dag

Here's what is happening: Engine won't turn over

Events leading to this:
1) Several weeks ago was driving and the CEL came on (flashing) and car was running terrible. Drove it back home (about 3 miles) - parked in the driveway (engine started smoking - so couldn't pull into garage).

Based on reading here - thought it was the ignition coils (81K+ on originals)

2) Later that day pulled it into the garage

3) Ordered coils (autozone) & wires & plugs (NGK) and started work this weekend.

4) Discovered my son was playing in the car and battery is dead

5) Rolled car out of garage to jumpstart - can crank but not turn over the engine

Reseated wires on coils and plugs.

Any thoughts on what I can do next? Only thing i'm thinking of doing is pulling the plugs out to be 100% certain i have them right (I'm pretty certain they are - I'm done the plugs before).

I don't have any diagnostic equipment.


'04 RX-8 Manual.

dag

VOODOO8

Pull a plug or two for spark first (if you are comfortable doing this without getting a shock).

Then double check to make sure the right coils are hooked up to the right wires going to the right plugs.

Then try and get a pull to jump start the car (in case the crank / no start wound up flooding the engine).

dag

Thanks Voodoo8 - It was flooded as I feared. 1st time in the 7 years I've owned the 8. I wasn't comfortable getting a pull to jump start it and I don't have a steep hill nearby to just let it roll down it. I was fortunate that my insurance company just recently provided free roadside assistance, so I was able to get a tow for free (18 miles).

All in all - parts and labor for the coils, plugs, wire, battery (ugh), and deflooding cost $500, which I view as as savings since when I first got quotes from the local Mazda dealers they wanted over $600 for the coils, plugs, and wires alone.

Really good news is she is running really well

dag