So it finally happened, my 8 wouldn't start! This morning I went into my garage and tried to start my car and all I got was the clicking sounds from the starter. I tried several times, same thing. I even tried the flooded-engine starting procedure (from the owner's guide, 10 seconds of depressing accelarator and holding the key in start position) but still no luck.

Any suggestions? Anything else I should try before towing the car to the dealership?

Jasper

 

the clicking sound is you have a dead battery. try jumping it. you may have left a light on

 

The interior lights time out, so unless you left the headlights or parking lights on that is/was not the cause. Could be a loose connection at the battery - check that.

 

u should carry around one of those mobile jumpers, they saved my life like 2 times now with my other cars!

 

But not the trunk lights! Check to ensure the trunk is closed, tightly! There are some that have had defective trunk switches. If that light is on all night it will drain the battery.

 

Mizzle...How old is your 8? Do you have any fancy electrical devices wired into the car like an IPod etc..? It does sound like a battery issue. Give us an update when you can.

- Irish

 

beat me to it



:D

 

Don't the lights go off by themselves after you set the alarm?

Definitely go get a mobile charger @ your local parts store... You can get them on sale for like $19.99 and they're TOTALLY worth it.


Any update?

 

I went back and checked again with a mobile jump starter. Same thing happened with the starter kept on clicking, I did notice the check engine light came on though. I thought about the possibility of a flooded engine but the engine hadn't made a sound yet.

Jasper

 

Alternator? Starter? Immobilizer? Maybe try disconnecting the battery for 30+ minutes, then reconnect and give it a try? Sounds bad mizzle...sorry bro.

- Irish

 

I feel so embarassed, I went back and tried putting the mobile jump starter on but had the clamps clamped on the nuts instead of the posts....and it worked!! I kept the engine running for another 10 mins or so before I shutted the engine off. Even though it's not my first time jump starting a car (done it many times when my wife had a really old car) it has definitely been a while, I guess this serves as a good exercise.

Thanks for all your advices!!

Jasper

 

That clicking is most likely the Starter solenoid - The part that makes the starter gear engage the flywheel. It will click if there is not enough reserve in the battery, a poor connection or a faulty solenoid. A flooded engine would turn, but not start.

Have you made any connections lately like adding on electrical equipment?

 

for future reference, a flodded engine will spin when you try starting it but not turn over

 

you should get the battery charged. it is not very good for the alternator to recharge your battery

 

hey man try a new starter. i had the same problem with an older car of mine. same clicking. i changed the starter and it worked fine....im not a mechanic but maybe ask around and see if thats it. goodluck........

 

today my RX8 wouldnt idle right when i was 4000ft above sea level. i was at mt. st. helens on an RX8 cruise and we stopped for a break. i turned my 8 back on and it would idle for 5 secs and die with no light. i figured it was the altitude so i reved it up and slapped it in gear and drove off quick. i came down from the altitude and it was fine

 

Where I live I am at about 5500'. I've never had any problems.

 

Thanks for all the advices. I believe I simply don't drive my car enough (I have a 2nd car for daily commute) and the battery in the 8 simply sat idle for too long (even though one week isn't really lone).

 

Drive The Car!

 

Sounds like something was "on". Battery should have been ok for a week. Check the battery volts after you shut the car off and see that it has + 12 volts or more. Keep the volt meter on the battery and see if the volts go down. While its running it should read close to 13 or 14 volts.

 

I guess one major problem is the fact I live 2 minutes away from my office, the battery simply doesn't get recharged long enough before the engine get shuts off again.

 

Should have moved further away from work when you bought the 8. :D

2 minutes from work? It that RX8 minutes? or the "other" car minutes.

Personally, I live 3 miles from work, although my tripmeter at the end of the day always says I've put on about 30+. Now how did I-75 get on my route home?

 

RX-8 batteries are weak. My car's battery went dead after it had to sit for a few weeks waiting for a part, and it wouldn't recharge. Fortunately, it was still less than one year old so the dealer replaced it under warranty.

Now my car's been in the bodyshop for over two months, and it was there less than a week before the brand new battery went dead. The technician has to jump-start it anytime he wants to move it.

 

Do our headlights turn off after setting the alarm?