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T_Mags 07-22-2015 07:22 PM

Completely dead out of nowhere, won't take a charge
 
Obligatory statement about how I searched. Seriously though, nothing was really close. Of course I'll be digging while I get some feedback here.

04' MT. Haven't had any trouble since I got it besides an asymptomatic P0301 popping up randomly, but would then go away. Haven't seen it in a couple weeks now. Been starting up just fine. Maybe it was just me being obsessive, but perhaps it was taking an extra second to start. Nothing I thought to worry about.

Parked the car at 6 or so last night and didn't touch it. Didn't leave the lights on or anything at all. Went to start it at 12 and it was completely dead. As in absolutely nothing came on. Thought maybe I left something stupid like the overheads on (even though I don't think that'd be enough to completely kill it), so I hooked up my jumper pack and it started up right away. Left it idle for 15 minutes, turned it off, and took my dad's mustang out for a few hours. Came back and the RX8 started up fine so I drove to school, where it then sat for 2 1/2 hours. Got out of class and it started up fine. Drove the 40 minutes home and stopped at the state store to pick up some booze. I was in and out in 10 minutes. Came out and it was completely dead again. No lights, nothing. Buddy showed up and we tried to jump it to no avail. Had it for 10 minutes or so and I got 3 clicks, then dead. Tried that process two more times and only got 1 click. Waited another 10, he revved while I tried to start and I got nothing out of it. No noises at all. The only power it had was to show the little red seat belt light when I reached in to grab my stuff and mooch a ride.

So, obviously a dead ass battery, but why the hell would it die like that? With the jeep I could jump it and wouldn't have to worry about it. Starting a couple times and dying after 10 minutes makes no sense.

BigCajun 07-22-2015 07:27 PM

Check to be sure your terminals are clean and tight. They stretch out after a while and may seem tight, but actually aren't.
I had to shim mine.
Also check all of your grounding points for corrosion.

T_Mags 07-22-2015 07:36 PM


Originally Posted by BigCajun (Post 4706754)
Check to be sure your terminals are clean and tight. They stretch out after a while and may seem tight, but actually aren't.
I had to shim mine.
Also check all of your grounding points for corrosion.


Really would like it to be a solution like this since I'm 110% broke as a nursing student. Guess that would make sense as to why I could start it with the jumper pack. Thing is then it doesn't make sense that I started two other times in between where it sat for 2 hours and 3 hours respectively between start ups, then died when I left it for 10 minutes.

It'll be dark in 10 minutes if I go up there, so for now it's just compiling ideas and hoping I can turn it over so I can drive it the whole 10 minutes home.

BigCajun 07-22-2015 07:42 PM

It could take just one good bump or pothole to jar it loose before you parked it for 10 minutes.
Eliminate the easy, free solutions first.
Be sure to check all your fuses in both fuse boxes also.

T_Mags 07-22-2015 07:53 PM


Originally Posted by BigCajun (Post 4706761)
It could take just one good bump or pothole to jar it loose before you parked it for 10 minutes.
Eliminate the easy, free solutions first.
Be sure to check all your fuses in both fuse boxes also.

Think I saw it's fuse 1 on the side of the fuse box I should be checking, right? Naturally I closed up all the tabs I had open.

BigCajun 07-22-2015 08:01 PM

Idk about which fuse is fuse 1.
Look for things that may affect it directly like the main, engine, ignition, etc.

RX8Soldier 07-23-2015 10:54 AM

You could just have a dead battery not capable of holding a charge. Have the battery tested.

QuiQuik2003 07-24-2015 08:33 AM

Check the battery and do check terminals. My car would just randomly turn off and then turn back on while I was driving with my old battery terminals

T_Mags 07-24-2015 09:19 AM

Well I lucked out. Headed back up with my tools, popped off the covers and pulled off the terminals with no effort at all, even though the bolt was cranked down all the way. So I drew inspiration from the jeep and took out the channel locks to squeeze em and then tapped them back on with a mallet. Took a little bit extra to get started then and this morning, but we'll see if it evens out before I stress about it. Would the computer be dumping in fuel when the battery was just clicking trying to jump it before possibly?

BigCajun 07-24-2015 11:29 AM

Good news.
Thanks for updating.:)


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