jonny321

Hey i just purchased my first car! 2004 rx8 GT, i have never drove a manual before and am learning on this rx8, today was a very cold day, my dad took me out to learn how to drive standard. I started the engine and obviously warmed it up for a while before using. So we drove around for a while until my dad said ok you drive, without turning off the engine , i got out and hopped in the seat, i drove around fine for a while until I came for my first turn, i stalled the car, and right after i stalled it, the car would not turn on. Is this from flooding the car or is there something else we eventually got it going a while later.

RotoryVirgin

It either flooded a bit or it has low compression causing problems when trying to start a hot engine.

jonny321

Yea we started it up by pushing on the gas, it started good when doing that so hopefully just flooded a bit?

god5peed

You picked up an rx8 to learn to drive stick?

jonny321

no....picked up and rx8 to drive .......

jonny321

it accelerates fine and has good speed on it, so could it be the starter also?

a12chan6el

jonny321, welcome to the club! I bought my 8 after coming from 10 yrs of driving an automatic. I did learn to drive on a manual and ended up re-learning on my 8. I think the 8 is an easy car to learn from.

Like RotoryVirgin indicated, it hot starts could be an indication of low compression. Did you get a compression test before purchasing your 8? Also, have you read the New Owners Thread (https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/)? I suggest reading this thread. You'll be amazed by the wealth of information on this forum. Good luck!

jonny321

Hey thanks! no i did not get a compression test done (I know dumb) but it starts fine pretty much every other time! the guy before me used to crank the starter 3 times every time he started so i have a feeling its the starter! I dont think its the low compression because it is still very fast. Could it be the starter?

jonny321

also we gave it some gas on the accelerator and she started right up so maybe just a tiny flood?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

There are a large number of reasons that are possible for what you are experiencing. Since you just bought the car and have no knowledge of it, and didn't get a compression test first, we don't really have a good way of giving you much but suggestions.

- engine compression could be failing (needs engine replacement/rebuild)
- Ignition coils, plugs, and wires could be shot (needs to be replaced, many owners have no idea how frequently they need to be replacement)
- Starter could be weak/dying (needs to be replaced)
- Battery could be weak/dying/not holding charge (needs to be replaced)
- electrical grounds could be corroded/fouled (needs to be cleaned)
- Coolant could be leaking into the engine (need a new engine)
- The fuel pump could be failing (needs to be replaced, could be dangerous to the engine)
- the fuel pressure line could be leaking (needs to be replaced, dangerous risk of car fire)
- the cat could be clogged (needs to be replaced or deleted, risk of car fire and/or engine damage)
- e-shaft sensor could be fouled (needs to be cleaned and reset)


I think that is the short list. Until you start really digging into determining the health of your car, anything anyone gives you is going to be a guess, probably from the list above.


Moving the accelerator pedal does 2 things:
- It opens the throttle plate, which will allow more airflow into the engine, however with it closed, it never prevents the engine from starting
- if it is down far enough, it will cut fuel while cranking to deflood a flooded engine


Moving it a little bit had exactly zero impact on your ability to start. This isn't a carburated engine, and that throttle isn't even controlled by a cable, but by ECU signals.

jonny321

ok where should I start on getting all this info?

kevinande

If the engine has low compression, it will essentially run and seem fine. If it is more difficult to start once it's been running, that is a sign of low compression. You can throw parts at it in the hopes you find the bad part, or you can go and get a compression test and eliminate it as a possible cause of your problem. Could it be the starter, sure it's possible. Its also possible that it has low compression. That's my $.02, spend it wisely.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Start with the new owner's thread that was linked. In addition to having many of the specific answers you are looking for in the thread, the first topic is how to search the forum efficiency so that you can research the DIYs on each item. The first post even has a table of contents, so that you can easily skip important information to get to your immediate answers quickly.

jonny321

and all in all how much would the battery/coils/plugs combo cost? roughly

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Also answered in the new owner's thread...



We really do know what all the new owners ask repeatedly, and I put together that thread to answer them when i got tired of cutting and pasting every response.

Seriously....go read it

jonny321

ok thanks, if it was low compression why would it work when I put it the gas pedal down? Wouldnt that be tell tale of a flood?

RotoryVirgin

I love how he always mentions the table of contents so you can skip IMPORTANT information. What RIWWP is trying to say is read ALL of it. You'll be better off for it.
You didn't buy a car, you adopted a special needs child.

RotoryVirgin

Unless you put the pedal to the floor, it was probably coincidence.

jonny321

I did put the pedal to the floor.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

If the gas pedal was depressed AND the engine started at the same time, pushing the gas pedal did NOTHING. The only time that pushing the gas pedal does anything when you are cranking the engine is if it is down more than ~90% or so, maybe 95%, in which case the ECU sees that and cuts all fuel completely. You can not start the car with the gas pedal down the whole way, because there is no fuel being injected. With it only down slightly or partially, it's like turning on a light bulb via a wall switch while standing on one foot. It had no bearing on the start.

There are lots of reasons for an inconsistent start, included in the list I typed earlier. It was simple coincidence that it started when you had the gas pedal down.

If you did have it down the whole way, then you didn't actually have it down far enough to hit the fuel cut. The position sensor tolerance can change from car to car.

RotoryVirgin

Well we can only hope it was flooded then. You should still check everything that was mentioned and get a compression test.

jonny321

ok, we also waited a few minutes before trying to start it again, could this go back to the hot start subject? and would the engine have a fine cold start if compression was the issue? the previous owner also ran premium while we filled the thing up with regular. would this have an effect?

RotoryVirgin

Always use premium. Hot starts fail before cold starts. The engine has slightly higher compression cold.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Sigh.


Starting up after waiting a bit could point to a fuel pump issue or nothing at all.

Yes, a fine cold start but hard hot start generally points to low compression, failing fuel pump, or a fuel line pressure problem.

Driving on regular is dangerous to your engine if even 1 of the 6 rotor faces has healthy compression. Regular is only safe if your engine is failing on all 6 rotor faces. You need to use 89 octane at a minimum, 91 or 93 is far far far far far better, especially on hot days. Yes, you can blow your engine on 89 octane. Keep the revs down and don't go full throttle until you can fill back up with high octane.


Again, all of this is in the new owner's thread. Have you even opened it yet?

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

ALWAYS use Premium. You really really REALLY need to read the new owner sticky.
Really.