I have been a member since 2013 and have been looking for an RX-8 since 2011. But its difficult when I cant ask questions on the correct forum.

So OK I will try asking it where people like me that dont know the answers are restricted to. Yeah, I ended that sentence with a preposition, so my grammar isnt perfect either.

I am looking at a 2005 that cannot be restarted after shutting down for at least 20 minutes cool down. BUT it can be instantly started by rolling and popping the clutch. This would suggest that the problem is NOT bad seals which would cause low compression and hard starting.

So what is it?

 

I forgot to mention. The previous owner is not the first owner and does not know if the engine has been replaced but the odometer has 113K on it.

 

Jim,

The starter doesn't get everything rotating as fast as pop starting. Faster rotation=better compression (till you throw a seal)

Get a rotary specific compression test.


Travis

 

You can pull start an engine worth almost no compression....

Plan on a rebuild. ...

 

Thanks guys. I was thinking that was probably the problem. Your confirmation of it helped me not to make a mistake. I could get the car for $2K and another $2.5K for an engine swap, but then I would have $4.5 in the car and that is just about what its worth and they are all over the place out there at that price. Might as well wait for the perfect match if I am going to pay full price.

I am now still looking

Thanks all.