Megabiv

Hi all, been a lurker on these forums for the last few months since buying an RX8 but I have now the need of some more direct assistance from this community.



TL/DR


Well short story is that my RX8 no longer turns/starts or even attempts to with no smell of fuel present at all and I'm becoming quite concerned. 90% certain it's not to do with flooding as engine was stopped after my normal 10m journey from work. Normal ignition system has been replaced/uprated (Starter motor/Battery/Coils/Leads/Plugs).



Holy wall of Text batman version

It’s been fine for months (purchased back in Feb this year) and minus a flooded engine I caused by forgetting to warm up (when moving it out to wash it) one day I've never (and I mean it honestly) had an issue with it starting up. I've had the starter motor replaced with the 2KW version as it still had the old 04 version about two months ago. It came with an uprated battery, Magnecor plug leads, NGK Spark plugs and from what I can tell pretty decent coil's.

Now what happened is I had it serviced at a Mazda dealer about a week ago to get an split Oil cooler pipe and bracket replaced (wasn't cheap but had to be done) and got the rear break pads/discs done at the same time. Since then I've driven it a total of 5 times each time a flawless start up. So this week I've been to work Monday/Tuesday and got in it this morning and nothing, no spark or ignition and no petrol smells from flooding. I also am putting this as far away from flooding as possible since I drove it home from work (approx 10 miles) which is the journey I've done in it almost every single day I've owned it without an issue. I have also flooded/de-flooded my RX8 before and this doesn't even resemble the same situation.

So after having the Ignition coils off this evening after work to visually check them (no alarming marks underneath), cleaning the contact area, insuring the Plug leads are all connecting correctly I still have no luck. The battery has also been on charge to make sure it had enough juice.
My car sounds like this video

I just don’t get how it’s been fine and now nothing at all, not even an attempt to spark. I haven’t had or noticed any issues in its driving or starting recently it’s just like something is no longer connecting or it’s failing to start the ignition process. All I get is the engine turning over like it would if you were trying to de-flood the engine.

I’m really at my wits end here guys and I’ll be trying anything before getting it towed back to that dealership as that oil cooler repair wasn’t cheap.

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

there is a sensor on the crank pulley, its used to pick up engine timing, well a trick is to unplug that and you get no spark, so perhaps that is unplugged or the sensor is bad?

also do you hear your fuel pump prime?

you could try to reset the NVram thats 20 brake stops. that goes back to that sensor

FazdaRX_8

iTrader: (1)

Megabiv

Excellent thanks for the suggestions, I did have a read about resetting the ECU but wasn't to sure about doing it. I'll have a crack at this after work tomorrow, its a bit late to climb back into the engine bay tonight.

Mysterion

One other thing you might have a look at (got this from a Youtube vid on deflooding) check the fuel pump fuse (20 amp surrounded front and rear by 15's) in case it popped. Also, make sure the relay is plugged in tight and has clean terminals. If they are corroded at all, that might cause the no fuel smell you described and they should be easily cleanable with a bit of medium-grit sandpaper and a rag dampened with contact cleaner or brake cleaner.

Megabiv

I'm planning on looking at all of the fuses and the relay's tonight after work as its feeling more like a sensor/electrical issue that's not allowing it start. Anything else worth looking at while I'm under the hood?

Megabiv

Okay I've looked at the fuses and they're all good. Nothing blown or broken and the relays are in great condition with no rust or corrosion at all.

I've reset the NVRam via the 20 break stomp method and still nothing. I've got a code reader on order and should be with me tomorrow but I'm really running out of ideas now. I just don't get how it can go from working to nothing instantly.

*Edit*

Also just tried cleaning the MAF sensor with no avail.

Mysterion

Since you report no fuel odor, have you checked the fuel filter and fuel pump for blockage or failure? Either could certainly eliminate the smell of fuel and most certainly lack of fuel supply could give you the healthy sound with no kick. Another related issue to check for is fuel line blockage.

Megabiv

Well I've bitten the bullet and have had the Rx8 towed to a garage so they can run some diagnostics on it. I'm hoping its a dirty/faulty sensor somewhere but with my luck lately I'm not counting on it. I'll update when they've run the tests.


*update*

Well the garage came to pick up the car and they were having a bit of difficulty turning it to get it on the wagon. Well the driver said, ill just turn it to see if it works and first time started beautifully. Okay there is an CEL light so there is an issue but I've tried for two nights to get it to start...

will continue updates as it progresses.

Megabiv

So the garage phoned me and told me after running the diagnostics the reason it wasn't starting was due to the ESS not working correctly and giving an error code. They've since cleared all the codes and (touch wood) been fine since and I've even driven it home without any problems. I plan on giving it a good run about tomorrow to be sure it's not a fluke but in all honesty I'm simply glad the ol'girl starts up. I was beginning to think it would be one of those "rebuild" calls.

Anyway £84 for collection, diagnostics VAT and a currently working RX8 again.

Megabiv

Hey guys, I had to dig up my old thread as my RX8 is now refusing to start after I drove it to work. I've checked out the code and its a constant P0336 ESS error and exactly the same thing I had before where I have a fully charged & working battery, an uprated starter, magacore leads, NGK sparks and coils.

No matter what I do it just simply refuses to turn over. I've had it nearly turn over twice since Wednesday but in the end nothing and I'm starting to go mad.

While my car is stuck at work I've had it jacked to check the starter motor (which was changed back in April I think) and its all connected properly and looking good. I've removed the battery an airbox and checked/wiped the ESS to no avail. I've cleared the NVRAM with the pedal stomps and I just get the same error code over and over and no real reason why it would fail so hard so suddenly. Just as before I've been driving it without any issues at all and now bam, my car is stuck in the work car park 10miles from my home.

I'm thinking of calling up the Mazda garage (which incidentally is about a 10/15 min drive away) and see I they have any suggestions or willing to take a look at it as I'm really stumped. Before I do this though, does any one have any other ideas on this? I've tried all I can think of and everything I did last time with no luck. I'm also slightly hesitant to just throw money at it if the problem could be more than just the ESS being bad.

Cheers if anyone can help!

04Green

iTrader: (1)

When the work was last done, did they replace the ESS sensor, or just reset the code?

Megabiv

@04Green No work was done, all they did (since it started for them first time :/) was clear any error codes present and handed it back. It's been fine since then well up until last week but I've not had anything indicating it would fail such as bad/long starts it's just gone from working to not in one swoop, heck I was actually about to drive it to a garage to get an Aluminium Radiator and silicone hoses fitted.

I'm thinking that the sensor may well be bad but I've not seen much on here where its been the case which is making me slightly nervous. Typically it's a poor battery or starter that other RX8 owners have that has been the cause in the threads I've read about the P0336 error, but I still understand that anything can go bad or develop a fault so I'm not ruling it out.