New RX8 owner - hello!

A chance to introduce yourself...
Mattblack_lude
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New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by Mattblack_lude »

Hi guys,

Just wanted to introduce myself before I start searching around the forum.
I've bought a 2008 stormy blue RX8 recently, which I'm attempting to clean up a little and have as a fun occasional car.

Have wanted one for years, so really glad to have finally ventured into ownership.
I've got a battery drain issue currently where the centre console (where the clock is) stays illuminated when the car is locked. Any one have experience with this? Really need to have trust that I can leave it for more than a couple days without having to jump start.

Anyway, hello to you all :thumright:
Last edited by Mattblack_lude on Sat May 18, 2019 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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warpc0il
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by warpc0il »

Does the alarm arm when you lock the car, e.g. do the indicators flash to confirm?
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Mattblack_lude
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by Mattblack_lude »

I believe so - seems to lock fine and indicators do flash. Oddly I've just gone out to it and the dash light isn't on now - going to check every hour so find out if its sporadically doing it. Strange.
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warpc0il
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by warpc0il »

Might be worth checking this
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=38133
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by Shagrington »

Hi and :welcome: Mattblack_lude. :D It's been a while since I stopped to look, but if you mean the dials have a sort of blue glow to them after you've locked the car etc I think that is normal, they do that for a minute or two ... perhaps (I have this vague memory from when I first got mine of it looking cool 8) ).

Have a good read through whatever in the FAQ section you didn't already read :study: and then (and just ignore me if you know all this already) here are my best tips for keeping it all running sweetly:

1. To start up turn the key to position 2, wait for most of the lights on the dash to go out (I watch the airbag light by the glove box), press the clutch to the floor (optional, but reduces drag), turn the key to start and do not touch the throttle until it has started. You can drive off straight away, just keep the revs down for a bit (see #4 below).

2. Never [-X turn off the engine before it has reached at least somewhere towards normal operating temperature (should only take a minute or two, but best to go for a short drive if just swapping cars round on the drive etc). Switching off cold risks flooding, which is a real :censored: with a rotary engine. Mazda recommend rev to 4k and hold it for 8-10 seconds switching off while still revving if you have no option but to switch off cold (it is not necessary to do this in any other circumstance).

3. Check the oil level regularly (use the dipstick - the oil gauge tells you nothing other than that you have or don't have pressure) and top up if necessary with semi synthetic 5w30 (most people and specialists are advising to use 10w40 now though) ... small amounts at a time, no more than ½ a litre then check the level again before adding more as you don't want to overfill it.

4. Use all the revs once the engine is nice and warm (don't sit idling to warm up, start up and drive but keep it below about 4k until the needle on the water temperature gauge is pointing straight up, then give it another 10 minutes for the oil to warm up too before really thrashing it :twisted: ) and hit the beep often. Best acceleration is from 4k revs up - to pull away you really need to rev to 2k - you can let the revs drop after lifting the clutch if you are in traffic, cruising steadily at 3½k revs and changing down to go up hills or accelerate gets you the best mpg ... which still won't be great. ;)

5. Join the club for discounts on all sorts of things (you will very quickly get the cost of membership back - and then some), loads more info in the members only sections, local meets (or if you can't find one exactly local it is a good excuse for a drive if you come to one a bit further away), a sexy keyring just for joining and more. :thumright:
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by SeeJay »

You could also try offloading that 192 and buying my R3.. ;)
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by bigpete8 »

Mattblack_lude wrote:
Sat May 18, 2019 6:50 pm
I've got a battery drain issue currently where the centre console (where the clock is) stays illuminated when the car is locked. Any one have experience with this? Really need to have trust that I can leave it for more than a couple days without having to jump start.
Do you mean blue glow to the rev counter etc?

If so its a feature not fault...
Sunlight Silver 231

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Living with a rotary - 7 Years in
viewtopic.php?p=1105043#p1105043
Mattblack_lude
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by Mattblack_lude »

Thanks for all the responses guys - very handy.

I've concluded that I think the battery being of such poor health could be the contributor, so I'm in the market for a new one.
I hear the Varta E23 is the battery of choice? What's the best place for best price?
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by warpc0il »

Dave
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Mattblack_lude
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by Mattblack_lude »

Awesome, that'll help - although it says insufficient privileges once I try to access the area to get the discount. As I'm a newbie, is my post count too low?
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warpc0il
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by warpc0il »

You have to be an Owners Club member
:sign:
https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/members ... Select.php
This also gives you access to the 70% of the forum not open to guests, including the Technical Library and Group Buys
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New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by GreySilver Beast »

Hi Matt & :welcome: to the RX-8OC :thumleft:

Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's :thumleft: - Events Team
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Mattblack_lude
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by Mattblack_lude »

Thread revival - just got the car back from its MOT and noticed the same thing; centre console lit up again. It has a new battery on it (Varta E23) so I've ruled out it being the old knackered battery as a potential issues.

Really has me stumped and I dont want it to kill my nice new battery....
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Re: New RX8 owner - hello!

Post by Shagrington »

You never said if the dash is illuminated blue or is it all still lit up white?
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