Rotary Moose

so my car has been fine as of lately.. parked it in the garage over a couple of nights. pretty damn cold nights..

my car started fine.. but when i drove it. it was as if it wasnt getting enough gas.
the gas was low so i assumed it was out.
filled it up..started after a long crank. again when i was driving it was almost as if it wasnt getting enough gas.

then it turned off.. and will not turn over when i crank it.

i made a video, hopefully i can get some input on it.

thanks guys!

stigma8

iTrader: (1)

First things first when u turn the key to on do you hear the fuel pump. If not check fuse. Sounds fuel related

poacherinthezoo

How many miles are on the car? You're battery sounds ok, so I'm guessing spark is not the problem and that, as you stated, it's related to the fuel supply.

Could be the fuel pump - a problem area in series 1 cars like yours (noticed you were at bit over 1/4 a tank at the moment). I also didn't hear any sound of the fuel pump as STIGMA8 mentioned. In my car, the sound is quiet audible, have you noticed this in your car previously? (turn the key to on, and wait before trying to start to hear it).

Any chance these cold nights have caused condensation to freeze and block your fuel lines? Bit of a long shot given you were able to get it going before, but possible. Is the car garaged in an area above freezing (0 C)?

Either way you shouldn't have to be giving the car gas during the starting process. Putting the pedal to the floor cuts the fuel supply (part of the de-flooding procedure).

Could check the fuel pump (and fuse, if you're lucky it's that simple) and pressure if you have the ability and facilities.

EDIT: Someone else with more knowledge should weigh in before trying this, as it's a pure guess on my part, but what happens when you use a bit of carb cleaner to see if that helps it start? That could confirm a fuel delivery issue. But I'll stress again, it's purely a guess so I would NOT try it till someone who knows than me weighs in.

gwilliams6

Sounds like a fuel delivery issue to me, perhaps a bad fuel pump, they do go out. How many miles do you have on the car? Is it the original fuel pump as far as you know ?

Rotary Moose

i have never noticed the sound of the fuel pump before in my vehicle, as i have noticed it in my truck for example.

the fuel delivery issue is what my hunch is. i have had battery issues in the past as well so maybe the fuse or i was thinking the fuel filter itself.

when i did have it running before the video, when i revved the motor it was as if it wasnt getting enough gas.

appreciate all the input, ill try a couple things tomorrow!

CRO8TIA

Have you had the CEL code read ?

djgiron

I find it hilarious so many people have asked how many miles he has . . . not trying to be mean or anything, but if you watch the video it shows he has 147,981 miles (or KMs as I am not sure how it is recorded for Canada) lol.

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

It's relative to some, you never know, he may have had a remanufactured engine, at least once

gwilliams6

Thanks Grace_ Excel, we don't know if this is first engine or whatever, so the miles on the odometer may not tell the story.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Mmmmm well now, I don't know how much this will help but here are some thoughts.
1) You should never let your tank get that low on fuel in the Winter especially when it's been as cold as it has been lately. I wouldn't be surprised if you have gotten some moisture or water in the lines. (not to mention possible dirt)
So maybe try some gas line antifreeze.

2) You should never let the tank get that low on the RX8 period. The fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline, you may have burned it out. Furthermore you mentioned the car felt like it wasn't getting enough fuel while you were driving and the tank was low. Not good either as you may have run the engine lean and caused damage that way as well. There are cases around the forum of just such a thing happening. RIWWP keeps an index of all the threads in his photographic memory so you can ask him.

3) Why are you trying to give the car gas or feather the throttle (as mentioned in video) when you are trying to start the car? The throttle is electronically controlled you don't need to do this. Basically there are two ways to use the throttle (gas pedal) during start up. Just leave it alone and let the ECU handle fuel delivery or press the pedal all the way to the floor which activates the fuel cut signal. Used during the deflood procedure.


So it could be a fuel delivery issue or a ignition issue imo.
Need some more details as previous posters have requested.

Rotary Moose

again i am so appreciative of the feedback from the forum!!

