blue freeze

Six years with my 8, no flooding problems. Not one. Always make sure I follow cold shutdown procedure if it's not warmed up enough.

Then one night I'm running late for a meeting, and (unknown to me) the other half decides to start my car and warm it up for me. Looks at the gas gauge, turns off car. Informs me that I don't have enough gas, I should take the truck instead. I'm in a hurry, jump in the truck and off I go, not giving it a second thought.

You all know where this is going, right?

Yup, next morning car isn't starting. Catches for a sec, sputters and dies. Being that it's REALLY early and I haven't had coffee yet, I think "must have been a LOT lower on gas than I thought". Top up gas, nothing. "Hmm, maybe it flooded?" Starting to wonder, how would someone else know I was low on gas, anyways? Try clearing the flood, nothing. Cranking great, can't be that. "Maybe gasline froze up? Gas light was on, after all."

Long story short, I am being deflooded at the dealership. New leading & trailing plugs, etc. Interesting part is, Mazda is giving me a new starter. Apparently, the car flooded, and since the starter wasn't working properly, it just kept pumping in more gas, making the issue worse rather than clearing it up.

Interesting. Oh well, at least I'm not paying the $750 for the starter I guess the extended warranty is starting to pay off now.

Moral of the story is: Never let a non-rotary driver have access to your keys. Even if you have previously told them that they can't shut down the car cold. You just never know how seriously they take you.

Thumper3322

That sucks! Least you got a new starter out of it. I don't understand their story on it kept pumping in more gas = the starter isn't working properly. It's the ECU that allows the gas to go in. The car isn't warm, so it thinks it needs gas to start, so it pumps some in and will continue to do so every time you recrank the key. The new starter only makes cranking faster which = a better start. Also, that's why you put your foot to the floor to disengage fuel going in. Nothing to do with the starter letting gas in.

I have had that happen twice, someone moved my car for me to be nice and turned it off right away at my cottage...thank GOD it started up right away. IMO if that happens, get your foot to the floor asap and crank that bitch till she goes.

Ka Kui

iTrader: (7)

Oh man, **** happens eh......... glad everything is alright now~

Rotary Mike

I've had 2 near flood issues over the past two weeks and the coder weather. I need to stop being lazy and let the car warm up a bit more when moving it in and out of the driveway

huckfarper

What dealership did you go to?

huckfarper

Better question - What city do you live in?

I only ask because I want the upgraded starter (and I have the extended warranty too.) I was reading some posts saying that some dealers will do the American TSB for the starter and some won't.

cidvicious831

what year is your 8?