Hey all, Im just looking for some conformation here on a few probs im have with my '04 RX8 auto

First off i have a rough idle It seems to be getting worse, ive been told it is the right engine mount, replacing that should stop the rough idle. --is this true and if so how hard is it to do myself? any special equipment i need?

second, I'm having starting probs. If i start my car for the first time or 2-3 hours after i have drove it, starts fine. Sometimes take 4-6 seconds to turn over but no real issues. however if i, say go to walmart, and turn it off and go shopping and come back out it wont start. I discovered that if i hold the gas pedal and turn it over for 30-1min and let it cool for a few mins it will normally start up after some play within about 10-15sec. Any idea what is causing this? and what i need to replace to fix it. Ive been told again the ignition coils, plug, wires should remedy this. --again is this true and do i need any special tools?

3rd ive noticed a small oil leak more like spotting in my driveway doesnt happen everynight, im thinking it may be the oil pan bolt not tight enough, is there anything else that could be causing this??

Things that might help to know about my car: i have replaced the radiator recently and have a small amp powering a 8' sub draws i believe 450 watts. i have AEM aftermarket air intake as well, other then that is pretty stock. i also use idemitsu oil and premix.

Need any other info just ask, i appricate all the help!!!

 

You can do the motor mount yourself, you can access it via the wheel well. Jack up the engine using some wood to spread out the load (don't just jack on the oil pan, you'll go through it). I believe there's a DIY guide around.

The difficult start when warm can be ignition related, but it's a common symptom of engine compression loss. I think it's best to get a compression test (at Mazda, not some random shop without the right equipment) before investing in coils and plugs. Ignition coils are super easy to do, you access the coils from the top and the spark-plugs via the wheel well.

 

Motor mounts not hard to change, do like previous poster said or jack up back near the transmission or use a engine hoist pull the engine up a little. There are 3 bolts holding the motor mount bracket to the engine, 1 bolt holding the bracket to the motor mount, and 2 bolts holding the motor mount to the car. The engine mount itself is a little over $200 from the dealership (just changed one in mine). If you change the plugs ($85), wires ($50), and coils ($135) and it didn't help your hard starts then you probably have an engine with bad compression that's near the end of it's lifespan and ready for a rebuild/replacement. Dealership charges about $100 to do a compression test and the numbers they give you will tell you how bad off it is. How many miles are on it?

 

Regarding the hot start issue: if yours is a 2004 (or some early 2005s?) then it definitely has what has been called the "weak starter" and should be replaced with the "better starter" that came into use during the 2005 manufacturing period.

I put up with this problem for a year before I was about to give up on it. Finally got the better starter (direct from Japan, and not cheap) and I got another year out of that engine before it really gave out for good.

I'm not saying this is for sure your issue, but if it's a 2004 with lots of miles, and replacing your ignition doesn't help it much, this is probably what's going on. It's worth having that better starter, anyway, if you ask me...

 

Frankly, I don't buy into the "weak 2004 starter" explanation any more. 2004s are up to 12 years old at this point. Even the "upgraded starter" could die in that time.

A weak starter is a weak starter, regardless of which part number it has. Getting one with a faster cranking speed is always going to improve things, and just because you don't have the original 2004 'weak starter' doesn't mean your 'improved starter' couldn't be doing even worse.

 

That's all I was saying.

But I'm a little confused about what your point is. Are you saying the 04 starter is basically the same as the 05+ starter? Because I can assure you, emphatically, that they are not.

My point is only that if you've got an engine with hot start problems, and the 04 starter, then you might be able to get another year out of that engine with the upgraded starter.

 

I can assure you, emphatically, that there are reading comprehension issues ...

 

Sure. I was always better at math, anyway...

 

No, I'm saying that it doesn't matter what model number your starter is. If it's got a low cranking speed, replace it. The model number of starter for the 2004 is irrelevant 12 years later, only the cranking speed is. Advising someone to act based on the model number and not the cranking speed is misleading them.

 

Okay. I thought that there were two flavors of starter for the RX8: the 2004 and the 2005+, and that the latter version was generally known to be "better" because of its faster cranking speed. I'm definitely not trying to mislead anyone!

 

There is actually more like ... 4? versions of starter Each when new is more superior than the prior with a better cranking speed. However 'when new' becomes an invalid label really quickly. Too many people stubbornly label all of their problems on a starter, or ignore it from being a possibility, simple because of whether or not they had the 2005 version. It's just bad logic, bad troubleshooting. Figuring out what the part is actually doing is always better than just making assumptions based on a label.

Every part on the car will wear out eventually. Any part could be defective from the factory. Nothing is exempt.

 

Original-N3H1
Upgraded-N3H1A
Revised upgraded- N3Z1
Newest-N3R3

Am i missing anything?


Travis

 

Looks pretty accurate to me. I don't keep lists of part numbers in my head though.

 

Wow, good to know re the many varieties of starter!

I see what you mean and agree about the troubleshooting thing. Maybe I should have just stayed silent? Or just posted a link to the thread dealing with hot start problems.

 

It's ok, we all learn and grow. Glad you aren't getting offended over it

 

Personal opinion so take it for what it's worth..

Only "stupid" question is the one you dont ask. So that should answer your first question.

The best answer i can give you at the moment for your original question is this. Starting issue's and Hot starting issue's are different things.

If you have a weak starter as RIWWP was saying, No matter which starter you have if it's old, it's old.. Then that would cause starting issue's.

If your having issue's specifically while HOT, then a starter may mask your symptoms for a while but either way the engine's lifespan is ending.

You also said you have to hold the gas pedal down, well thats a Flooding issue. That is pointing towards ignition compontents. I.E. Coils, Plugs, Wires.

How old is your ignition?


Travis

 

Ill add if you've ever trued starting it with a low battery it throws a lot of extra demand on the starter and can burn it out. It wont necessarily kill
It but can make it significantly weaker.