jmc23200

Sounds like the alternator to me. Since the battery was replaced, a bad or dying Alt can drain the battery causing your car not to start or to turn off while driving. Can't you turn on the car and then disconnect the battery? Once the car is on it should stay running if the alternator is ok and will die if it is bad. I know that works for older cars.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

He said he got the alternator checked and it was ok. As for disconnecting the battery while the car is running, the battery completes the circuit between the alternator and the car. Therefore, if you unplug the battery, the circuit is broken and the car is no longer recieving the elctricity. This atleast, is how it is for most newer cars. I am asuming the 8 is the same setup.

jmc23200

He did say he got it the alternator checked, but was it checked under load. A bad alternator could be what is killing his battery and giving him trouble starting the engine. You're right, the 8 will shut off if the batery is disconnected while the car is on. Could the alternator be draining the battery too low causing his car to be shutting off while driving? Looks plausible to me.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

Thats what I asked him, that is I asked if it was checked underload. He didn't say no, so I assume it was. But you are absolutly right, it must be checked under load or a bad battery or alternator will show up fine on the test.

jmc23200

He never said no, but he never said yes. He most likely doesn't know.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

^This is true, but the information is there for him to go find out. we did what we could

BlakOuT

Well, on Wednesday I finally had my car towed to a mechanic, and he told me that its my starter that is causing my no start problem. I also had him check my battery and its fine.

I think I also misinformed someone when they asked me if the car ever shut off on me before. It has a numerous amount of times especially when I first got my 8, but I never thought of it as a serious problem because the car always restarted after it happened. I honestly think its my cat.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

dude, if it shuts off while running, that has nothing to do with your starter. your mechanic may be trying to rip you off

BlakOuT

^ Yeah but wouldn't that solve the no start problem?

jmc23200

If you turn the key, and the car starts, your starter is working fine. Not rocket Science here.

I can see you are the type of person who believes what any mechanic tells you without thinking about what they said. Ask your mechanic how the starter causes your car to shut off while driving and then allows you to start it right back up.

A clogged cat should not cause this to happen either. It would cause you to have a lack of power.

Your battery may be "fine" but if it has completely died on you, I would replace it unless you have a deep cycle battery.

Do not take the RX8 to any mechanic. My Dad and my brother are mechanics and a lot about the 8 is *** backwards to them. Thank god for service manuals and DIY threads.

It's possible your fuel pump is shitting the bed. When it overheats, it turns off, causing your car to shut down. Then it cools slightly and you are able to start it up again. Could be possible that the weak fuel pump may not be able to supply the car with proper fuel to start sometimes. Just a theory

When in doubt, bring it to the dealer.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

if you have problems starting the car and the car shutting off, I am going to guess they are linked to one another. In that case, that would mean your starter is ok. Here is a question which will clarify, when the car starts, does the car sound like it is straining to start or does it fire right up after about 2 seconds?

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

You make very good points.



And BlakOut, if you want copies of the dealership service manuel, I can give them to you

BlakOuT

The car doesn't start at all thats what im trying to get across, its just a very loud click. I took it to the dealer last week for the same problem and they read the CEL and it said ignition coils and the VDI. They fixed the problem. Three days later the car dies on me and then it won't restart.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

So, let me get this straight. YOu have had some trouble starting the car, but it usually would end up starting. THen it would die randomly while running, as it did at your buddies house. Now it is just DIW (dead in the water) and wont start at all. Am I getting this correct?

jmc23200

Wow, I think I know why his problem isn't fixed yet. Because he cannot describe what his problems/symptoms are accurately in one post lol. Its been two pages of misinformation.

jmc23200

Does your car start if you jump start it? Well, it's most likely flooded now so after you deflood then jump start it?

The clicking is usually from a starting solenoid when it does not have enough power to crank.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

^Good question. As he states, if you jump start it, does it atleast turn over?

BlakOuT

You're close. The car used to shut off on me, but that was months ago and it wasn't very frequent so I thought nothing of it.
The car never had trouble starting until about 3-4 weeks ago. After the second incident when this happened I called the dealer and they told me its my battery and not to bring it in. Then the 3rd incident happened and I had a CEL. I took it in when the car finally got started and they told me its my ignition coils and my VDI. The car was starting and driving fine and then the incident in the last part of your post happened.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

For starters, if your car ever acts abnormal, never take it as"it is nothing". A car is a mechanical device that WILL fail so you have to watch it. If you don't catch some things early enough, than can break other things which in the end will cost you more. Now for your current problem, your soleniod is obv clicking. So as jmc asked, have you tried to jump it?

BlakOuT

Im sorry. I don't mean to post the wrong information its just coming out that way right now.

The car doesn't start when jumped. I haven't tried starting it as much because it wasn't at my house, it was still at my friend's house until Wednesday.

jmc23200

Your car turning off on you is symptom that should not be overlooked. If you passed out every now and then, but always got right back up, then got really sick a couple months later, would you tell your doctor or think that it isn't important and not related?

Ok, but does the engine turn over? Like I said, you most likely flooded the engine trying to start it and now a simple jump start is not going to get things going again.

Here's what you need to do. Try to jump start your car and see if the engine turns over. If it turns over, your battery, alternator or both are bad. If it does not turn over, then it is possiblly your starter.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

^As he said, and when you go to jump it, make sure you let the "jumping vehicle" give ample time to give some charge to your battery. The 8 takes a good deal of CCA to get her turned over.

BlakOuT

^ No, it didn't turn over.

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

Ok, now you may have posted this before, but its been a while and I don't feel like reading back through, so when is the last time you replaced your battery?

jmc23200

If it truely did not turn over and you are not misinforming us again, then at this point, I could agree it is the starter. You might as well buy the upgraded starter instead of the oem one. I think its like $300-$350.