HMW

Hello all,
I have had my 2004 rx8 for about two years now with no real problems until recently.

I am not sure whether or not my car is flooded, the alternator is bad, etc. It has been sitting for 10 days while I was on vacation, and during the time I was gone I had someone starting it and driving it for me to keep it running. When I got back home yesterday I went to start my car and the engine kicks on but won't turn over, it sounds like it is not catching. The person watching my car told me recently that he was just turning it on and moving it from one spot to another in the driveway instead of driving it anywhere or getting the engine to the right temperature, which is why I am thinking it might be flooded.
We plugged a battery charger to it initially, thinking that maybe my battery was bad, but instead the charger gave me the F07 code (Alternator Output is Out of Typical Operation Range) which is why i was thinking my alternator went bad.

After reading the forums my car seems like it is having the same symptoms everyone else was having with flooding, but I don't want to ignore the alternator code the battery charger gave me.

Can anyone give me any help or tips on what to do with my car, I don't know a lot about fixing cars, unfortunately.

Also, if my alternator is bad, does anyone know where I could get one? ( New or refurbished)

I live in West Palm Beach, Fl and have been having trouble finding a garage that has the right equipment to work on RX-8's or one that won't cheat me out of half a month's pay to fix my car

Thanks to anyone that can help me out!

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

I would get the car started first, then test the alternator to see if its really bad.
But it does sound like a classic case of engine flooding.
If you attempt to start the car and the interior lights start to dim, the battery needs charged or jump started.

Mazurfer

Sounds flooded. If I wasn't 2 1/2 hours North, I'd come down and help.
Oh.....you have Pettit Racing real close by you and they know everything about RX8's.

See http://www.pettitracing.com/

4650 Dyer Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33407

Call:
(561) 844-2258

Email:
info@pettitracing.com

HMW

Well, the lights aren't dimming when we try to start it, it just cranks and won't turn over.
We tried unplugging the air pump and taking out the fuel pump fuse and tried cranking it several times according to a guide on these forums.
However, it still won't start. We're going to give the Mazda Service Bulletin instructions a try later and see if it will start up. The instructions we're going to use are from the PDF uploaded here (https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1254559756)

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Did you also remove the spark plugs to flush out the excessive fluid?

Mazurfer

You are gonna have to more than likely pull the plugs. Then do what you said above. You need to crank it until no more gas/oil/smoke comes out of the plug holes. Meantime get the plugs really dry.
Once you are ready.........install the plugs/wires. Still have the fuel relay out. Have someone stand at the front of the car ready to slap the relay in............crank it and if/when it catches, plug the relay in real quick. Don't let the car stall out and once it's running and completely up to temp, go beat the crap out of it for a little while and get all that crap out of there.

HMW

No, that's what we're going to try later. We're going to take them out and clean them (I'm sure they're very dirty) and try to flush out the fluid stuck in there. Hopefully we do it right and don't wreck the car any more than it already is, haha

Mazurfer

In my experience with some girls car that flooded, we did what I said above however when the plugs are out, crank the car in 8 second bursts. then stop and give the starter time to cool off. Then do that about 6 more times, until you are really sure that no fuel is left and there is no more coming out of the holes. Then put the dry plugs in and do as I said above.
I've never had to do any of the other stuff like squirting liquid in anywhere.

Is yours a manual or auto?

If manual, you can usually pull start it by getting to 20mph and popping clutch in 2nd. But don't let it stall out!

HMW

So after I clean the plugs and put everything back, take the relay out, (should I take the fuel pump fuse out as well?) try to crank it, and if it catches, plug it in as soon as i hear it catch?

If it does catch should I keep it on and not turn it off, and take it straight on the road?

Mazurfer

Then........put one of these on your dash when you go away!

HMW

Its automatic

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

If it's an AT...you are going to have to do it the HARD way

HMW

What exactly is the hard way? lol

Mazurfer

Dan just means you aren't going to be able to pull start it!


