hi all this is my first post on here ,i have just recently purchased a 2004 rx8 i got it from my next door neighbour when it wouldnt start
she said it started to make a knocking noise and then it stopped and wouldnt start,she called out a breakdown mechanic who managed to start it ,but now it wont go at all ,the coolant level was also low so i`m told ,it does turn over slow ,but at least it does turn over
what should i look at first don`t want to put a new engine in it if it something simple
a check list would be great
thanks in adavance for any help

 

anyone at all that might know

 

check the plugs to see if they're wet or fouled. you could have flooded it
edit: also, give us some more detail on your car (maintenance history, mileage, any modifications, etc)

 

Well since you bought the car, you might venture a look at the coolant level to see if it is, in fact, low.

If you've read anything on this forum, you'll know to check coil packs, spark plugs and wires first, but to be honest... if it turns over slowly, odds are your engine is dead. A healthy engine should turn over at normal starter speed even if there is no ignition. The good news is if it has less than 100,000mi on it, it's covered by warranty, so get your neighbour's maintenance records and take it to Mazda.

 

WOZZARX8, please take a moment and consider (once you figured out the problem) reading this thread as well: "Congratulations, you got an 8"

 

prob flooded...it's a rotary....welcome to the craziness

 

Good advice. But, why quote me?

 

LOL, that's the title of the thread!

 

It might not be normal starter speed. Maybe it just needs a new starter....


It sounds to me like you just need to have it thoroughly checked out somewhere, especially since you just bought it so that you can know what type condition your car is in. No one is going to try to put a new engine in it if the engine isn't a problem ha.

 

^with a good starter/batter it would turn over faster on the side fo the rotor that has low compression because the starter doesn't have to work again as much psi in the "chamber"

for instance 300psi in the combustion chamber will take much more amperage/power(slower cranking) than say 150 or 100 psi


*Disclaimer: I'm not saying the rx8 should make 300 psi on comp test witha good engine just using an example....so don't blame me if you say your motor is fine and not getting 300 psi on your comp test

 

first of all thanks for all the advise now i am getting somewhere
took out the plugs and they were soaked in fuel turned over engine and with fuel pump relay out etc and floods of fuel came out ,cleaned plugs put back in and it tried to start ,then removed plug again it was soaked in fuel dripping from it ,could the injectors be knackered overfueling cheers woz

put jump leads on it and it seems to crank faster so prob battery was low

 

I take it this is an automatic?

If so................
Do they same thing you did again, take the plugs out and get them really, really dry. Take the fuel relay back out, and do the short bursts of 5-7 seconds again until no more weepage or puffs of smole out of the plugs holes. Re-install the plugs(new ones would be better), then while you stand in front of the car with the fuel relay in hand and close to it's position(buut not in), have someone crank the car....if it catches, then put that fuel relay in real quick!

Let me know if it works as that's what we did to get this girls automatic running.
Then we could diagnose what else was messed up...............coils, CAT, etc.

 

its a maual 5 speed will try what you said and let you know cheers

 

If it's a manual, then I would tow start it. Sorry, I thought you were an auto for some reason.

Get it up to about 18mph in 2nd and let out the clutch.
Once it runs, make sure you keep it running by shifting to neutral.....don't let it stall and expect lots of smoke!
After that....when warm, take it for a spirited drive!
If you have a check engine light at this point, go get the code read and report back and let us know what it is.
If you take it to say............Autozone to have the code read and it's running when you get there, don't shut it off or you may be stuck again!

 

tow start it is then cheers

 

is it still under warranty it is a 54 plate with 73,000 on the clock with service done at 63,000 not all mazda service serviced by mazda up to at 32.000 always had plugs and oil changed services may have been at the most 2.000 miles more that they reccommend,previuse owner did not fill out the change of owerner thing in the service book ,but she did have it serviced by mazda so they should have done that,how much do you think it would cost to diagnose the problem and if its the engine will they fix i did hear about 100.000 mile 8 yr but there is bound to be a catch

 

Bad news... in Europe there's no 100.000miles warranty.
Tow start it and see how it goes, the knocking sound is not a good sign.
Check the coils, the wires (you should change them at that mileage anyway) and get a compression test done ASAP. It looks like you might be needing a new engine.

 

right got the car going
took out plugs and pumped out excess fuel
put oil into leading plug holes
turned it over with fuses out and then put them back in ,took a whlie to catch ,then a load of smoke and it started stopped smoking and runs fine no noises at all ,maybe a little low on the idle 800 rpm
it stalled once and took a few goes to start but it did start,got it to running temp and turned it off and it started fine,tried it a few times. so all seems ok for now ,and did it all myself
so if it starts when hot is the compression ok?
what would it be if it wont cold start in the morning ?


the coolant level light is on but the level is fine,any ideas what it could be ?

the clutch seems to be slipping is it a hard job ie engine out ?
cheers woz

 

See above first, then see this thread for the coolant bottle issue! https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...hlight=coolant and it ain't even my thread, but one of two billion! Time to man up and start using the search button!

 

Think he meant to link this:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...05096#poststop

In short, coolant sensor is probably bad. Replace the coolant bottle or unplug the sensor.
Also, don't ever shut the car off before it's warmed up! Most likely what caused your problem in the first place, in case you didn't know that already.

 

^.....yeah, my PC is giving me fits this morning and I was attempting to edit the post when you replied. It's edited now!

 

cheers will check sounds like the engine might be ok took it for a run and it sounds ok with pull to except for the clutch

 

coolant bottle is bubbleing like mad ,does`t get hot but bottle is preasurised ,when i blip throttle sitting in the car i can hear water bubbleing in the car ,like air any ideas

 

The swooshing sounds, do you hear it inside your dashboard? I changed my coolant fluid last year and flushed it twice with distilled water. Since then, I've always hear the swooshing sound. But, I believe it's air bubbles in the coolant system moving around. The car needs to be burped, LOL!