hi all ..been away for a long time. .nearly ten years. ..my last rx8 got stolen and wrecked. ..never managed to make it back to rotary...
until today
i bought an rx8 with 65.000 miles v.cheap
little bit rough.
but like a diamond she will shine up.
previous owner complaining of hot starts.
so here's symptoms. ..im familiar with rotarys..see if you guys collective knowledge can come up with some answers.
first of all the battery is bad...on a jump from a diesel she starts after 4 seconds cranking..
very slow crank speed..
once she is running goes like a bat out of hell...stopped and started 8 times while connected to a running diesel car battery. .will not start own battery ..
no cel lights. ..no low coolant.
looks like oil has been changed a lot..running on semi synthetic. ..
doesn't appear to have spark plugs changed in 40.000 miles.
no oil /steam coming from exhaust whatsoever..
once running..very fast got up to 90mph...
will not be my daily driver.
i don't mind rebuilding the engine but don't want to if possible. ..
will pressure test it soon on a new battery.
so will a:get new battery. .plugs..leads coils..decarbon engine. ..
probably solve all starting issues...
or rebuild the engine while the going is good. ..no damage to rotors and rotor housing from heat or apex seal breakup...
or is there a case of if its not broken don't fix it.
good to hear the high pitched wine and power of an rx8 rotary again.

 

Sounds like a dead engine to me. Hot start issues and long cranking sounds like low compression. Compression test might just tell you if it's dead.