HELP. PCM Problem car won't start
 

I've been reading a lot of help topics in this forum and it has helped me a lot in some ways. So I wanna say thank you to all members who are so knowledgeable with the RX8. You guys are of great help.

So here's my situation.

I just bought a used 04 RX8 with 67K miles on it a couple of months back sometime in Oct of 2010. Drove the car for at least two months then had it stocked away for the winter. Now that it's warming back up again here in Chicago...I went to the routine of changing the most common issues with the 8 after sitting around for a couple of months.

• Changed the battery
• Changed Coils
• Changed Plugs
• Changed Wires
• Did an oil change

After that the car was running great. Drove it for a couple of days and everything was fine. Except for the CEL that didn't go away coz I didn't reset the codes for the misfires and the bad coils. I've read in here that as long as you've fixed the problem and drive the car long enough the CEL will just reset itself ( don't really know it it's true but I believed it ) So one day when it was so hot and humid as I was waiting for my girl to get off work...while the car was still running I turned the AC on for a couple of mins. It was not as cold as I thought it would be so I kinda figured I might need to get my AC checked out. When I turned off the car...and tried starting it back on again...it won't start and it won;t even crank. So I let the car at my girls crib and came back the next day...thinkin all along the I've drained out the battery coz maybe there's something wrong with the alternator. So I jumped it...and after a couple of mins when I started it...it started. And it was a good start too...it wasn't like hard starting or after cranking a couple of times. It was more of a one click then start. Drove the 8 home then turned it off and tried starting it back up again...to NO avail. Same scenario...all I hear is when the key is turned on I can hear the engine engaging but when you start it...all it does is click click click. And all the lights, radio and windows are workin...the dash panels are all illuminated too.

So the next thing I did is have my 8 towed to a car shop where they checked my battery, alternator, starter...all my wires, relays and fuses. And everything checked out. My battery is full and everything else is good. But the car won't start. The only thing they found out is that when they bypass the PCM the car would start. So they told me to bring it to a Mazda Dealship...which I'm tryin to stay away from. I have dealship phobia...I just think they're all rip-offs.

Anyhow...I read some threads here about resetting the PCM. So I tried that today...did all three. Done the Millage press test...the 20 break pedal press...then unhook the negative on my battery for 15mins to reset the CEL. After all that...started the car and it fired just fine. Went to all the flashing DSC Off and traction off sequence...did the wheel turns to disengage the DSC light. And I thought that solved the problem...my CEL was not on anymore. But when I turned off the car and tried starting it back on...same thing still...just click click click. Here's the weird part...at this point I'm convinced that it's a PCM problem. As I was about to exit the car...I tried one more time to start it up...and it DID! And I didn't do anything. But of course...when I turned it off it won't start again. So I'm wondering is it random?

Need some insights on these matters. Any advise would be highly appreciated.
I love this car...got plans of installing Cold air intakes, new cats, and maybe later on some turbo kits. Right now I just need to know whats wrong with it.

And sorry about the long post...just tryin to be detailed as much as I can so that you guys can asses the situation better.

Thanks

Maybe it's just a bad starter.
Once some of the heat dissipates the starter works.

<shrug just a thought>

You could also try cleaning your eccentric shaft sensor ... (don't think it's that but you've done everything else)

Is it an automatic or standard?
Maybe the safety on the clutch or gear shifter isn't working perfectly .....

(sub'd and bump for an interesting problem)

So, what IS the CEL code?

I have a 6spd MT

The guy in the shop told me that my starter is fine.

I'll look into the safety on the clutch

Keep you posted. Thanks

When I had my car scanned for codes they gave me 7 codes.

P0300
P0125
P0506
P0171
P2004
P2097
P0302

I was told that most of the codes needs to be cleared coz they were already replaced.

Any ideas on these?

Here is a link

P0300 Random misfire detected Flash/ON 1 or 2 Misfire ´

P0302 Rear rotor misfire detected Flash/ON 1 or 2 Misfire ´

P0125 Insufficient coolant temperature for closed loop fuel control ON
2 CCM

P0506 Idle air control system RPM lower than expected ON 2 CCM

P2004 APV stuck open ON 2 CCM

P2097 Target A/F feedback system too rich ON 2 Fuel system

P0171 System too lean ON 2 Fuel system

What do you mean bye "I can hear the engine engaging but all it does is click click click ". Does the motor turn over or it just clicks. Its been sitting for a while, maybe you have a bad connection at the battery or starter .

I've printed out the various codes that was posted in here too. So with all of these do I have no other recourse but to take it to the dealership and have them look at it...try and fix it...and rip me off??? LOL ok maybe you can disregard the last one.

I had everything checked out with regards to my battery connection and starter. And I was told that everything is fine. It's just that the PCM is not letting anything through the solinoid or something like that. Thus will not crank up my engine or start up. They tried to bypass the PCM with a wire and the engine just starts up.

When I turn the key to ON I can hear the something mechanical that seems to be moving. But when I turn it to START all I hear is that click click click and that engine wont even turn. But everything inside the car is working...radio, lights, windows etc. And oh...when I start it...the MAZDA RX8 on the dash goes out then comes back on again. As if like the battery is dead.