Need help!!!! 04 Rx8 won't start
12-03-2015, 08:57 PM
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Need help!!!! 04 Rx8 won't start
My 04 Rx8 won't start at all and the engine has no compression at all... I'm thinking it maybe the seals but I really hope I'm wrong because I heard that that means I'm going to have to rebuild my engine...if any one can help that would be great thanks...
12-04-2015, 02:37 AM
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12-04-2015, 06:44 AM
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12-04-2015, 03:42 PM
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12-04-2015, 03:43 PM
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12-04-2015, 06:03 PM
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Need help!!!! 04 Rx8 won't start
Ok there's a lot of info that is missing here. And I think troubleshooting this may be a bit over your head.
Bring it to a trustworthy mechanic and have them go through the troubleshooting.
In the meantime, read the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. As well, read the thread I suggested that you read in my first post. Educate yourself in the workings so that you don't get ripped off.
Bring it to a trustworthy mechanic and have them go through the troubleshooting.
In the meantime, read the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. As well, read the thread I suggested that you read in my first post. Educate yourself in the workings so that you don't get ripped off.
12-07-2015, 03:04 PM
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Ok there's a lot of info that is missing here. And I think troubleshooting this may be a bit over your head.
Bring it to a trustworthy mechanic and have them go through the troubleshooting.
In the meantime, read the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. As well, read the thread I suggested that you read in my first post. Educate yourself in the workings so that you don't get ripped off.
Bring it to a trustworthy mechanic and have them go through the troubleshooting.
In the meantime, read the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. As well, read the thread I suggested that you read in my first post. Educate yourself in the workings so that you don't get ripped off.
12-07-2015, 03:50 PM
#10
Need help!!!! 04 Rx8 won't start
I doubt they're busted, but I can't say for certain. Like I said, too much info is missing.
Read those threads and describe your issues in a more clear manner.
But I still recommend having someone more knowledgeable than you look at it.
Read those threads and describe your issues in a more clear manner.
But I still recommend having someone more knowledgeable than you look at it.
12-08-2015, 10:16 AM
#11
Ok there's a lot of info that is missing here. And I think troubleshooting this may be a bit over your head.
Bring it to a trustworthy mechanic and have them go through the troubleshooting.
In the meantime, read the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. As well, read the thread I suggested that you read in my first post. Educate yourself in the workings so that you don't get ripped off.
Bring it to a trustworthy mechanic and have them go through the troubleshooting.
In the meantime, read the new and potential owners sticky found at the top of the new members forum. As well, read the thread I suggested that you read in my first post. Educate yourself in the workings so that you don't get ripped off.
Even that MIGHT be a problem it seems as one also has to be able to determine a good mechanic which also takes some understanding to know if they're giving proper advice? OP Frankly it sounds more like a dead battery, pull your battery, negative terminal first and have it checked at an auto parts store, strong batteries are very important to cars these days but even more so with the RX8.
If it's not that go with the above suggestion from Rx8 Soldier. He means a REAL mechanic that has some rotary experience too, not some friends with a hammer and screw driver.
Last edited by FunRun8; 12-09-2015 at 02:27 PM.
12-08-2015, 11:52 AM
#12
OP Frankly it sounds more like a dead battery, pull your battery, negative terminal first and have it checked at an auto parts store, strong batteries are very important to cars these days but even more so with the RX8.
If it's not that go with the above suggestion from Rx8 Soldier. He means a REAL mechanic that has some rotary experience too, not some friends with a hammer and screw driver.
12-08-2015, 09:48 PM
#13
I wouldn't trust just anyone IMO, except maybe to check his battery but then again easy enough to do that on his own, I think 
.
This was the red flag, says nothing about flooding or trying repeatedly to turn it over, it's his second post on the topic..
Post #3 Answer to 200mph's question, is it spinning?
Post #4
So in summary: #1 Just clicking, #2 not spinning, #3 belt is spinning slowly seems to = possible weak and dying battery.. But if he had a low compression issue it would turn over more easily with less compression, just not start..
