Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

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Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

Hi - My name is Martin White and I have inherited my late brothers RX-8 which he had from new. He had it imported.
IMG_1061.JPG
It's been sat for just over 18 months without being used and has now been delivered to me. It doesn't start and I have just started to investigate. I am happy around engines but very new to the Wankel unit. Have had to install a new battery straight away. Pulled plugs out this morning, good news they are wet so we are getting fuel, but I understand these engines flood easily?

I am only getting a white spark at the plug, see below the plugs look in not bad nick but it is normal for them to be diffirent in the lead and trailing chambers?
tempImagepamkC5.gif
Is there a way testing the coil units please?

Many thanks in advance - I feel this will end up being a long project thread. There is a lot to do.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Dr. FrankenRex »

If it's been sat for about 18 months then I'd suggest topping the fuel tank off with some new fuel. I picked up a PZ which had been sat for about 2 years and the only reason it wouldn't start was bad fuel. Fuel goes off over time.

Those spark plugs look alright to me.
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MRWight (Fri May 28, 2021 10:51 am)
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by bigpete8 »

Yes to the flooding - they run very rich from a cold start so if turned off too early flooding is possible / likely if anything else on ignition side is not in good condition.

Deflood via a tow start is favoured but can be done via fully charged battery/booster.
see here: viewtopic.php?p=35707#p35707

But also wht was said about fuel.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Markl17 »

Hi
The spark plugs should have L on the leading plug and T on the trailing plug.
Stormy blue is the best colour .
Enjoy mark
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

Thx for your comments - UPADTE - He runs!

Striped out the leads, could plugs - cleaned and inspected everything. Leads on the plug ends looks dark and wet - so replaced them. reassembled it all and cranked away - took about 20 mins of cranking waiting cranking waiting it wanted to start you could hear one cylinder then 2 kicking in. Finally, well I can't say burst into life but more of a burble - but he now runs.

Did drive him a couple of tenths of a mile - OOOHHH sounds nasty - certainly new brakes all round, and maybe a wheel bearing or two.

I attach a picture of the NS front Suspension
tempImageVoToBH.gif
Can you replace the upper wishbone bushes or is it a new wishbone assembly?

Cheers

Martin
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by warpc0il »

Those bushes last (nearly) forever, unless someone loosens them off and re-tightens with no weight on the suspension.

By the time the weight is back on the wheels then the bushes are under significant torsion, and then you hit a bump, corner and/or brake hard, anything that causes the front suspension to compress further, and the bushes get destroyed.

That looks like what's happened to yours.

It's too young to have had the lower wishbones replaced under recall, which would be a common cause of the issue, thanks to "Mazda Trained Technicians" [-X so I wonder about the history.

You can't buy the bushes on their own.

You might find a good used set from a car that's died of tin worm, or a non-frontal write-off.
However, as it's a JDM car, which probably didn't come with Mazda Sports suspension (like all the UK cars) you need to be careful swapping suspension components around. Some are the same, some look the same but have significant differences, some look different.

If you post/PM the VIN I might be about to check, as I have access to Mazda Europe's systems. However, it doesn't always work for JDM cars.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

Markl17 wrote:
Fri May 28, 2021 2:51 pm
Hi
The spark plugs should have L on the leading plug and T on the trailing plug.
Stormy blue is the best colour .
Enjoy mark
Where would that marking be - the plugs aren't special to rotary engines?

Thanks.

Martin
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Ollie »

The plugs are special to rotary engines. There are two designs of plug that the car takes. One for the leading plug and one for the trailing plug per rotor. On the ceramic part of the plug there will be either a T or L as well as what specific type of plug they are (there are different heat ratings so be careful with this). You should be able to find what type of plugs are required on the forum.

Also be aware of the fakes that are kicking about! You can have a look here:

viewtopic.php?f=58&t=79004&p=1242375&hi ... g#p1242375
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Markl17 »

Yorindesarin wrote:
Wed Jun 02, 2021 2:42 pm
The plugs are special to rotary engines. There are two designs of plug that the car takes. One for the leading plug and one for the trailing plug per rotor. On the ceramic part of the plug there will be either a T or L as well as what specific type of plug they are (there are different heat ratings so be careful with this). You should be able to find what type of plugs are required on the forum.

