my rx8 started just fine this morning, drove it, parked and now only turns over strong but won't actually start up. initially it started, drove it 100 feet and it died and now won't start. i thought maybe it was flooded (previous to today it sat for 4 days) so i floored the gas pedal and it started up but sounded awful (glub...glub glub....glub) and only idled if i kept my foot on the gas.

some info....

2004 with ~85 000 miles (6MT), BHR ignition coils/wires done 10 months ago along with spark plugs and compression was normal.
mods=exhaust, Revi intake, Cobb AP (AP shows no codes currently)

any suggestions? i know this question of "my car won't start" gets asked a lot but i'm unable to find any clear answers. thanks in advance for any help.

 

I suggest to search. This is one of the most commonly asked questions and there are several informative threads on the subject that outline the ways of diagnosing a no start issue.

 

yeah i searched and there a loads of threads about cars not starting...read for over an hour and didn't help me much. my battery is new, wires/plugs/coils should be fine after only 10 months, no other problems recently, didn't turn it off cold....

i've successfully restarted a flooded rx8 in the past for other people so i comprehend the process.

 

Clogged exhaust? You say it sat for a while, where was this?

 

sat inside a heated/covered parking structure

 

And it was driving and starting fine before you parked it?

 

Turn key to "on", do you hear the whirrr of the fuel pump running for a few seconds?

 

it started and drove fine this morning.....parked it for 3 hours, it started initially, idled fine, drove 100ft and it stalled on me while driving then wouldn't start.

got it started by flooring gas pedal while turning ignition over, but idle was super rough and would stall if i took my foot off the gas pedal. should i have kept it idling with my foot on the gas slightly for longer? (as in more than 2 minutes or so)

 

and yes, i hear the "whirr" of the fuel pump....listened out for that.

 

I would follow the steps in the FSM and troubleshoot it the proper way. The pump could be pumping but weak, I have seen that on a buddies car and when we checked fuel pressure it was way below spec. But you need the proper tools to check fuel pressure.

http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/2003mazdar..._S01_0016.html

 

Maybe try pulling the negative terminal on your battery for about 10 secs to let the computer reset?

 

thanks for the link. i don't have the means to check a lot of those things unfortunately.
i figured if it was something major/mechanical it would have thrown a code and would have showed up when i checked my cobb AP.

 

Just saying get all small things it could be out of the way before a pressure test but defiantly +1 for the fuel pressure.

 

ok will give the battery a check.....thanks to all for the assistance!

 

Don't rely on a CEL code to tell you anything. The whole OBD2 / CEL system was designed as emissions reporting. Very few CELs are not emissions related. Getting a code largely means something is wrong that impacts emissions, getting no code largely means that the ECU doesn't see anything wrong with your emissions equipment. Everything else is still fair game.

 

You will have to use the cobb ap to tune the ecu again if you try the computer reset. Have you recently changed any of the ecu settings?

 

Uh..... huh?

Pulling the battery connection does NOT clear the maps on the ECU. If it did, wouldn't that cause severe problems worldwide with every car every time someone has a battery replaced and suddenly their car has no fueling maps?

The AP "tunes" the ECU with OEM maps. It just changes the numbers in the map, they lock in place and the ECU doesn't know that they aren't the original factory numbers. There is nothing to "reset to" in the ECU that would wipe out the maps.

Reseting the ECU just clears SOME learned parameters, such as emissions readiness status, CEL codes, fuel trims, rolling distance for TCS, steering angle for DSC, etc...

 

Oh boy.

 

What MIL would be unrelated to emissions in some way, shape, or form?

 

There is one for the DSC Switch. That's one off the top of my head.

 

Well I haven't purchased mine yet so I personally wouldn't know. I was told that and defiantly appreciate the correction. Least I get to correct a know it all now!

 

You might refrain from offering advice until you have some idea of wtf you're talking about.

 

Ok, you may have to do a complete troubleshooting routine.

Another guess though: any chance of rodents in that garage? Your symptoms could be explained by a plugged intake. Sucking a rodent nest into the air filter could be a cause. Simple to check. While the airbox is, off take a peek inside the accordian tube and see if there's oil inside. If so, and perhaps even if not, then remove and clean the MAF sensor. Doesn't take much in the way of tools or time to do both. Rodents love chomping on the underhood insulation too. If there's any sign of that, they could have also feasted on some of the wiring.

 

I was told even with the cobb ap all the maps would be erased and would go to strictly factory settings. As I said I didn't have one. No need to be a total dick. Just trying to help. Not like I said anything that would cause a total meltdown of the planet earth or his engine.

 

Take a look through the DTC list: https://www.rx8club.com/tech-garage-...n-guide-26291/