IamFodi

iTrader: (1)

Can you post a video of the car starting?

Drw814

Sure, here it is starting today. I let it idle for about 10 minutes until the coolant gauge stagnated, then turned off. Waited about 30 seconds, and turned back on.

gwilliams6

I noticed your fuel tank level at 1/4. Not a great idea to run any Series 1 (04-08) RX8 down to 1/4 tank. That uncovers the fuel pump and can help cause it to overheat in any high heat/high load situations (ex: extended highway speed driving) and it could shut off. May never happen to you if short driving distances at lower speeds is your norm, but still the Series 1 pumps tend to wear out over the years of use, and you will want to do everything to keep it healthy as long as possible.

I know folks will say I should let you find this yourself, but here are some ideas of items to check off:

Starting the Engine
• Starter
• Battery
• Engine Compression
• Grounding Wires
• Ignition Coils
• Spark Plugs
• Spark Plug Wires
• Fuel Pump
• Fuel Injectors

IamFodi

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, that definitely seems a lot longer than normal. It also kind of sounds like my car did when the original battery had one foot in the grave.

I second gwilliams6's recommendations for what to check.

Chrishoky

iTrader: (9)

Sounds like a compression issue, there is no point in throwing money at it to try and fix other things if the compression is low. Get a compression test and see where you are at.

Jazer

^^^

What he said. Also thanks for the info on the fuel pump. While I never run my cars lower than 1/4, good to know that my 04 may be exceptionally sensitive.


Also, to OP, I wouldn't worry yourself or jump to low compression like another poster suggested. With your cold start taking just as long as your hot start. I feel like you have a weak starter/battery. These cars need a good strong starter. Start there.

Drw814

Thanks everyone for the responses. I normally dont let my cars get below 1/4 tank anyway, but now I know to be extra careful with this one. It is still off the road unfortunately (broke college kid) so I have just been moving it around my driveway to accommodate parking.

That being said, a compression test will have to wait.

I just went out and checked my battery, and its from Feb. 2014, so its a couple years old. I also noticed the positive terminal connection was loose enough to be rotated around the terminal by hand. I will be securing the connections tomorrow.

@Chrishoky Any reason you think it has to do with compression? I have been reading a ton lately on this forum, and It seems like what I am experiencing has nothing to do with compression, but with ignition health instead.

Thank you all for your advice and input so far. As previously stated, I am not reporting this as an issue or problem, just something I was wondering about.

Ive also been reading as much about premix as I can, but it all seems to be inconclusive information. I have decided I do want to continue premixing, but I think I want to switch to something I can get more cheaply and in bigger quantities than idemitsu premix. I was thinking of picking up a gallon of Lucas 2 stroke oil from amazon. It seems to meet all the standards people are taking about, and it also seems some people use them for their 8s.

Lucas Oil 10115 Semi-Synthetic 2-Cycle Oil - 1 Gallon Jug

Jazer

Somebody actually just recommended that exact oil in another thread.

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...-drive-262514/

Drw814

I'm pretty sure that's where I saw this oil mentioned in the first place. Not even keeping track, been reading too much lately lol.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Loose terminals will also make it harder for the alternator to recharge the battery, so it quite possibly results in perpetually weak starts and shorten the battery's life.
If they are stretched out, you can get some post caps cheaper than new terminals, just a few $$.

Drw814

I just bought a new terminal connector for the positive terminal, and snugged up both connectors. The battery checked out at autozone, so it isn't the battery. The more I read, the more I am thinking it's the ignition coils. They seem to be a weak point on this car, and I don't know if they have ever been changed in the 74k the car has on it.

Jazer

Did you say you upgraded the starter already? That is definitely something to prioritize, as well as the ignition (coils/plugs/wires) do them all together. It won't hurt it, and if it's a new to you car, its okay if you overlapped it a lil (if they weren't done that long ago) for piece of mind. I like doing all my own maintenance updates to a car, even some things early, when I first get it, so I know Im giving it the best start under my ownership.

