Can anyone help? Have 2004 RX-8 that won't start. I've changed the crank positioning sensor because that was the code that came up. I've put new wires and plugs in it and I've went through the deflooding process. Still nothing. It just won't fire. The car did sit for a couple of months before I got it back. At my wits end. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Did you try the 20 brake pedal stomp to reset the ESS

 

Didn't know about brake pedal stomp. What does this do?

 

A car only needs fuel, air and a spark for it to start.

So let's go through the list:

Fuel - have you tried topping it up with some new premium fuel? If it's sat for a while it can, in some cases, go bad. Also pop the rear seat up, open the hatch and look at the fuel pump module, make sure it's working!

Air - check your MAF, take it out (2 screws and one connector) and give it a clean with contact cleaner be careful though, they're fragile. Also check for any splits in your intake pipes and make sure your throttle body isn't seized.

Spark - you have changed leads and wires, what about coils?

If you go through all that and you still haven't got it fired up, check all the fuses in the interior fuse box and in the engine compartment fuse box.

Please keep us up to date with the issue, and good luck!

 

I thought about the gas but I figured it would atleast try to fire even with old gas. I will check fuel pump but I smelled gas. Where exactly is the MAF? This is the first rotary engine I've delt with. I'm in the process of checking coils but the battery is low, so it charging at the moment. Thank you for your help. There's not alot of info on these engines and I am stumped. I know now why I like good old piston engines.

 

^^^ Good advice
Could even be a dead fuel pump on a 2004

KAM and NVRAM reset
https://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-...memory-169443/

Could still be flooded. Believe me it can be a real PITA to start if it's been flooded.

While you're doing all those other things.
Remove the spark plugs
Disconnect Fuel Pump fuse
Unplug ESS

Get someone to crank the engine for a few seconds.
If you see a lot of mist and moisture around the spark plug holes ... likely its flooded still.

Dry moisture around spark plug holes.
Repeat this about a dozen time ... short cranking periods 5-7 seconds no longer than 10 seconds.
Spend a few minutes (5 or so) between cranking cycles to let the starter cool and the battery to charge. (it's good to have a battery charger or a spare battery)

Repeat until no moisture or mist is coming out of the spark plug holes.
Plug ess back in
Plug in Fuel Pump fuse
Put in spark plugs
Wait till battery is fully charged.
Start car.

You'll likely get a MIL (CEL) ... this will be caused from cranking the engine with the ESS unplugged.

Or ... you can just pull start the car. That is the most popular method.
Not really practical where I live but maybe it is where you are.

 

There is a tonne of info out there

Start here ---->>>>> https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...t-here-202454/

Read the first page of that thread and you'll learn a lot!


https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...rx-8-a-233937/



https://www.rx8club.com/trouble-shoo...letins-183774/

https://www.rx8club.com/tech-garage-...r-reset-27548/

https://www.rx8club.com/tech-garage-...n-guide-26291/

 

Good advice from WCS also, your MAF is easy to find. Stand in front of your car with your bonnet open, if you have the engine cover on, remove it. Slightly to your right you have your airbox (big black box) coming out of this is a pipe (intake pipe) about 20cm in diameter and you should see a connector on the top of this pipe (wires come from the right hand side) remove this connector (press on the back of the connector and it should slide right out. You will see to small star screws, remove these and you will now be able to lift your MAF out.

 

My 2004 automatic rx-8 won't start....I've checked the oil constantly, let it warm up everymorning before I drive, and don;t turn it off cold. The temperatures dropped below zero over the weekend and Monday she wouldnt start...I hooked up the battery charger and it wouldnt start. I figured maybe I flooded the engine (even though I didnt turn it off cold) so I pushed the gas pedal clear down and cranked it for like 30 seconds but no smoke came out the back. I've tried jumping it with another vehicle, and have cranked it a lot but nothing, even bought a new battery. I took out the fuel pump fuze and tried starting it, then put it back...nothing! Can anybody help me? I hope I didnt ruin the computer or starter by trying to start it too many times...I'm kind of a noob and rely on this site! Please reply ASAP

 

Check for spark. Another way is to take out the spark plugs look too see if there any good. Disable fuel and ignition turn over to spit any excess gas. Let it set for 30mins put everything back together and try itagain.

 

Ive seen a rx8 with a fried computer. But thats because some dumb *** mixed the positive and negetive when jumping the car.

 

How do you disable the fuel and ignition turn over? I'll check my spark plugs tomorrow.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-...lumber-182410/ here read this first and try it out, before you do what i told you. to check for spark your good need a spark plug tester

https://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-...-wires-222641/

Read that ^^^