Hello RX8Club,

I'm having some electrical issues with my 2004 RX8. Everything in the car is in perfect working order, until it rains/snows.

Whenever it rains, the drivers side carpet is damp. Also, my hazards go off and make a weird buzzing noise. This continues for a few hours until I guess something drys.

Now, whenever it rains, I cannot start the car (I put the key into the ignition and go to turn it, I don't hear anything happening at all). I do believe this is linked to a recent problem I posted about. I'm unable to start the car for like a day then after it drys, it's like it never happened and it starts fine.

I know it's an electrical issues. Does anyone have an idea what could be going on and what the water is doing to my car? How much would this cost to fix?

Thanks for the help!

 

I moved your post over to your prior thread, because it's still the same issue. Have you taken my prior advice yet?

 

I created a new thread because they're two different issues at hand. This thread was to diagnosis why my car wasn't starting. I know why it wasn't starting. I made another thread regarding the electrical issues that only occur during bad weather. Yes one causes the other but they're two separate issues that warrant a new discussion.

You gave some valid advice, but it doesn't explain why it only happens when it rains. I had the old problem about a month ago. And I haven't had the problem repeat unless it rains/snows. The guy that repaired it only deflooded my engine. He was able to start the car because whatever gets wet and prevents it starting was dried by then.

Please separate the post for visibility so I could get opinions regarding this issue. Thanks!

 

It's still the same problem. The battery corrosion causes more problems during rain and wet weather than it does during dry. Have you cleaned and secured the terminals yet?

 

No I haven't because I don't think that is the problem. The floor in my car is wet when it rains so I know water is getting somewhere where it's not suppose to. The guy that looked at my car when I first started experiencing this problem made no mention about the battery when he looked over it.

This thread is about my car not starting. I want a new thread to explain why when it rains my cars experiences various electrical problems. What would cause this problem by getting wet. Is their a short? Is their a master circuit? The car not starting is related to this electrical problem I know, but so are other things. Thanks for the advice though!

 

Fine, I re-split the posts back to different threads. If taking 5 minutes to clean and resecure your battery terminals is that difficult...


Your symptoms aren't something random or odd. They have happened before, to numerous people, and the fix has all been the same. Have fun trying to solve it i guess.

 

Thanks for moving it! I replied on the previous thread but here it is again:

No I haven't because I don't think that is the problem. The floor in my car is wet when it rains so I know water is getting somewhere where it's not suppose to. The guy that looked at my car when I first started experiencing this problem made no mention about the battery when he looked over it.

Other than these two things, I don't have any other electrical issues. The lights are fine, the lights are good etc. Thanks.

 

Next time it rains, take your dash apart and see where the water is coming from.

Obviously water isn't supposed to run down the inside of your car and wet the carpet. The ignition system starts at the key. That's the area that's getting wet, so something between the key and starter (including fuse box) is probably wet.

Also, clean and resecure your battery terminals.

 

Alright after browsing around I found this thread is is identical to my issue
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tro...r-rain-139888/

Is there a know fix for this?

 

Whether it's a specific cause of your problem or not, corroded battery terminals don't have any particular benefit. I suggest you clean them. If nothing else, you'll gain credibility by saying "Yes" next time someone asks you.

Ken