Hi My RX8 evolve 06 82,000 Miles died while driving to work and now fails to start it cranks feels like it wants to start but doesn't it sounds like it does when the car is flooded but this isn't the situation, i got it towed home and now I'm Really stumped now here is the following changes I've done since it died

put new coilpacks, ignition leads spark plugs battery and a new crankshaft sensor and still the rx8 won't start. its got a new cat on its only a few weeks old There's compression and fuel is getting to the engine so don't think it's a fuel pump issue either. Really stuck any ideas out there would be appreciated.

we got it started with a lot of messing about with the accelerator pedal (pressing down and off) it coughs rumbles and starts but dies at idle then nothing at all we've only managed this a few times then it wont start at all.

 

If you put a new ESS in, did you reset the ESS profile?

 

Yes i did the reset 20 brake presses

 

check if your getting spark delivered by spraying a little bit of starting fluid while cranking if she begins to turn over could be a weak fuel pump but not dead. Also these cars have chips in the key see if your security light is flashing or anything if its active disable itll cut fuel and spark. maf air flow could be bad also try cleaning it with the starting fluid while your in their. If your car back fires into the intake becareful while doing this everything is plastic and melts

 

thatll be 25 schmeckles!

 

I've checked and getting spark, cleaned maf sensor and checked all the air flows no leaks. only thing left to check is fuel pump getting a new one this weekend hopefully that will fix the issue

 

It's actually pretty easy for mazda to check the fuel pressure. I'm not sure how much they would have charged for it, but the process really only takes about 5-10 minutes.Probably would have been worth it before throwing money at a pump.

Edit: Forgot it wasn't running. That makes it significantly more expensive once you tack a towing bill on there.

What makes you say this? It doesn't sound like you had it brought to a dealer after it died.

 

No you're right it hasn't gone back to a dealer. my friend tested the compression with his compression kit. been calling around today to see if i can get my hands on a fuel pump from a breaker but its becoming a real mission. as you said i don't want to keep throwing money at it if its the wrong fault. annoyingly even using a diagnostics test kit there was no faults found.

 

Try to start it with starting fluid sprayed in the intake if it comes alive for a sec or two

 

Please don't use starting fluid on the MAF sensor. Some chemicals change the properties of the sensor, rendering it useless. There is a cleaner for MAF sensor that you need to use.

You can check for spark really easily with an induction timing light. A better question is if you have fuel. Pull the spark plugs and check if they're wet (and wet with what). That'll tell you what you need to know. I'm also thinking fuel pump.

I regular compression tester needs to have the Schraeder valve removed to confirm compression on all 3 sides of each rotor. Otherwise all it tells you is the best compression among the 3. However, I don't think this is your problem.

Supra1jz, I don't know what your deal is, but you've got to stop giving out bad advice.

 

Starting fluid won't do anything to the maf unless u set it ablaze. Itll give your spark something to re act too.
Edited...tone it down

 

I've checked the air flow and maf all OK but something new has happened when I first checked the spark plugs when the issue happened they were wet but changed the coil packs leads and sparks but today checked them again they were bone dry And the tips were burnt black. So fuel pump does sound more likely now

 

OK changed fuel pump wasn't that. But we have had a break through we got her running again after messing about with the throttle pedal kept the revs up and disconnected the throttle body and it idelled plugged it back in and it died so I believe the throttle body has died or is failing

 

What do you mean by unplugged the throttle body? That's very strange, since the throttle would close if you unplug the power, and the engine would have no air to idle with...

 

Check the fuel. When I had similar problems, it was water in my gas.

 

yeah we checked the fuel, we used a piece of tubing to siphon petrol out and replaced it with fresh fuel didn't make any difference.

sorry i mean the plug that's attached to the throttle body, unplugged that and it idled but obviously that means you have no control to the accelerator. as soon as we plugged it back in the car died unless we kept our foot on the accelerator pedal.

 

Do you have a big vacuum leak after the throttle body? To me it's weird that the car runs when the throttle body is unplugged, because without the throttle body active, it should have no air. So it's getting air some where else.

 

 

Yeah i know its really strange that it runs while its unplugged. but we checked for leaks and couldn't see one anywhere. So thought I'd change the throttle body and see if mine was failing in some way, I've got my throttle body today and will be fitting it after work I'll keep you updated, this has been a real challenge so far but hasn't put me off my RX8 and I'll be happy to have it back on the road again.

 

OK so we fitted the new throttle body and tried cranking still didn't start but can hear air pressure escaping after behind the throttle body. So we stripped it all out all the air flow pipes and all the casings looking for cracks or any obvious signs of damage. But no signs of any leaks even did a smoke test nothing. I'm seriously looking at a dead engine now right? it's got to be warn apex seals it doesn't even want to try and start now

 

That's not how apex seals work.

If you can hear air hissing somewhere, you need to track that down. It's being sucked in, not blown out. Under the throttle body, there is a vacuum connection for the VFAD. It's an often overlooked place to check for vacuum leaks.

Have you checked that the new coil packs are connected to the correct spark plugs? People have messed that up too.

 

There are also the three vacuum solenoids and a whole lot of vacuum lines behind the UIM.

 

I'll have a closer look at all the vacuum lines. I'm pretty sure we checked vfads and the three little solenoids all three are the same. no issue there, its hard to find a leak the sound is more little a puffing sound rather than a hissing dunno if that helps at all lol so if you could send some pics where to look for these possible leaks would be appreciated. just in case I'm preparing for the worst.

 

vacuum shade trade leak test:
1. head to store for a pack of blunts. (cigarillos for the new kids)
2. Purchase .39 cent lighter.
3. Pull unnecessary vacuum and cap one side. With line that has vacuum pull tape one end of the blunt.
4. Light up blunt watch cherry glow red and blunt burn while vacuum inhales.
5. Examine engine bay and surrounding area for any smoke or burned tobacco smell coming off any vacuum lines or elbows


Havent had to to this to my rx8 yet but its worked with 70s gen v8s and jz engines with map sensors and I think eric the car guy has video somewhere

35 schmeckles