Hey everyone, I don’t actually have a RX8, but I have the Renesis 13b engine in my Pro Mazda track car. The transmission is a Hewland 6 speed sequential, no lift shift. The car has a small gel battery onboard, but I start it with jump cables to a large car battery.

I’m here hoping you guys can help me with my starting problem. I haven’t done a compression test, yet. The car cranks and cranks and won’t start for a long time. It came with a standard starter, but I’m thinking of upgrading to a higher torque/rpm starter. Does anyone know what the part number is? Where should I get it from without breaking the bank.

 

Welcome welcome! Where in CA you from?

 

 

Have you tried to deflood it? Compression test is not reliable on a non running engine. This technique starts even damaged engines. If you do get it running and it's rough, that's the best time to do the compression test. If you can't operate the throttle as if you don't have a Mazda ECU, just disconnect the fuel pump fuse to achieve a similar effect. Only attach the fuse back when you feel it's deflooded enough to try to start for real. Another thing it could be is bad ignition coils, wires and spark plugs. While doing the compression test, check all of the spark plugs. Bad ignition components can sometimes create the illusion of low compression.

https://www.google.com/search?q=defl...n70zeNMPU,st:0

 

Welcome to the forum!! Would love to see pictures of your car!

The next time it starts, let it run until it reaches normal operating temperature and then run a compression test with a rotary compression tester. This is the first step in diagnosing an unknown engine with a starting issue. Make sure the engine itself is good before throwing money at other possible potential causes of a no start condition.

 

I live in Santa Clarita, near Magic Mountain.

 

I don’t think the car is flooded. When it starts it runs great. It just cranks a long time before it starts. I’ll check the coils, I haven’t done that yet. Any easy way? I know one of them is fine because it shocked the **** out of me when I took it off the spark plug when the engine was running.

 

If I can figure out how to post pics, I will.

 

Im waiting on a compression tester. Apparently there’s a guy in Australia that’s waiting on parts to build some more testers.

Anyone know someone selling one now?

 

What are the good coils to get? I may just replace them to be sure that’s not the problem.

 

HEI Tester.

 

Thanks BigCajun, just ordered one from Amazon. It will be here tomorrow. I’m assuming that I remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug, connect the tester and put the clip onto ground on the motor?

Should I be looking for a big spark, or just a spark is all I’m concerned about?

 

 

That was a great help, thx. Ive been tinkering with cars for 45 years but don’t know squat about rotary’s. I’m learning…

 

I'm in Bakersfield, have lots of knowledge, and a compression tester...

 

Ricky, do you have a mechanics shop?

 

^^ he doesn't but he's pretty knowledgeable around RX-8's.

 

I'm just a Rx8 owner for the last 12 years, I'm not a shop. Any idea if the I5 Grapevine is still shut down? Id be willing to go comp test your car and help to troubleshoot whatever other concerns to the best of my ability if you want to try to set something up.

 

It was shut down a couple days ago, not sure about now.

Let me try tinkering with it a little while longer. I don’t want you to have to make that trip if it’s something easy that I can fix. Thank you so much for the offer!! If you’re going to be near Santa Clarita let me know and I’ll adjust my schedule so we can meet.

I’ve got a track day at Willow Springs scheduled for March 23rd, if that would be easier for you?

 

So I bought a compression tester and my test came out very good, except it was only spinning at 172 rpm during the tests.

The engine started easily at my track day, using the jumper battery. One of the guys that has the same Pro Mazda as I do recommended a Lithium Ion battery. He doesn’t use a jumper battery to start his car, because the Lithium battery spins the starter so much faster that he doesn’t need it.

Thought this info might help someone. Thanks for all your suggestions and offers to help me.