I got a 2005 RX-8 Auto nothing special, it ran fine about a week ago while i was on leave, i got back and it just felt like it was missing something when cranking. The starter just turns over the motor and nothing else seems to happen.

I took it to an auto skills center and we trouble shot it, determined it has not spark, but is getting fuel and air. We checked all ignition fuses and relays. I checked 2 of the 4 coil packs (because id have to take off the alternator again to get to the others) with a multimeter and they came out to be in specs according to AllData. The hot wire to the first coil pack (closest to the bumper) is reading around 12-13volts and was told since that one is reading power they all should because they are ran off of the same fuse.

Tomorrow i am going back to the auto shop and pulling out spark plugs and checking wires, we dont think the coil packs are a problem because there is no spark at all which would mean all 4 are bad (correct?).

Does anyone have an idea on what is going on with this car or any ideas what to check, i am 99% sure its ignition.

PLEASE HELP this has to get fixed within a week and a half before i deploy and is my wifes car.

 

If all four are not getting spark, check common areas, such as ground.

Pull a wiring diagram and check continuity between the coil connectors and PCM.

 

We dont believe any are getting spark because there is no sound of it. What do u mean check continuity between coils and PCM, where do i go for that, ive checked the wires going into the coil packs, they have a hot line to them, and the coil packs are showing the ohms in the correct range (according to AllData).

 

pull the plugs and keep them in the ignition wire. touch the flat metal part to the control arm if you have spark it will show. be careful to hold the rubber part getting shocked isnt fun. by cranking it over so many times which it sound you have it is flooded.

check for spark. if that is good look at the deflooding diy. may need new plugs

 

We did this on 1 plug (but i didnt pull the one from the motor i used a brand new one that was cheap it was not on for the car but works the same) and no spark.

 

well i would still pull the plugs out of the motor because the car is pry flooded depending on how many times you cranked it over. I just had a issue like this with my bhr ignition. While doing all of my turbo install i bumped the ground resulting in no spark on any coil. i would pull plugs and check grounds.

 

Tomorrow i had planned to pull all plugs and do this check with them, if no spark what would that mean?

And is there any "easy" way to get them out, my hands dont exactly fit comfy going in from above

 

the front two i use 2 long extensions and the back 2 your stuck going in from underneath no extension. i dont think i have my wiring diagram here to see how they are grounded. as far as a easy way not really much easier it is a tight fit.

 

i have it here pm me your email and ill email you a copy of the ignition wiring

 

Ok, went back in today to work on it, replaced all spark plugs, the old ones look dirtier than my duramax's glow plugs and it was caked. Got spark now....


NEW PROBLEM


The injectors are not getting a pulse or whatever the term is, The injectors are getting a POS+ feed to them but no ground, which i have been told is through the PCM. We now think that the PCM may be bad, and i have been advised to take it to a Mazda dealer and hope my warranty covers it. I do not know where the PCM is exactly located to test anything, and it has costed me 2 and a half days so far and 150+ dollars to get where im at now, and still no start.

 

Were your plugs wet at all?

 

yes the tips were when i pulled them, i already knew it was flooded

 

How did you flood it with no functioning injectors

I would bet you have it royally flooded....You likely have almost zero compression.....I would try the windshield wahser fluid squirted into the intake vac port trick before I assmed I had injector problems. Or try some ATF in the same place...

Did you check the fuses? You did say you had power to the injectors ...but the ECU needs power to work also....did you check the Fuel pressure...no FP = no gas...could be a fuse also

Unless you did something electrical I wouldn't assume you have a blown ECU till much further down the list of potential problems

 

Im assuming no functioning injectors, we did not check fuel pressure because my mechanic seemed to jump to bad computer, partly because one of his diagnostic tools couldnt connect with the computer. ALL fuses ARE good they were all checked with a multimeter. The car was once running and our friend who was watching the house moved the car and shut it off almost instantly. And the tips of the new plugs when i pulled them out to check spark had a blackish fuel smelling coat on the tips, which im assuming is an oil/fuel mix since these things (from what i read) burn oil to lubricate engine parts.

I dont have any time left to work on it myself, i took it today to the stealership and they are finding out what is wrong and will see if warranty covers it.