krisad13

Let me start by saying i'm a complete novice with mechanics and my purse strings are a bit tight at the moment. Had my 8 since last may had it serviced in june and mot'd in dec. And it's sailed through both. However this last month i've had trouble starting it when the engine is warm and this seems to be getting worse. After reading a number of posts i'm led to believe this could be a compression issue meaning a new engine (please god nooo, as i'm out of warranty).

B4 i go down this root any suggestions of what i should try? My thoughts are changing the starter motor the coils and plugs b4 i get a compression test and would like to know your thoughts please?

Also wondering if the oil i'm using could habe anything to do with it? I don't know what oil they used during the service last june but i then topped it with 5/30 (i think) but then more recently 10/40.

Also wondering if when i 1st had my start issue i used the procedure in the manual to unflood the engine. is there anything else i should have done immediately after that which may have prevented it happening again. I do do alot of short journeys but always make sure my needles moving b4 switching off.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

A very depressed 8 owner.

Fuman

Mazda extended warranty in the states
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/8-years-100-000-mi-extended-warranty-147287/
Mazda extended Warranty in Canada
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ca...6-b342c4a8a11b

I hope you still have warranty

krisad13

No mate i'm in UK so just have the 60,000 mile warranty and mines a 2003 with 77,000 mile on it.

Popped in to the Mazda dealership today and they said i should bring it in for diagnostics but at 75 quid an hour i'd rather do everything possible to try and fix it myself 1st. They also quoted me £6800 for a new engine. I only paid 7000 grand for it 9 month ago.

heyarnold69

iTrader: (1)

there are new plugs ..... fix that problem

krisad13

what kind of plugs? Or do you think Seafoam might do the trick?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Warm-start issue = low compression.

krisad13

Well i've ordered some seafoam should get that tomorrow or sat and currently bidding on some replacement coils and a starter motor. i'll give those a try and then take things from there.

krisad13

Well i put the seafoam in today. Just put it in the fuel tank an touch wood problem solved. Put it in with a qtr tank of fuel, blasted it for 45 mins or so then filled with fuel and then did the usual post office, bank shopping run and each time it started no problem. Still gonna take it in for a compression test but fingers crossed things are looking ok.

Razz1

Unless your lucky and have one of the following:

Bad Clogged CAT
Bad starter
Bad coil that breaks down when heated
Vapor lock
Water in gas


And the above should also show other symptoms when running

krisad13

would low compression show any other symptons other than difficulty starting when warm?

wd_gray

I've the same problem. It first happened on my way back to Virginia from Georgia. Stopped to eat, ten minutes later the car wouldn't start. Waited another fifteen minutes and it barely cranked over, but started. Yes, the starters whizzing around. Was lucky that a dealer was a few miles down the road. They found oil in my air filter and the MAF sensor was coated. Had them change the oil and clean the MAF. Problem seemed to abate. Only took two or three turns of the key to get it to start. Now that I'm back in Virginia, I haven't been driving it long distances and not for short hops, just to work then back. Then a few weeks a go, it acted up again. I replaced the plugs, wires and coils. Replaced the battery back in the summer of 09. It died while I was over in Seattle. Took it to the dealer to have them do a compression test. Mazda mech had to call the home office to get a clue. They first responded to have the Shutter valve replaced. Then do a compression. It has stuck before last winter when I was up in Maine (wicked cold there). Soo.. If it doesn't work, I guess I'm in the new motor club. That's what the mechanic informed me. Gee... Ain't that great? I didn't think so either. Oh to top it off? When I was driving home from the dealer, it stalled in the middle of rush hour traffic! TWICE!! Got it to push start once simply by accident. The next time it had one man power pushing it into the nearest parking lot. Boy, were those people MAD.

Mazurfer

wd_gray.....................most likely your oil was over filled numerous times and this lead to all your troubles. Everything you said is classic for over filled oil. Who did all your oil changes?

wd_gray

The dealers did most of my oil changes. When no dealer around a quick lube place.

yamahayzfr6

Same problem here....

I have an 2004, manual 8, bought new... currently 69k miles.. so I have kept the UK Petrochem companies well in profit !!!

All warranty work done as and when recalls came up... ugraded starter motor, new coils etc...
Cat, coils and plugs changed at 45k, 3 months out of warranty !!!!

The car has alway's been "driven", but not abused and has been great till now...

About a month ago it developed the same problem of not starting when warm... It starts perfect from cold and runs fine, no power loss, no misfires or stutters and temp etc all ok.

Once running it will run for hours, once again without any sign of a problem... But once I have covered 5 - 10 miles or 5 - 10 mins running time, cut the engine and it will not start until the engine has cooled down (10-15 mins). Battery ok and the starter motor is turning over fine, it almost starts, but just doesn't fire up. When it finally starts it doesn't appear to be flooded or over fuelled....

Idle speed / tickover is smooth most of the time, only occasionally does it appear to have a bit of a "splutter" Reving it through to 6-7k whilst stationary I get a single pop / backfire as revs start to drop, but it has done that from new, as far as I remember...

I fitted new plugs (NGK) 10 day's ago, and it made no difference, then fitted a new ECT sensor at weekend, again this has made no change....

One thing I have noticed is an "unpleasant" odour from the exhaust, wouldn't call it sweet just "BAD".... but, not all of the time... Also "sooty" tail pipes, but again can't say that this is new......

