Chris H
master of boobies
So last year, well the beginning of last year I had an urge for something rotary powered. RX7 etc. Then saw they were mental money.
So looked at something newer, looked at a couple of RX8's and they all had all the common issues and were the crappy 192PS models so walked away.
They were too just much money as well for their issues.
A few months pass by and in October(ish) a friend with another garage called me up asking if I was interested in an RX8 another trader was selling as it was close to me.
I said I'll go for a look.
So I went, had a look. Tyres all flat, non runner, MOT up nearly a year, tow bar hitch out the front, last 2 owners never heard it run, dud battery, covers in the boot, some body damage etc etc.
I would tell anyone else to leave it but, it was the 231 model, full tarts handbag leather in good condition, xenon’s, no cruise and no sat nav so slightly strange spec wise. I also talked the price down, way down.
So I bought it.
I then decided I should see about getting it running etc.
Tyres pumped up; well all except the driver’s rear wouldn't hold air.
Jump leads on and everything worked.
Eventually it fired up but ran like crap and had the usual flashing management light saying turn me off I’m going to wreck the CAT because I'm misfiring.
So I got it transported down to my garage so I could get onto it.
Heres some pics from the yard where I viewed and bought it from.
My Autel wouldn't communicate with it so I used this crappy bluepoint microscan thing. I prefer my phone and elm 327 over this thing btw
So there are a few issues. Including what am I going to do with it?
[BREAK=Back at the unit]
So got the thing recovered down to my garage where I have my tools, lift etc. It certainly makes things easier.
I had/have a list of stuff that needed/needs done.
The main immediate issue was to get the car starting every time and also clear out the exhaust system and chambers etc. As it had obviously been flooded loads which is a common issue with these things.
First thing was get it up on the ramp and remove the plugs. This picture shows all 4 plugs. The 2 outer lugs I have cleaned with the old blow torch. The liquid is actually raw fuel.
So plugs cleaned, rotor housings blown out with airline and of course eccentric shaft (crank to normal people) rotated so all 3 faces of each rotor are blown clean. A lot of fuel came out.
So plugs refitted and key turned. It started up and ran. Then smoked the place out as all the raw fuel and whatever else had settled in the exhaust was burned off
That was enough for the moment. I wanted to be able to drive it in and out when I had to rather than push it.
New plugs are on the list but 80 quid for plugs in a car I don't actually drive is an expense that can wait.
The list is long but the car has its good points.
As I write this (1/3/15) I have had the car for 5 months and still not sure what to do with it. I drive it round the yard on occasion.
I am tempted to do a few things to it.
1. Sell it. Tempting, easy money really but I won't get to enjoy it.
2. Get it on the road and put my business livery on it as a rolling advert.
3. Do something silly with it. I had an AGU engine for ages I was tempted to put into it, and then thought v8. Then thought RX7 turbo engine then I was thinking there’s turbo kits for these 13B's in the USA etc. But that’s a lot of money for essentially a bit of Jap crap that needs money thrown at it anyway.
It needs 4 tyres 18's of course so cheap... And it really needs a wheel as the drivers rear is buckled a bit which is why it doesn't hold air for long. A previous owner seems to have slammed it into a kerb.
The battery was left flat for months where it sat, I have and continue to charge it and it starts the car but not more than 2 or 3 times. It’s done.
So tyres, brakes, plugs and a battery are the essentials it actually needs to go on the road as it is.
[BREAK=Messing about]
So basically the car sits there and I mess about with it from time to time doing small things on it when I'm not busy.
Covers off and airbox out, not sure why but here it is
The car has had a full set of leads and coils, which is nice. But I need to renew the plugs at some point.
This one was parked outside a neighbouring unit for a while. I would eventually be asked to fix it
The starter motors on the RX8's are a real source of problems, they were revised twice to more powerful units so it would reliably start. Mine was slow, I pulled it out and it has the first revision starter on it but its ancient. I did strip it down and clean it which has helped a lot.
[BREAK=Secondary air injection]
Secondary air injection is basically an air pump that pushes fresh air into the exhaust system before the cat to clean up the cold start emissons. This runs until the cooolant reaches 30 degrees or so.
It sounds like a hoover when its operating.
Its a simple system, basically an electrical air pump (older rx7's etc used a crank driven air pump) pushes fresh air into the exhaust via a vacuum solenoid controlled valve.
