ouimetnick

So my 2004 RX8 is confusing me. The car always starts right up. However today it wouldn't even crank over. It didn't even appear to engage the starter. Just seemed not to crank. BUT after fidgeting with the key and depressing and releasing the clutch several times, it decided to crank over just fine. Once the car cranks, it starts just fine. But it's almost like I didn't depress the clutch (even though I held the clutch pedal to the floor) What do you guys think the problem could be? I was working on the drivers side wheel well (removed the horn, grounding lug and oil cooler brackets to clean the area and coat the area with miracle paint (rust encapsulator) perhaps that grounding point connection was impacted? But it that's the case? Why would it sometimes work and sometimes not?

I have a video below showing the problem. It happened when I was trying to leave the gas station after filling up.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

It would seem if you had no problems before, then something you did has impacted it.
Could be a coincidence, but not likely.
If you did spray your grounding points you could have coated it and it's not making good contact.
Try cleaning that with solvent or buff it with some emery cloth just to be sure.

ouimetnick

I'll have to double check continuity between the wire and chassis, and make sure the contact surfaces are bare. Anyways, it acted up this morning. Made another video.

ouimetnick

Well. I'm stranded at work. With the clutch pedal depressed, I hear a click as I turn to start. With out pressing the clutch. I don't get a click. So I'm guessing the starter is some how not working. I wonder if it has to do with what I did with that grounding point. But it was a small wire. So perhaps a relay isn't engaging the starter? But if that's the case, I wouldn't hear a click. Right?

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Probably not. Have you checked your battery terminals to be sure they are clean and tight?
Also check all your fuses, under the hood and in the kick panel, be sure you engine fuse especially is good.
I had one that I thought still looked good, but was actually bad on closer inspection. Look closely at it.
Good luck!

ouimetnick

I'll check the fuses. battery terminals were cleaned last month as preventive maintenance. Checked the grounding point that I messed with, and checking continuity from the wire to the chassis, I have 0.02 ohms. So it's fine.

A friend who was learning how to drive the car thought he stalled it (yes it's just a quiet engine at idle) and accidentally grinder the starter several times. Wouldn't this cause damage to the starter gear or fly wheel, but even it it did, the starter would still spin... I hope. I'll check the fuses, if no luck, I'll check the wires going to the starter to see if it gets 12V when cranking. If so, I'll pull the starter, secure it to something sturdy, take the battery out and see if I can make it crank.

I'll double check battery voltage, but the battery is fairly new (unless the alternator is going south)

ouimetnick

Pulled the starter, tested it, and it's fine. Wouldn't the click I get when I turn it to start be indicating that either: the engine is locked up or a weak battery, or starter issue?

The engine is fine though.. Battery is 3 years old, but seems fine. I'm going to try putting the starter back in. But does anyone have any ideas. I'm starting to get nervous about this.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Just guessing, but maybe check your clutch interlock switch?

ouimetnick

That would be the clutch pedal bracket assembly (location wise) right?

BUT it thats the case, with the clutch depressed, I get a one click from the engine bay (perhaps its the starter gear meshing into the fly wheel?) But no crank. With my foot off the clutch, I don't get any click. So would that indicate that the clutch interlock switch is working?

I had to have the car push started (popped the cutch) to start the engine so I could drive it home.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, switch is on the pedal, but if you hear a click, then that's probably not it.
If you can pull start it, that probably eliminates the bad ground, and most other electrical issues.
I would get the battery checked just to eliminate that possibility.

ouimetnick

I'll do that. But don't you think if the battery was bad it would either not turn over or turn over slowly? Instead it started out by doing nothing, and eventually deciding to crank and start. When it decided to crank, it cranked like it always does.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Seems like it, but check it to be sure.
I don't know what else offhand.
You eliminate that to start and then start methodically troubleshooting.
There are many threads on why 8s won't start, you'll have to find one with a good procedure and go from there.
If you do figure it out, be sure to update and let us know what it was, it could help someone else out.
Good luck !

ouimetnick

Cleaned all the contact points on the starter, reconnected everything, tightened up everything, and it works. Today is day 2 of successful starting.. strange.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

That's good news.
Sometimes that's all it is, simple things like not making a good connection somewhere.
Thanks for the update.