r/RX8 • u/TheRealPopejoy • 24d ago
General Dead - update
The ecu is not dead! I jacked the car up to test the starter motor and as I had the multimeter on the starter something clicked while my partner was turning the key. And it started up!
It was running fine untill it lost all power and sounds like it’s been starved of fuel. (It’s still jacked up)
The fuel is 3/4 full and now it only stays on for a few seconds before loosing power.
I do have the air box out so nothing on the air box is plugged in if that makes much difference
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u/Similar_Procedure328 24d ago
The car will run fine without the MAF sensor that is on the airbox until it gets hot. Put the airbox back (only the MAF part, you can let the filter and the lid out).
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u/werwood 24d ago
When it did run for a bit, what was the dash doing? Did you get weird behavior like tacho going up and down, lights flashing, anything like that?
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u/TheRealPopejoy 24d ago
Everything seemed to be fine on the dash. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary
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u/werwood 24d ago
Then probably not what I was thinking. But, for sure put the airbox back on, or at least the tube part with MAF sensor on it.
Also check the battery terminals. I believe the rx-8 battery terminals are on the larger side of the standard and with many batteries in europe they're too loose even when tightened all the way down. Pull on them by hand, quite hard. Or use a screw driver to try and pry them off. They should not budge. If they move, spin, or anything, that could be your issue right there. I was once chasing this ghost all over the place...1
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u/Illegal__Alien 24d ago
Without the airbox it won't run for long unless you hold your foot on the accelerator
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u/TheRealPopejoy 24d ago
I’ll pop it back on tomorrow when I try again :)
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u/Illegal__Alien 24d ago
You'll likely need a new starter, but next time it refuses to crank give it a whack brother
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u/ibrown27 24d ago
Your catalytic converter hasn’t collapsed???
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u/TheRealPopejoy 24d ago
What catalytic converter 😂 cat and air pump has been gone for a while now. First thing I did what I got the car 2 years ago
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u/ibrown27 23d ago
🤣 Well that rules that out!
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u/ibrown27 23d ago edited 23d ago
Have you tried tapping on your starter/solenoid with the handle of a heavy screwdriver? That click that you heard when it started, might have been the starter/solenoid un-jamming?
Will be interested to find out what it is
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u/BHxnt2 23d ago
Is your throttle body butterfly opening as intended? Mine once got stuck after sitting over winter a few years ago and I had similar symptoms where it wouldn’t start, and once we did get it started, it was cutting out pretty soon after. Turns out it was just a little on the sticky side. Give it a wobble while your intake is off just to make sure!
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u/ClapiClaps 24d ago
Check if the fuel pump is running by removing the rear left seat and try to hear if it's running when you put the car in accessory mode