This car had a code for it and sporadic operation of the air pump and a blown fuse eventually as well. Basically the bearings had failed. I have put new bearings in it but the damage has been done tbh, so it needs an air pump really.
Air pump out the car
The top vane
Both vanes out
Bearing seperator, yeah thats not right
The bearing as you can see with the seperator deformed lets the balls go to one side and jam the motor.
New bearing for the top plate
the motor where you need to push plastic etc in to release it all
Stripped down
The valve between the fresh air side and the exhaust.
Split open, yes a mess this is due to cold fresh air mixing with cold exhaust gas, basically EGR mess without the added oil though.
The actual valve portion here
Cleaned up, not spotless I could have soda blasted it but that would have meant getting up from my seat. But its clean and functional.
Even with the new bearings in it was stiff to turn, it would spin up the slow down and the wiring got hot so somethings wonky.
No big deal, just means the management lights on. I'll sort it eventually.
[BREAK=Coolant leak]
So I noticed a puddle after it had ran, with it up on the ramp I saw some witness marks.
The aluminium coolant stubs had the usual fur on them. A clean up and new hose clips sorted it out
No more leaks.
[BREAK=Xenon light repair]
The xenons worked, its just they were aimed at the floor.
As with most cars theres 2 height sensors, the rear one was fine the front one however wasn't. The small drop link had seized and snapped the arm. I cleaned it up welded it and its working properly again.
Welded, painted, drop link freed up and working again.
The lights moved up to the correct level instantly and now they move when they should.
[BREAK=Third brake light]
So the third brake light wasn't working.
And yes its rotten at the light, they all do that sir. 2007 is the year they stopped them rotting at the light apparently.
Initial check showed a blown bulb. So got a bulb from halfords as its the closest. Fitted the bulb no change, so had a look at the wiring since most of the time that breaks on moving panels such as doors and bootlids.
Found it broken. Repaired and good as new.
Clear plastic is stained from the rust
Most of the bulbs on this are these dual filament capless ones
After poking and prodding I found the break
Loom out
Only 1 wire was right through, the other not far behind
Repaired and routed a bit more gently
All fixed
So looked at something newer, looked at a couple of RX8's and they all had all the common issues and were the crappy 192PS models so walked away.
They were too just much money as well for their issues.
A few months pass by and in October(ish) a friend with another garage called me up asking if I was interested in an RX8 another trader was selling as it was close to me.
I said I'll go for a look.
So I went, had a look. Tyres all flat, non runner, MOT up nearly a year, tow bar hitch out the front, last 2 owners never heard it run, dud battery, covers in the boot, some body damage etc etc.
I would tell anyone else to leave it but, it was the 231 model, full tarts handbag leather in good condition, xenon’s, no cruise and no sat nav so slightly strange spec wise. I also talked the price down, way down.
So I bought it.
I then decided I should see about getting it running etc.
Tyres pumped up; well all except the driver’s rear wouldn't hold air.
Jump leads on and everything worked.
Eventually it fired up but ran like crap and had the usual flashing management light saying turn me off I’m going to wreck the CAT because I'm misfiring.
So I got it transported down to my garage so I could get onto it.
Heres some pics from the yard where I viewed and bought it from.
My Autel wouldn't communicate with it so I used this crappy bluepoint microscan thing. I prefer my phone and elm 327 over this thing btw
So there are a few issues. Including what am I going to do with it?
[BREAK=Back at the unit]
So got the thing recovered down to my garage where I have my tools, lift etc. It certainly makes things easier.
I had/have a list of stuff that needed/needs done.
The main immediate issue was to get the car starting every time and also clear out the exhaust system and chambers etc. As it had obviously been flooded loads which is a common issue with these things.
First thing was get it up on the ramp and remove the plugs. This picture shows all 4 plugs. The 2 outer lugs I have cleaned with the old blow torch. The liquid is actually raw fuel.
So plugs cleaned, rotor housings blown out with airline and of course eccentric shaft (crank to normal people) rotated so all 3 faces of each rotor are blown clean. A lot of fuel came out.
So plugs refitted and key turned. It started up and ran. Then smoked the place out as all the raw fuel and whatever else had settled in the exhaust was burned off
That was enough for the moment. I wanted to be able to drive it in and out when I had to rather than push it.
