Had to get the 8 towed to the dealer Monday morning because it wouldn't start. Dealer replaced the starter, battery and sparkplugs – said there was a TSB on it.

Question I have is this: Before the car would turnover a couple times and then start - now it fires on the first try everytime - which is good, but it makes high pitch sound when it starts now and the engine revs to about 3K.... is this normal?

 

The new starter must have some serious kick to it.

 

all the components are new, so its a clean start

 

the new starter is a 9 volts starter, has alot more kick to it

 

How is that for the longevity of the starter? I mean, it receives 12 Volts instead of 9 - although I'm sure Mazda has thought this through. It still makes me wonder if the starter will not get damaged on the long run.

Last fall, when I got my battery replaced with the stronger one due to failing the test, they did not replace my starter. It still starts better, but maybe I should have flooded it to get the new starter as well

 

You will get at least the warranty period out of the starter. It will last about 75% as long as a normal one.

 

??? Don't know about that, may be better life if it only takes a short pulse to start compared to cranking for 30 seconds every time.

 

I've seen a few people post that 9v theory now. Where did this come from? What car in the world uses a 9v system? I don't buy the terminology. It's a new starter that is designed to spin faster upon application of 12v.

Jeff, you draw a long bow implying the life of the starter will be reduced by 25% because this so-called 9v starter has a 25% greater voltage being applied. Its a 12v starter that spins quicker.

 

But it does so by being wound for lower current. This means a lot more heat, a lot more shock loading and stress without being mechanically engineered for such.
Now, that doesn't mean it is going to fail in short order, it just means that it won't last as long as it would otherwise. That is just science.
The speculation is that it is only built as well as any other OEM starter, which is to say, not well.

 

Do these starters have a reduction gearbox? Maybe the new one is just geared differently. This new starter only spins 10-20rpm quicker than the old one....so I'm led to believe.

 

Whoops, allow me to clarify. It spins the engine over 10-20rpm quicker.

 

Starters are direct-drive. The gear-reduction is the flywheel.

 

Well if that's the case the new starter may be a beefed up unit with a larger starter gear. Really, all I want to know is where this 9v theory came from. By making a statement that this starter is a 9v unit, the implication may be drawn that it will have a shorter life than a unit that is designed for a 12v system.

I'm sure that this one is suitable for a 12v system......I mean, it's fitted by Mazda to all new RX-8's and comes with the associated new car warranty.

 

Below find pictures of new starter,old starter,voltage labels and the new starter box.The new starter has:
bigger fixed magnets,bigger armature and uses 12v.

 

Oh yes,before I forget,it will likely last LONGER than the little starter!

 

Thanks for clearing that up, two rotors .

 

That is awesome.
So it isn't a "re-wind" as the dealers are pushing but, rather, an entirely different unit.

Now to get my hands on one of those...

 

two rotors...while we have you in this thread, can you confirm something for me?

The thread starter said his dealer told him there is a TSB out to replace the starter, battery and plugs. I have never seen this TSB, and I don't believe there is one. I am aware that some dealers here in Australia and in North America are replacing some (or all three) of these components when the car is presented with a hard start problem, but is there an official repair instruction from Mazda on this?? An MRI even?

I've seen some guys here get the lot....others just get plugs, and some like me had plugs and starter replaced. It seems like a shotgun solution to a basic problem and I'm just wondering if each service manager has set his own repair criteria.

Cheers,
Gomez.

 

Great, authoritative information two rotors! Thanks for taking the time to post the pics and info.

 

BTW, info I have shows this -400A starter was factory fitted to Australian delivery RX-8's from 1st Dec 04.

I assume the NA delivered 8's would have had these fitted on the production line at about the same time.

 

The only TSB I am aware of is the "engin cranks no start" TSB (http://www.finishlineperformance.com...4-05-1448b.pdf). It is from February 2005 and replacing plugs and the battery (with a 640 CCA) is part of the TSB.

A few months ago dealers magically started fixing floods with plugs, Battery (800+ CCA) and starter. I assume it came through as some other service update rather than as a formal TSB. Regardless, most dealers in the US seem to be aware of this new "standard" in treating floods.

What is unclear to me is, after this treatment, whether Mazda still recommends avoiding short trips and whether 2006s have the new battery and starter.

 

TWO ROTORS, I don't know why you think hard hard facts and pictures is better information than hearsay from a dealer service writer? I thought that once a service writer has spoken, it's gospel.

 

What can I say,I am just a dumb parts guy!

 

I have not seen a TSB.My recollection is that we got a call from Mazda to order the part and install them where there was hard start or no start.The main reason was the number of repeat no starts.We began installing them in May 2005.We have changed few batteries(maybe 2) because our cars come with 24F batteries.Plugs are changed on every no start,trying to deflood in -29C weather is tough.We had that task in Jan2004 at the rail yard where cars are unloaded!

 

TWO ROTORS,

Thanks for the info.

How many CCA is the new battery (I had heard 835)? Are the replacement plugs used for no-starts the same as those put in for the 30K service or is it a special part?