hello,
i am having few issues with my car these days.
first, my car is 04, and has about 76000km (est 47000mile) on it
i do NOT have a updated starter, because its just so expensive for me to purchase. coils/plugs/wires changed about 20000km ago.

1. i am having issues with hot starting (prob cuz of the starter)
2. yesterday, i went over to my frds place, and i believe i flooded my engine, took me few tries to turn the engine on (i did turn it off when the temp is in the middle) I had CEL on after turning my engine on. I had to gas so i turned my engine off, i had hard time restarting it. Next morning, i go down to my car, it's all fine. CEL is gone too.

so what do you guys think??
i do not feel any power lose or engine rattle or anything.
it just runs fine as before (in my knowledge)

should i just get the updated starter??
or should i go over to mazda and get the compression checked??
what would be the best move i can make in this situation??
plz help.

 

Everything you mentioned with the warm starts sounds like what I encountered with my original starter.
If you can't (or don't want to) spend the money on the upgraded starter, start calling around to junk yards and see if they have an RX8, '06 or later, and pull the starter from that.
If they have an '04 or '05, you can always look at the number on it and see if its the upgraded starter.
The upgraded starter will have a N3H1 A (the 'A' is important) or N3Z1 on the tag.

 

Get the compression checked. Warm start problems indicate low compression.
If it is necessary to have the engine replaced, see the attachment. I believe you are covered by the warranty.

 

It can... but not always.
Start talking like that and everyone with warm start issues will freak out fearing their motor is bad.

 

but if i have low compression, shouldn't i feel lose in power??
can you tell me any symtoms of low compression?

 

A strong battery seems to do ok with the original starter. Make sure your battery's in good condition.

Loss of compression when hot can mean the seals are sticking in their grooves due to carbon accumulation. Do the Zoom-Zoom cleaning and see if it improves.

 

yea, i have zoom zoom cleaner but just needs a good place to do it cuz it will make lot of fumes.
i do not use premix + i do not red line every time i drive.
i want to red line whenver i can however i just can't everyday since some days i just stay in school and drive around in school.

so should i begin my operation with zoom zoom cleaner + new starter?
or just go mazda to check low compression??

 

It does 'OK' but nowhere near as good when combined with the upgraded starter:
http://www.vimeo.com/3653485

 

can you tell me some symptoms for low compression??

 

Similar to other symptoms with failed devises... rough idles, power loss, and/or stalling.
This is why I cringe when people assume right away that compression is low without any real proof.
If you want to see if its low, you need to get a compression test performed.
Don't rely on "symptoms" to tell you, but keep in mind that its a possibility.

 

what would you do if you were in my situation??
would you start the repair by getting a new starter
or getting a compression test??

 

Like i mentioned in post #2 above, I was in your situation.
I got the upgraded starter and its been starting great ever since.
I actually have my own compression tester so I could test it if I thought it was that.
But you having the original starter on an '04, if it were me, I would start calling around to different junk yards and try to find a wrecked '06 or higher.
Even if your compression is truly low, its still good to have the starter.

 

searching junk yards, called few
no 8s out there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
hope i find it by tomorrow

 

Found this with a Google search, might be worth a shot:
http://www.automotix.net/usedautopar...html#KAL498730
I would probably call them and verify that its the OEM starter.

 

thx for your call,
i'll def call them as i wake up tomorrow morning

 

Is the battery the original item, cold weather will deplete the performance of automotive batteries,maybe have the it tested.Even though it cranks the motor,it may be depleted enough not to supply enough juice to fire the engine.