Recently I had my rx8 sit for a week because I was on a trip. After I came back, the car is completely dead. I couldn't even unlock my door with my remote. So I called AAA to gave me a jump start. I let the car idled for 40 minutes. After that the car dies on me every other day. So I took it to walmart to test the battery three days ago. The reason I took it to walmart is because I got my battery replaced at there about a little over a year go. So the battery is not old at all. The Tech told me the battery is not low, all I need was to recharge. Right after the battery was recharged, the car started immediately. Then the 2nd day to now (been 3 days), every time I tried to start the car, it wont start until I try 3+ times, looks like the battery is dying, I changed spark plugs 3 years ago too. I drive it every day (10 mins in the morning and 10 mins afternoon).

Should I change the battery or there is any other problem that I am not aware of? Please help! Really need some advice here before I get a new battery >.<

 

you do a lot of short trips, havent changed your plugs in 3 years and you are wondering why your car is hard to start?

 

Your ignition is screaming for help and you are ignoring it.

Coils, wires, and plugs should be changed every 30,000 miles or less. If you drive very very little, wires may still need replacing every 18-24 months.

If you have the dealer replace them, be prepared for a bill of $800 to $1400, depending on how much of a thief that dealer is. If you do it yourself, pay ~$200-$250 for the parts from Advance Auto and takes 45 minutes with common tools if you don't know what you are doing. 20 minutes or less if you do.

 

^+1

Short trips=killing the battery faster, cuz' it isn't able to charge up.
And replace all what others has mentioned...

 

wow.
search the diy forum for how to test coils and wires.
Then, in that same forum, check how to change and replace them, as well as plugs.

What year is your car? How many miles?

 

I am trading in the car soon, If I take a long trip to recharge the battery or even replace a new one, would that help to last me 2- 3 month?

 

2005 with 41xxx miles!

 

I bolded, underlined, and highlighted red your problem.

99% positive you are still on the original coils/wires/plugs. They need to be replaced every 30,000 (on average, some last a bit longer, some a bit shorter, in rare cases they last much longer or much shorter)

Charging the battery may help if you ALSO have a dead or weak battery. It won't fix your ignition failure problem.

 

Just trade in now and let the dealer figure it out. lol

 

changed spark plugs 3 years ago (20K miles), changed to mazdaport ignition wire about 30K miles ago. stock coils i think.

 

changed spark plugs 3 years ago

Five people have told you to change your plugs, so far.

I'm number 6.

"Here's your sign......"

 

and TEST the coils. I'd put my money on those being bad, but you never know. Some people have had unusually long lasting coils...

 

Ok guys...No matter how many times you tell him what the issue is, he's going to keep bringing his battery up, and ignoring everything else...

 

 

hmmm...i think it might be his power steering. It's on all the time so it's gotta be draining his battery....which is obviously his issue here...because ignition failure is clearly not a possibility...

c'mon guys, provide some REAL solutions to his battery issues.

 

I know a guy that used a clamp and clamped his two battery terminals together. It caused an inexplicable drain on the battery system. Unfortunately for him, this battery system was 840 amp hours of deep cell lithium batteries, designed to operate a audio/video/transmission platform for 8 hours or more, and doing a fast drain on the system dumped enough instant power through that smart bridge that is turned the engine into molten metal.



OP: is this what you experienced?

 

if I shut off the car and start right back on, there is no problem at all. If I leave it for couple hours, the problem occurs....is that still ignition failure????

 

Yes. You have ignition problems. Stop ignoring it.

 

You should post some good pictures of your car.

Won't help, but you don't seem to want to fix it and it would give us something to look at.....

 

^+1

 

alright thanks guys!

 

Ok an update: Went to walmart replaced the battery under warranty...now everything is fine! Thanks for everything.

 

Hooray for continuing to ignore the problem.


A stronger battery helps to hide the failing ignition. See you back in a few weeks!

 

please come back with pictures - i'm bored