Hi- My name's Mick, I'm new to the RX-8 club. It looks like a great site with a lot of resources.

Hopefully, someone will be able assit me a problem that I'm having starting my RX-8.

Problem Description: I live in the NE it's been very cold. My RX-8 has been sitting in the garage (not heated) for approximately 3 weeks without being started. I went to start it and seems like the battery had lost power. I recharged the battery and heated the garage to 60 degrees. Unfortunately, the RX-8 still won't start, just cranks.

Question: Is there anything that needs to be reset, or a known issue with cold starting?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Mick

 

It might be flooded

 

Check the owner's manual and try the emergency starting procedure for flodded engine. If that doesn't work pull the fuel pump fuse and try again. Keep the battery charger handy! Last resort: call roadside assistance.

 

Recharge battery - even leave hooked up when you try to start. If you have tried multiple times - likely flooded - after four or five attempts using Flooded Engine Technique - pull fuel pump and try further. If no start - call dealer - should be completely covered by warranty IMHO. John

 

I've noticed on this board that most of the times when this car floods, it's after it's shut off cold and then left in the cold for an extended period of time. Your dealer should have gone over that with you, of course after you had over the check :P

 

thats way to long to let your rx8 sit there...you gotta expect it not to start.

 

Lol..a car sits for 3 weeks w/out being started and "you gotta expect it not to start"... -- and "have it towed to the dealer"

..god, thats just SICK you all accept that as being okay from a 26-34k car.

 

I'll say my Rx-7 and Miata had been sitting outside for more than 6 weeks last time I drove them. Both started immedidately - temperature about 25F at the time.

Sorry but I think three weeks is not a long time for a car to sit - and not start. Standing battery drain is minimal - just maintaining an ECU and a radio clock basically.

John

 

My 8 sat for 3 months with no starting. I'm Navy and went to sea. Only problem I had was the battery was dead. Jumped it and started right up. Granted average temps were probably in the high 40s low 50s at the time. Only flooded the car once, when my hand slipped off the key. Emergency start procedure worked like a charm.

Seems the 8 really doesn't like cold temps (maybe just the battery) though. I'm glad I live in FL.

 

Hopefully he was joking, if not then he's just wrong.

There's no reason to expect it not to start after 3 weeks. It's possible the battery might be drained a little especially if left in cold temperatures. A blast on a charger may have been a good idea prior to starting it up, I believe battery condition has a lot to do with preventing flooding during starting.

I've had my other rotaries sit for two months without being started, and there's not been any issues whatsoever. My '8 hasn't ever sat that long though, I like to drive it too much.

 

It's my understanding that the stock battery is only 300 cranking amps - not much reserve. There sure is a lot of space around it - also I understand that in "COLD CLIMATES" Mazda installs a more capable battery.

Bean- counters !!!

John

 

Stock battery is weakass.

My '8 sat for about the entire month of January due to snow/salt here in the NorthEast.
I checked to voltage on the battery *before* I tried to start, didn't want to become a "statistic." Had to put a Battery Tender on it for a full 24 hours before the battery was charged.

Wish I could get an Optima in there.....

 

I have noticed slow cranking on single-digit temperature days. So far, it has started up.

 

I agree try starting with the emergency start proceedures. If it still doesn't start call your dealership they will be able to give you a number to the towing company that will pay for since they do offer 24 hour roadside assistance.

 

Good Morning Fellas...

I parked our RX8 in in our garage late November 03. With the temps warming up in Wisconsin now and salt off the roads, I got the bug. Without any help for the battery, she started right up. All I did for this past winter was remove the key.

Tom