hard start hot + smelly exhaust, compression numbers
 

2004 AT, 58000m. I just replaced the battery to an optima red top, and it starts up slowly now. Before it would crank forever. I replaced the coils and wires the week before the new battery (OEM coils, Maztrix wires).

compression test numbers for each rotor were almost identical: 6.6, 6.9, 7.7.

Any thoughts? The battery fixed 90% of the problem, but it still struggles to turn over. also the exhaust smells so bad I doubt it would pass smog.

I wouldn't mind a warranty cat replacement, but the dealership is hard to convince.

your numbers are low. Did you get compression test at the dealer?

did you coils and plugs with the wires? at what rpm were your comp test #s? do you have the updated starter?

subscribed :)

The engine is warrantied for 100,000 miles. Catalytic converter is covered with a 80,000 mile warranty. Both 8 years from the first date of purchase of the car.
Sounds like both have failed and there for the dealer should honor his obligations and deal with the warranty issues on your car.

:wavey:

IIRC, 6.2 kPa (generally speaking) is the low point at which Mazda considers the Renesis to have acceptable compression levels. I am not including the cranking RPMs, hence my parenthetical "generally speaking" comment.

So, an update. Turns out it has never received the upgraded starter. Back when it first flooded in 2007, they replaced the spark plugs and battery, but not the starter.

So it looks like i'm out of pocket on the starter.

I asked about the RPMs for the compression test, but could not get an answer. He just kept telling me that it passed, according to Mazda.

Does the compression test depend on the starter? That is, will a beefier starter crank faster, therefore improving the numbers?

Also the smelly exhaust they're saying is caused by the increased time it takes to start.

Here ya go

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...6&d=1266716801

So to give an update. I replaced the battery and starter, but the problem persists, and seems to be slowly getting worse, but that's just me. I took it back and they did another compression test:

6.9, 6.6, 6.9
6.9, 6.6, 7.7

I can not get the RPM numbers from the dealership. Either they don't know them or won't tell me.

They called Mazda and they recommended an overnight decarb. I'm a bit worried since warranty expired on New Years Eve. but the problem was logged on paper in November.

Not sure how carbonation completely prevents the car from firing up when hot....

The normal procedure is that they decarb before compression test...
It's part of the test....like u need gas to run the car. lol

Just going through my old threads. Still have this problem 2 years later. Crazy.

have u changed ur starter ? the 2kw one.

Final followup 5 years later (lol).

Turns out it was the battery....the replacement, NEW battery (Optima red top) was also bad. Got another battery, Optima yellow top, haven't had a single problem since. Oy.

Thanks for getting back to us with your solution.

Yes, Optimas 'ain't what they used to be' after they moved the plant to Mexico.

Closed US plant in 2009

Aurora, Colorado Johnson Controls plant closing.