Ok, 2 weeks ago it was cold on a Sat morning and I moved the car from the driveway to the street. Later that night it wouldn't start just turned over so I figured I flooded it. I tried all the de-flooding techniques nothing worked and then I took the plugs out and the coils and this is what I found:





So I figured I'll order new plugs, do a DIY LS2 coil upgrade while I'm at it and I'll be good.

Well the LS2 coils are in, new plugs are in and it still won't start. After cranking for a little bit this is what the new plugs look like **Sorry only had my BB Cam**:



It didnt really smell like gas, just like oil as you can tell there's a lot on the plug for just having been turning over just a little bit of time.

Is this normal? if so, what could be wrong? the car has about 65k miles, I think those were the original plugs/wires/coils so no one before me changed them.

Is the fuel pump something that goes on these? Is there anything else I should be looking at?

Thanks,
Jay

 

Dude those old plugs look awful, I nearly choked my coffee up through my nose.

Ok ... so first question, are you really turbo'd? (ur sig?)

Your old plugs look very wet so I wouldn't think your fuel pump is broken.

How long did you try turning it over. I've had episodes with the coil mod where I've had to turn the engine over for a very very longtime.

 

No, car is not turbo. TurboJay is what people call me....since every car I get eventually has a turbo put on, lol but no Turbo on the RX-8 yet.

I tried turning it over a while, even held it for like 30 seconds at least just to see if it would start but nothing.

 

I just went out to see if the pump was turning on, when my wife turned the key to "On" I could feel/hear the pump kicking on then off like normal. Whether it's blocked or not I'm not sure....but it's turning on? I also found this link: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ight=Fuel+Pump but I would rather know if it's the pump first before I order more parts.

 

Dude... waaaaay longer than 30 seconds... like 2 minutes.

You ain't gonna hurt the starter on this car.

 

Does it sound like it's at least firing?

 

2 minutes? really? everytime?

 

lol, sorry
Not every time.
I meant just this one time to see if you can get it started.

 

Did you try to push start it? Its not going to hurt the car.

 

Can you just tell me what push starting will do compared to just trying to start it? (Just so I know) I just don't want to push the car onto the street to try and bump start it and look like a loser, lol

 

Tow it...it will take about a block at 20ish mph....

The reason it works is that the higher RPMs let the engine build compression....and blow out the old fuel easier...

Be prepared for a smoke show when the car starts

 

Where do you guys live where you can tow the car at 20mph for a block? lol I live in a subdivision where there's stop signs all over not sure if I can do that. But I'll get a buddy over here and see if we can try push starting it.

 

Depending on which starter you have the cranking RPM's is about 200-300 rpm. A push start will get the car to a higher starting RPM. 2nd is usually the best gear to do this in. I'm not saying this will work but if you don't want it towed to a dealer your running out of options.

 

dont get ahead of yourself-----engine needs spark and gas to run.
1st---easiest to do---remove a plug --ground it to the engine and hold it in place with a screwdriver and have someone crank the car. are you getting spark? If not--then there is the problem. If you are then check the gas.
2- do fp test--remove the gasline from the quick connector in the engine bay and use the jumper in the fuse box to activate the fuel pump (this is all in the manual), be sure to place a hose of somekind over the gasline so that it can empty into a bucket or whatever. if no gas then there is your prob. if you have gas and spark --you have a BIGGER problem.
OD

 

Could have something to do with the DIY LS2's you put in. Have you tried hooking up the old coils for ***** and giggles and doing the deflood procedure again? I would also just clean those plugs.

 

I will check this right now and report back.

 

Remember, you have a DIY LS2 setup. I am not doubting your technical skills but I would still try using the oem coils to see if you can get it started. You need to remove all variables prior to attempting to start the car or you will be deflooding it quite a bit.

 

I will do a spark test on all cyl, if I get spark, my LS2 coils are working. I can't use the stock coils since I cut and solders the plugs for the LS2 coils.

Doing the LS2 coils is a piece of cake.

I looked in the manual and can't find anything about jumping the fuel........

 

Apparently not.

 

Spark vs correctly timed spark are two different things

 

huh? the car didn't start BEFORE I did this, please learn to read complete post.

 

lol bad move..... don't flame one of the more knowledgable members on the site. Besides, if it was so easy, wouldn't everyone have done this already instead of wait for someone to produce a harness?

Oh, and how are you reading this? You are suppose to be testing and reporting back to us

 

Ok, here is some new info. I just checked every plug wire and I am getting spark, if it was "incorrectly timed spark" It would likely still start. Either way, it's wired correctly.

Then, I disconnected a RED line and a BLUE line on the drivers side of the car, I'm assuming this is the fuel line?

Blue looked dry where the red had some fuel so I put a hose on it and then into a water bottle....this is what came out:



That looks REALLY, REALLY thined out to me no?

Here it is beside fuel I drained out of my Seadoo not long ago:



The night before I had the problem, I filled up at Sunoco, maybe I got bad gas?

Thoughts?

 

All I'm saying is, he shouldn't be coming in here to make that kind of comment. Some people want to spend the money for a plug and play kit and that's great, it's just not for me and this issue started 2 weeks ago WELL before I put on the coils and I tried everything then as well.

 

a mistimed spark will not most likely start the car. Too early or too late and there will be no combustion.

If you think its bad gas, go get a bunch of buckets and empty your tank. Then throw a gallon or two in the tank and see if it starts. It's possible, but most likely not the cause since you drove home ok. You flooded youe engine by moving it and not letting the car warm up then shutting it off and now you need to figure out where the problem is. Just because you followed the deflooding procedure with the old coils doesnt mean it will start up instantly so you could still have an issue with the ls2 coils. Just sayin.

Also, is it a weak spark? Does one have a weaker spark then the other? Have you cleaned the plugs? Have you re-deflooded the engine making sure to get all oil/gas out through the spark plug holes? Too many factors and we have to assume you are doing things correctly.