I hadn’t driven my car in two days. Today I went to start it and it had a hard time starting almost like it was semi flooded, it fires a few times and sputters then eventually starts. I warmed it up drove about 130km today. Every time I start it it now does this any ideas? Thanks. And I have searched with little success.

My car has all the current recalls, is a 100% stock besides then K&N drop in filter and has 76 000 km

 

plugs ? battery ? coils ?

 

yeah i plan on replacing the plugs. i just find it odd fine 2days ago and now this.

 

Is your fuel tank close to empty? Filter clean?

 

We don't have a fuel filter in a RX8.

Mine had the same trouble starting until I changed all the coils, wires and plugs. I don't know which fixed it but I don't worry about it starting hard anymore. I considered it preventive maintanence.

 

Well, we don't have a serviceable fuel filter, but there is an integral filter in the pump.

 

Come to think of it, I was extremely low on fuel just before I parked it.

 

It's not that it sat for 2 days, if that's what you're wondering. Mine routinely sits for a week—sometimes two weeks—and has always started right up every time.

 

It it's the stock battery and it's two years old it's crap.

Our stock batteries are too week. This is for 2004,2005,2006.

Replace the plugs, they are pretty foul.

I can smell them from here. Kinda like a dead fish. HA ha

 

wow Mazdamaniac you're going to get me fired with the pic....

 

+1...me too ! But I like your pics! Any special place where u get them from?

 

firefox -> righclick -> block all images from rx8club.com :p

 

It could be the low fuel. This time of year the fluctuation of temperature can cause condensation to form in the fuel tank if it isn't full. It has to do with the lowering of the dew point due to lowering of the temperature. I used to have a big problem with this in the fall when I lived in Syracuse New York. Fill the tank.

You are also probably working up to new plugs, not so much the wires and coils, but they could be done too if you are feeling rich. And you might also want to clean the MAF sensor since you are using a K&N filter. There is some talk that the oil from the filter can coat the MAF sensor faster than the paper filter would permit.

 

Mee to but i cant stop scrolling up for some reason ha ha ha

 

Search "Starter TSB" I had a thread but no time now to look for it I"m @ work.

 

Having all the recalls won't necessarily fix this problem because Mazda never did a formal recall for the hard start problem that many earlier cars suffered.

However, there was a TSB issued as indicated above and those of us who whinged to our service manager about hard starting got our battery and plugs replaced no questions asked. I did that and the difference was amazing.

Otherwise, unless the fuel level was extremely low (I'm talking yellow light on for some time the last time you drove it), I don't agree that low fuel level or leaving your car for a while would have anything to do with the problem. Like one of the guys above, mine regularly sits for a week or more and starts every time without any hesitation.

 

Your name's Mike and you look like that? What time you get off work tonight?

 

alright, ill start replacing parts monday starting with the plugs thanks for all the advice

 

So I replaced the plugs, didn’t help. so I took it in to the dealership for them to diagnose the issue instead of me just randomly replacing parts. I got the call today low compression engine being replaced. Supposed to take 7-10days for it to arrive.

 

I had problems with a pretty weak start, and Mazda replaced the starter. I was told that the newer RX-8s have a different more powerful starter. If the starter is still the original one, it could be part of the problem.

 

Well wow.. that seemed pretty hassle free to you, engine swap no questions asked at 76,000 km? Sounds like a good deal!

 

they did ask for the maintance records which i had to "find". they needed proof i was putting the correct oil in it.

 

The dealership called me last week telling me I needed a new clutch and mine was 99.9% gone and blue. Which I find hard to believe since I wasn’t experiencing any signs of a worn clutch it wasn’t slipping and had no problem chirping the tires between gear shifts and was letting go right in the middle of the clutch throw not near the top like past clutches I’ve worn thru, anyways I told them go ahead replace it $800 later.

Today I got a call saying the new engine is in but I now need a new starter, since mine had the originally not the new design from the tsb, and not starting the new engine well. I remember when I first purchased the car and going to the dealership and asking if it had the tsb done for the starter and new battery and them replying you only got the new battery if needed.

So my understanding of this is that my old motor had low compression therefore was easy to turn over. Now that I have compression the starter is struggling and I feel this should be replaced under warranty since my extended warranty only expired September 18th its not like my motor lost all its compression overnight. If the engine was working correctly the poor starter would have shown up earlier while it was still under my extended warranty.

 

yeah, i'd try to get it covered.

 

I had the same problem three times i had to get my 2004 rx8 towed to the shop since i owned it. later i found out from a friend that your suppose to rev it to 4 or 5 rpm before you turn the car off. ever since i tried that i have not had any problems since.