I took the car to Autozone and they tried testing the battery. They had some large machine that didn't work, so they had to use a tiny ghetto one. When I started the car, the voltage "line thing" fell in the red zone. However, once the car finally started, again after six "tic tic tic," it went into the Green Zone.

So I am guessing it is the battery?

I looked at the starter and it says N3Z2 an upgraded starter that Mazda says not to change in its TSB
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...48-06-1691.pdf

haha I don't have a push start.

 

I would try replacing the battery. Make sure to get one with high CCA and then you have to decide between a yellow top or red top battery

 

I dont hear anything obnormal in the vid apart from a little longer starting up.
try get a better battery something like Optima. but if you jump start using a running car still doing that, I doubt its the battery.
how many miles on this engine? maybe its about to die?
it could be plugs or coil, and also could ge fuel supply, or could be normal.
I would try a can of seafoam in a full tank of gas and drive it hard a couple times.

 

I don't think it is a good idea using Techron in general, but a one time use probably didn't do to much harm.

Fuel injection systems can handle more Techron than carburetor fuel systems because there are less parts that tend to get plugged up.

Back in the day my brother had a Mercury ZZ7, when Techron was a new thing. He bought a bottle poured it in looking to get more performance out of his car. He lost about 4 miles to the gallon, I know this because he used to check his mileage every tank. Not knowing it was the Techron causing the problem he put another bottle in the next tank. The car lost even more MPG and the car's performance was really bad. With a rough idle, hesitation/stumbling while accelerating the cars Carb was really plugged up. He drove for a few weeks more and decided to get a rebuilt carburetor from Autozone. It was not as good as the first one was originally. But better than the Carb that had the Techron in it. The reason the first Carb was so good was it tuned on a Dyno at Bridgerland Tech School as a student project. At the time the only Dyno in the valley.

I miss than car it was two tone metallic brown and tan with Gold/chrome American racing rims. He put new cloth on the dash and a kick en stereo CD/cassette Amp etc.. It was jacked up 2 inches in the back and had an exhaust.

On occasion I would miss the school bus and he would take me to school. When we pulled into the parking lot, everyone would stare at its awesomeness. I think I missed bus more often just to go for a ride in it. LOL!

 

I just came back from Walmart and had them re-test the battery and they said the battery was fine and it was rating at around 620 or so CCA rather than the 550 rated CCA.

But, the guy who used to have an Rx7 mentioned that the issue could be the Apex Seals. Now I have read thoughout the forum that apex seals can be a challenge, but wouldn't this be a hard DIY challenge?

I couldn't find any pricing for Rx8 Apex Seals except for the expensive Esmeril Racing one.

I found Rx8 Apex Seals at this site/

http://www.rhdjapan.com/mazda-oem-ap...-13b-msp-53668

and

http://www.rhdjapan.com/mazda-oem-ap...-13b-msp-53669

---OR how much would this cost at the dealership?

 

If your Apex seals are ruined, the engine is done. You would need to get the engine replaced. Luckily, if you are under 100k miles, you are under warranty and the engine will be replaced for free. All you have to pay for are some minor parts totaling around $500.

 

i don't like firestone and i only ever go there to install my tirerack tire or alignment (lifetime)

i'd try and work with the tech themselves, had one that let me stand beside my car while they are working on it, was able to chat with the technicians, they were very helpful and tuned the car to just how i liked it.

The people that handles paperwork and the managers though are douches. They know i am a lost cause so they just talk infront of me but i've seen multiple times the head manager yelling and instructing the newer one to sell them wiper blades/cleaning packages, the whole **** BANG to sell stuff people don't need, i feel bad about these people but i figure, i leave them along to make money, they'd let me do my things.

I think you have a bad starter, look around there is a thread somewhere around here for DYI starter replacement.

 

The engine is still under 100k, but does that also apply to used vehicles?

 

All RX-8's have a 100k mile engine warranty. As xsnipersgox said, you may want to have a look at your starter. Do you know if yours has the upgraded OEM starter?



