Bad title- not ""dies" but "is dead then awakens"

Ok, tonight was the third time it did this.

The first time was over the turkey day holiday.

*Note the power steering is not working even though I tried cleaning the plugs again, which worked the first time. Good thing I have decent upper body strength. lol*

I parked the RX8 on a steep uphill entrance drive (car lot) so my brother and I could look at vehicles.(we like to do that when we are together- just to point out design details and such.. we are weird. But he is shopping)
When we went back to the RX8, I put my key in and nothing- only a barely lit flickering red key symbol.
On and off with the key and nothing, but then a slight red key light and airbag light.
I was like f**k. My brother had just told me about his key thing malfunctioning on his S40, causing the key light and a no start/tow.
I cussed again.
Then again.
Maybe I cussed again... I did not record them.
I got out and popped the hood- just to make sure the battery cables to were tight.
I have had dead batteries before- and this was not exactly like it.
Before you knew the battery was weak.

Note I replaced the oem battery two years ago (15k miles) with the biggest one that I could cram in the battery box due to flooding issues.

Ok- I tried roll starting the car in reverse.
Nothing- no power whatsoever, then bam! Full power started like all was 100%.
(radio stations reset)

It did the same thing the next morning on a slight inclined driveway- and a "roll started" it until it popped to life.

That was weeks ago.

Tonight it did it again, but on a very slightly sloped parking lot.
It was too flat to "roll start" (got caught in drain).
So I just sat there for a minute with the key in the ignition and BAM! It came alive like nothing was wrong.

Car is an 04 6 speed RX8 with 45k miles.

Note- car was in minor front end crash two years ago.
It was very minor- I drove the car until the shop could take it even though I couldn't get the hood open (thank god I had just made sure the oil level was correct before the crash).

Engine was replaced earlier this year.

(I know.. these both could contribute)

MY first thought was a damaged battery (this is the battery that was inthe car in the minor front end crash)- that something in the battery is loose and causing an internal short.
But how to know if battery has internal damage?
I am at a loss.

Any thoughts/comments/genius insight would be appreciated.

 

test the battery...

 

Likely something electrical..like a relay.....check the main relay and see if tapping it when it's acting up makes it work. It's not likely that the battery is the problem...otherwise it wouldn't come and go like that


Could be the ignition switch...or the immobilizer unit...or the key

 

I forget to add- I swapped to the other key after turkey-day.

And the problem with diagnosing this issue is that is fixes itself- how will I know if what I did made a difference?

 

If it stops doing it

 

Big clue is the reset radio stations - this only happens when the battery is actually disconnected (or at like 3 volts).

You have a bad connection, nothing more, but nothing less.

Don't just wiggle the terminals - remove, file clean, grease, and do the posts too.

Then do the grounds - it takes two to tango, and the return path is just as important. Check the ground straps and tighten the bolts.

The only fuse that can prevent a start is the ACC 30 amp - clean the legs on it. Remove the relay marked 'starter' and jumper the two bigger terminals - this will jog the starter, even with the ignition off and key out (make sure it's out of gear).

Forget other and fuses, they won't stop the starter motor.

Let us know what you find........

 

Ok- it did something really weird today.

I was sliding around a wet parking lot (..) and whenever I would slide, the radio would cut off, then cut back on after I stopped sliding the back end. The stability control was killing the radio. But it did not reset anything.
When I came back to the parked car and got in- I saw the gauge needles dance for a second or two before I even put the key in.. but the car started and ran fine, and has since.

.

 

So the sum total of your diagnostics has been to swap keys?

Nothing- no power whatsoever, then bam! Full power started like all was 100%.

You say you know when a battery is weak, so how can this not point to a really bad connection?



Jesús lloró

S

 

I haven't had the time/weather to do any real driveway work.
Over the holiday weekend, I will try and pull it in my parent's garage and see what I can find out.
When you go to work before sunrise and come home after sunset, you don't get much time to wrench on the car in the driveway.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/78-LED-PORTA...item519c6524e0

 

They should renamed this smartassclub.com.....:smile:

I just finally got some free time... and the car was in the no battery power mode.. and stayed that way after moving the car (roll start) and stting overnight.
I pulled the battery cables off to put a tester on the battery and noticed both were covered in white corrosion... cleaned them both and now is fine.

Sorry for the drama.