As well if his battery was already weak and not cranking to full potential he'd have flooded the engine likely anyway, especially if it has any sort of mileage on it and therefore not top compression? That brings up another point, the Rx8 has different engine mounts then most cars so it tends to pass on more vibration to sensitive electronics like the alternator and too much can cause failures internally by breaking connections. There have been many cases I've noted including my own car recently of failures of the voltage regulator that caused an over-charge condition that boils the battery and then causes it to go flat from over-charging though not immediately.
So OP check to be sure you don't have any battery fluid in the box or dripping out from the box drain down under the front of the car on that side looking through the lower front grill or underneath the front aero pan, it drains in front of the A/C condenser which is a whole nother issue covering it in battery acid, cleans it nicely but you had better neutralize it well with a water solution of bicarb. If the battery has been cooked, in my case it continued to work for a short period afterwards but was never really as strong and then it just went flat with little notice and would not recharge, and my symptoms were virtually the same as the OP, though I knew the problem immediately. Couldn't even take the car to the parts store to have my tests confirmed and risk it not turning over again or flooding due to slow cranking as it almost didn't restart after making an errand, fortunately my engine is real healthy and I'm a bit better versed then the OP so I avoided flooding it and it ultimately started and got me home but essentially just removed the battery and took it in my trusty 235,000 mile GTI Vr6 workhorse to get checked.
Also another point of information, don't buy a battery from Pep boys either, they don't back their products nor does Bosch, still have 6 months on an OTC exchange and over 3 years on a pro rata and I'm having a conflict with them to back it at all and the alternator failure is not the issue. I've moved from the store I bought it at and it's a 200 mile 4 hour round trip back to the store I purchased it from too and there is no closer locations.
. This was the red flag, says nothing about flooding or trying repeatedly to turn it over, it's his second post on the topic..
I tried starting it and the motor isn't making any clicking noise or anything of that sort...
No and I found a little bit of a milky substance in my oil but now it's gone
The belt around the motor spins but doesn't spin fast and it has no compression what so ever
As well if his battery was already weak and not cranking to full potential he'd have flooded the engine likely anyway, especially if it has any sort of mileage on it and therefore not top compression? That brings up another point, the Rx8 has different engine mounts then most cars so it tends to pass on more vibration to sensitive electronics like the alternator and too much can cause failures internally by breaking connections. There have been many cases I've noted including my own car recently of failures of the voltage regulator that caused an over-charge condition that boils the battery and then causes it to go flat from over-charging though not immediately.
So OP check to be sure you don't have any battery fluid in the box or dripping out from the box drain down under the front of the car on that side looking through the lower front grill or underneath the front aero pan, it drains in front of the A/C condenser which is a whole nother issue covering it in battery acid, cleans it nicely but you had better neutralize it well with a water solution of bicarb. If the battery has been cooked, in my case it continued to work for a short period afterwards but was never really as strong and then it just went flat with little notice and would not recharge, and my symptoms were virtually the same as the OP, though I knew the problem immediately. Couldn't even take the car to the parts store to have my tests confirmed and risk it not turning over again or flooding due to slow cranking as it almost didn't restart after making an errand, fortunately my engine is real healthy and I'm a bit better versed then the OP so I avoided flooding it and it ultimately started and got me home but essentially just removed the battery and took it in my trusty 235,000 mile GTI Vr6 workhorse to get checked.
Also another point of information, don't buy a battery from Pep boys either, they don't back their products nor does Bosch, still have 6 months on an OTC exchange and over 3 years on a pro rata and I'm having a conflict with them to back it at all and the alternator failure is not the issue. I've moved from the store I bought it at and it's a 200 mile 4 hour round trip back to the store I purchased it from too and there is no closer locations.
Last edited by FunRun8; 12-08-2015 at 10:07 PM.
12-08-2015, 11:13 PM
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The car making a clicking sound means a dead battery. While trying to start your car, you probably flooded it.
1) First up, check if the battery is charged. If it's not, charge it or get a new battery.