Like "Krisad13" can't afford to let the main dealer rack up an hefty bill, as all spare cash is keeping my business going.... I have limited mechanical skills on modern cars.. I was ok until around 1985 :-)

If, which I am sure some will say it is a "compression" problem, would I not see / find other problems.. loss of power etc... ? as you would on ye old "piston" engines ?

As mentioned previously, apart from the warm start issue it is running "A"ok...

If a CAT is on it's way out would it "smell bad" ?

And finally... Does anyone know if the extended engine warranty of 8 years / 100k applies to the UK... I can't imagine it's valid in the US, Canada and AU and not here... But there again !!!!! I will check with local dealer in the morning....

Any ideas / help most appreciated.....

Jeison

I had the same problem last year, I had to wait 20-30 mins for the car to cool down, the car would crank but not start. new starter fixed the problem. I was freaking out about possible low compression too lol.

krisad13

Yeh thats sounds just like my problem i thought the seafoam had fixed it but sadly its started again. Having it put on a machine to check for error codes on fri and having a compression test on sat. Gonna search fleabay now for a starter. Cheers for the info Jeison.

bse50

Do you mean that the car starts losing power and then struggles to stay alive?
That's what worn out fuel pumps do, first you suffer a power loss and you can't rev the car up and then it eventually stops running and won't start again untill it is cool again.
At 70.000mi on a '04 i'd check the compression first and then the fuel pump. Even with your "limited" mechanical skills you will be able to swap a fuel pump.

I am sorry to tell you that the 8yrs warranty doesn't apply here.

krisad13

Yamaha your problem sounds just like mine. Unfortunately i checked with my local dealer and was told 60k was the warranty for the engine. I am at a loss at where to turn, i thought the seafoam had solved it but it's happening again. Like you the car runs fine otherwise, i think my next step is to get a compression check done but i'm finding it difficult to find a garage to do it. Nobody in my neck of the woods seems to much about rotary engines.

wd_gray

Wellll.... The SSV finally arrived at the dealership, which they promptly installed. Mechanic says he got the car to start after it was warm. But... There's always a but, isn't there? He says it's not running right and wants to keep overnight (I dropped it off Monday night...sigh), to run a compression test tomorrow. Mech says if it's low, its new engine group I go. Bother. I'll update with any info I get.

wd_gray

I got the phone call from the dealer today. Oh boy. I'm a new member of the New Engine club. Yay? Should be here in one and half weeks. Luckily for most of that time I'll be in New York city.

J8635621

iTrader: (10)

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=147287

edit: Someone posted that literally 20 minutes after you started the thread so you should know.

yamahayzfr6

Thanks for the reply.... No, the car doesn't lose power... It is actually running as well as it always has.... You wouldn't know that there was a problem until you try and start it when warm.... Anything over 5 mins running time causes the starting problem, and after 5 - 10 mins cool down, it starts and runs fine again..... The longer the run time, the longer I have to wait for it to cool...


Yep, sounds like an identical problem.... I spoke to the MD at the dealers I bought the car from and he confirmed that in the UK you only get the 3 year, 60k warranty. I spoke to MAZDA UK customer service re: the extended warranty given elsewhere i.e. USA and Canada.... and why it hasn't been applied to Europe... Answer "No comment" !!!! Point blank refused to discuss the matter any further.....

So, I am going to have a diagnostics test done next week (£75.00), to see if it shows any obvious problems... also to make sure it has the latest ECU update...

Can't see any point in having a compression test if the diagnostics doesn't show anything... Three reasons..

1/ The main dealer have never done one before !!! So will they have a clue what their doing ?

2/ It would only confirm what I aready suspect, having read the info here. and...

3/ It's another £200.00 down the river....

A replacement engine is not an option... Cost excluding fitting £4,500 !!! Value of car, working circa £5,500....

Anybody want to buy any RX8 parts :-(

krisad13

Yesterday after i tried to book my car in for a compression test with a local garage i was told not to bother. The mechanic (who i'm told is a rotary freak) told me without doubt it was my starter motor, if i got the new one and new spark plugs then that should be problem solved. I'm not entirely convinced but that the route i'm gonna go down for now, don't think i have any other option.

yamahayzfr6

New starter motor has been mentioned previously !! Did he give any explanation as to why ?

I can only assume he thinks it's not turning the engine over fast enough.....

Mine was upgraded under warranty, 3.5 years ago... seems to be ok, but how can you tell how fast it is turning the engine over!! Have you got a price yet ?

I took the long way home tonight, the car is as sweet & quick as ever, no miss fires under power through all gears etc.... just won't start when warm... aaagghhhh

Best of luck, let me know how you get on if you get a new starter and I will keep you updated with what I try..... !!!

yamahayzfr6

Update.. Of a sort....

Still using the car everyday, no change to symptoms... Run car as long as I want, but make sure I have 20-30mins cool off time after stopping... Starts fine.....

Here is the interesting thing....

Ran the car for a 25 min journey this evening.... Had to stop for 2 mins, engine off....!!!! Thankfully the stop was on a steep hill.. Didn't try to start the car as I know it wouldn't, so decided to "bump" it.... Less than 10 yards, 3rd gear engaged, fired up straight away !!!

OK!! the car was warm, but normally they are a "bitch" to bump, warm or cold....

Does this add credence to the suggestion of a new starter motor ?

Trouble is it's another £350 - £400 "part only" to shell out and it may not be any better....

Is there a way to measure the speed the current starter motor is turning over the engine ?

Also what speed should it be, to be up to spec ?

I have a new battery (1 month ago) and it certainly seems to be turning the engine over fast enough...... but any suggestions on how to check... really appreciated...