Here is the gist of it:

2005 RX8 GT (Montreal, QC)
114000km (70836 Miles)

For the past few weeks after a drive, if I stopped the car to gas up or go to the store, it would have a hard time starting afterwards. Sometimes worst than others, would have to wait for 5-10mins at worst.

Brought it in to Mazda last week to have the CAT checked and changed. They ended up only doing it today because they where waiting for the part.
(They also did the clutch pedal bracket recall).

I drove it 5mins from the dealership, stopped at a convenience store and it wouldnt start back up. I had to wait 20mins before it started.

Then it stalled at a red light on my way home. (it was too late to bring it back to dealership anyways.) Idle was rough and it would go very very low and it stalled. Wouldnt start back up.

Since I was stuck in traffic I had to have it towed right away back to Mazda, where it is sitting right now.

Thing is, every morning or after its been sitting for more than an hour it starts right up.

Details:

CAT - brand new
Coils - 2 months old
Plugs - 2 months old
Cables - 2 months old
MAF cleaned - 3 weeks ago
Air filter cleaned - Two months ago
Oil changed and filter - Two months ago
Oil always topped up
Premixed since 44000km (when I bought it)
Walbro fuel pump since last summer
Coolant toped up
Been using Synthetic oil (Mostly 0w40)
Driven in winter

It has a new CEL which I dont know the code yet. Had a CEL yesterday which I assumed was Catalytic converter but dealership couldnt tell me as they just cleared it, changed the CAT and checked for new code and there was none.

At this point, full warranty is done, I have no extended one.
Engine warranty is in effect and I'm hoping it has to do with this engine (with the list of things I did above I cant really see what else it would be...)

Hoping they'll fix this with as little to no cost to me as possible.

I'll call them tomorrow and ask them to do a compression test.

Anyone have any ideas ? Did I miss any other critical information?

Only thing I'm worried about is I dont have a solid history of oil changes. I do them myself and never been very good at keeping a record... or bills. If they ask for it I might have to find someone to give me some back dated bills....

Anyways, just had to put my story out there, see if it can help, its my Daily Driver and as many of you know, its a very sucky situation.

 

get the compression test.
Sometimes, people get away without having the full service history

 

Update:

The dealership did some tests.

They had no code.

They noticed that the battery is bubbling, they say it might not be holding its charge.
I changed the battery about 2 years ago, so it is possible. It has been cording at the polls faster than usual, I've been cleaning it every 3-4 weeks.

According to their tech, it could be the battery or the starter going bad requiring too much voltage (apparently its on of the things that could happen).

When the battery or starter cools down, it would start right up...

The car did die, twice in the last few days while idling at a light, which could point to a battery not holding its charge when hot...

I'm going to see if I still have a warranty on the battery.

What do you guys think?

 

As RX8Soldier says, get a comp test, even if the battery was r/s , the alternator will supply enough juice to keep it running. Does no one do any research any more ?

 

People do do research.

Did you not see the amount of details and maintenance I have done before even posting this here?

About the compression test, I would love to do it on the snap of a finger, but the fact is they charge 199$ to do it and it'll only be covered if it turns out the problem is the engine.

Which is why I'm hesitating before telling them to do it.

 

seeing as you've done most of the troubleshooting and replaced all these parts, I'd say your next stop is a compression test.

Just for the hell of it, you could even try cleaning the eccentric shaft sensor, then doing the ecu reset? But, I think it's compression test time...

 

Honestly, the only things you can do that you haven't done yet are to clear the fuel trim memory, clear the eccentric shaft profile, and then do a drive cycle to get fresh information back in the car, and see if that improves the way the car starts.

If that doesn't work, then you have nothing left to do except the compression test.

BC.

 

I tried those things today after changing the battery.

It did have a cap that was bubbling, so that probably didint help. I might have killed it last weekend when I drained it after trying to start the car so much.

So it seems its not stalling at idle anymore, though it does have a rough idle, it goes very low, seems like it wants to stall and then pops back up. Constantly. But for now its not stalling.

I got ordered a starter from a local Napa store, which I'll get tomorrow. 165$.

Its a quick fix, though not cheap, but with the winters here, its good to have a new starter.

If that fixes the problem... for now, I'll be able to get a compression test done or do it with the help of a mechanic friend much cheaper than 200$ and on my terms, if compression is bad, then I'll bring it to Mazda and have them do their thing.

If the starter doesn't help, then I can leave it with mazda confident that it is 100% an engine problem as I've changed everything else possible.

Thanks for your input guys.

p.s. Got a stop fuse blowing problem too... gonna have to hunt that down... arghghhg.

 

So I changed the starter and it didn't fix the problem.

I guess its compression test time. Unless I'm a total dimwit, I really cant see what else it would be. Like clockwork, if I drive around for more than 3-5 mins, I have to wait 20mins to start the car.

The new starter is definitely better though, major difference. Its not too much of a bad thing as it can get to -40 (F and C) sometimes in winter here so a good starter is necessary.

BTW for you Canadians out there. Napa has a starter for 179$ + 35$ core charge, minus 7% if you have a CAA card. Its a 2.0kw starter to boot. They have the same part number for 2005 or 2007 RX8s.

So after all these tests, and parts changed, the car still stalls sometimes at idle. And after every drive I have to wait 20mins to start it up. GRRRRRR

 

So I guess I'm joining the new engine club.

Just got the news that the compression is bad (dont have the report yet).
They've opened a ticket with Mazda Canada and I'm waiting on the news to find out when they'll get a new engine.

I just hope they dont ask for all the service records, because I'll have to go through the hassle of faking it.

 

Slight threadjack: I'm in the same boat and wanna know what numbers I should expect from a compression test.

 

I havent gotten the report yet, I'll let you know when I do.

The numbers are in the shop manual here:

http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/2003mazdar...002000W03.html

 

So Im getting a new engine.

At first they said it would be about 2-3 weeks but they got it yesterday and started working on it this morning.

Seems my clutch is finished as well (I was expecting it), 114 000km on original clutch.

Stock clutch kit at Mazda was 875$, so I said no to that.

I needed to find a clutch FAST so as not to delay the work on my car.

I found a local Napa store that also has accounts with performance parts distributors.

400$ + tax for an Exedy Stage I clutch. That price beats out anyone in Canada that I know of and its available next day.

So I should be getting my car Monday hopefully.