Edit: I read through and saw that you do have the upgraded starter

 

Well after this experience I don't like firestone either, but I do have the lifetime tire alignment.

I thought the starter was bad, but Firestone "checked" it and said it was ok. And the starter is the upgrade starter listed on the Mazda recall, but of course it can still be bad. I figure I have to take it in to a Mazda dealership so they can see the problem, but I don't know how much they charge for a diagnostic.

 

I think the diagnostic is something like $90 bucks. You could also try taking it to a local shop to have it tested first. May be cheaper. By me there is a local shop that diagnoses for free. Good guys too. I had a diagnostic done on my civic the other week, found there was nothing really wrong with it, just some rattling in the Cat, and sent me on my way.

 

Thx xun4gvn4everx (really long name), your advice has helped a lot. We just took it in to a Mazda dealership and they assured us they could find the problem. Their diagnostic fee was $100 close to what you had predicted. I would try and take it to a local shop, but not too many people are experienced with rotary engines in my area.

 

Mine literally starts like that every single time...always has, never had a problem though. its an 04, mt with about 56,000 miles

 

Really? But, wouldn't you want it to start like the other rx8's? This one is 05 AT with 59,000 Miles

 

It takes forever to start if I am lucky 5 seconds. When I dropped it off at the dealership it took 20 seconds, and the longer it takes the closer it is to stalling. The battery has been jumped, but the battery has been tested by Firestone and Walmart and shows it in working condition. I really would like to blame the battery cause it is a no name company, but it performing above its recommended CCA. The engine only has 59,000mi. But it could be plugs or coil, I will see from the dealer, if it is that ill change it instead of incurring a huge labor cost.

 

Well i dont know a ton about the RX-8 but in my luck with dealerships i would try to find a reputable shop, someone who can guarantee their work cause imo dealerships just rip you off... start simple and work your way up. try the plugs and wires and maybe upgrade the battery first... you can do that stuff yourself and not too expensive. and if that doesnt solve your problem then you know for sure its non of those things.... could be something as dumb as a corroded battery terminal. check all the wires and stuff.

 

Glad I could help. And I know my name is long, most just call me un4gvn. I hope the shop figures it out for you. Then you can decide whether to let them fix it, do it yourself, or have another shop fix it. Good luck and let me know how it goes. I am curious to see what they say.

 

They called back (well called my girl) and they said that it is an engine problem, when she press them on what it was. They wouldn't say, but said "Didn't I just tell you, it's an engine problem." Anyhow since the motor is still under warranty, we must find all the receipts of oil changes, which I have done. So, now, it will be a painstaking process to find out where the receipts are! I still would like to know what the problem is, low compression? damaged apex seals?

 

Usually those two (low compression or worn apex seal) is the cause of a blown engine. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and they replace it for free (minus the $500 or so you have to spend on parts that they don't cover). Is that what they said they are going to do?

 

They said they would contact Mazda, since the engine is still under warranty. However, they said I would need to provide oil receipts and such, but they wouldn't pin point what the problem was ie. Apex Seal or Low Compression. I will ask though when I can gather all the papers to the vehicle.

 

Any updates?

 

Today we got the papers (oil change, title) to the dealership and they think it might be enough for Mazda to take action. So, now, we can only wait and see if Mazda will give a new or remanf engine.

 

Hopefully they replace it under warranty. Good luck!

 

So the motor finally came in from Japan. The dealer "says" that it is brand new. The Rx8 was behind another Rx8 until they finished putting/testing the engine.

However, now there is another problem. They say that the radiator is bad and that is what was causing the engine not to start. So now they are offering to fix the radiator for a nice price of $400 something dollars.

One of my co-workers said I should ask for the detailed list of what the problem was that they had to submit to Mazda, because the engine is under warranty, but the radiator is not. He also said that they could have damaged the radiator while removing the engine.

I feel that the dealer is doing a BS move. And if it is the radiator how hard is it to DIY radiator change? I found it on Rockauto for ~ $96.

 

Actually, it came in from Virgina and it is a remanufactured motor.