Ryconnection

Hello, everybody! New member here.

I bought a used 2004 RX-8 in August, and I've been loving it ever since, until I started having the "start-drive-stop-won't-start" problem end-September (still warm out) that many owners seem to have, according to Google. I asked my official Mazda dealer what to do, and (like most mature online post answers) told me to warm up the car for 10-15 minutes before driving it (which is very silly, to have to do that to start a car during summer weather).

But that didn't help. Now, no matter how long I warm up the car (I even did it for 20 minutes, once), the car won't start after I stop it, run an errand, and attempt to start it again. I have to wait ten seconds, try to start it, wait another ten seconds, try to start it, and do that two to four times more before it finally starts. Also, I noticed a "rotten-egg" smell outside the car once the car starts. What should I do?

I recently bought a new battery, so that's not the problem.

Thank you in advance for all your help!

Ryan

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

First, how many miles on the car? Are there any modifications to the engine? When was the last time it was serviced?

mkmike103

iTrader: (3)

Rotten egg smell suggests a problem with your catalytic converter which should likely be addressed.

Hot start issues, there is usually a flow chart of stuff to do. I, personally, would get the compression checked first, but that is likely not the first suggestion on the flow charts. Others here may suggest ignition first (Plugs, coils, wires), which is a good idea as well especially if they have not been done recently, which may be a possibility with the car being an '04.

Ryconnection

I very much appreciate you replying!

@ RX8Soldier: The car has 62,000 miles on it. There are no mods on the engine. It has been serviced multiple times in the past four months for brakes, air conditioner, Fuel cap, tires, and oil pressure sensor.

@ mkmike103: So when I take it in next, should I specifically mention to check the wires/coils/catalytic converter?

Thanks again!

mkmike103

iTrader: (3)

I would tell them your problem exactly how you have described it. If you mention rotten egg smell, that should tip them off to start at catalytic converter, or you could say you think there might be an issue with the cat because of the smell.

I had hot start problems with my car over the summer. When I called up my service advisor at the Mazda dealership and said, "I'm having some problems after I drive my car on the highway and its warmed up." Literally the first sentence from my advisor after that was, "Probably needs a new engine." I took it in for diag, compression results proved bad and I got a reman engine installed shortly after. I bought the car with approx 46k a couple years ago, and the first thing I did was plugs and coils to start fresh, so I pretty much ruled those out when I was having problems.

Just tell them the problems you are having, if you can recreate the situation for them... even better. Best of luck to you.

mkmike103

iTrader: (3)

PS.. from the original post that I just read again, it appears you have already mentioned the hot start problem and they said to warm the engine up for 10-15 mins. I agree with you and think that is silly unless they believe you are flooding the engine everytime you drive it... which likely isnt the case since you already mentioned that this happens when car is completely warmed up.. (Don't shut the car down while engine is cold, you'll risk flooding the engine, which will present itself as a no-start condition, welcome to the world of rotaries:shrug. If the car doesnt start after being completely warmed up, you are looking at a further issue, which the dealership should be able to diagnose and not give you another 'warm up the car for 10 minutes before shutting down' line. Did you buy the car from this dealership? Private party? Inquire about the cost of a compression test, find if the vehicle has any warranty. Find out, if possible, if the plugs/coils have been changed before.

Ryconnection

To be honest with you, this car was pretty much a lemon. I bought it as-is from a private dealer who ended up turning out really shady post-sale (big mistake, but this is only my third car ever); but 2004 with only 64,000 miles for 12,000$ was a great catch for me, and the test drive went perfect. Within a week, the oil light would come on and turn off, the engine light would come on, the AC wouldn't function properly, the brakes started squealing, I'd have to refill the air in some tires every three days, etc...

After ~3000$ in 11 different repairs, the car felt like new, and it was a real pleasure to drive for a few months. Now, I'm having this discussed problem. Also, the back brakes now need changing, the two right tires are loosing air, the transparent plastic-like coating layer above the paint is chipping off around the front logo, the FOB doesn't work no matter what correct FOB key I use, and I believe it's time to get new sparkplugs/wires installed, according to Mazda (I also want to install a discless sound system, because the music cd skipping everytime I run over a minor bump becomes extremely frustrating).

I'll explain to the gentleman that heating the car up first didn't work like he said, and I'll have them perform a compression test. Last time I was in, he assured me that my engine was under warranty until 100,000 miles (just like the release Mazda made that you can find on these forums), so I hope they can just put a new engine in. After all the problems I've had with the car, that would be nice.

Silver_Surfer

Engine Light, do you know what code was pulled/found?

Ryconnection

The engine light had to do with something wrong with the plastic fuel tank cap (!). There was a TSB about it, I believe.

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

Did you bother checking your ignition parts? You bought the car with over 60,000 miles and didn't get new plugs,wires or coils?

Probably should start there. Make sure you get 2 trailing and 2 leading plugs. Don't cheap out on ignition parts. and $12,000 for an 04 with 65,000 miles is not that good of a deal, unless you purchased it back in 2008. You can easily get an 04 with way less miles for 8-10k, even on the forums.

Ryconnection

Thank you, LifeAfterRx8! I'll have them check that too. It wouldn't hurt! And the listing price was actually 10,000$, before all the taxes and such.