New plugs are on the list but 80 quid for plugs in a car I don't actually drive is an expense that can wait.
The list is long but the car has its good points.
As I write this (1/3/15) I have had the car for 5 months and still not sure what to do with it. I drive it round the yard on occasion.
I am tempted to do a few things to it.
1. Sell it. Tempting, easy money really but I won't get to enjoy it.
2. Get it on the road and put my business livery on it as a rolling advert.
3. Do something silly with it. I had an AGU engine for ages I was tempted to put into it, and then thought v8. Then thought RX7 turbo engine then I was thinking there’s turbo kits for these 13B's in the USA etc. But that’s a lot of money for essentially a bit of Jap crap that needs money thrown at it anyway.
It needs 4 tyres 18's of course so cheap... And it really needs a wheel as the drivers rear is buckled a bit which is why it doesn't hold air for long. A previous owner seems to have slammed it into a kerb.
The battery was left flat for months where it sat, I have and continue to charge it and it starts the car but not more than 2 or 3 times. It’s done.
So tyres, brakes, plugs and a battery are the essentials it actually needs to go on the road as it is.
[BREAK=Messing about]
So basically the car sits there and I mess about with it from time to time doing small things on it when I'm not busy.
Covers off and airbox out, not sure why but here it is
The car has had a full set of leads and coils, which is nice. But I need to renew the plugs at some point.
This one was parked outside a neighbouring unit for a while. I would eventually be asked to fix it
The starter motors on the RX8's are a real source of problems, they were revised twice to more powerful units so it would reliably start. Mine was slow, I pulled it out and it has the first revision starter on it but its ancient. I did strip it down and clean it which has helped a lot.
[BREAK=Secondary air injection]
Secondary air injection is basically an air pump that pushes fresh air into the exhaust system before the cat to clean up the cold start emissons. This runs until the cooolant reaches 30 degrees or so.
It sounds like a hoover when its operating.
Its a simple system, basically an electrical air pump (older rx7's etc used a crank driven air pump) pushes fresh air into the exhaust via a vacuum solenoid controlled valve.
This car had a code for it and sporadic operation of the air pump and a blown fuse eventually as well. Basically the bearings had failed. I have put new bearings in it but the damage has been done tbh, so it needs an air pump really.
Air pump out the car
The top vane
Both vanes out
Bearing seperator, yeah thats not right
The bearing as you can see with the seperator deformed lets the balls go to one side and jam the motor.
New bearing for the top plate
the motor where you need to push plastic etc in to release it all
Stripped down
The valve between the fresh air side and the exhaust.
Split open, yes a mess this is due to cold fresh air mixing with cold exhaust gas, basically EGR mess without the added oil though.
The actual valve portion here
Cleaned up, not spotless I could have soda blasted it but that would have meant getting up from my seat. But its clean and functional.
Even with the new bearings in it was stiff to turn, it would spin up the slow down and the wiring got hot so somethings wonky.
No big deal, just means the management lights on. I'll sort it eventually.
[BREAK=Coolant leak]
So I noticed a puddle after it had ran, with it up on the ramp I saw some witness marks.
The aluminium coolant stubs had the usual fur on them. A clean up and new hose clips sorted it out
No more leaks.
[BREAK=Xenon light repair]
The xenons worked, its just they were aimed at the floor.
As with most cars theres 2 height sensors, the rear one was fine the front one however wasn't. The small drop link had seized and snapped the arm. I cleaned it up welded it and its working properly again.
Welded, painted, drop link freed up and working again.
The lights moved up to the correct level instantly and now they move when they should.
[BREAK=Third brake light]
So the third brake light wasn't working.
And yes its rotten at the light, they all do that sir. 2007 is the year they stopped them rotting at the light apparently.
Initial check showed a blown bulb. So got a bulb from halfords as its the closest. Fitted the bulb no change, so had a look at the wiring since most of the time that breaks on moving panels such as doors and bootlids.
Found it broken. Repaired and good as new.
Clear plastic is stained from the rust
Most of the bulbs on this are these dual filament capless ones
After poking and prodding I found the break
Loom out
Only 1 wire was right through, the other not far behind
Repaired and routed a bit more gently
All fixed
Last edited by a moderator:
