Hi, new member here. I didn't join just to post problems, but unfortunately my first post on here is a question about the motor. I just got an '04 RX-8 GT MT w/ 22K miles on it here in Tampa.

My question I guess is about rotary engines in general though. I've been told they take longer than a piston engine to turn over when starting. Is this true first off? If it is, about how long before it should fire up? Mine is taking probably 4 seconds, which doesn't sound like a long time but when you're used to a turn and start piston motor it seems long. It sounds like a flooded engine on top of the extended time. Once it fires up though the engine just purrs, or whirrs actually.

I've found it hard to describe the distinct noise that the engine makes that just doesn't sound like any piston motor. I love it. Thanks in advance for the tips. This site is great.

 

Sounds like a failing starter. Considering you have a 2004, and more because it has only been driven an average of 3,000 miles per year, you probably still have the original starter which was a known weak point. There was a TSB that you could get a free upgraded one under bumper to bumper warranty, but that ended several years ago.

Normal crank times are slightly longer than a piston engine, but not by much. Sometimes it fires up instantly, sometimes after ~1 second or so. 4 seconds is way too long, and it makes sense that it seems to be flooding, as you are pumping fuel in that isn't getting ignited. No other issues once it is started tells me your ignition is likely fine.

 

While you are upgrading the starter, consider swapping out new coils and plugs. Although you have low mileage, I have experienced coils failing as early as 16k miles.

Also if you turn the key to ON and wait a few seconds for the fuel pump to prime (you can hear this), the car starts up easier.

 

Yea and the question is too general. If you turn the key on the NA RX7's they start right up lol so "rotary engines" don't take long time. Renesis engines.. well yea...they have that characteristic in Series 1. uh...

 

Initializing! i coined the term for doing that in 2004 actually before that but on this board i said it first in 2004 . I usually turn the key to on, buckle my seat belt , look to see that all the lights went out then start.

 

It sounds like there are a bunch of people here who love to spend other peoples money on potentially unneeded parts. Swapping parts without following a logical progression of elimination generally results in wasteful spending.

Always start with the basics. The first place to start is the battery. It's power capacity before/during cranking makes a significant difference on how quickly the engine spins over and fires.

My S1 engine fires immediately. Never had an OE coil fail, yada, yada ....


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That can be true, but I don't see any overwhelmingly unreasonable suggestions on this thread so far. If it was my 2004, I would check to see if the TSBs were done, which included the upgraded starter and battery. With the upgrades in place, the car should start like any other car (assuming properly maintained tuning items, good compression, and good catalytic converter).