147km... no rebuild. fuel pump has not been changes. although i have flooded the engine a least 3 times in the past 3-4 months.

so yesterday, i got it running.
while it was running i revved the engine.. it was very "boggy"... it wouldnt go over 7k RPM. and it took twice as long to reach that high of RPM.

when i turn the ignition key, i can hear the fuel pump in the back.

so i decided to drive it around the block, i did a complete 360 around the block and when i came back to stop infront of my home, soon as i came to a complete stop... so did my engine.. it was dropping from 3k rpm down to 1k but didnt hold at its idle point and just shut off..

it would not turn back on again.


from what i have read it is most likely the fuel pump... Or a clogged cat converter.

paimon.soror

iTrader: (15)

Requested this be moved to the S1 section for more exposure. This is not an S2

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Ok?

I'm not sure how you are making that determination.
Did I miss the spot where you told us how old the ignition system is?

At least the ignition system is easier to test then the fuel pressure.
However it's not unreasonable to suspect a fuel pump on an 04 ... just not something that's easy to change or test.

A clogged Catalytic will make it run poorly agreed but I'm not convinced it would give you the starting issues you're experiencing.

Do you have a check engine light on?

fish1

Do you have the upgraded Mazda starter? (makes a huge difference) .
Fuel pump ; i'm on my 3rd (2005).
And of the obvious.....plugs first.....then coils....then the wires.....when have all of them been replaced?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Not quite.

Done.



OP:
- The pulses in the video sound far too unbalanced to me. They also don't sound like a normal engine crank to me at all. Can you ensure that the engine is actually spinning when you are cranking? Have someone look down at the main pulley.
- If the engine is actually turning over, there is a huge cranking speed problem. I suspect from a really low battery, possibly from the cold. The dash lights shouldn't have any perceptible transition from off to on and on to off, they should be either completely off or flicker immediately to full brightness. They shouldn't have a perceptible fade in/out. That suggests a low battery voltage problem to me that is probably compounding your issue. It is possible that a nearly dead battery that can't store much of a charge could cause problems while driving too, since it is part of the electrical circuit. Get your battery tested or charged.
- Don't push down on the gas pedal when cranking, this isn't a carberated engine so opening the throttle won't do anything except possibly hitting the ECU trigger to cut fuel (which is used for deflooding)
- If you want to test the fuel pump, put a fuel pressure gauge on the line.
- Otherwise, get a compression test.

MAC_94

did you figure out the problem? im having the same problem but i cant figure it out is it the fuel pump? sry if this is a bother but i thought i would ask someone with a similar issue

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I replied in your thread MAC...

Karack

sounds like a fouled leading spark plug, trying to fire on one rotor.

use a timing light on both lead wires while cranking, off of coils #1 and #3. don't bother with coils #2 and #4 since trailing doesn't fire on cranking.

pery

can somebody help me please??? i just got a rx8 4 months ago and I just want someone to let me know everything i should know about this car...

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

pery, your question doesn't fit the thread title. Please stay on topic in the future.

See the new owner's thread. https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/

Rotary Moose

sorry have not been able to get anything checked out or done professionally. Broke and busy with school.

the foul spark plug issue i might just address myself this weekend.

so far we got
foul plugs, clogged cat, fuel pump as possible causes.

you guys rock, keep ya posted Asap!

Rotary Moose

also, when i turn the key I DO hear the fuel pump. i removed the passenger seat behind me to make it more audible.

so last april/may is when plugs and wires were changed along with a new cat converter and muffler as well as a throttle body.

the ignition coils were not done at the time. as it seemed they were not needed... i know it breaks the rule of 3's for that. i was naive and listened to my mechanic at the time.

the starter is the original im pretty sure, that goes for the fuel pump too.


like i said, im broke right now. ill be inheriting some cash along the week to bring her back to life.

Karack

mileage plays a more important role on the plugs than age does, if they have over 15k miles then they are likely fairly well worn already.

foxyminx40

If the pump has gone,would it restart after bumping it ,,driving for a few hours ,,switching off and trying to restart ?

foxyminx40

My 8 would not start this morning for school run,,,a friend towed me to bumb it and it has ran all day,,stoping and starting,,,don't know what tomoz brings,,