2) Put the new/charged battery in and Crank to see if it starts. If it starts, you're all good.
3) If it cranks but doesn't start, it's probably flooded. Look up the de-flooding procedure. Follow it.
It if doesn't crank, then it's something else.
Report back!
1) First up, check if the battery is charged. If it's not, charge it or get a new battery.
2) Put the new/charged battery in and Crank to see if it starts. If it starts, you're all good.
3) If it cranks but doesn't start, it's probably flooded. Look up the de-flooding procedure. Follow it.
It if doesn't crank, then it's something else.
Report back!
12-09-2015, 12:48 AM
#15
Pardon my thread hijack a moment please? Colombo Sri Lanka eh? Say hello to Dilantha for me, just saw him here in Sebring a few weeks ago in the Lamborghini Tropheo cup race. Drove one of his race cars in a race in Sri Lanka several years ago at Pannala circuit. Only had 3 laps in the car I'd never driven before, on a track I had never driven before, 1st right drive race car, first standing start, in a class with cars with much larger engines, mine 850cc IT, the rest spec'd at 1350cc at stock spec. I hadn't run in about a year prior to that either.
I had 1 warm up lap, 1 timed lap for qualifying, 1 cool down lap, qualified 4th in a car that hadn't been raced or prepared in 3 months, it showed up with 4 flat tires, also there was a block of wood floating around my feet while I was qualifying. Ended up with 2 second place finishes, should have had the class win but since the rubber peddle grip was taken of the throttle peddle for some strange reason without any grip to replace it, my foot slipped off the throttle during the pass for the lead in the final corner. Anyway still had to be happy with the result given the learning curve and nearly no sleep the night before due to traveling.
I had 1 warm up lap, 1 timed lap for qualifying, 1 cool down lap, qualified 4th in a car that hadn't been raced or prepared in 3 months, it showed up with 4 flat tires, also there was a block of wood floating around my feet while I was qualifying. Ended up with 2 second place finishes, should have had the class win but since the rubber peddle grip was taken of the throttle peddle for some strange reason without any grip to replace it, my foot slipped off the throttle during the pass for the lead in the final corner. Anyway still had to be happy with the result given the learning curve and nearly no sleep the night before due to traveling.
12-09-2015, 02:13 AM
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Originally Posted by FunRun8
Pardon my thread hijack a moment please? Colombo Sri Lanka eh? Say hello to Dilantha for me, just saw him here in Sebring a few weeks ago in the Lamborghini Tropheo cup race. Drove one of his race cars in a race in Sri Lanka several years ago at Pannala circuit. Only had 3 laps in the car I'd never driven before, on a track I had never driven before, 1st right drive race car, first standing start, in a class with cars with much larger engines, mine 850cc IT, the rest spec'd at 1350cc at stock spec. I hadn't run in about a year prior to that either.
I had 1 warm up lap, 1 timed lap for qualifying, 1 cool down lap, qualified 4th in a car that hadn't been raced or prepared in 3 months, it showed up with 4 flat tires, also there was a block of wood floating around my feet while I was qualifying. Ended up with 2 second place finishes, should have had the class win but since the rubber peddle grip was taken of the throttle peddle for some strange reason without any grip to replace it, my foot slipped off the throttle during the pass for the lead in the final corner. Anyway still had to be happy with the result given the learning curve and nearly no sleep the night before due to traveling.
I had 1 warm up lap, 1 timed lap for qualifying, 1 cool down lap, qualified 4th in a car that hadn't been raced or prepared in 3 months, it showed up with 4 flat tires, also there was a block of wood floating around my feet while I was qualifying. Ended up with 2 second place finishes, should have had the class win but since the rubber peddle grip was taken of the throttle peddle for some strange reason without any grip to replace it, my foot slipped off the throttle during the pass for the lead in the final corner. Anyway still had to be happy with the result given the learning curve and nearly no sleep the night before due to traveling.
