the stig

the pass few days my car is acting weird when i try to start the car. so far every try the car will start, but takes a few seconds, and sounds like is going to die then boom starts up.

i was thinking maybe is the battery, but i checked the battery at autozone the battery is good. so im thinking spark plugs? but i dont really think so.

i brought my car to the dealer today, and they say it might be the starter and the guy at the dealer told me that the past month he replaced about 4 starters on rx8s.

anyone had this problem before? the starter is going to cost around $600 to replace it its alot of money.

my car is 2004 37k miles. so no more warranty.

TIA

Juice

iTrader: (1)

You can replace the starter yourself, its not very hard to do. There was a TSB about slow starting and the 04 cars got a new starter. 05 and up should already have the new starter. I would try searching for "new starter" with titles only. I remember a thread that had the part numbers of the old and new ones. You can compare them yourself, and maybe even get mazda to pay for it if it hasn't been done.

Edit: It might have even been the 4206f recall. I just remember there was a new starter and battery that got installed on alot of cars.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

isnt that part of the powertrain?

shouldnt that still be under warranty?

the stig

the dealer told me that the starter does not cover by the warranty, and i do still have the powertrain warranty.

and thanks for the info

Old Rotor

Here is the "TSB" for your problem, print it out and bring to your dealer. Let us know if it helps..........."TSB" are free of charge.....

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...48-06-1691.pdf

Nubo

What do you mean by "...sounds like it is going to die..."?

Does the cranking start to get slower and slower? If so, then it is probably time for a new battery. The new starter spins faster, but even the old model starter should crank at a constant rate. If it slows down after just a few seconds of cranking that means the battery is not handling the load.

If your battery is 4 years old - don't even think about it. Replace it. The heat from this engine is hard on batteries.

P.s. your 2004 with 37000 miles is still under warranty. They won't pay for a 4 year old battery though. But if you do have a problem with the starter I think that is a warranty item.

the stig

the battery has been replaced before, so is not the a 4 years old battery and i got it tested at auto zone for the voltage its a good battery.

i said it sounds like its about to die, bascily sounds like its not going to start.

my warranty is over already and all i have left is the power train warranty. dealer will not replace my starter for free is going to cost from $600-$700 dollars to get it replace from the dealer.

im thinking maybe ill order the parts from onlinemazda and bring it to some shop and put it on for me.

the stig

http://shop.mzpart.com/buy.php?make_...tries&s=1&my=1

anyone know if that part is okay? dealer sell them for $540 and this place is only $200 dollar is it good?

the stig

have anyone order anything from that web site before?

~0zzygirl~

Bump.
I'd also like to know if anyone has experience with a remanufactured or rebuilt starter. They are less than half the price of a new one (including your core).

Nubo

Fair enough. Some points though, just my opinion:

- The Autozone test may have been accurate, but it depends on how they tested it. Voltage needs to be measured under a heavy load for a period of time. If they were lazy or half-assed the test may not be worth much.

- A new battery is a lot cheaper than a new starter, and the battery you have now is used -- you don't say how old, but at least part of the cost is already amortized. That is to say, if it's 2 years old you already "owe the car" half the cost of a new battery anyway.

- When starter motors fail, more often it's a problem of not cranking at all or problems with engagement, not of slowly degraded cranking RPMs. The revised starter is superior in cranking RPM to the original, but I've used the original since I got the car and it starts fine for me. I am in the Bay Area also, so comparable weather. There's nothing in your post that gives direct evidence of degraded starter performance. Have the cranking RPM been measured? Buying a new starter is a rather expensive process of elimination.

If it were me I would still want to rule out the battery. Borrow someone else's good battery and try it out to see if the starting improves. It will just cost a little of your time. You might also want to inspect the connectors at the battery, and also at the starter to make sure they are clean and tight.

d j

I paid $100 for the updated starter that I got a few months ago, pm me if you want to get the guy's contact info...
btw, I am in no way related to the individual or will I benefit in any way, shape or form; Just trying to help.

spd33

TSB's are not covered "free of charge" for vehicles out of warranty. A TSB is not a recall item, basically just a helpful hint for dealers chasing routine problems.

I am in the same situation, began having slow starts on occasion. Dealer automatically says I need a new starter, battery and plugs. My car only has 13k on the clock but the b to b warranty ran out in August.

I'll be replacing it myself when the problem gets worse. I'll be curious as to your end result.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

The 2004 (and early build 2005) model starters were replaced per the cited "engine cranks but does not start" TSB, so I wouldn't buy a rebuilt '04.

totaleclipse

iTrader: (1)

try calling mazdausa your starter should be cover under warranty. I've flooded my engine two days ago, I call mazdausa. They send a tow truck, then change my plugs, battery, starter all for free. The car run better than ever now.

Abbas

I have a 2003 RX8 Forward 5 which has done about 28,000 km. I switched my car off the other night in perfect condition and the next morning it just wouldnt start. I tried to jump start it with another battery but it just wouldnt start. Finally i called up my workshop who toed the car back and after checking are informing me that my engine has blown up and need to be overhauled.

I find that a bit strange as the car was running perfectly fine and something like has happened all of a sudden. Is this normal.... Can anyone guide me what could be the problem or has anyone faced a similar problem with his car.

HiTMaNN

LoL normally engines don't just blow up but I would def get a second opinion about that. Ask them how they came to that conclusion

Old Rotor

Mazda has extended the warranty in the US to 5years 60K miles. Where are you?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

he is talking about km so its 100% not in United States.

like hitman said, Engines never blow up for no reason. its like a piece of plastic on your desk, will it melt all of the sudden ? Unless thers some ultra high Microwave shooting at it, but most likely u'll die b4 it melts.

I guess u better find a second opinion. Probably just bad spark wires or coils or plugs or something else.

Abbas

Well I live in Pakistan and the car was imported from Japan. (its a japan domestic model)

There are only about 20 RX8's in Pakistan so there is not much of technical know how about rotary engines.

We have tried changing the plugs, which did not work. Apparently, my workshop guys feel that the car is not starting as it has weak compression. Again, if the car has weak compression then it should have shown power loss which it did not. So I am bit confused and dont have to many options as there are only two people who can handle rotary engines out here.

The workshop guys are of the opinion that we need to put a new (half) overhaul kit.

A couple of other cars had the similar problem and they have fixed it by doing the same with them. (but it still doesnt make sense to me)

I really dont know what to do.....

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

sounds like your engine flooded to me which was very common for the early build RX-8s, there are plenty of threads on this and how to fix it

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

could be weak coils, our coils die really fast, especially if when its HOT.

You might want to look into that as well.

HiTMaNN

First I want to ask you something please tell me these idiots are not your friends http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir6Ka9PUCRY

HiTMaNN

Second give these instructions to your so called brilliant mechanics or do it yourself.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...deflood+engine

Myself having been to Pakistan/India I know how there Mechanics are and how they would love to do unnecessary work just to pocket some extra Rupees.

Abbas

This idiot in the youtube video is definately not my friend.......

I have checked the plugs & the coils....one of the coils had blown out which i have replaced but still no luck..