I can only tell you that I(we) just took out the fuel pump relay..........not the fuse.....and of course the plugs.
This is where we cranked the car in short bursts to get all the old fuel out.
It's very important to get the plugs very, very dry.
After you feel it's all out, then put plugs back in, but not relay.
Crank and when it catches.....have someone ready and slap the relay in real quick. It helps to have that person have it in the right orientation and everything.
Once you have it up and running.....and once up to operating temp, then yes.........take it for a good drive!!!!

BTW...............Dannobre knows more about this car than me, so I would try his method a few posts below.

HMW

I haven't driven my car in well over a week, you can believe I'm going to take it on a very good drive once it's running again, lol

I'll keep you posted on whether or not that works, we are heading out to take someone on a birthday dinner tonight, hopefully we'll have my poor car running by tomorrow

Mazurfer

Leave the plugs out tonight if you can. The front has cleared through up here and it will be cold and dry tomorrow, it might help evaporate overnight.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

If you are getting a whirring sound without any compression pulses you are going to have a harder time....pull the plugs..and the fuel pump fuse and the Eccentric shaft sensor plug( you don't want spark anywhere....( it's hard on the coils to charge them without a discharge path)..(and the air pump plug as well is a good idea)

Crank till you don't get any fuel crap out...

If you can...a squirt of oil in the leading plug holes and a short burst of cranking will help get some compression...

Put dry plugs back in...reconnect the ESPS plug/fuel pump fuse back in...put your foot to the floor..and crank it till it burps a bit...release the gas...crank it till it starts and then keep it running by modulating the gas. Expect a huge cloud of smoke...and comments from the neighbors....

Take it out and drive it around aggressively for a bit...them re-connect your air pump plug

You should be good to go after that

HMW

Well I guess purging didn't work, it still won't turn on...any suggestions?

AJ's Shinka

Jumper it to another car battery for extra juice, the deflood procedures drains your battery fast.

Read this thread, it has a lot of good info...
Deflood help-Am I missing a step?

Personally I like to do the washer fluid then step on the gas all the way to the floor deflood procedure. But that get's rid of all your lubrication.

This one works too Deflooding for the average Joe, you may need new plugs.

Mazurfer

Wow................still no luck huh?
Well, it's possible that new plugs might help..........just not sure.
I know that we had to repeat the entire cycle about three times before we got the car to start. That's all I can really tell you. We had the girl with us the whole time and once she saw what all we had to go through, I think she learned her lesson about flooding.

Seems like there are several variations on de-flooding, so you're gonna have to see what works best for you, but it can be a long and somewhat painful process. You really need to make sure you have a good battery though..........and probably a backup one to try this.


Can't believe the Palm Beach or Lauderdale guys haven't chimed in and been willing to come help. WTF?

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Some people want to give up after only a couple crank attempts.
The last few times I flooded my car, I was able to start it by the 6th-7th attempt.
I have an Optima battery so it was able to handle the repeated attempts.

The very first time I flooded my engine I had the original battery and it took so many attempts that I recharged the battery 3 times before I finally got the car started.
This was before I was got on this forum and learned other methods.

2nd time I flooded my car I used the windshield washer method and it worked great.
I also used this method on a local's car a couple months later and it worked for him too.
I've "deflooded" so many times now that it doesn't bother me anymore when it does happen.

So basically... don't give up and keep trying. You'll eventually get it going.

Mazurfer

Uuuuuuhhhhh.......yeah.............that's what I meant!

HMW

After three and a half hours of purging/trying to start it finally turned on and stayed on! I let it rev at 2k rpm's until the huge plumes of smoke stopped coming out of the exhaust, and then took it for a nice drive on some back roads.
Thank you all for your advice and all those helpful links! :D
~Hollie

P.S, I'm a little scared of having a car that will flood on me that easy, so if anyone knows anyone who wants to buy a black 04 let me know! haha

AJ's Shinka

This was your problem.
The trauma will pass shortly.