New Member who took a gamble

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Martinpp
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New Member who took a gamble

Post by Martinpp »

Hi

I've been looking for a little project car for a little while and decide I fancied some thing I've not had before.

So I took a gamble and bought a 72K 2007 RX8 192 for an auction, it was an insurance loss vehicle with some damage to os rear quarter.

Β£350, whats the worst that can happen.


Picked it up yesterday, It was dropped to us on forklift, as all the cars are. First start attempt, turning but no fire up. Tried again with booster pack, nothing.
So hooked up a strap and towed it of site and attempted a tow start. she fired up but had no throttle response and check engine light.
Left her running for a few minutes and then turned off, reset the ecu and she started up again, had throttle now, still had the check engine light. Took it for a little spin and it drove well. left it running while we hooked up the A frame for the tow home and started to get a bit of coolant dripping from front bumper but temperature gauge at just below 12 o clock position. disconnected battery and towed home

So I get it back, connect the battery and start it, fires up great, check engine light is off and to be fair its sound sweet as a nut. Took it for another spin, oil pressure is good, water temperature is good, fan is coming at after a few minutes of idle, I can smell coolant but that maybe from earlier in the day.
Pressure test is next on the list to check for leaks, then I'm looking at a new water pump and cooler thermostat and possibly an alloy rad.
Followed by coils, leads and plugs, oil and filter change.

One thing I noticed when driving was steering left is fine but turning right is stiffer but I've not looked at tyre pressures or anything like that yet.

Look forward to learning more here and moving forward with this project.

Cheers.

Martin
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by Ollie »

Wouldn't bother with changing the thermostat to something cooler. The cars cooling system is actually really good as it is. Making the thermostat open earlier keeps the engine colder for longer. Which with a rotary isn't ideal.
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New Member who took a gamble

Post by GreySilver Beast »

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


Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's for anything coming up soon in your area :thumleft:

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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by DrewR3 »

Welcome, A good old Copart purchase by the sounds of a forklift bringing it. Very cheap buy from there. The chester branch is silly money for anything at the minute. And a rare 192 saved.....
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by bigpete8 »

Could you coolant leak just be an over fill of the expansion tank?
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by 79398 »

Martinpp wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:30 pm
Hi

I've been looking for a little project car for a little while and decide I fancied some thing I've not had before.

So I took a gamble and bought a 72K 2007 RX8 192 for an auction, it was an insurance loss vehicle with some damage to os rear quarter.

Β£350, whats the worst that can happen.


Picked it up yesterday, It was dropped to us on forklift, as all the cars are. First start attempt, turning but no fire up. Tried again with booster pack, nothing.
So hooked up a strap and towed it of site and attempted a tow start. she fired up but had no throttle response and check engine light.
Left her running for a few minutes and then turned off, reset the ecu and she started up again, had throttle now, still had the check engine light. Took it for a little spin and it drove well. left it running while we hooked up the A frame for the tow home and started to get a bit of coolant dripping from front bumper but temperature gauge at just below 12 o clock position. disconnected battery and towed home

So I get it back, connect the battery and start it, fires up great, check engine light is off and to be fair its sound sweet as a nut. Took it for another spin, oil pressure is good, water temperature is good, fan is coming at after a few minutes of idle, I can smell coolant but that maybe from earlier in the day.
Pressure test is next on the list to check for leaks, then I'm looking at a new water pump and cooler thermostat and possibly an alloy rad.
Followed by coils, leads and plugs, oil and filter change.

One thing I noticed when driving was steering left is fine but turning right is stiffer but I've not looked at tyre pressures or anything like that yet.

Look forward to learning more here and moving forward with this project.

Cheers.

Martin
Did something similar with mine paid Β£400, πŸ€” be aware of the bills ahead πŸ˜³πŸ‘πŸ˜Ž
Nough said.
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by Martinpp »

Well its just passed the pressure test. Held 15psi for 15 minutes, no sign of any leaks.
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by GraemeC »

Welcome!

See here for some ideas on the steering issue viewtopic.php?f=25&t=47002
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Martinpp (Wed Sep 01, 2021 4:03 pm)
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by DrewR3 »

Proactive wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:38 pm

Did something similar with mine paid Β£400, πŸ€” be aware of the bills ahead πŸ˜³πŸ‘πŸ˜Ž
Nough said.
Dont you want to expand on that Simon? πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by 79398 »

DrewR3 wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:58 pm
Proactive wrote: ↑
Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:38 pm

Did something similar with mine paid Β£400, πŸ€” be aware of the bills ahead πŸ˜³πŸ‘πŸ˜Ž
Nough said.
Dont you want to expand on that? πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚
Best leave it there 😳
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by Shagrington »

Hi and :welcome: Martinpp. :) Well done, hopefully you can save it and get it back on the road where it should be.

Just a thought, the oil pressure gauge is more like an on/off switch - it tells you you have pressure or not, nothing more than that. Likewise the coolant temp gauge will sit just off straight up with the coolant anywhere between about 65C and 105C (very rough figures, I can't remember the right ones, but they're about there) - if the needle moves to the right from there it is getting really hot!
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Martinpp
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by Martinpp »

Shagrington wrote: ↑
Sat Sep 04, 2021 3:23 pm
Hi and :welcome: Martinpp. :) Well done, hopefully you can save it and get it back on the road where it should be.

Just a thought, the oil pressure gauge is more like an on/off switch - it tells you you have pressure or not, nothing more than that. Likewise the coolant temp gauge will sit just off straight up with the coolant anywhere between about 65C and 105C (very rough figures, I can't remember the right ones, but they're about there) - if the needle moves to the right from there it is getting really hot!
Thanks.
I've been thinking about put some decent gauges in anyway, looks like car will be a road legal track toy.
I did see a guide on here somewhere, cant find it now :roll:
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by Martinpp »

Connected to the car today via the torque app.
Watched the coolant temperature.
Went up to 103c before coming in and dropping back down to 98. Seemed stable.

Is there anyone in Newport South Wales that can change my rev limit?

Another positive for today, the Mrs who wasn't best pleased about my purchase, even tho she's a Mazda lover and currently on her 3rd, came down to the workshop.
She had a look around, jumped in it and like it.


Need to join the club soon too
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by ChrisHolmes »

Why do you want to change the rev limit? There is no more power to be had and more revs equals less engine life, especially with a production balanced engine.
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Re: New Member who took a gamble

Post by Martinpp »

So after a few months of working it I've made decent progress.

Alloys refurbished, by me.
New rear tyres, Vredestiens.
New front calipers, discs and pads.
Rear pads
Calipers painted.
Bodywork done.
Gearbox and diff oil change. (Old oil was surprisingly good)
Engine oil and filter.
Decat
Stainless cat back.
New Mot.


Work in progress...

Oil pressure and water temp gauges.
New air filter waiting to fit.
Underseal front and rear subframe.