Hi,

I am storing my rx8 in a heated underground parking garage for the winter for the next few months as it is cold and snowy up here in Northern Canada.

I last drove it in late October and was going to start it periodically over the winter to just get the fluids moving etc....

The battery died sometime between October and late December so I bought a charger (battery tender) to charge it back up and help keep it charged over the winter and subsequent winters.

I took the battery out of the car to do this (not sure if this is important) as there are no plugs in the garage.

With the battery back in the car and connecting the terminals the alarm started going off and there was a clicking noise from the engine fuse box area. Unhooked and re-hooked up the battery a few times to see if this would continue...

Searched on here: pulled the horn fuse, reattached the battery, unlocked the trunk with my key and the alarm went away. *enter feelings of joy and accomplishment*

Went to start the car and just a click, the gauges cycle from bottom to top and nothing. A/C works, radio works, cluster works. The immobilization icon goes away after 3 seconds when the key is in the ON position (which means it goes off according to how I read the manual).

Quickly visually checked the 120V fuse and it looked good. I also seem to have power to everything.

Used my Cobb to pull and codes and see if the ECU was working and got the code RKE 1318. 1318 seems to mean low voltage to something... I'm guessing the RKE just means remote keyless entry and it isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of this.


My Plan is as follows:

Hit the Starter....
Check the Grounds
Check the battery (though the batter tender showed full charge)
Check the fuses with a multimeter


My question is this.... am I missing anything obvious or should I look for anything else?

Note: The battery is 100% connected properly. And the posts are clean.

 

You have a good list. Just a click with the gauges all going dark/dead momentarily is all the correct sequence up to and including the starter relay opening (the click). The battery power isn't getting from the battery to the starter (fuse, connection, something breaking the flow), OR the starter can't use even a piece of the power (dead starter).

With everything else appearing good, I'd get up under the car where the starter is and see if any rodents have decided to use the starter's wiring for a new nest.

 

UPDATE:

Tried boosting my car vs. getting the battery tested as this was the easiest and quickest way.

She fired right up after sitting the last 3 1/2 monthhs. Looks like the battery just doesn't have the amps. New battery it is.

 

 

 

If you just put a new battery in, make sure the battery terminals are tight and clean (and clean them if necessary).