Convisj1

Hello, so I've been an RX8 owner for a few years now, and haven't had any issues with it up until now.

Problem:

Car won't start.

Symptoms:

The starter only clicks and doesn't crank, nothing on the interior is working dome lights, widows, mirror, radio, locks, trunk release, seat heaters, power seats, fan or heat.

The guages come on and so do the headlights and all other exterior lights. The battery, check engine, traction control, abs and steering wheel with "!" Lights are all on in the cluster. The check engine light flashes then goes back to solid.

Backstory:
The day before this happened the car flooded, so I got it un-flooded it and drove it around for an hour or so. The next morning it would not start. I charged the battery and did a load test so I know that's not the issue, also checked if power was going to the starter and it was. When I first entered the car the morning it wasn't starting I noticed the "car with a key in it" light was solid red even when I got out and shut the door. Normally it flashes so you know the anti-theft system is on. I called the dealer but they said they couldn't diagnose the problem without the car. Unfortunately the nearest dealer is 116 miles away.

Does this mean I need to get a new key and ignition system? Or what do you think is wrong with it?

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Your battery has discharged. Charge it back up and you should be good to go.

Edit: you say your exterior lights come on, but not interior, which indicates the Room fuse might have blown. Check all your fuses and replace any blown ones. If the ENGINE fuse is blown, the ECU is not getting power, which explains the key symbol. I had a similar problem earlier this year and it was causes by a wire in the ignition harness that had rubbed and shorted on a metal part.

Convisj1

Thank you for your help, I checked all of the fuses in the panel in driver side foot well and in the engine compartment with all of the relays. They were all good. The battery is currently on the charger I hope that works.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

Try boosting the car, if batter doesn't charge. How old is the battery?

40w8

I'm not sure I followed that, but if you have a smart key those are tricky.

Mine eats a 2025 battery about once a year or so, and if it's dropped the little battery can loose contact.

Of course you'd already have tried the valet key.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

I find that hard to believe, considering that nothing on the interior works and everything on the exterior works. Possible there is a bad ground somewhere? Battery terminals corroded? Battery ground strap corroded?

The starter clicking is a dead giveaway that the battery isn't produce enough current to turn the motor. Do you have a multimeter to check the battery voltage? Because if it's old or damaged, it might have the right voltage, but not provide enough current.

Convisj1

I pulled out and checked all of the fuses. The filaments were all still intact. There is one possibility of the anti-theft system not functioning. From what I've researched that can cause the issues with the interior and not starting, the only thing that isn't making me think it is the anti-theft is that when the key is turned I can still turn the steering wheel without it locking up.

Convisj1

The battery is essentially brand new it's a duralast gold from AutoZone that I bought this spring.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

If it was the antitheft, the starter wouldn't even click, there would be no power going to its relay. So the symptoms sound contradictory :/

Do you have an OBD 2 reader? If you plug it in with the car in ON, it should connect to the ECU. If it can't then the ECU isn't getting power.

I would start going over the grounding points, looking for loose wires or overly dirty grounds. And battery terminals, obviously.