We just got a rx8 on Wensday, I finally got to pry it loose from my wife today. Question on starting, when i went to start it it acted like it did not want to start, had to turn over longer then I am used to. Is this normal for a rotary engine, I am used to turning the key and he engine starts. The car was used before this and was warm when shut off. Maybe this how the rotary engine starts. Can anyone set me clear on his. By the way the drive was really , really nice. Not used to people pointing at my cars . Love the sound of the engine.
ers

 

I just got mine too. The ride is definitely sweet. My engine takes liike a second to turn over, and it definitely sounds different at start-up than any other car I've driven.

Wait, so you're allowed to get a sports car when you're married? S$%!, that's the whole reason I bought one now even though I still have yet to buy a house or go to grad school!!

Oops :P

 

I haven't had any problems with starting. Unlike a piston engine, there's no need to give it ANY gas while starting. Maybe this is your problem. If fact, the owner's manual says DO NOT give it gas while starting.....

 

Ok on the no gas at start up, will try that in the morning and will read owners manual a little better. Byebye thats not the half of it my daughter has a eclipse spyder turbo also and me I have a ford escape . The RX8 looks awesome just sitting still in the garage. Now to get some good car polish and make it look real pretty .
ers

 

I think it's normal- mine's been doing it on and off now for going on 12k miles. Never not started, but sometimes it takes a little longer to crank.

 

You never give a fuel injected piton engine any gas either, what do you mean "unlike a piston engine?".

 

Oops, I mean piston.

 

Yeah not since carburators are you supposed to pump the pedal.

If it's taking like 3 seconds every time you start the car, you should probably have it checked out - that's probably not normal, though certainly not catastrophic .

 

break it in and redline it a few time, and yes as mentioned above, since fuel injection, no gas to start.

 

Eeeeeevery now and then, mine will crank for a few seconds and not start, and I get that sinking feeling, wondering if I am going to need a tow truck.

But then it starts. :D

 

I didn't know that. SEE?! Learn sumthin' new everyday!:D

 

Another tip is to let the fuel pump pressurize the system before starting. Do this by turning the key to 'on', the dash will light up, and wait about 2 seconds (I usually wait until the 3rd 'ding' or so), and then crank it. I've done this on my last few cars and it definitely helps for quicker starts- and your starter will probably last longer.

 

Couple questions..

1) Can anyone verify if this starting problem gets eliminated by the "L" flash?


2) With this starting problem, would it be a bad idea to get a remote starter for the 8 because it needs so much cranking? would the remote starter even work?

 

The owners manual says to crank for as much as ten seconds at a time. Good suggestion above about pressurizing the fuel system.

Now search on flooding, warming up and short drive so you know how to not flood.

 

Like the post above, let the fuel pump pressurize. Turn the key to on and let the dash light up before starting it. I usually insert the key, turn it to the on position, Wait for the dash to fully light up (great time to put on the seatbelt), and then start. Starts within a second this way. Also, if you listen carefully, you can hear the pump startup and pressurize when on the ON position.

I had a little trouble at first until I started letting it pressurize.

 

I just had my RX8 at the dealer for reprogramming of the PCM. It is per the technical bulletin out now for curing the flooding problem and CEL issue.

The car starts fine from cold, but now sometimes does not want to start when warm. It's only been a few days since the work was done, so this may go away. It can take 5 to 10 seconds before it will start.

Also, there have been some comments about improved mileage after the "L" flash. Based on the first tank, I will say the mileage is the same or worse.

From my experience over the last 8 months with the car, is it has a starting problem. You crank it a lot, it floods, it misses after starting, etc. Over time Mazda will probably minimize these problems, but I doubt if they go away.

It's too bad, because I would love to recommend this car to everyone, but I can't. It is just too quirky. I can live with it, because I understand cars and I don't mind a couple of quirks. Unfortunately, 99% of the American public will not put up with these problems.

 

Owner's manual does state it takes up to 10 seconds to start up ... and even when it starts up right away it still has a slight pause in it that piston engines don't. I would't call it a problem since it starts nice and neatly everytime but you do have to crank it a little longer then a regular engine. I believe it's just one of those things about the engine. Do try the trick of moving the key to the on position for a couple seconds before starting should cut a little of that time away.

 

My 2001 VW Golf used to prime the fuel system when you opened the driver's door! I wish more car makers would do that! It was a nice feature...

 

thats what im thinking.....

if the 8 sometimes take 10 sec to start ( alot of cranking )

WOuld it be a bad idea to put a remote starter in the car?

Would it not work?

 

This is expected behavior. Mine is the same. No problem ever getting it started.

 

I just won't accept the concept that all this inconsistency in cranking is "normal"--if the car starts in a split second sometimes, and takes 10 seconds of cranking to start the next time (which we know by now to be the case) couldn't that be a sign of some sort of issue--whether it be electrical or mechanical?

 

My 8 has never taken longer than 1 or 2 seconds to start. Yes it is slightly longer other cars but it is no big deal.

 

I have noticed on a couple of occassions when the car was warm, say running several errands, perhaps leaving it for only a couple minutes running into a store and back out, I've had maybe 3 or 4 times when it didn't instantly turn on, it still wasn't anywhere near 10 seconds. It's probably normal. I did drive for more than a couple minutes in between each errand so the engine stayed warm the entire time. Hopefully it's not a problem.

 

i've actually noticed something how it starts is directly related to how it turns off, if you hold it at 3500-4000 rpm for 5 seconds, get your foot off the gas and immediately turn off the engine and let the rotors spin the excess fuel and gasses out of the combustion chamber, it starts on the first crank in the morning. if i just shut off the car from idle it can take 3-5 cranks to get it started after a night's rest...quirky but i love it

 

Since my post last November, I have had the L and M flash. The M has made a huge improvement in starting. It starts immediately and gas mileage has improved slightly. Also, I notice less soot on the tailpipes.

If the M helps with the flooding during cold weather, then Mazda has finally gotten it right. I'll just have to wait until winter to find out.