obviously.

So does it sound like they might be talking sense or be going OTT? If they are talking sense what are some good options what to do next?

sherman

13,264 posts

215 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Whats the mileage on the car? The rotor tips are rated to over 100k miles.

This thread may also be of help.
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=185768

Edited by sherman on Saturday 27th March 00:32

Flippin' Kipper

637 posts

179 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
I think the tips can be replaced without a rebuild unlike the RX7 engine.

gog440

9,247 posts

190 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
If i remember rightly there was an issue with starting on rx8s (i nearly bought one last year)and there was an ecu mod to cure the problem that should have been done.

sherman

13,264 posts

215 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Flippin' Kipper said:
I think the tips can be replaced without a rebuild unlike the RX7 engine.
yes
The tip can be replaced with out the need for a whole new rotor assembly.

Harbuzi

328 posts

180 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
I almost bought an RX8 about 6 months ago and joined up to that forum. My impression was that they were a knowledgable bunch, and subsequently I would take any advice they were offering in the first instance!

otolith

56,134 posts

204 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Warm starting can be indicative of low compression. There is a better starter motor which is fitted to later cars, but it will just mask the problem. I'd pay for a warm compression test before doing anything else. Low compression issues do not seem to be mileage related - some cars have had problems at very low mileage, other cars manage high miles without issues.

DamianBPhoto

Original Poster:

1,935 posts

195 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Its quite a funny car. I think there is more too it than the dealer told him. Like the car is a jap import 06 model with 26k? on the clock and the front bonnet has been resprayed and the rear bumper has been resprayed badly. Almost like its been in a smack?

Yeah we were told about compression issues.

Was told to try sparks to start (£50 each apparently) then look at the coil issue.

The car only cost £10k so prices are kind of warranting a new car instead of fixing by the looks of it.

Can you believe he got this over a 350z?

frosted

3,549 posts

177 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Buy a warranty , got nothing to lose

marcosgt

11,021 posts

176 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
DamianBPhoto said:
Can you believe he got this over a 350z?
If he ever wants to carry more than one other person, it's not really a contest, is it?

M.

DamianBPhoto

Original Poster:

1,935 posts

195 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
DamianBPhoto said:
Can you believe he got this over a 350z?
If he ever wants to carry more than one other person, it's not really a contest, is it?

M.
Sorry forgot to added in his debate for getting the RX8 over the 350z

"It's more economical and will be cheaper to run"

Also the two seater thing is not a problem. That's what his GF car is for. Plus you can't really fit four in an RX8. Have Tried, very uncomfortable.

DamianBPhoto

Original Poster:

1,935 posts

195 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Hi All, thanks for the advice.

I told him today and his face didn't look to dissimilar from this D:.

Not overly happy about hearing it after he has just spent out for new wheels and a few engine bay enhancements (strut bar and caps).

He is going to try the hot and cold compression test before anything else and look at the warranty to. But TBH he is thinking about just getting rid of it rather than have the hassle.

So in an ideal world he would get back his full £10k for the car and get something else but that's not the case. So realistically what would you expect to get for an RX8 06 jap import (260bhp), with a special edition veilside kit on it, 23k? on the clock and a problem (potentially big problem) in the engine?

daemon

35,822 posts

197 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
frosted said:
Buy a warranty , got nothing to lose
Are rotor tips on these engines not considered 'wear and tear' items?

dylan0451

1,040 posts

191 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
DamianBPhoto said:
So in an ideal world he would get back his full £10k for the car and get something else but that's not the case. So realistically what would you expect to get for an RX8 06 jap import (260bhp), with a special edition veilside kit on it, 23k? on the clock and a problem (potentially big problem) in the engine?
from looking in the classifieds, i could see him possibly re selling for 10k if he was a dealer and offered a warranty on a good running car

if i was buying, i wouldn't want to part with much more than 5-6k as i'd be factoring in a reconn'd engine straight after purchase

LeightonBuzzard

463 posts

178 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
If the car's not got upto full operating temperature it can flood the engine and takes about 15mins to start it. Take the Plugs out spin over, replace plugs and should start fine. My friend had one and has had to spend somuch money on it; he has waranty but i think rotor tips are NOT covered. The thing caught fire due to a faulty catalyst. Failed to start after short journeys. He told me about Mazda in America telling customers after buying the car it's NOT for short journeys.


Cheers Tom

nottyash

4,670 posts

195 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
LeightonBuzzard said:
If the car's not got upto full operating temperature it can flood the engine and takes about 15mins to start it. Take the Plugs out spin over, replace plugs and should start fine. My friend had one and has had to spend somuch money on it; he has waranty but i think rotor tips are NOT covered. The thing caught fire due to a faulty catalyst. Failed to start after short journeys. He told me about Mazda in America telling customers after buying the car it's NOT for short journeys.


Cheers Tom
Its been mentioned before this. My dad wanted one which i found a mint 2004 model with 32k on for just £5k. He reckons the starter on the newer ones was upgraded due to these starting problems. I believe they are about £350 from Mazda. Short journeys can flood them resulting in an excessive amount of fuel getting into the cat. This can explode and blow the cat up, again this is expensive.
the trick is to rev them before turning them off.
Problem is they are not a "normal" engine, yet people treat them like they are (short runs), which results in these problems.
The coils can be bought for half the price from some company on the RX8 website.

OP...Maybe try changing the coils?scratchchin

otolith

56,134 posts

204 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
DamianBPhoto said:
Can you believe he got this over a 350z?
Having had both (currently a 350Z, previously an RX-8), yes, I can believe it.

Devil2575

13,400 posts

188 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Issues with the RX8 go some way to explaing why they are so damn cheap at the moment. I just had a look on the net and £6k will get you a sub 50k 04 231 bhp car with a full Mazda History.

Now compare that to the cost of a simlar age and milage 350z, an O5 Focus ST etc etc.

People are practically giving them away eek

Devil2575

13,400 posts

188 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
nottyash said:
[My dad wanted one which i found a mint 2004 model with 32k on for just £5k.
See, giving them away...

marcosgt

11,021 posts

176 months

Saturday 27th March 2010
quotequote all
Devil2575 said:
Issues with the RX8 go some way to explaing why they are so damn cheap at the moment. I just had a look on the net and £6k will get you a sub 50k 04 231 bhp car with a full Mazda History.

Now compare that to the cost of a simlar age and milage 350z, an O5 Focus ST etc etc.

People are practically giving them away eek
They are, but the issues are vastly overstated - Most of the reason is that they are heavy on fuel and 06-on cars are expensive to tax.

Anyway, the symptons in the OP do sound like low compression, so it's probably a repair or recon engine, although as someone else has said early cars did have problems with their starter motors, although I think these were upgraded on properly serviced cars.

I guess too the OP's friends and family must all be 6 feet plus - Getting 4 5'9" people in the car is comfortable enough even on longish trips and, yes, I have sat in the back smile

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Saturday 27th March 15:57