That's awesome man! I don't know him personally, but I see him often at hotels in Colombo. I'll definitely tell him the next time I see him. Is he still in Sebring? Because I saw his Lamborghini about 2 weeks ago parked outside Cinnamon Grand. Sick race you had! What was the car? I've actually haven't been to Pannala yet. We're planning on taking all of the RX-8s here and doing a track day there. Do you come here often? I hope Sri Lanka treated you well
12-09-2015, 02:14 PM
#17
Hi! Yes I am That's awesome man! I don't know him personally, but I see him often at hotels in Colombo. I'll definitely tell him the next time I see him. Is he still in Sebring? Because I saw his Lamborghini about 2 weeks ago parked outside Cinnamon Grand.
Sick race you had! What was the car? I've actually haven't been to Pannala yet. We're planning on taking all of the RX-8s here and doing a track day there. Do you come here often? I hope Sri Lanka treated you well
That's awesome man! I don't know him personally, but I see him often at hotels in Colombo. I'll definitely tell him the next time I see him. Is he still in Sebring? Because I saw his Lamborghini about 2 weeks ago parked outside Cinnamon Grand. Sick race you had! What was the car? I've actually haven't been to Pannala yet. We're planning on taking all of the RX-8s here and doing a track day there. Do you come here often? I hope Sri Lanka treated you well
Fortunately the civil war was on hold while I was there, sparked off again shortly afterwards and only a little over a year after this the resort I had stayed in on the coast was obliterated by the Tsunami and traveling to and from the track was still a bit nerve racking due to potential military actions at any given time. All in all though the Sri Lankans made me feel like a celebrity of note with a lot of media interviews and people crowding around and asking for autographs and such, quite a fair bit of TV time, the atmosphere was quite entertaining.
Here ya go a few pics,
The first one was after I made an outside pass for 3rd place on the first lap eventually to get to the front in the class race. The second and third pics are Dilantha following me through the pack at the start (inverted start format) in his AWD Turbo charged Celica he imported from Japan and then after we got through he went around obviously as he should and I'm passing outside for 4th over all into the down hill on the back stretch, this was a mixed race, all class finale only for the top 2 finishers in each class. The car I was driving was the only fully stock car out there in terms of engine and such with only minimal suspension work done.
I doubt his Lambo is here anymore, pretty sure he had it shipped back shortly after the race otherwise i'd be taking out for practice at the track here.
Anyway anymore on this and we'll have to talk via PM as I don't want to hijack this poor guys thread any more unless someone says otherwise.
12-09-2015, 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by FunRun8
No, don't come there often at all, that was a one off. I just drove his little 3 cylinder intercooled Suzuki go kart of a car, it was a hoot and in full stock trim engine wise, but it was go-kart like handling and on that small track it scooted. I was amazed at how much attention was given to the race weekend with TV coverage and all for a relatively small event all things considered, but it was quite a show for that region.
Fortunately the civil war was on hold while I was there, sparked off again shortly afterwards and only a little over a year after this the resort I had stayed in on the coast was obliterated by the Tsunami and traveling to and from the track was still a bit nerve racking due to potential military actions at any given time. All in all though the Sri Lankans made me feel like a celebrity of note with a lot of media interviews and people crowding around and asking for autographs and such, quite a fair bit of TV time, the atmosphere was quite entertaining.
Here ya go a few pics,
The first one was after I made an outside pass for 3rd place on the first lap eventually to get to the front in the class race. The second and third pics are Dilantha following me through the pack at the start (inverted start format) in his AWD Turbo charged Celica he imported from Japan and then after we got through he went around obviously as he should and I'm passing outside for 4th over all into the down hill on the back stretch, this was a mixed race, all class finale only for the top 2 finishers in each class. The car I was driving was the only fully stock car out there in terms of engine and such with only minimal suspension work done.
I doubt his Lambo is here anymore, pretty sure he had it shipped back shortly after the race otherwise i'd be taking out for practice at the track here.
Anyway anymore on this and we'll have to talk via PM as I don't want to hijack this poor guys thread any more unless someone says otherwise.
