Hey folks,
I have an odd problem with my 2004 RX8, engine replaced ~50k miles ago.
Almost every time I go to start my car (but sometimes it's fine), the electricity completely cuts out and everything turns off. After a little while, I will see the security light on the dashboard VERY faintly blink, but that's about it. I soon discovered that if I unplug the battery and plug it back in, everything turns back on and I'm usually able to start her up (sometimes the electricity will cut out again, then I'll have to do it over again, and it will always eventually start up).

Once things get going, she runs great, most of the time. Occasionally she will idle roughly, at which times I hold the gas a little so it's above idle and I go on like normal.

Other weird things I've noticed (may or may not be applicable): there is a rather high pitched screeching sound coming from (I think) the air pump. Also, my steering has been noticeably looser recently (although, that could be from my uneven tires being rotated).

Recent work done by me: changed the air filter to a K&N, oil change, brake pads, and bled brakes.
Work done at shop: coolant flush, wheel alignment, checked compression (all readings were healthily above spec).

Here is a video I took demonstrating it: (sorry for the dizzy-ness).

 

Clean the battery terminals, and where the ground goes to the body under the air box. Issue could be poor connections. The load to start the car breaks the connection and kills everything (like a fuse blowing). When the "blown" area cools back down, you get a connection again.

 

Make sure the clamps are tight after the cleaning.

 

++^^ And, make sure that you clean any connection, like where the cables attached to the clamps as well.

 

Alright I'll give that a shot later today! I hope it's that simple.

Is the screeching noise normal behavior? (I do believe it eventually quiets down after a couple of minutes).

 

in this thread RIWWP posted a link to a PDF for finding the ground between the negative terminal in the chassis. Unscrew it, clean it and tighten it back down.


https://www.rx8club.com/trouble-shoo...sensor-238744/

 

The air pump cuts off after a few minutes. Screech is the bearing going bad. There are posts here to search through. I would get it starting first.

 

Hey guys,
just a follow-up, replacing the negative battery cable clamp did the trick! She starts up consistently perfect now. I suppose I should have realized this when sparks were jumping from the battery terminal to the clamp when it was supposedly clamped on.

Thanks, and I'll start searching for the air pump bearing replacement posts now.