Hey guys, hope some people can give me some insight on this. Been having s weird startup issue. Here is a video of a cold start of my car:

https://youtu.be/Op4cPDuT9GQ

Now here is a hot start:

https://youtu.be/cd9LVsgZnLc

As you can hear in both videos, it sounds weird on start up. Also, car runs a rough idle. Its been getting worse. Once in a while I get lack of power, like its struggling a bit at low rpms (under 4K) but for the most part I can redline smoothly without issue. No CEL or misfire.

To me it sounds like coils are failing. Two years ago, I had two coils replaced after I stalled out at a stop. For some reason, they only swapped 2 our of 4. Its been a few years since the other two were swapped. Thats what im thinking this is causing the issue.

Other info: 66K on original engine. I'll probably do a compression test to rule out failing engine, but its doubtful as I've never had a problem starting this car hot or cold. Even now it starts up, albeit a tad slower when warm but nothing too severe.

Taking it to the dealership tomorrow for diagnosis. But if anyone has any insight let me know!

 

You want to replace coil packs preventatively every 40-50k kilometers. This could certainly be the issue, but even if it isn't, plan to get them replaced. By the time you notice them failing, they're already doing other damage.

MUCH cheaper to buy and replace them yourself, dealers charge a lot for labour and parts.

Ditto for spark plugs.

 

Two were changed two years ago but not all four at the same time. Why, I don't know. I'm 90% sure its the coils. This morning when I brought her up, there didnt seem to be any issue. Even stopped and got gas, turned it on and the "chirp" you hear dissapeared and fired right up.

If its the coils, I am going the BHR route. Was planning on it anyways, may as well get it done now.

 

Well sounds worse than coils. Dealership told me that they looked at it and there was alot of oil and buildup. Not sure exactly what he meant, but told me to rev it very high over the weekend. Said the air filter definitely has to be changed. Anyways, next week they are going to do a carbon cleaning and then compression test.

I think my engine might be done. I expect it to fail. But we will see. Damn.

My rex might be on the market soon. Can't afford a rebuild or new engine atm.

 

If the MAF is dirty, from the dirty oil filter, I'd replace the filter and clean the MAF first. Especially at idle, a dirty MAF will make the idle unstable.

By all means get that comp test, but I wouldn't despair yet. You don't have hot start issues, and deposits (especially if he's talking about spark plugs) and dirty filters are easy fixes.

 

No, I don't have hot start issues, thats the wierd thing at what keeps me somewhat hopeful.

He said that due to the clogging the air wasn't able to get through efficiently. He told me to rev it very high, between 3500 and 4500 RPM, which I normally drive at. I redline daily, more than once. When I cruise on the highway, I do 80 and keep it just above 4000 RPM.

The engine cleaning is a good thing, I have been wanting to do that for a long time, I even asked the dealership two years ago if they did that and they said no like wtf. I see videos on youtube on how to seafoam but im frankly terrified if i tried it myself and break something.

Last time i did compression the results were good, high 7's and a couple 8.0's. But that was a few years ago.

Oh well, let's see what happens. I love my car to death, I drive it alot, I'd hate to part with it, nothing else I've driven matches how fun this car is, especially on the windy roads I have around here.

 

Got it back from the dealership this afternoon. Not sure why but starts up alot better. Idle is better. I'm redlining every chance I get mechanic told me rev it high all the time and I'm doing that. Really surpried how good it feels. However, still getting that cleaning and compression test done though but I'm more optimistic now.

Gonna blast it all weekend. Give it a good highway drive. Hopefully clears out all the crap and buildup.

 

Many times oil will get in the intake from overfilling the oil, which will foul the MAF sensor and cause it to run bad.
Check your oil often, and especially after oil changes.
A lot of problems new owners experience are easily fixed.

