Title says it all. I haven't driven my RX-8 for two days and it's been sitting out there in below zero temperatures.

My family's BMW 325i didn't start today, so there is a very good chance my RX-8 won't start either.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to start it?

I thought about doing all of the normal tricks for piston engines but than it hit me that those might not only not work for a rotary but for some reason do damage.

So, how do I start it?

 

Mine started Sunday morning after setting on Saturday.
Just start it as usual. There should be no problem.

 

mine started like a champ today with the same weather. just turned the key and started it with the wind chill at -4 this morning.

 

Last week in -7 degree weather mine started on the second 5-second attempt after sitting a couple of days. Just talk to it nicely and it will start.

 

About the only thing you could do if your really scared is the first time you start push the gas pedal in all the way (cuts all gas) and crank it for a few seconds. Then try starting it normally... of course, if you have a weak battery this procedure may be enough to kill it

it was +5 deg F here this morning and my car started just fine after sitting for a few days

 

What was the actual temperature? Wind chill doesn't mean anything for machinery. It represents the cooling rate of exposed skin.

Ken

 

it was single digits but was thinking he had put temp with wind chill. looking now at chicago on weather.com for the last few days looks like that was the actual temp with wind chill of -20. and i was complaining it was cold here....

 

It all depends on the condition (charge capacity) of your battery. It should start fine after only a couple/few days.

Mine sits far longer, outdoors (covered) in Winter semi-hibernation, so I have a Battery Tender trickle charger on it all the time.

 

well mine sat outside last night for the first time and just happened to be the coldest night ever. was +6 at 10am when i started it. Started fine even with my lightweight race battery. Power steering no longer works though

 

Turn the key.

 

-5? I got you beat! Crystal Lake, Illinois.



Wind chill was -30. Ouch. My car decided not to start Sunday morning after sitting out at work saturday night. It was actually my fault, because I moved it from one spot to another without letting it first warm up, then revving it up to shut it down. I left it with a super rich mixture and it refused to start. I cranked till my battery died, cranked some more on jumper cables, then moved it into a bay (at the firehouse I work at) where I cranked it for another 10-15 minutes. I finally got the mixture cleared out enough to start, but man was she pissed. I aniticipate the need for a new starter sooner than I expected! After that little debocle, she's been doing great as long as I do my normal rev up before shutting her down. You should be cool as long as you didn't do what I did.

 

Do you mean that when you moved it from one spot to another you neither warmed it up up nor revved it before shut-down?

What year do you have? If it's an '04, have the upgraded starter and battery been installed?

 

Just pull up another car and hook it up to jumper cables. I do this everytime I pull my 8 outta storage regardless of whether its dead or not. Mines goes unstarted for 3-5 weeks a time in this cold weather. Never had a problem over these past 3 years.

 

Yes...it's an '04, and yes I failed to let it warm up or rev it before shutting it down. It wasn't my most shining moment and I learned a very valuable lesson. I have no idea about the starter or battery. I'm working on getting the dealer to print out the service record for the car, as I'm not the original owner. My shop seems reluctant to perform ANY work on the rotary at all. It's kind of concerning.

 

Probably just flooded..

 

definitely get the dealer to look at it for the "crank no start" TSB. if it's flooded they should de-flood, change the plugs, and if memory serves me correctly (which it doesn't always), they should change the starter and battery. it was extended to the 8 yr/100k mile warranty.

 

I don't think the starter would be covered under that warranty. It should be covered under the 5/60K drivetrain warranty. The 8/100K is for the engine and it's internals only.

 

i just read the TSB. i believe the old TSB used to include the starter and the battery but the new one that has been extended to 8/100K gets you a de-flood, new plugs, compression check, and carbon flush (no starter or battery).

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...5-08-1883f.pdf

 

My 8 has not been started for the past week and a half. It's been subzero temp too. No issues. Of course it sleeps in an insulated dry walled garage.

 

I had same problem starting my car 2 weeks ago. it stayed outside for 2 days.

Couldnt start the engine. Cranked it for5 to 8 sec each time.

had to wait 1m before each attempt and had to press the gas pedal and it worked. Im not sure if my battery is weak : it's the stock battery (04) but dealer tested it 1month ago and said it was alright.

I know i need to replace my started. its the original model.
And no the starter is not covered by the warranty.

Turn the key, the engine will start. Here it's -40C and it still start from the 1st try (though it goes on a 1.5K - 4K rev cycle for a few minutes first, then idles at 2K)

 

Car started first try

Too bad it was stuck in the ******* snow

 

I hit -4 in Chi yesterday and i was driving all day, no probs starting at all.

 

To anyone else that will ask this question.

I have a suggestion for you.

Go out to your car, put the key in the ignition, and start the damn thing. No need for any rituals/commencments/prayers before you start this car.. jeez.

 

Thanks for the info! It has been performing perfectly since then, so I'm sure I just flooded it. I was going to change out plugs soon anyways, so if it is covered, it may be worth it! I'll look into that. I also wanted a vacuum test for peace of mind, being that I'm not the original owner. You guys rock!

 

it was 73 here today, my car started fine