Can anyone help me figure this out? I don't drive my RX-8 too frequently but have never had problems starting it, even after being away for a couple of weeks. last month, however, the car would not start... wouldn't even turn over... just completely dead. I jump started it and it ran fine for a couple of days, then I left it without diving for 4-5 days. Again it died. I figured it was probably the battery and bought a new one, installed it and the car started fine. I used it for a couple of days, then let it sit in the driveway for 4-5 days and again the car will not start/turn over with the new battery installed. I jump started it, ran it around for a couple of hours, then didn't drive it for a few days and it dies again.

I jump started it again and took it to the dealer. They say that they can find no drain on the electrical system and that the alternator is good and that it must be a bad battery (which I just purchased less than a month before). So I take the battery to Advance Auto Parts and they check it and it registers that the battery is good (12.5 V, 1.5 amps I believe).

At the dealership they said I should run the car every couple of days. I haven't done that before and had no problems and said I should not have to run the car every couple of days to keep the battery charged. I actually like this dealership and have had not problems with them with any of my Mazdas, but I'm caught between their saying the car is fine, it must be the battery, and the battery being new and checked and figuring it must be the car. I'm going to let the car sit for a few days and see if it happens again and told the dealer I would do some investigating but didn't find anything like this on the forum. Does anyone have an idea of what might be causing the battery to drain if the dealer doesn't see it?

 

you may have an interior/trunk/ashtray/glovebox light stuck on

 

it does soudn like a bad battery but i would make sure no lights are on if you have an amp b sure that it is turning off when you turn off the key.....gps etc..

 

Thanks. The car is completely stock and has no out-of-the-ordinary electrical additions. I'll check the interior lights. Thanks.

 

do you have an ipod plugged in? i had the issue of it constantly charging itself and eventually running down the battery.

 

this could definitely be it. op - we have a super weak battery. super weak. i travel a lot, and last year (at which point my car, and original battery was 4 years old) did with every single trip. anywhere from 5 to 21 days, it didn't matter. its like once it starts to get weak, it gets weaker and weaker, and even if you jump it for a while, it'll still never be the same. i took it to mazda under warranty and they re-juiced it (or something, they used some key word like that -- didn't get a new battery but they did something to pump it back up) and now i leave it for work, i travel 4 days at a time, and i haven't had a problem once...

 

The dealer is definitely wrong saying that you should run the car every few days in order to keep the battery from going dead. That's just not normal.
This summer I was away from home for four weeks while the car just sat in the garage - yet when I turned the key, it started and ran just as if I drove it the previous day.
Try to get another test somehow to determine if something is drawing current from the battery. I believe there is a way to find that out (not sure what instrument is used for that though).

 

trunk?

 

stock navi?

have been know to drain the battery.

beers

 

No navigation system or ipod. Jedi 54, can you (or someone else) explain what you mean by "trunk?" I've noticed that the trunk lid doesn't always sit flush when you close it. Would it drain the battery if it is closed (i.e. it catches and doesn't open) but not closed "properly?"

 

after you close the trunk lock the car, if the lights dont flash the trunk is still open, and the light is still on..


beers

 

I have a 2004 Mazda RX8 and been the sole owner since the car was manufactured. To this date, I have 38, 000 miles registered. While the vehicle was under warranty, I experienced this problem since I travel a lot. If the vehicle is not cranked in 2 days or operating, something is draining the battery. The dealership states its the factory GPS, which is causing the drainage. I have visited other car dealerships, & electronic shops and no one can explain this mystery. Invested in a CAR MD device to detect the problem and all system checks out to be valid and functioning well. it simply boils down to a factory default/defect which the manufacturing company will not honor, not even in a RECALL. I have argued this case for years and lost each time. I just won't buy Mazda products anymore due to a bad Quality Assurance Program. When there is a development in merchandise, whether it is a car or household products, a separate functional section of an organization checks the materiel out for safety reasons and prior to the purchase of consumers.

 

holy thread ressurection Batman.

 

^HAHA!!!! Almost 6 years! Free post.

 

A trickle charger is only about $30. I drive so little now I just leave it setup in the winter. Too many dead batteries. Replaced at 5 years but the car is 8 now. Time flies.

 

I love how he made an account JUST to make that one post.

 

we should all email him since he used that as his user name. n00b.