Hey all,

So I picked up my 05 Rex a few months ago and there were no issues. Started fine everytime and no CELs.

However i am now having some starting issues. It does not matter if the engine is hot or cold. It takes exactly the same amount of time! So I don't think it is compression.

I have swapped out the starter motor to the more powerful version from later models. Little to no improvement. Replaced my Halfords battery (cheap budget British high street battery) with an optima red top 34r. Small improvement but nothing major.

I have recently got a few CELs for p0420 which is in relation to cat efficiency. Could this really cause me to be having starting issues? Should I replace the cat?

Cheers!

 

Yes, bad cat, probably clogged.
New ones are very expensive, visually inspect it ASAP and gut it if it's blocked.

 

You may have bad ignition components also.
If you don't know the age of your coils, plugs, and wires, change them.
Every 30k miles is recommended.
Misfires kill cats, bad cats kill engines.
You should get the compression checked if you didn't already.

 

Thanks for the reply! So just so I understand it. If the cat is clogged, it is causing pressure in the engine making the rotors harder to spin? Therefore slow start.

Would a a good test be dropping the cat engine side and starting the car? If the start is instant then bad cat confirmed?

Also when you say gut the cat do you mean just unleash a long screw driver on the honey comb? Assuming this isn't a permanent solution, just something to get me but whilst I save up for a new cat?

Thanks

 

sorry forgot that from the previous post. I have changed plugs and coils. I haven't yet changed the wires though. Could this cause the problem?

 

Yes, they can get clogged and/or break up.
You could take it completely off and visually inspect it, if it's not obviously clogged, cracked, or broken up, try to shine a light through it.
They're VERY expensive, you don't want to gut a good one.
If it is broken up, be sure no pieces blew back further into the exhaust or muffler.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...ed-cat-145494/

 

 

If you didn't read the new owner stickies, do it.
Most everything you need to know is there.

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...or%3E%3C-b%3E/