Hard start, engine coughing
 

Hi,
My 2009 RX8 engine suddenly have a hard time starting.
The starter and battery are good, but when I start it takes a lof ot time for the engine to start. It is like "coughing".
No matter if the engine is cold or hot, it starts the same.

After starting though, when the engine is cold, I get loss of power when I press the pedal too much.

One may simply think "just change your coils and spark plugs", but they were changed exactly 2 years ago, about 16k miles ago.

I really don't want to change all the spark plugs and coils again just after 2 years.
How long the spark plugs can last usually ?
Maybe a coils change would be enough ?

Thank you

Finding the problem and fixing it before something bad happens is a good idea ;)

You can pull the plugs and have a look at them. It will tell you if they are firing properly and if you have decent mixtures. Using an inductive timing light usually will pick up a bad coil as well

The problem could be so many things...MAF, Sensors, Plugs, Coils, Wires, Injectors, Fuel pump, ECU

Read the stickies in the new owners forum for things to check

Read the new and potential owners thread found in the new members forum. It explains how long the coils and spark plugs tend to last. Also, you'll learn much more about the regular maintenance of this car.
The only way to verify if plugs or coils are bad is with a coil tester.
Just because your coils have the use you say, doesn't mean they aren't bad...

One of my OEM revision B coils failed at 10K miles. It absolutely can happen.

My coils are still on the way, so I decided to check out my spark plugs in the meantime, I think I got the reason...
The L ones are covered with some kind of crunch like the chicken wings in KFC... (The 2nd one from the left was as crispy as the last one on the right, but some crunch got away when I touched it, this is terrible...)

Cleaning them is enough, or do you recommend to buy a new set ? (2 years/~15k miles old)
I was putting top tier gas. I should probably only stick to Chevron.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...78a183776b.jpg

Spark plugs cleaned up and put back, same issue...

Now I have to wait for my coils to arrive...

I had to buy a battery charger too, the battery is getting weaker as it takes time to start :(

I would get a new set. Also just for peace of mind you may want to get a coolant pressure test done.
Your replacing the wires with the coils correct?


Travis

I will order a set of wires too then. The wires are similar between Rx8 Serie I and II ? I couldn't find NGK wires online anymore for my 2009 RX8
Why doing a coolant pressure test ?
I lost some quite coolant recently I noticed, but I was not alarmed, because I know there was a tiny leak of coolant through the drain (I should tight it more, but I don't know how much force I can put on it safely)

Because the last time i saw plugs that looked this bad, a small amount of coolant was bleeding into the front housing. :)

Takes a few minutes, you can buy any coolant pressure kit pretty cheap now and it'll give you a solid peace of mind or expose a problem.

your losing coolant from where? The Radiator drain? The Block drain located on the middle iron?


Travis

The 2nd drain from the engine block underneath the car.

I am waiting for my new engine mount to install to verify the drain again, will do all at once.

I have ordered new spark plugs and wires as well, I will change the complete ignition system.

New coils, wires, and spark plugs installed, it works GREAT now !
More low end power, engine start is so smooth, even better than when I previously changed them all. I feel like the previous coils I bought from Oreilly's were slightly defective from the beginning... I don't have the bill anyway to change them.