intermittent - slow cranking speeds then normal
 

Looking through the archives and search, I've found quite a bit of info about the click/click/start we all know about and the oem relay. However, my issue (or maybe minor annoyance) recently started to develop and I've yet to find anything solid about it. Any search terms with "start" or "slow" tended to lead me with results that weren't exactly relevant, it happens.

Basically hot or cold, randomly, when I start the car, it will have about an eighth to a quarter of a second of a very slow cranking speed, then proceed to crank and start like normal. PFC voltage at idle is 13.5, and I believe it was 12 volts with the key off. I want to say awhile back I remember reading something about this in past, but I'm not entirely sure. My car is a RHD 95, and I don't have a factory alarm.

Curious as to if anyone has had this happen before, and what your remedy might be.

No experience with this symptom on my FD, but I've seen similar slow cranking at the beginning on other vehicles when a starter motor begins to get weak. Once it gets turning, it then cranks normally. It could also be high resistance anywhere from the battery to the solenoid (either +12V or ground side) since any electric motor needs a higher current to begin rotating from a stop than it needs once it is turning.

Could very well be. I'm going to keep an eye on it. Voltage seems to check out okay, maybe it is getting tired.

Yep, I would say starter getting weak. Bad contact on the brushes and once it starts turning it overcomes the bad contact and cranks full speed.

You can get an OEM starter or send yours to Banzai Racing for the RX-8 upgrade with the 2kw faster starter motor. Engine cranks at a higher RPM with the updated design.

Dale

I am having a similar issue. Sometimes, not always, the starter will turn slowly. If I key off, then key right back on, it will spin faster. I purchased the Banzai upgraded starter. Also, my car does othet wierd stuff, too.