Ever since I've owned my car I've noticed it makes a strange squeak/chirp noise when I start it. Usually on cold starts. I thought something might be wrong with it but have not had the time to get it looked at. Then I ran across this video today of an 8 starting up and making the exact same sound. Is this just a normal sound these cars make on a cold start?

It happens at the 9 second mark in the video. 3 little squeaks right before it fires up.

thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eELOfcvGL2s

 

Definitely not normal. I would get it checked out when you have a chance. Also, it shouldn't take that long to start up either. Seems to me the 8 in the video either has a weak battery or original starter.

-Lawrence

 

Nope, and it doesn't take that long to fire either. At least not anymore, since I replaced plugs/coils/wires.
only one you really hear anything is the first one. He must have had his door or window open on that one. The rest of them are really hard to hear anything.

 

Mine makes a chirp noise on startup and from what I've read on this site, it's probably the coils. Depending on what time I get out of work, I will change mine today, I will let you know if it fixed the problem.

 

That's my car lol
And yes the squeaks were quiet embarrassing.
I wouldn't consider it normal. My new starter does not make the sound either. (thank god)

-Shawn

 

sounds like a dry bearing or a bushing.
btw your engine is starting poorly.

 

Starts fine to me, where are you drawing that conclusion from?
It's an AZ starter (1.4kw),not an upgraded one(2kw), It will not spin as fast as the upgraded one. Also in this video I'm using what I would call a "undersized" battery. I have installed a new battery since, but saw minimum improvement at best. It also starts faster than my buddies 05 with 30k on it. So it can't be that bad.

EDIT*
Sorry at the time this was for my own personal information. I was using the videos to track start up time. If you would like I can can post another one with the windows down, but it will have to wait till tomorrow.


-Shawn

 

Mine never does that. That's not a normal starting sound. Have it checked.

 

Its your typical worn coil chirp.

 

I think this kinda start is considered normal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQxY_cHfSCI

 

With all due respect, this is a s2. Don't they have Better starters?

I do plan on getting a compression test soon, now that I have got all of the maintiance up to date. Although I dont really suffer from hot start issues. Also waiting on a reply from Mazda to see if this is the orginal engine or not.
-Shawn

 

Strange. I replaced the coils, plugs and wires less than 1000 miles ago. The chirp sound was there before and after the installation of the parts.

I'm hoping the upgraded starter will fix the problem. Now I just have to find said upgraded starter.....

 

Quite strange, yes... It doesn't sound like lose belts either. Do you have a squeaky sound coming from the transmission area when the clutch isn't depressed while the engine is running in neutral?

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=20

 

Nope, the only weird noise it makes is that chirp at starup every once and a while. Now that I think about it....it seems that the chirp only happens when the car takes a few extra cranks to start. So maybe the upgraded starter would make the chirp go away.

And thanks for that link Nubo. That makes me feel a bit better that it's considered "normal" but it's still an embarrassing noise.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pEGG8G5N-s

Might take a while for the video to show up, but that is the start of my 05 with stock starter.

 

that happened to me too. i got new plugs / coils / wires that should fix it.
if not then sounds like the starter

 

I still have my original starter and it always sound like it when I start my car; even though I've changed the Coils(3,000 miles ago), Spark Plugs(6,000 miles ago), and a higher cranking cold-start amp battery(15,000 miles ago)... For my car, it could very well be my starter.

I agree with the link 'Nobu' posted.

 

Like I said earlier, mine made this sound too everytime I started it. I just changed my plugs today and the sound is gone. My car also starts much quicker. Feels like I have a brand new starter, but I have the OE starter that they started using on the 05's. I would recommend changing your coils and plugs asap.

Edit- I just read that you changed your coils and plugs 1000 miles ago. Hmm......are you sure you got the updated coils? Some places like autozone will sell you the original coils that would go bad quickly. I ordered mine from advance auto and they are the upgraded version made in Japan. The autozone crap was made in taiwan.

 

Replace belts if worn, inspect belt tension.

 

I bought my coils through Kragens which is now O'Reilly's who offered Lifetime Warranty on the Coils, besides, are there any statistical data of having the other? May last you longer... Mine has Lifetime Warranty

Nevertheless, here's the new(top) and old(bottom) coil part numbers:

 

Well, I dunno if there is any actual data of tests done between the two sets of coils but there are a lot of owners who claim better performance and longetivity with the revised coils. The OE would crap out even after only 10,000 miles. There has to be a reason mazda came out with the upgrade right? I just wouldn't risk having the weaker coils because they can lead to a bad cat converter which can eventually lead to a bad engine. For anyone who doesn't know this, make sure your coils have the "B" at the end of the part number. The set I ordered from autozone didn't have that.

 

Seriously, I've never heard of upgraded coils until you mentioned it. I've since roamed this forum and never came across a discussion about it, may be I didn't really look. But the coils I bought were the upgraded ones. The old were in the car since I bought the RX-8 with 108,050 miles and may have been the original coils since there weren't any receipt(s) in the file the original owner provided when I bought the car in June of 2009.

I've put off changing the Coils until it reached 148,000. Surprisingly, the bottom Coil pictured above has the most wear or all the four when I replaced mine. Considering that it's been in the car for 50,000 miles... Or, since the car rolled out of the factory/dealership!

 

I hope RaceRoots sells the upgraded ones cause thats where I got mine, never checked the numbers.

But my chirp was still there after the ignition was replaced, it only stopped after I got the starter changed. And still hasn't come back.

-Shawn

 

I wasn't aware they made upgraded coils either, besides BHRs. I too bought mine from O'Rielys. I'll have to check for the B at the end of the part number when I get home. Interesting.....