Francisco1620

My rx8 manual transmission wont start and makes funny noise. I parked it four days ago and yesterday I try turning it on and it hasnt turn on. I try jumping it with an other car, bought a new started and new spark plugs and still. it makings a weird noise sounds like if it's coming from the left side of the car, around the area where the windshield fluid goes.
I have been searching for the exact noise that its making and i found something similar on youtube.
this is the closes to how my car sounds when trying to turning it on.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

That is your starter motor spinning faster than it should, but without any of the engine cranking noises. It would seem that your starter gear isn't engaging the flywheel at all and just free-spinning without load. Pull the starter (1 ground clip, 1 12mm nut on the positive power connector, and 2 14mm bolts holding it to the transmission) and test it with your better (leads to apply power to it) see if the gear extends. When you pull it, check to see if the flywheel teeth visible through the hole look fine as well.

EDZRIDE

iTrader: (1)

+1 on that ^

Francisco1620

Ok sounds like you know what you're talking about. I am new car owner and don't really know how to mess with it. Does anyone know where i could find the step by step direction of how to do the above process? if so Please share.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I actually included most of the steps.

Disconnect the battery, jack up the left front of the car, set the car on a jack stand, slide under next to the transmission. The starter is right there exposed:


Pop off the black connector for the starter ground, open the dust cover on the back of the starter to expose the 12mm net holding on the power cable. Remove the nut and then the cable, move it to the side. With a 14mm socket or wrench, remove the two bolts holding the starter to the transmission. Pull starter out of the transmission bell housing.

Take a look inside the hold where the starter was, look at what the flywheel teeth look like, see if there is clutch fluff scattered around or other shrapnel. Look at the gear in the nose of the starter to see if there is any obstruction.

If it looks normal and clear, bring it to the engine bay. Grab a set of thicker alligator clips and connect one from the negative terminal of the battery to the metal tab where the negative connector was on the starter. Connect the other to the positive terminal of the battery, briefly tough the lead to where the power cable was, see if the starter spins up, if the gear pushes out when it spin up, etc... There is going to be some torque, so either hold it securely or get some help to hold it.


Alternatively, take the starter to an auto parts store and have them test it.

Francisco1620

Ok, I will try this tomorrow morning.
Just one more thing... see if i follow all of this.
you're saying that the problem is because of the starter that is spinning faster than it should. so basically get the starter fix and it shouldn't sound like that and turn on.
But if thats the case why when I bought a new starter it kept making the same noise ??
I'm new to all this so just want to make sure.
Thanks!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

The starter is just an electrical motor with an articulating gear that when power is applied the gear moves forward to engage the teeth on the edge of the flywheel. The RPM of the motor is only going to go higher than normal cranking if it doesn't have resistance against it (or something absurd is happening with the voltage going to the motor)

Since the video's audio gives us the information that the engine isn't actually turning over, then it implies that the starter's gear isn't engaging the flywheel. If 2 different starters are each producing the same result, then there is something wrong with the installation or flywheel where it is preventing the gears from engaging the flywheel.

If the gear was engaging the flywheel, and the engine was locked into place, then you would hear a lower pitched "strained" noise from the starter, no spinning. A carbon locked or seized engine will prevent the starter from rotating at all.

So if you are 100% sure the starter itself is fine, then you need to make sure that it is installed correctly (and not hanging out too far from the flywheel) and check the flywheel to see if there is anything there that would be preventing the starter's gear from engaging the flywheel.

Francisco1620

Well I feel like it can't be the starter since i bought a new one, meaning that the problem could be that the starter is not engaging the flywheel and is just spinning making the noise. which means that there's a high chance that there's something wrong with the flywheel or something is preventing it from working properly. So lets say that the starters is install properly, and there's something wrong with the flywheel. what would be my next step ? how would i removed and installed a new fly wheel, first of all how can i check if there's something wrong with the flywheel without wasting money. One thing I find weird is how can't this happens( the car not turning on due to the starter or flywheel) while the car is just parked four days straight.
Thanks for helping me out!

TANKERG

Maybe something shorted out spinning the starter, grinding the gear against the flywheel while it sat.

Francisco1620

I took the car to a Mazda dealer and they told me the car was flooded and had a weak starter. So they unflood the engine and had them install the new starter I had. Then they found that I needed battery terminals and had to remove oil from airbox and replace air filter, plus they doing a compression test.
Now I'm just waiting for the call and hopefully everything comes out fine..

Top Blaster

So did you find out what the problem was? I'm having the same problem with my 04 manual. Ran fine, no problems, drove the car to work. When I was leaving for the day and tried to start the car it sounded like glass or gravel rattling around and the engine was not turning over. Had someone jump me off and still the same results. I push started the car and it fired up fine. No odd noises and ran well. Shut the car off when I got home and it started fine. The next day, weird sound again and no starting. Replace the start with a new 06 from a local parts store. New starter still not engaging. Had both the old and new start tested and both passed. Any help would be appreciated.