 

Here we go, a new video I took this is a rev to redline. Was a bit sluggish IMO.

https://youtu.be/2z0yhwYqShM

got the call from the dealership. Bringing it in for a decarb and compression test later this week. Then I'll pray to the rotary gods lol

 

That video seems fine, but obviously it's just a video. Hard to judge the feel.

 

The car is wierd. Some drives it kills it, drives like a champ. Others, it seems more bogged down. I saw a video on youtube and the way it started was exactly how mine did. The solution was new coils and wires. That's what I'm still hoping for. Still, and engine clean is what I have been wanting to do for a while and the compression test will tell me where my engine is at. So we will see.

 

Well finally got the call! They got the cleaner and its going in Tuesday for engine decarb and compression test. Fingers are going to be crossed for sure.

 

Small update:

Been driving my 8 all night and two things I've noticed. First the car starts better when warm. Seems to take a tad longer when cold. Also it seems to drive better after it's fully warm. Been keeping the revs above 5k after reaching operating temperature and it seems to be helping. Rough idle is also nearly gone its been idling alot better.

So the fact that its easier to start while hot and drives better while hot gives me some hope that compression isn't an issue. They still need to replace the air filter as well, they said it'd clogged up. They are waiting for me to bring it in. Why they didn't do it beforehand makes no sense. So now I'm thinking could be the starter.

So yeah little update but feeling better about my Rex now since its been driving a lot better.

 

Starter won't cause a rough idle. Are you still on 2 old coils?

 

Yeah they were not switched out, I dont even know if they looked at that or not. I will be mentioning that to them as well again. I still think its a coil issue. The startup seems to sound like failing coils based on a couple videos I have seen on youtube.

Car is idling alot better now too.

 

You can install new coils yourself, running around on dead coils could cause more problems than it solves.

 

I know which is why in taking it easy. I haven't had any misfires. But I definitely want to check them out. I will be upgrading to BHR coils for sure but I don't want to shell out that kind of money until the compression test results come back.

 

Well, the day of reckonig has arrived. Rex is in the shop getting the test done.

Also, the product they are using to clean the engine is called Wurth Throttle Body/Intake cleaner. Never seen, or heard of this product before. Has anyone ever used this?

 

Also made this for today haha!

 

Yes, well I plan on buying your ignition system (coils, wires, plugs) in the future should everything work out!

Also, another thing I noticed this weekend is that the rough idle i thought I was having is possibly just vibrations, as the needle does not move of fluctuate. It stays at 850 RPM steady. So, I can't see it as being a bad idle. So now I am thinking motor mounts could be going. Ugh, more stuff to think about.

 

Small update:

Just got the call from the dealer and...... Got to wait ANOTHER day! Ugh, this is killing me. Apparently something else came up and had to shelve working on my car until tomorrow. Ugh

 

Finally another update:

Got tired of waiting around so just called them. Compression tester isnt working lmao. They need to get a new one in. More waiting. Joy.

 

Really wondering of these guys know what they are doing. I live in a small city in Canada, pop. of 76,000. No where else to take it, closest Rotary shop from me is Mazdees in Scarborough, which is an 8 hour drive. Ugh.

 

Update again: They finally got a new tester. Car is today. Just hope this time it gets done! Been waiting 3 weeks already.

 

Finally got my results, here they are:

PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST.
ROTOUR #1 278RPM #1-6.0 #2-5.4 #3-5.5 - KG/CM
ROTOUR #2 286RPM #1-6.0 #2-6.3 #3-6.4 - KG/CM
CORRECTION: COMPRESSION TEST COMPLETE, COMPRESSION IS LOW SHOULD BE UP
AROUND 10.2 KG/CM.
REQUIRES FILLING FUEL TANK AND ADDING IN SEA FOAM TO CLEAN
AFTER 1 TANK OF FUEL AND SEA FOAM DRIVEN THREW VEHICLE.
REQUIRES SECOND COMPRESSION TEST.

So there you have it. I figured that's what the problem was. Not sure if the Seafoam will fix compression that low. Guess it's time to say goodbye, can't afford a new engine.