04 rx8 overheating
 

i have a 2004 mazda rx8 automatic(dont hate i have what i have) it keeps over heating the dealership said it would be fine but it keeps happening and then it will start then cut right off what can i do?

how do you know it's overheating?
is the needle going all the way to the red? smoking? coolant light on?

how many miles on your car?
what area do you live in? (I ask because obviously desert areas have more heating challenges then the rest of us)

what did the dealership say was 'wrong'? (if anything)

coolant light comes on ocasionally the oil light and after and 1 1/2 hour drive i went to start it after going inside to take a shower it wouldnt start the fan was still running with no power to it wierd? and i live in virginia it has 76k on it, the dealership said nothin was wrong except it overheated to me that doesnt sound good second time this has happened and they could "find" nothing wrong

^ oh lord.

The fan running after the car is shut off is normal. The coolant level sensor light means you are low on coolant, if it is not low then the coolant level sensor is likely failing. It is prone to failure on a car your age. The oil light means you are low on oil. If you are not low on oil then that sensor may be failing (not common).

Read the damn owners manual.

when was the last time you changed the coolant fluids? with 76,000 miles on the car, that's something you should look into.
If the coolant light is coming on, it could be that it is actually low on coolant (have you verified the fluid level?) or that the sensor in the overflow tank has gone bad. (this has been reported by several members)


oil light coming on = low on oil. Our motors burn oil as part of their design so when was your last oil change? How often do you check the oil level?

The fans can stay on after the car is shut off, this happens automatically as the car uses the fans to cool itself down while parked. It's perfectly normal to have them running after you leave your vehicle. (many newer cars do this)

if i wanted to hear n a hole id fart and the coolant was changed 1500 miles ago and i checked the oil it was fine and im not a big rotary motor person i have a 2004 dodge ram as well and i bet i could tell u more about that than u could me about my rx8 so please refrain ur idiotic comments

I doubt you could tell me more about any vehicle, you can't even tell us why you think it's overheating. Just because the coolant was changed doesn't mean shit if the right coolant/water combo was not used or the system was not burped.

The things we are talking about have nothing to do with the engine being a rotary. Happy rotoring noob.

ok then sir then tell me why if this was done by a dealership why wont the car start

What was done? Now the car won't start? Is English a second language for you?

nothing they said they couldnt find anything and it started fine at the dealer but the same thing just happened last night i let it sit till this morning and it started again

Dude, your posts make no sense.

cool

your thermostat might be failing if its overheating, does your coolant needle go to the far right when the car wont start?

The red greek building light means your coolant level is low, not that it is over heating.

Well, 9k, at least you tried.


jhb2009, 9k is one of the long time knowledgeable people around here. He is trying to help you. You posted a thread looking for help, don't throw that help away. It is contrary to your goal.

So, it sounds like you have more than 1 issue here:

A) Coolant sensor or coolant level
B) No start.

The only way a coolant problem could affect or cause a no-start is if you overheated the engine to the point that the engine seized from the sheer heat, and it takes a HELL OF ALOT of abuse to get to the point. As in, more than you can possibly do under normal driving as long as it has coolant. And if you get to that point, quite literally your car will probably be on fire.

A "No Start" condition could be at any one of the following steps:

The process is:
1: Key in
2: Clutch in
3: clutch sensor closes the circuit allowing start
4: Key to start
5: Starting relay opens, providing power to the starter from the battery
6: Battery power cranks over the starter motor
7: Starter motor spins the engine through the flywheel
8: Ignition opens
9: Coils get power, begin generating spark current
10: Wires transmit the current to the plugs
11: Plugs begin to spark
12: Fuel pump begins pumping
13: Engine standard compression and combustion should occur

It is possible for a no-start condition to be due to a failure at any one of the above points.

How far are you getting down the list?

You say your oil light comes on, but your oil is fine. What do you mean by fine? Is oil all the way up to the last line on the dipstick, or does it just show that there's oil in it? When was your last oil change? Does the car just die or is it just hard to start when hot?

Can you answer these questions? Please don't give any lip. 9k is trying to help you. You aren't letting him.

I think you have some reading in your future. Start with your manual. Move on to the sickies throughout the forum, then read the manual again. After that, post back with answers to the questions.

im not throwing it way he came out as an ahole i dont deal with that and i have an automatic

We are referring to your owner's manual, the book. Not a manual transmission.

How far down the starting list I posted are you getting?


We are looking for DETAILS of your problem, and we can't get that if you aren't clearly spelling out what is going on.

Your 8 could be wrecked at the bottom of a river for all we know at this point, cause that would give you the same symptoms, but is a clearly different problem.

Or you might not even have the keys. That would also keep you from starting your car. Etc.... See where I am going with this?

We need details.

What the hell does you having an auto have to do with anything.

Don't bother answering my questions, or anyone elses for that matter until you grow up and realize that we're trying to help and no one. I repeat NO ONE has dogged on you or been an asshole. YET

I'm kind of confused we are asking you questions and you havent answered one yet.

Every single person in this thread that has posted has done extensive work to their cars and could train most factory techs on how to work on RX-8's

Yet you still don't answer the questions, sidenote having an auto has nothing to do with anything.

Do you have a copy of the manual if not let us know we can direct you to a link with a PDF copy.

the problem is you live in Virgina.

How did you figure that out? I have my ways, but you don't have that kind of access.

It was posted in another thread.

holy shit, I leave for a few hours and my questions STILL AREN'T ANSWERED?
how are we supposed to help you diagnose something (that the guys at the dealership couldn't properly do WITH YOUR CAR THERE if you won't answer our questions)

please: stop asking questions and start answering ours.

All right everybody. Rather than make fun of the guy, if you don't want to help him, put him in your ignore list.