Thock

04 6MT GT

Not sure what the cause is yet.. I went to go to work today, turned the key- Nothing. No clicks, no crank, nothing.

I've got a brand new battery and every instrument / alarm / radio presets / dvd nav all work while the key is in with no problem whatsoever. Could it be the starter? Alternator? Where do i start?

Socket7

I'd start with your neutral safety switch. should be attached to the clutch somewhere under the dash. It would prevent the car from starting but all your electrics would work fine.

I wonder if the battery in your keyfob dying could prevent the car from starting as well. The car wont start without a signal from the key. Does your immobilizer light go out when you turn the car on? or does it keep flashing?

Thock

It keeps flashing. I'll check the safety swtich. What could cause that to malfunction?

Socket7

Neutral safety switches can fail for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it gets out of adjustment, sometimes the switch mechanism breaks, sometimes the wire breaks, sometimes the damn thing falls clean off. So in short, lots of things can cause it to go bad.

I'd try a different key as well. Do you have a spare? Does your key still let you pop the trunk/lock unlock the doors?

You didn't hook the battery up backwards when you installed it did you? even for just a moment?

Thock

Battery was installed properly about 3? months ago. Couldn't be that i wouldn't think. If a battery died, wouldn't the presets and such die along with it?

I'm gonna try and find a diagram of that switch. I don't have a spare key, so if it's not the damn safety switch, i'll need to tow it to the dealer. Ugh.

Anyone have a diagram of the neutral? would it be in the haynes book? I've got a bunch of ALLDATA dvd's but those are an exercise in frustration.

Socket7

If it's been working for 3 months, the new battery is not the issue.

Can you still unlock and lock the doors remotely with the keyfob?

There used to be PDF's available of the RX8 service manual, they seem to have gone missing. I'll upload them tonight somewhere you can get them.

Thock

Thanks socket.

Battery's fine, yeah.

Fob works great (not from a huge distance, but still works.)

Key can manually open the trunk, same with the fob.

Vyndictive

iTrader: (28)

The key is a transponder key and the immobilizer system must recognize the key before it allows you to start the car... I think that is why socket said to try another key. The key itself will still manually open the doors/trunk and turn in the ignition, this is to prevent someone from just making a hard copy of your key and stealing the car.
The fact that the system flashes leads to your car forgetting the key somehow, which I haven't heard of before.

But, my own 2 cents in here is that if you're getting a loud clicking noise when you try to start the car, it could a starter issue. Normally a click is all you get when your battery is dead.

Try to confirm that it is not the key by using your spare key or valet key. Then we'll explore other fun areas of possible fault.

Tekne3k

Mine did something like that today the car started fine, i reversed and the car stalled I was like WTF this is an AT....I turn the key nothing happened like you said no crank nothing...waited 2 minutes and it started fine....was pretty weird

Thock

Called a local dealer. Went through the symptoms and he said it's either a starter motor brush that's stuck, or something more sinister. Any ideas?

Rx8urZ

how many miles?
could be the safety switch or a bad connection at the starter.
check your fuses also (starter fuse)

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

My PCM decided that the security system wouldn't like Any of my keys....had to get the PCM re-programmed to fix it

Thock

update time

Pulled the ignition relay /fuse Couldnt' find a damn store that selled 'em (this late (arizona time )). I'll have to hit BAP tomorrow for the replacement.

Starter will be pulled afterwards if the relay doesn't fix it. Still can't seem to locate the actual safety switch. Could really use a diagram, haven't been able to find much.

Johnsrotary13b

This comment helped so much mine did the same exact thing today so I reached under the dash and pressed the clutch switch with one hand while I tried to start it and it fired right up just need to be adjust thank you so much