View Full Version : Car wont start! Help me!


mkiv_t74
11-22-2008, 02:58 PM
I have a 2004 rx8 with a hair over 60k miles. I have not driven it in 2 days. I got in it this atfternoon about 40 degrees outside and it just cranked with no start. Fuel Guage reads 1/3 tank. How many cranks does it take for it to flood? How long does it take to deflood? Where should I begin with my diagnosis? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mkiv_t74
11-22-2008, 03:37 PM
I check the starter as I have seen in some theads may be the problem. My starter said N3H2A. It was a little hard to see. I crank the motor and the rpms rise slightly but I get nothing.

Please Help Im stuck here

Vortexx
11-22-2008, 03:55 PM
For what it is worth, when it happened to me I just kept cranking it and cranking it (a member's post had recommended that) and it finally started. Take this with a grain of salt, though, and be sure that there is someone who can jump you if you need it. Of course this approach is HELL on the starter motor, but it worked for me and I've had no trouble since (around a year).
Good Luck!

mkiv_t74
11-22-2008, 03:57 PM
For what it is worth, when it happened to me I just kept cranking it and cranking it (a member's post had recommended that) and it finally started. Take this with a grain of salt, though, and be sure that there is someone who can jump you if you need it. Of course this approach is HELL on the starter motor, but it worked for me and I've had no trouble since (around a year).
Good Luck!


I tried doing about 8 seperate cranks with no luck. How many did you do and for how long?

Brettus
11-22-2008, 04:07 PM
Try the Deflood proceedure in your owners manual .


You may need to do this several times if you have a badly flooded engine .

mkiv_t74
11-22-2008, 04:42 PM
I tried as described in the manual no luck. I took out the spark plus. The front rotors where soaked and look like shit. The rears look fine. Any ideas?

Brettus
11-22-2008, 06:14 PM
do you have anyone that could tow start you ?

mkiv_t74
11-22-2008, 06:39 PM
its an auto is that possible?

I just took out the spark plus unpluged the esps and an air pump. Cranked 10 times to get rid of all the fuel. Cleaned the plugs (cant get them anywhere fast) tried normal cranking then depressed throttle a few times with no sucess. Are there any codes I need to reset? How big of a deal is new spark plus and where do I go from here? Thanks

Brettus
11-22-2008, 06:47 PM
not with an auto - no . Getting another running car hooked up to the battery would help a lot though . Do you know how to do that ?

You need to stop anymore fuel getting in while cranking by either always holding down the acc. or pulling the fuel injector fuse - not sure which one that is off the top of my head.
If you keep trying to crank it listen for the engine atempting to start - at this point you can let your foot off the throttle (or plug in the fuse) and attempt to start it again

some oil in the spark plug holes may help as well

mkiv_t74
11-22-2008, 08:38 PM
are spark plugs for these things really $20 plus a plug? How can I verify that the spark is working on the car? Pull the fuel fuse pull plug out connect to wire ground it and crank? I know im getting fuel not sure about spark.

thanks

Mazurfer
11-22-2008, 08:52 PM
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/rx8/bulletin/01-015-08-1883f.pdf

After you've tried what is in the manual.........which I know you now have.

mkiv_t74
11-22-2008, 09:59 PM
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/rx8/bulletin/01-015-08-1883f.pdf

After you've tried what is in the manual.........which I know you now have.

I was actually looking at that. I did procedure A. It seems like procedure B means you have a blown motor due to low compression correct? Is there an easy way to verify that the car is getting a spark?

Thanks

04RX8man
11-23-2008, 10:03 AM
to verify you are getting spark take the plugs out (do this one plug at a time) snap the plug into the wire and hold the electrode against the "block" or a place to get a good ground and have someone crank the motor if you're getting spark you will see it

NOTE: hold it on the wire so you don't get shocked hurts like a bitch take my word for it!!!!

Mazurfer
11-23-2008, 12:51 PM
to verify you are getting spark take the plugs out (do this one plug at a time) snap the plug into the wire and hold the electrode against the "block" or a place to get a good ground and have someone crank the motor if you're getting spark you will see it

NOTE: hold it on the wire so you don't get shocked hurts like a bitch take my word for it!!!!

Now that's funny................yep, it sure will get your attention! :Eyecrazy:

mkiv_t74
11-23-2008, 03:27 PM
Thanks for everyones help. I got it started a few mins ago! I ended up pulling the fuse and cranking a lot. I heard the engine start to make a different compession noise. I popped the fuse back in and finally got it to hit a few times. After about 5 trys of depressed crank then normal crank finally got it to start. It was reving on its own to about a grand then dying, so right when it got there I stomped on gas to cut off fuel and it finally caught on.

Thanks Everyone!

Mazurfer
11-23-2008, 04:51 PM
Cool................make sure you NEVER shut this car off cold. Most of the time I hear it happening is because someone else moves it to the other side of the driveway or something..............and bingo...............flooded.

Brettus
11-23-2008, 05:26 PM
for the rare occasion that you might flood it (never in my experience) i would be more inclined to say " know what to do if you do flood it"

jim.tonneson
03-06-2010, 02:28 PM
I have a 2004 rx8 with a hair over 60k miles. I have not driven it in 2 days. I got in it this atfternoon about 40 degrees outside and it just cranked with no start. Fuel Guage reads 1/3 tank. How many cranks does it take for it to flood? How long does it take to deflood? Where should I begin with my diagnosis? Any help would be greatly appreciated.



My name is Jim and I have a 2005RX-8 with about 38k plus. My problem is it won't even turnover, alternator is good and the battery is brand new about 4 months ago when I bought the car. I had no symtoms of any problems prior to this happening. I can start by jumping it, but now I see a round red circle with a picture of a key in the center. I did find this warning sign in the owner's manual. Something about when the key is turned from on/off to acc and if it won't start that I have to take it to the dealership?? If anyone can help please let me know. Thanks Jim

Razz1
03-06-2010, 04:37 PM
that sounds like a security issue.
Not recognizing they key.

Rachrx8
07-08-2010, 06:18 PM
Hi ya, sounds familiar.Just bought my mazda rx8 2004 seven weeks ago.done just over 65,000ks and having trouble starting it while cold and after a big drive! what the ... Im a chick that loves my car but am not mechanically minded, need to learn hehe.

RotaryMachineRx
07-08-2010, 06:26 PM
for the rare occasion that you might flood it (never in my experience) i would be more inclined to say " know what to do if you do flood it"

I've also never had a flooding problem...... as for the rest of you please refer to the first sticky under trouble shooting

Seedek Haniff
09-11-2010, 04:38 PM
Help Help i have a rx8 2003 moudle it is over a100k my car will start run for half hour and then when it heat up it will cut off then it will take a long time to start back If you take it on a spin the car will drive ok then all of a sudden when u hit on the gass the car shut down

onerealist
11-20-2010, 08:30 AM
Just bought on '05 Automatic with 43000 miles on internet auction. Vehicle (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=3791200#) was delivered yesterday...Battery dead. Tried jumping, will turn over but not start. I know little about rotaries, but am mechanically inclined. Is there something obvious I am missing? How do I check for fuel (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?p=3791200#) delivery and fire? No codes are stored. Where to start?