Hi just got my car back from the shop. My CEL is flashing. New motor, new clutch (super sweet). Now, when I got it service man says I need a new battery because its STILL cranking too long to start. But it also needs coils, they are on back order, so I go back next week. Is the CEL flashing because of the battery or the long cranking? or something else? My CEL light was NOT on when I took it in to the shop.

 

there are tons of reasons why your cel will be on or flashing. the only way to know is to run the codes. long cranks are typical on rx8s. when did you last change coils and plugs?

 

It depends on what the CEL code is. Go to an autozone or advance or pep boys and have the code read (free) and come back and let us know what that is. It could be gas cap, misfiring, etc..

Long cranking generally means that it is a weak ignition, either from weak battery, weak/failing starter, failing coils, or fouled plugs. If you know you need coils, change those first and see what improvement you get. My 8 cranked up noticably faster once I replaced my coils.

The long crank might be related to the CEL, but it might not. Get the code read and get back to us.

 

if it's blinking USUALLY it's a midfire....better change the coils....also read code like said above to see exactly what it is!

 

Okay, I'm changing the battery today. When I drove it home, I could smell a dirty gas smell. That is not a CAT problem is it?

 

Sounds like it to me, but our cars do burn rich..and can be smelly even with a functioning cat..

 

It isn't driving great, but it is so much better than it was before the motor change. The tech who test drove it with me is not happy with the way it's driving right now either. We'll replace the coils as soon as they get them. What about the smell?

 

Smell could easily be burning off something within the new motor. For example, if a cleaner or protectant was used at all, it might take a bit for that to burn off. Our 8's have a sweeter exhaust smell than piston cars, because of the oil we are burning. At least, it is usually sweeter, not always.

If it actually smells like -gas-, then check for leaks first, but I am willing to bet that you are running pig rich from not getting a complete burn on the gas, and it is being ejected from the tail pipe. Again, a sign of a weak ignition, and this one has NOTHING to do with the battery. Seriously, don't waste your money on the battery until you have had your coils changed. Something needs to be fixed with your ignition, and the battery won't do that.

When I swapped my coils, I forgot to plug the MAF back in, and i was running so rich that I was creating puddles of gas under each tailpipe, I couldn't rev above 6k, and it was constantly trying to stall/flood.

Do your wallet a favor and change your coils first.

 

Thank you, everything you have said makes a lot of sense. I will let you know what happens after the coils are replaced.

 

How old is your battery?

Ask them to charge it, or better yet do it your self.

 

My battery was just over two years old. I bought a new one, because they said it was in the "red" and I needed another one. Whatever. It still runs like ****. It has to be the coils, because that is about the only thing left. I had my power steering go out on me, the next day, but I fixed it myself with the "turn your wheel around, turn it the other way" initializing. Finding a lot in the manual