Hi Can you Help ?

My 2004 RX8 has been poorly starting for about a year now. Not too bad cold but poor hot. 2-3 turns of the starter motor for cold and 3-4 turns of the key for hot.

Took the car to Mazda who told me all was working correctly. Thay told me I would need a new startor mator and that I still have the old underpowerd one in.

MAZDA seem to whant to charge me £550 for a new uprated starter fitted or £50 to fit a aftermarket for me.

Which Aftermarket unit would be best to get.

Thanks for your help

Paul

 

Type in a google search box: site:rx8club.com cheap starter only 110

That thread list a few places to get a upgraded starter from.

 

Where are you located?

 

Bristol area

 

I know how to look up parts on the web !!!

Just wanted to know the best replacement

 

^ Seriously? Good luck son.

 

IF you want the BEST replacement Starter for an RX-8 go for the Series 2 one or UK R3, it has a 14 toothed sprocket, yours being the 2004 is probably only the 11, the later uprated one is 13 teeth.

So "if" you can import from USA to UK without too much TAX use this Mazda part number
N3R3-18-400 but that is $360 USD plus shipping.
http://www.onlinemazdaparts.com/part...&siteid=214264

There must be local (UK) suppliers for much cheaper...USE Google UK.

DON'T whatever you do put in the weak 11 tooth Starter.

 

Thanks for your help. I will have a look

 

Having the weak starter my self, are there any issues with keeping it or just awkward starting lengths?

 

I always just pump more oil into the engine (hot) before I start it. Works 80% of the time. if not I do the de-flooding procedure, pump some more oil and try again. Works 95%.

2004 MT with ~118,000 miles.

 

Got a new 13 tooth 2KW starter from ebay £189.00. Fitted it today. the difference is massive. it starts first time hot or cold. easy to fit all done in about 20 min. biggest proble was the radio code as dident have a manual but quick call to mazda and sorted. Dont spen over £580.00 to get mazda to do it.

 

Obviously he doesn't. I love when you answer questions with a perfectly good answer , spoonfed even, and then blow you off!!

 

i have a 6 speed 2004 with only 32000 miles but i think the starter is going...i have been having trouble starting it both cold and hot, but randomly. sometimes it will start just fine, others it will take 2 to 4 tries cranking it. i have been watching a lot of youtube videos and searching this site for tips/ tricks to figure it out. if i purchase a starter rated with only 1.4 kilowatts, is that enough for the m/t? what is the rated kilowatts for the stock starter in the 2004s? i know that Mazda started using stronger starters in the 2006 and up models...how hard are they to find? please help!

 

the codes for your starter motor that are you looking for are N3z1,is the model from the 2006 series and is FAAAAR much better than ours,after you have the n3r3 witch is good also,you can find those on the ebay or just make a search on the google,and other successfull method that i habe used is buy a used FD starter motor and make a front differential plate 5mm for it to fit on the 8.it will start like a charm.

 

thank you thank you!

 

I found a used starter motor off of an '09 RX-8. Was very excited to get it into my low mileage '05. But, I took to dealer (was having other work done, so this was just an add-on) and they said it blew a fuse when they installed it. They tried it a second time and the same accessory fuse blew. Does this mean the starter is no good, or just not compatible with my car?

 

you know why the fuse blew right?

 

My guess is the dealer miswired the starter, but it could be a... hmmm... shorted solenoid? Yeah not much that can fail on a starter and blow a fuse.

 

Maybe you can explain how it's possible to wire it incorrectly? The only two connections aren't even remotely interchangeable.

 

Been quite a while since I replaced mine. Can't remember if it's possible to put the ignition switch wire on the wrong lug of the solenoid, but that would be my guess.

 

No idea

 

Just saw the rest of your reply. Thanks for the help.

Any suggestions on a good reman starter. This time ill install it myself.

 

I'm no fan of dealerships, but i have a hard time believing they could screw that up

https://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-...ummies-189410/

The S2 starter is what you want, but you can only get the 6 spd version through Mazda and it's expensive. I'd try to find out whats wrong with that used one. Might not be that expensive to repair depending on what's wrong if anything.

 

Which fuse is blowing?

 

They said the accessory fuse. Don't recall if it was 20 or 30 amp.