Also be aware of the fakes that are kicking about! You can have a look here:

viewtopic.php?f=58&t=79004&p=1242375&hi ... g#p1242375
And they are expensive,probably 80 pound for a set.
Mark
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Honkytonk »

They are expensive compartive to a standard piston engine but they're also not worth skimping on, as the ignition system in rotaries is of paramount importqnce for engine health. If you have bad ignition it can cause all sorts of knock on problems later on, so coils, leads, sparks, battery and to some degree starter motor are all important things to keep maintained and in tip top shape.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

So, wanted to start to strip out the brakes but had to move the car to a more suitable position, started the engine which was fine : BUT the dashboard isn’t working, all the warning lights come up and engine starts but none of the gauges work, Revs, fuel gauge, oil etc... guessing a relay may have failed? Any guesses?
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by warpc0il »

Sounds like the Meter fuse #5 in the fusebox in the passenger footwell.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

So finally found time to get “Brains” into the workshop (after much clearing out)
307FA7F2-4BB5-4836-84F8-D33EDDC92D49.jpeg
93428EAB-101E-4A0D-ACA7-DC8F32DCB8F1.jpeg
Got him up on axle stands which has shown up some rust on exhaust but it’s not blowing
D669A791-0DC9-431B-BE5E-1448526B12A8.jpeg
DA1509AE-5750-499E-98A5-6269B6488809.jpeg
559722DD-B101-4BCA-9573-ADA9C759789A.jpeg
Also found an oil leak - seems to be coming from Auto transmission oil cooler system?

More to follow


BB2FC3B5-03BE-4CB6-9CA4-0B091C367445.jpeg
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by warpc0il »

That "exhaust" rust is mainly the heatshield on the cat, which isn't an issue unless it comes loose.

The oil leak looks like the engine oil cooler hoses, which is very common.
See viewtopic.php?f=144&t=80819

The rusting of the sump is also a cause for concern, as they can also leak and dump the oil on the road.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

So started to remove the disc etc to be replaced as heavily corroded.
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I have a question - I am trying to purchase new discs and pads - disc I can find with the correct dimensions, however the pads I am struggling to find the correct dimensioned items It seem all the replacement sets are 43mm x 105.5 mm. The pads that came off are 41mm x 104mm - Will this make a difference? the car is an import unit. (Auto)
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Delanor »

UK cars have 18" dia alloys and 323 mm diameter discs whereas some imports had 16" dia alloys and smaller 303 mm diameter discs to suit but the pads should be the same size for both discs which is 138/140 x 62 x 16mm, the pad size length varies slightly depending on manufacturer.

You have 18" dia alloys so should have 323 mm diameter discs if the discs are 303 mm dia then the car originally had 16" dia alloys but the pads should be the same size.
24042_163__0_4.jpg
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See EBC brake catalogue they list the different sizes for UK and Japanese imports.

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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Honkytonk »

On the last photo, if the sill is still solid I would get it treated by krown or similar asap - that's a super common place for them to start corroding from and it looks like you might be able to catch it before it sets in.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by warpc0il »

You need to measure the discs that you have removed.

By default the JDM Auto would have been fitted with the smaller discs and 16" wheels.

If you have 18" wheels then it's possible that the first owner specified Mazda Sports Suspension, as an option, which would include the bigger brakes.

The calipers and pads are the same either way but the caliper mountings are different.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

Thx guys for your help
@Honkytonk - Yes sill is solid and rust treatment will be applied.
@warpcOil / Delanor : Could I fit the larger disc on without changing the calliper? I think I may get out the tape measure.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by warpc0il »

You need to fit whatever size disc you removed, otherwise the caliper mount won't line up.

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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Delanor »

It maybe the caliper is the same if the pads are the same size but if you have 303 mm discs it may be the caliper carrier is different to space the pads to suit the smaller disc.

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MRWight (Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:32 am)
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

Thx guys for all your replies and help - much appreciated.

I have sourced 302 disc's and the same sized pads as now fitted.

Sorry one more question, can I assume this is an MOT failure?
tempImageHNxVRT.gif
Thanks again.
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Ainmhidh »

Glad you managed to get the brakes sorted - what pads did you get in the end?
Not even sure what I'm looking at in that picture, it looks like a torn rubber boot on a ball joint? Is it a drop link?
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by MRWight »

Hi - Pads were 43mm x 105.5mm which if I have to take off .5mm each side will be fine.

The picture shows the Rear lateral link arm ball joint - its corroded and the rubber has parted company

Cheers
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Re: Breathing new life into an inherited RX-8

Post by Delanor »

A split dust cover will be a fail I`m afraid the thought being water dirt etc gets in and with no lube the ball joint seizes then parts company.

Don`t get confused about the disc size the rears are 302 mm dia` on all cars you should have 303 mm dia` fronts. :-k

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