Drw814

I did not do either starter or coils etc. yet. From my reading, it seems coils are the worst of the problem, so I figure that would be a good first step. I don't have the $$$ to do everything at once, so it will be in at least 2 intervals.

Williard

iTrader: (18)

All I'm going to say is if your coils are shot and you've fouled a plug, replacing the coil will only be a temp solution. Also you'll end up replacing it again as fouled plugs/shot wires also kill coils.

Travis

Drw814

I see its strongly recommended to replace the coils, plugs, and wires all at once. That is probably the route I will take. It seems that those are more important than a starter for the overall health of the car, so I'm aiming to do that first.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

I buy most of my parts from Advance Auto parts.
You can save a lot of money by using their internet coupons.

Drw814

Status update: I have had the car registered for 7 days now. I ordered 6qts of idemitsu premix and have filled up 2 times, it's been going well, and the eBay seller included a measuring container, so it's very simple to add at the gas station.

As far as the starting has been. It has been taking the same time in the video cold or hot (obviously). The more research I did the more I began thinking it was my coils. My battery checked out as good at autozone. So I ordered a set of coils from Amazon for $59. I was hesitant because of how cheap they were, but after reading numerous positive reviews, I bought them. Just got them and installed today, didn't do plugs or wires though, as they were ngk and looked rather new.

I gotta say, the coils did it. The car now starts in probably 1/3 the time it used to take. The car also sounds like it has a smoother idle, and it seems like it has more power. I'm very happy with my $59 purchase, as it has made this car run like a champ.

IamFodi

iTrader: (1)

Nice! Congrats!

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

You got all 4 for $59?
That's really cheap. Good deal.

Drw814

Yeah, I thought they would be poor quality, but after reading the reviews I went for it. The feel about the same as the old ones as far as weight, material etc. Here they are, my bad they were $57

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CXMJAPY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1465599616&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=4+ignition+coil+pack+rx8& dpPl=1&dpID=41VCh3YBxWL&ref=plSrch

Drw814

So here is an update. After replacing the coils the car has been running great. I have had it on the road for about 1000miles now, and have used 1 quart of premix. Starting a couple of days ago however, it has been taking a little longer to start. It still starts fine hot or cold, Just takes a bit longer (maybe 1 second). I noticed today it was making a new noise, and vibrating a small amount.I took this video to demonstrate. The car idles fine and still seems to have the same power. Starts hot and cold, no smoke etc. The new noise is the "ticking" that can be heard once the throttle is released, and the car is returning to idle rpm.


I am thinking that I should replace the plugs and wires. I replaced the coils about 500 miles ago, But didn't replace either of those. I'm thinking one plug isn't firing, or is firing weakly. Any thoughts? Thank you.

gwilliams6

As a rule of thumbs, always replace the plugs and wires when you replace coils. Do that and then see if that ticking goes away, could be a bad wire arcing. I can just barely hear it in the video and maybe someone here more experienced with that sound can diagnose it for you

Drw814

I know about replacing everything at the same time, unfortunately I only had enough $ for coils at the time, I have ordered plugs and wires, I'm just waiting for them to get here.

Red line envy

Not saying its the same problem i have. But that is exactly how it started with mine last summer. So i did replace coils,plugs and wires. It worked better and i thought it fixed the problem. Then this summer she would barely start then eventually not start. Found out it has low compression.

Drw814

I am not having a particularly hard time starting (yet anyways). Actually it seems like the noise is mainly there when the car is warm. When it's cold, I don't seem to hear it, although I'm not revving it up when cold.

My plugs and wires will be here in a few days. I am headed to the Mazda dealer for the airbag recall in a week or so, so I'll probably get a compression test done while I'm there.

Doing a ton of reading, it seems it may have something to do with coolant? I'm thinking that makes sense since it seems more prevalent when the car is warm.

I'm not sure (obviously) it dosent seem like I'm having the same issue as anyone else. It's very frustrating when I have searched and read pretty much everything related to my issue, with no solid info on solving it, or people having the same exact issue as myself.

So I'm hoping the plugs and wires will sort it (I almost think one plug isn't firing) but if not, and depending on compression results, I'll make my next move.