After fixing my coolant issues (replaced WP/Rad/Hoses) my 04 Rx8 has had a hard time starting. I had all 4 coils replaced, both leading plugs replaced and my air filter replaced. The problem did not go away so I tested the battery and the batter was fine. The problem annoyed me because it would crank over with effort, stumble for about 20s, and then idle fine. Sometimes I'd get a flashing CEL (misfire).

Today I took a look at all the plugs and this is what I observed.

1. The Leading plug in the front housing was caked with oil/ash/fuel...whatever it was, it was kinda grimey. No fuel came out.

2. The Trailing plug in the front housing was soaked with fuel. When I took it out, a few ounces of fuel spilled out.

3. The Leading plug in the rear house was bone dry, but it look a bit spotty. Some parts of the plug had amber/off white "burn" spots on it.

4. The trailing plug on the rear house seemed fine.

I soak all of the plugs in some PB blaster to clean them up a bit. No help.

What I've noticed is that if I rev (past 7k) right before I kill the ignition to park, the car doesn't struggle so baddly. Other wise it's as if the engine has flooded. In fact there have been 3 of 4 times when I've had to do the deflood procedure just to get the car started (even though the engine was just running 20 min ago).

I'm thinking something is still ignition related, and I haven't changed my plug wires yet.

Help please?

 

Sometime back there was a TSB on the starter. Did the dealer change it?

 

I hate to see this thread die becasue I have a similar condition. Engine coughs and spits for a few seconds on startup and then is absolutely fine once its running. I've replaced all plugs (which actually looked reasonable with just some tan powder) and no change.

 

^Cold starts or after engine is hot?

 

I know when my car had a hard time starting they replaced the engine coils and afterwards the car started up fine, and also the car ran extremely well after the new coils. I guess I did not notice the decrease in performance over time.

 

i have the same problem it takes a while to start up, cranks over for about 5-9 seconds before it actually goes....and with the cold weather its not getting any better...i think because i probably still have the shitty starter and battery that 04's come with... ive replaced the sparkplugs about 3k miles ago... i think my coilpacks are next...its got 37k miles....n e suggestions?

 

9 seconds? holy crap.
get the new starter/battery. period. easy fix
mine starts really easy
vuh vuh vumm vrooooom. 1-2 second max

 

yeah i know today it did somewhat decent... not as harsh as other day... started right up... no no more than 4 seconds.... but yeah imma check with the dealer tomorrow..

 

it idles and runs clean, and im gonna start adding premix to my fill ups...

 

I have a similar hard starting issue. It'll start in under two seconds, but while it's starting, it's just cranking... weird. It's like it doesn't turn all the way over, it makes kind of a ticking noise. Like, turn the key, TICK TICK TICK TICK VROOOOOOOOM.

It's really strange. What could that be?

 

fuhhhhhh!!!!

i ran premix (4oz of Castrol 2 stroke engine oil with a full tank of gas)


, upgraded my OEM ignition wires to MSD 8.5mm wires(some V8 kit that comes with several wires and boots to make well over 3 sets)



and oh yeah, problem solved starts like a champ in the morning when its cold out, ans its just ovrerall a smoother ride.... my coils are next...