So my Rx8 decided not to start one day, so I called up a buddy to check out the alternator and starter for me (I knew it wasn't the battery due to me buying a new one 2 weeks ago). He told me it was neither of them, and said he'd take it to a friends shop and see what it was. Later he told me it was something with the motor. What I'm trying to figure out is what all the possibilities it could be? And how much it will cost? I'm kind of strapped for money, so I'm not sure if I could pay for a whole rebuild. Any help would be appreciated.

 

You have asked for a diagnosis, but have provided no symptoms.

About all we can guess at with what you provided is: "You probably have an engine physically sitting in the car".

You might want to be more detailed.

 

Well I'm pretty sure it's turning over, it's just not starting. I can't exactly hear a loss of compression, but I've only heard compression loss once so I'm not 100% on that. Besides that I can't hear any odd noises.

 

Doesn't sound like you have done and diagnosis yet?

Have you confirmed spark?
Have you confirmed fuel?
What is your cranking speed?

 

I haven't been able to do a diagnosis. It hasn't been in my possession. But it has been able to jump start if that helps

 

So if it jump starts, that suggests one of:
- Battery weak/dying
- Battery cable connections are unstable (jumping the car doesn't require that the installed battery is in the circuit)
- Starter failing

 

Well I recently got a new battery so I don't think it is the battery. Though I did try to start it once before and it wouldn't, and then I noticed the battery cables were loose. So I may have flooded it at that point.

 

Flooding only occurs on a start attempt where the attempt was not successful due to a parts failure.

If you can get it started with a jump, it's not flooding.

 

Then I got it started by jump starting it. (Which may mean it was deflooded).

 

Semantically, part of the definition of flooding is an inability to start, so getting it to fire without much difficulty isn't flooding, even if there is excess fuel in there from a prior failure to start.

It's more likely that you aren't really flooding it in the first place. I would theorize that it's because your cranking speed is so low that you aren't even getting that much fuel build up (since it injects per face per revolution)

Still, if it was only starter failure, jumping it wouldn't really solve anything. The improved voltage/current of hooking up to another car means that the other car is supplying something that your current battery is not.

 

So it is or isn't the starter?

 

It could be, but it might not be.

I'm just trying to give you information to use to figure it out when you can get back to the car.

 

I appreciate the help. What else do you think it could be besides the starter?

 

If you have given me all the information, and it is accurate, then this:

 

Some more info:
I forgot to mention, it always starts the first time I try for the day. But usually after I turn it off it doesn't want to start back up.

 

Check all ignition coils for spark during cranking, replace as necessary. Then compression test.

 

Just got some info from the shop my cars at. They said the motor, starter, and alternator are fine and that it's something electrical in the car.

 

Oh oh....hot start issue