My RX-8 has been driven 110 000 km or less than 70 000 miles now.

I have been having start-up problems for a long while. It starts only when the engine is cooled down. It used to be better so that if the temperature gauge showed a reading quarter from the bottom it still started, but if on the middle it didn't. Now it's gotten so that if the needle is even little elevated, it won't budge, unless I keep cranking 5 seconds on, 5 seconds off for ten minutes or so. From cold it starts in a second. Cranking is quite good thanks to a new, top of the line battery.

Now, from reading around here I've gotten the understanding that the best fix for this is to get a new, more powerful starter. Is this right? Most likely compression is gone, but I cannot afford to get a new engine or have the old one overhauled, so I try to make do.

I've been getting these squeeky "bird noises" when cranking, in the rhythm of two normal cranks - two squeeks. I read that changing coils could fix this and mayby even help start-up. So today I replaced the coils with new cheap ones from Autorock and behold - the car started without squeeks! Twice. The start-up was easier and without unnecessary noises, also I seemed to get more low-end torque. I drove around for about 20 minutes and the car seemed reinvigorated.
After about 30 minutes I was about to head out and the car was still in normal operating temperature (gauge needle at the middle). I tried to start and couldn't get it going and the bird noises are back.

Could it be that the new ignition coils were of such a low quality that they've gone to **** just after one short spirited drive?

Can blown spark plugs cause the same squeeks? I thought that mayby the new coils made the plugs go down, even as they have been changed into new Mazda ones within last 2000 miles?

Please help. I'm starting to lose my patience with this piece of ****.

 

Below is a video I made (sorry on some clips the sound is low) that might help you. My old "original weak" starter made those squeaks too.

You could have gotten bad coils, I had bought a brand new oem set that failed on me in less than 2,000 miles. I now use a bhr ignition system with no problems.

Please remember, most hot start problems are a sign of weak ignition system, carbon build-up OR low compression.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oODr599cQv4


-Shawn

 

Very informative, thanks for the video!

On that video you never got the squeeks I meant, though. Those can be only described as misfires in the middle of a cranking cycle, I guess. I do get the same annoying constantly squeeky starter that you too got in the earlier parts, as well.

Where did you get that Mazda 2.0 kW starter? That really seemed like the business! The official Mazda Stealership here in Finland had some upgraded model for offer, but I don't know if it's that one and they asked 800 USD for it, so they can pretty much forget it.

Thanks again Shawn!

 

buyourmazdaparts.com

It was 328 shipped, you can probably find it cheaper.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/new-upadted-starter-cheap-only-110%24-212798/

 

The starter at that site doesn't have any information on it, only that it should fix the problem. They give the part number N3Z1-18-400X.

Is this the 2.0kW one that you had?

Seems difficult to know in a lot of the stores which starters are the 2kW ones and which the lesser powered ones like that Autozone product.

Do you have any more ideas regarding that chirping? Should I pull out my plugs to check them, or is that grasping on straws? That BHR kit is sounding more and more seducing every day.

 

Thats the one.
N3Z1 = upgraded 2.0kw
N3H1*********A = 2.0kw upgraded starter
N3H1 = 1.4kw original "weak" starter.

 

Aaah! Okay, so all the Mazda upgraded ones are automatically 2 kW. Thanks!

Now I see that website won't ship outside US. Rockauto seems to have some 2kW starters as well, but that is only mentioned to the 2006+ RX-8 starters.

Can I install 2006-2008 RX-8 starter to my '04 without any problems?

 

Yeap.

 

Smashing! I'll order a Bosch one ASAP.

I even got my car started. Barely. Now it almost won't start even when cold! It spluttered to 1k rpm and then stalled, couple more tries and it it kept running.
Plugs are **** or the new coils were made in an Indian sweatshop by a 5-year-old?

How do I test which it is? Anybody?

 

Remove spark plugs and inspect them for deposits, that's how you check them.

If you have a spare spark plug, you can test the ignition coil using the spare spark plug.

BC.

 

Okay, thanks!

Brown is okay, but black is bad, right?

Unfortunately I have no spares.

 

...Start saving for a new engine while you're at it.

 

Nah, if it comes to engine failure, I'm done with this car. I know this one might already be on it's path there. An overhaul would cost me third of the current market value of the car here in finland, so I don't think it will be worth it, knowing I'll most likely be there again in about 70,000 miles.

 

Finland? I might actually help you to save a lot of money! Shall we discuss it in private?

 

Sure, why not. I just sent you a private message.