Hi All,
I've owned my '04 RX8 for 10 months now, it's always had a weak starter motor but not so bad I needed to spend £450 on a new one, and the only work I've had done to it is replaced the battery which was about 5 months ago, it's done 45k miles.

Right, the problem is, it won't start! I went away for 2 weeks, so it was just sitting there, I came back and it started alright, I went to the petrol station and filled up the car with the car still running which is what I've been doing for the past couple of months because the car doesn't start for around 15 mins once the ignition is turned off but starts up 1st time if left for 45mins+ every time.
So I drove to my friends and left the car there then we went out for the day, I come back 10hrs later and the car wouldn't start, the starter motor sounded very weak, so two of my friends gave me a push to bump start it and that got me home, I got in it the next day and try to start it and all the dials started going crazy and heard like a machine gun like clicking from the engine when trying to start it but but it wasn't trying to start up, just the machine gun like noise.
Thought it's possibly the battery to so charged it up, intended on doing an overnight charged but it turned out to be about 24hrs because I stayed away from home that night, tryed to start it and it wouldnt start up.
Later on tryed to jump start it battery to battery, the leads were reccomended for cars upto 2L, nothing changed the same thing happend.
Tryed the next day and now its doing absolutly nothing, exept when I pressed the button on the fob the alarm went off for the 1st time.

What's people ideas on what the problem is and how much is it likely to cost to get repaired?

 

Can you post a video clip of you attempting to start it?
Hard to understand what you're experiencing with the "machine gun" sounds and the "dials going crazy".
Part of it sounds like an electrical issue, while the other sounds mechanical.
Did you verify the battery connections were secured?

 

I went to take a video but it was pretty pointless because I turned the ignition and there was nothing to note, but, I tryed to jumpstart it again and this time it worked I dont know why it didnt work the other time, either the negative was connected to a different place or the oher engine was running last time. Anyway I got it started left it running a couple mins the went to go for a drive, as I went to drive about 3 secs later the power steering went heavy and it felt as though the engine was about to die only for like 1/2 a sec thoough, anyway I drove it for 4 miles and bought it home, on the 4 mile drive there was nothing to note exept the 'check engine light' was lit up along with the DSC light which is normal I think after you've disconected the battery.

 

Check your battery again...if it's weak.....you need to replace it. They has been known to fail early. Likely has a warranty for free..prorated replacement

Check the wires from the battery to the fusebox, and to the alternator and starter for poor connections and corrosion. Check all the grounds for same

Check the alternator output......

Check your starter....I just replaced mine for less than $200US...so look around for a better deal...or get one shipped from the US. You should be able to ship for a lot less than $600 US

 

First thing to check when you have electrical problems is battery voltage....if it is below 12V...you might as well start there

If the voltage is low...relays and other triggers have a habit of going on and off...so Ya..could be your problem...

If your battery is more than 4 years old...save yourself the grief and get a new one before you get stranded someplace...it will die in the most inconvenient place and time

 

I like AGM batteries...like the Optima Redtop....they cost a bit more..but take seem to last longer

Other than that..buy a good brand name battery with a warranty....

Batteries are really consumables..they need to be changes every 4-5 years at least

 

Could be low compression.

 

No offense but how on earth does that mean low compression????

Its something electrical. Might want to look at the engine grounds as noted before.

I'd also get your alternator checked just for kicks.

 

yea that sounds about right. every now and then I need to give mine a jiggle when it wont start.

If it aint broke dont fix it.

 

I'm sure you will be fine.