2005rx8gt

My car has recently flooded out several times last 2 months. I have been able to pull fuel pump fuse and get to start. One day it didn't work and I ran the battery down attempting to start. I had the car towed home. I went and got a red optima battery. I also thought i would replace plugs with ngk iridiums and a new starter. I did all the above. I then went ot start the car and turn over no start. I pulled a wire off the coil wire and no spark. Is it the crank positioning sensor or some anti-theft because i left the battery unhooked for 2 days?
Any Ideas?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

When was the last time/miles your coils were replaced? Symptoms of severe coil failure.

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

We don't have a "crankshaft" positioning sensor, but we do have an eccentric shaft positioning sensor
If you're not getting spark to ALL the plugs/coils, then I would clean the ESS.
If just one... then bad coil.

2005rx8gt

I have never replaced. And by the way when i was jumping the car before towing. I got is to start for 20 secong=ds then brrrrrr and died.

2005rx8gt

this can be cleaned not replaced?

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Sure... metal flakes can interfere with the sensor.
Just give it a couple wipes.

2005rx8gt

I saw one instruction on placing the key on ignition and turn to on with neg battery off then connect wait 1 minute then start for anti-theft. because of 2 day disconnect

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

I keep my battery disconnected for weeks during the winter... never had problems.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Coils fail around 30k, degrading from about 20k. When coils start failing, the plugs, even if new, start not getting the spark they need, misdires, hard starts, flooding, and eventually no-start, no power.

Coils develop more and more resistance as they fail, promoting these conditions. You just let it go to the extreme.

Replace the coils and get back to us.

2005rx8gt

I bought this car at 30k i now have 66k is there anything else I should be replacing often?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Oil and filter every 3k, obviously. Coils, wires, and plugs every 30k max. One failing can lead to the next, etc... Transmission and diff fluid every 30k max, though 20k is recommended.

All of this is easily self-doable. Really easy car to work on. Or pay x3 to x6 in dealer charges for the same.

With that much flooding, your cat is probably failing fast now, so keep an eye on it, and get it replaced under warranty before 80k if you can.

2005rx8gt

thanks so much. I am going to replace coils tomm if parts available.

I am an old muscle car guy, but i love this car. I just have to educate myself on this vehicle.
Thanks again!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Don't get raped on dealer price. They will charge up to $85 each, and you need 4. Get them from forum vendors here for ~$35 each, or better if there is a sale up.

2005rx8gt

ran diag (crank sensor) cleaned checked voltage nodda. Got replacement installed checked voltage ok. Install new coils. No start. Remember new red top optima, plugs, starter, now crank positioning sensor and 4 coils. Jump new red top with car and finally get it to start after several fuel pump fuse removals.
Let it run 30 minutes till exaust looking clean. Went for ride, drove fine. Parked and rev to 3000 shut off. Go in come back out in 30 minutes. Starter making growl already while turning an no start. I called an I will get a replacement starter on Wednesday. Remember I love this car, but it is really testing me.
When I was jumping it, it would turn faster and this was the only way to originally get it started. I put a new red top optima in and it still appears not to be fast enough. Any thoughts?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

That does sound like the starter.

The entire ignition chain is connected, one part fails and everything downstream starts failing too. Your starter might have started all of this. (no pun intended)

2005rx8gt

I am still waiting on my replacement for replacement starter. The new bad one works buts makes grind. I'm not driving it scared of flywheel damage. But I went out the next morning and it fired right up I rev shut off no start. I try it the next morning fire right up let run 30 minutes shut off. No restart. Even after I get the new starter I don't have the warm and fuzzy about driving again until I can build trust back up. Do I need to replace the plugs again after this. I know I will change the oil to get all the fuel out of it. I burn premium with additives most the time like lucas and octane booster occasionally.
By the way, I want to thank you all for the help and the posts it is really helping me through my battle with my little black beast.

bhop

I know everything is pretty much NEW. I don't know your location but it is cold outside. Try taking out the plugs and change wires if you will, checking for any condensation, then making sure they are dry (again, I know they are pretty NEW). Is compression normal? It still starts, correct?

When the new starter comes in and you get the car started, I would take it out for a drive onto the beltway/ highway and let it breath. Open it up a bit daily (IMO), so you won't be at risk with carbon build up. Make sure all sensors are clean & working properly.




There are other contributing factors but try everything above first.

2005rx8gt

I live in a suburb of kansas city call Prairie Village, Kansas and its very cold. I still put the starter in. Get this, when I took out the original starter to me anyway, it had a rubber gasket on the top indention where it mount to the block, it looked factory molded and everything. It cracked when I replaced 1st starter and I black seal and put in new. When the replacement of replacement went bad I couldn't reuse the gasket. I called Mazda no part. I was joking with guys, I have never needed a gasket eve, but I fing my rx8 is unique and went on. Evendintally someone had used as a shim I guess. No gasket now and it started right up. I let it run for 30 minutes reved can'd drive snow on groung I know you know what i mean unless no snow where you live. I went out to start for the 3rd time and it was turning so fast it had no choice to start but it took awhile. Should I go with the hotter ngk 6 series plug? I am still not comfortable about not stalling somewhere yet.

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Is anyone else confused by this statement?
A gasket on the starter?
And where it mounts to the block?
I've never seen a starter gasket (there is a large o-ring when you take it apart) and the starter mounts to the transmission.

ilovemy8

^ he said he was joking with them.. cuz we dont have that on the 8.. i think if i read correctly..

bhop

yup, he was joking... Good to hear it was able to start. All the money you spent you could have just went with the BHR ignition kit lol. Snow on the ground, understood considering we have been getting snow over here in Maryland lately.

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

^Oh... my bad
That's what I get for not reading the whole thread.

2005rx8gt

Sorry about not wording correctly on gasket. Basically car really came with gasket at 30k. I defininely am not running gasket now. I was worried that they had used it for a shim for some odd reason.
Put new starter in. fired right up. Man my new redtop turns it quick. The snow has melted so I got to go run it today. I definely blew it out, running great. But, I turned it off 2 or 3 times start right back up. Go to valvoline, cold outside, wanted to get gas out of oil all the above.
The valvoline guy comes outside, I leave it running, ask him not to shutoff. Go inside notice garage door open my car not coming in and sure enough he is out there grinding away, no start. I pulled fuel pump fuse cleared out and got to start thank to this battery. Went straight to parts store to get a NGK6 hot plug. They don't even list them, but I saw they were recommended in Mazda technical bulliten. Is anybody running a hotter leading plug for flooding/stallers?

2005rx8gt

I looked at the oil after to oil change and it is still kind of frothy. Remember I am new to rotary, in my old school it would be a head gasket. I have been trying to educate myself and I see all the water journal in the rotory what? block or housing and only saw gaskets where the rotors go together. Think this is left over from all the abuse above. Sorry to be a pest, but this thing is starting to get me and I am fairly good with non rotor engines. Theres a lot of info on the net and I am a computer dude. I have download the 04 shop manual and have been really trying, tons of data. I about buying anothr engine just to rebuild, so I know my car. Thanks for all you help with your posts.