Hello forum!

I was hoping someone could help shed some light on my recent RX8 issues.

She is a 2007 193 with about 90,000 miles on the clock.

She starts fine in the morning.

However, after she has been in my work carpark for 9 hours, she is very slow to start. Yesterday it took me 2 attempts. Sometimes after she starts, I almost hear a draining noise, it's weird.

Once she has started though, she seems fine. If I drive it for a bit and leave her switched off for an hour or a couple of hours she starts fine.

It seems to be when it is at a certain temperature after nine hours.

Does this sound like flooding (my commute in the morning is like 10 minutes) or could it be a bigger issue?

Thanks,
John

 

"Flooding" by definition includes the inability to start. So if you are starting, even with difficulty, then you aren't flooding.

The "draining noise" is like running water? That is normal for the RX-8, it's just coolant rushing through the heater core. You can pay a dealer a lot of money to make the sound stop if you want, but most don't.

The most likely culprit, given your description, is going to be a battery problem.

 

Thanks.

The draining noise can stay!

I'm not sure I understand how it would be a battery issue if it starts fine after sitting for about 15 hours but is difficult to start after about 9 hours.

Any thoughts?

 

Difficulty starting when cold after sitting for a while is usually one of two things:
- Weak battery
- Coolant draining slowly into the engine

Sitting longer won't ever suddenly solve a coolant seal problem, however even a weak battery isn't always at the same strength/weakness each time the car is shut down. It is entirely plausible that the "starts fine after 15 hours" was also a "would have started fine after 9 hours if you had tried".

Easy enough to test and replace the battery, so address that first.

 

Good plan. I'll do that so!

Thanks very much!