Weak starts when starting engine
 

Hello...

I have been getting really weak starts on my 04 rx8 lately. The car always starts (thank god) but it sounds as though it might not, then all of a sudden it turns. The needles in the gauges even flash from one side to the other (kinda like on Pontiac cards).

Any idea?

thx

sparks plugs and coil

The only time the spark plugs have been replaced was when I had the car deflooded at the dealership.

What are the best recommended plugs to buy? Keep in mind I dont want crappy plugs but my tuning days are far over so I dont need top of the line ones either.

And, (pardon my ignorance) are they easy to replace yourself? I know they are way in there.

Thanks again.

Do you hear a ticking noise when starting the car?
If so, one of your spark plug wires might have come loose and you are just not getting enough spark to start. The wire boot coming loose has happened to many people.

Also... have you had all your recalls and flashes performed?
There was a battery replacement for '04s:
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...19-05-1504.pdf

sounds like a weak battery.

do u drive your car everyday adequately to recharge the battery?
do u make sure no cabin, trunk, or other lights are left on when u park the car?

if your battery no longer re-charges or holds its charge, then it's time for a new one.

I'm pretty sure they knocked out some of the recalls when it was at the dealer for a deflooding... but im sure that other recalls have been out since, and I honestly never have time to take it in.

Is there a way to call the dealer and give them my VIN and have them look up n check if there are any recalls that need to be done to my vehicle?

If you're confident your battery and starter are good then it's got to be either/or sparkplugs, coils, wires. Start with the plugs and then coils. Bad (porous) wires typically result in cross fire prior to failure so again most likely plugs or coils.

The plugs aren't too difficult to install. Actually easier if you jack up the passenger side (use a stand of course).

Yeah... you should just have to give them your name.
Since you mentioned that you've had your car in for service, all the required information is already there for them to look up your history.
I once brought my dealer a list of TSBs for them to check to see if they were performed. They showed me on their computer everything that was done.

cool... will have to do that. And, change spark plugs if they dont do that already! :)

I have an '05, and have had a weak starting issue about four times since I bought it new.

The car started each time, but it was....well...weak.

It's odd. The other times it's fine. And it wasn't weather dependent.

Of course, I have yet to take my car in for any reflashes or other TSB issues.

I assume they'd probably throw in stronger starter?

At any rate, I'm the kind of person that believes that unless you have a major problem with your car, stay far, far away from the dealership.

Same thing with doctors, too. Those guys will kill you if you let them.


Ciao.

^ I've had a weak start for quite some time now as well... they don't know what it could be... it's like they ignore it. I had to get my alternator changed...they said that prob sucked the juice out of the battery. However, when I went for the recent recall, they say the battery checks out... Hmmmm?

Now, one of the techs there told me to buy a battery with at least 1000 amps and that would fix all my cranking problems... what do you all think about that advice?

+1 on checking the boots to make sure you are getting a good contact.

If they check out and your plugs haven't been changed in a while, especially after a flooding event, you will more than likely need to change them due to fouling. Get the OEM ones, unless you have any FI and then you should search. sparkplugs.com had very inexpensive OEM and shipping was fast for me.

New coils for your weak start, worked for me. If you are under 48k miles, go to dealer for replacement. If you have to buy new ones, look around the forum vendors, I think some have very good prices. You should get new plug wires while you're at it, I got mine from Mazdatrix.

Good luck

ps. My 2004 needed new coils at 50,000 miles and I had the extended warranty and dished out $100 for 4 new ones. I replaced plugs and wires at the same time as coils.

A new battery may be in my near future by normal measures, so if that eliminates the few weak starts I've had, great.

Coils could be it, too.

If I do ever take my car in out of necessity, I'll ask that they check the coils (manually, also).

Thankfully, I've yet to have my car to the dealership for any reason.

And she's never flooded, either, even after a couple cold stalls (getting used to the manual when it was new).

This is a clear sign that the battery is low. Either you've been leaving the interior lights on (maybe even the trunk light) or your battery is about to crap out.

Dropped the car off at the dealer this morning. They called me later saying that indeed the battery was no good. Tech said alternator checked out fine. Cost: $100 plus $15 for installation and tests for new battery.

Didnt someone say there was a battery recall? Perhaps that can cover this issue?

small and stupid, but try blipping the throttle to 3K, shutting it off at 3K. then when turning it on, turn the key on acc so all the lights come on, then turn the key after the dinging stops.

I may be crazy, but my car used to do the same and now after doing the above the 'harsh' starts stopped.

Just thought I'd put out a results posts for anyone who has this issue later on.

My car was getting weak or slow starts.

Problem: Bad battery. Low CCA's. New battery was $100.67

They also preformed the MSP-16 at no charge (I'm out of bumper to bumper). Car seems fine now, it starts well for now. It did idle a bit rough at first, I stalled backing out... but it seemed to get better after a few mins of driving. Idled at 750k when stopped. I'm assuming thats pretty normal?

Thanks again guys... hope this issue doesnt come back.

Could be that weak starter or battery ;)