RX8 won't start, just clicks (battery drain)
 

Hey I was wondering if someone could help me out with my 8. About a month ago I was driving and the Check engine light came up. I took the car home and left it there until It could get checked. When I tried to start the car nothing happened (not even cranks) battery died completely. I took my optima redtop to autozone to get it checked and they told me it had no charge. It stayed overnight charging and next day I installed it back again in my rx. When I tried firing her up it made a weird sound like spinning slowly and then gradually increasing. I figured out that maybe it could be flooded so I did the de flooding procedure and only like that it managed to start after a few tries. Check engine light was gone by now.

I took it to the mecanic and said that a tune up might do the job. Took it back home and next day It wouldn't start again! Just clicks (probably battery again)

I noticed the brake sensor hanging in the pedal area.

If I jump it using cables will it work?

Anyone have any idea what this could be?

Why could the batery be draining while off?

Thanks in advance!!☺

First off, Optima batteries suck. I had two in two years, one replaced under warranty and the second was junked. They would show 12.6 Volts or so but wouldn't start the car, same symptoms both times, failed a load test. So load test it, not just test for voltage after charging. I installed a Odyssey AGM and have never had an issue since. My father went thru a couple of Optimas as well, they just suck.

If the battery is draining while the car is off in short time (2-3 days or less) then you likely have a parasitic draw somewhere. Unless you left a door open or something else obvious.


If you can get a good battery in there and it still has starting issues then well it is something else and the problem would need to be troubleshooted properly and that can't be done over the internet.

Thanks! Ill probably go out to buy a new battery ill look for an oddysey. Ill keep you posted for any results :)

Most auto stores now sell their own AGM batteries or just get a good normal wet cell battery. the Sears Die Hard AGM's are also very good. You can get an odyssey but I doubt anyone will sell them locally.

I went through this same experience myself ten years ago. Same story, two Optima red tops that wouldn't start the car replaced under warranty. Gave up and got an Odyssey. So many people have learned the hard way that Optimas suck, but they still sell like crazy. Optima must spend more money on marketing than they do on making decent batteries. :icon_no2:

I've had great luck with Odyssey PC680 in first and third gen RX-7s. Deka makes very good AGM batteries too that are reasonably-priced. I've been using a small Deka in my RX-8 for that last few years with no problems. Braille batteries are made by Deka and sold for twice the price, though Braille swears they are "different".

Caveat here is I don't leave them sitting for more than a week without an intelligent battery maintainer. Small batteries don't have the reserve capacity to sit unmaintained. However with a bigger battery like a PC925 or whatever is near full-size it shouldn't be a problem.

I must have gotten lucky with my optima. I got a red top several years ago when the stock battery went out. I swapped it briefly with a smaller yellow top due to size constraints, then relocated the red top to the trunk. Still running great. Not saying they are without fault, just that I have had a good experience with my pine.

IIRC Optima was a private family owned company up until Gates bought it and then resold the company to Johnson Controls who makes a large % of the car batteries in the market. And as a result, the quality has greatly diminished according to many. In jeep world they are fairly hated, at least in Hot Texas they are, they just don't hold up. But they are sold many places locally and marketing is good so that is why so many people have them. My Odyssey PC925 is relocated to my trunk and I think heat was the main killer of the Optimas in my situation.

The bold part looks to be your problem. You brake lights may be staying on and draining your battery. You will want to check that.

And, I have had the same experience with Optima batteries as reported here. I bought one, had it die in 1 year, had it replaced under warranty, and had it die again. I figured they can't stand the heat in an RX-8 engine bay and went back to standard lead acid. I'll get around to trying AGM some day, but I needed a battery at the time since I was dead at a gas station, and the NAPA within walking distance had a 24F in stock.

Thanks but how do I get this checked? Where does this sensor go?
How does this keep my brake light on? Thanks!

Interesting. Maybe I got an earlier one. When it does go I'll give something else a try. Thx for the info!

Hi I'm having problems trying to figure out what's wrong with my rx8 I know that to flood an engine you would have to turn it on not let it cool and turn it off quickly , but I was driving my car to work and back home (about 30 min drive ) as I made my last turn to my block I was in second gear rev about 5,000 going to third gear when out of nowhere my car acted if it shut off , it felt like I stalled so I put it in neutral and since I was going 20mph I rolled as far as I could , I tuned off the car and tried turning it back on but it does not wanna turn back on .... I am so confused because I know it cannot be a flooded engine .. Please I need help anyone? :(