Fortunately the civil war was on hold while I was there, sparked off again shortly afterwards and only a little over a year after this the resort I had stayed in on the coast was obliterated by the Tsunami and traveling to and from the track was still a bit nerve racking due to potential military actions at any given time. All in all though the Sri Lankans made me feel like a celebrity of note with a lot of media interviews and people crowding around and asking for autographs and such, quite a fair bit of TV time, the atmosphere was quite entertaining.
Here ya go a few pics,
The first one was after I made an outside pass for 3rd place on the first lap eventually to get to the front in the class race. The second and third pics are Dilantha following me through the pack at the start (inverted start format) in his AWD Turbo charged Celica he imported from Japan and then after we got through he went around obviously as he should and I'm passing outside for 4th over all into the down hill on the back stretch, this was a mixed race, all class finale only for the top 2 finishers in each class. The car I was driving was the only fully stock car out there in terms of engine and such with only minimal suspension work done.
I doubt his Lambo is here anymore, pretty sure he had it shipped back shortly after the race otherwise i'd be taking out for practice at the track here.
Anyway anymore on this and we'll have to talk via PM as I don't want to hijack this poor guys thread any more unless someone says otherwise.
We didn't have a lot of race days back then, so the ones we had were pretty big deals This was a long time back huh. I remember the tsunami. It was crazy. Don't know a whole lot about the war during that time. I was a kid back then haha. It must have been pretty rough. Anyways, things have changed a lot since then. Colombo is so much better now. Trust me, you wouldn't believe it! You should definitely come over sometime for a vacation and hang out with the local RX-8 club We give free t shirts! 
After all, it's sunny year-round 
I was talking about his personal Lamborghini. He has a white Gallardo over here. I saw it 2 weeks ago.
You're right. Let's not thread jack haha. It's good to know you! I'll tell Dilantha the next we meet for sure!
12-09-2015, 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by FunRun8
Yeah, I'm curious too if he's made any progress?
If I came all that way again I'd have to be tracking someone's 8 at minimum..
If I came all that way again I'd have to be tracking someone's 8 at minimum..
12-14-2015, 05:18 AM
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No. No start yet. Sorry I've been lagging on the reply I've just been busy. But my battery is new and leading up to this problem my car was getting a little bit harder to start and it would gradually get harder. I had my mechanic come out whose done some research on rx8 engines and he said that it's my apex seals because there's no compression to my engine. And like i said in the beginning I had a tan milky substance on my oil dipstick but then it started to go away.
12-14-2015, 10:31 AM
#23
Well sorry to say that it sounds like worst case scenario, you now have a spare parts car ready to liquidate parts or in whole if no funds for a new engine?
Just so you know there is conflicting info your posts though, if it has low or no compression it should spin over even easier, unless it is has a bad seal dragging or hydraulic lock from water in one of the rotor housings which sounds to be the case, have him take one of the plugs from each of the housings and then turn it over and see what comes out?.
Just so you know there is conflicting info your posts though, if it has low or no compression it should spin over even easier, unless it is has a bad seal dragging or hydraulic lock from water in one of the rotor housings which sounds to be the case, have him take one of the plugs from each of the housings and then turn it over and see what comes out?.
Last edited by FunRun8; 12-14-2015 at 10:34 AM.
12-14-2015, 11:16 AM
#24
Need help!!!! 04 Rx8 won't start
What tools did your mechanic use to do his troubleshooting and come to the conclusion that the engine had no compression? Proper tools and steps are necessary.
This sounds like diagnosing a person who stopped breathing is dead...
This sounds like diagnosing a person who stopped breathing is dead...
Last edited by RX8Soldier; 12-14-2015 at 11:19 AM.
12-15-2015, 07:03 AM
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if its spinning and the apex/side seals havent broken up you can get it started. it could be flooded. milky **** on the dipstick is normal. a rotary can run with very low compression or even on one rotor. is your car a stick? if so make sure the battery is charged and the engine will crank. after that pull start it in 2nd gear. the only way to know if it has compression or not is with a rotary compression tester but it doesnt sound like one was used