wozzy941

Hi, my rx8 engine flooded tonight. Its turning over but it simply won't start. I tried every trick listed on the forums and other sites to start it. I first tried pressing the throttle down fully to cut off gas and did the 10 sec start, 20 sec rest for about 5 min. Nothing. Then I pulled the fuse and did pretty much the same thing. Still nothing. I read somewhere to try to start it for 30 sec with fuel cut off. Nothing.

I'm 19, I barely have any money (paycheck to paycheck), my 8 is out of warranty because it is a rebuild title and as I am writing this, it is stuck in a bad neighborhood down the street.

What can I do, I ran out of options. I don't have the money to tow it.

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

Unplug the fuel relay and crank the engine while keeping the clutch pedal & gas pedal down, then just try to just crank with the clutch pedal. Never flooded my 8 before but I saw a DIY a while back on how to do it.

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

Would also like to add, if you can barely afford to get the car towed, please sell the car.
You will end up hating this car, trust me.

ShellDude

iTrader: (12)

if its a manual push/pull start it down the street. Use a tow hook if you're gonna strap it to another car.

if its an auto then you have to "master" the fuel cutoff trick documented in the owners manual.

All I can tell you is that it will start. It takes a shitload of time if it is flooded bad but it will definitely start.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Don't forget to add a fully charge battery helps

OP is likely not going to get the car going with current battery level

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Keep in mind that flooding is a SYMPTOM of something wrong.

Even if you get it started, the original problem that caused the problem in the first place is STILL WRONG. So you could easily flood it again. If the problem is more on the severe side, then all attempts at starting will just be reflooding it over and over again.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

LOL the car has probably been stripped by now.

See the OPs original post time

Wonder if any of the crooks could get the car started!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I read that part

Might have multiple other things wrong with it too now, like missing the wheels, which might make a tow start somewhat troublesome.

anthonyallred

What are common causes for flooding? What does it commonly mean? I know my coils are new but could it be the plugs? Let me know what you think as I think I had a minor flood earlier today. Thanks Family. Links to other good threads would be appreciated.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/

Post #2

ecookman

I second the bump start method. I tried cranking my 8 when I bought it... On a weak battery... Got nowhere didn't have a tool kit so couldn't jack the car and pop out the plugs. Put your baby in second gear, attach tow hook. Have a buddy drive at around 10 - 20 km/h, and slowly let up on the clutch until it fires then push in the clutch, keep the revs up until black smoke stops pouring out. Should be good to go. But figure out why it flooded, until then rev the car to 3k and turn off the key (yes while the car is revving) to blow out unburnt fuel. Def check those plugs

Joejoe1374

Hey my rx8 won't start and I have a fuel toggle switch its not flooding new coil pack plugs fuel pump idk what the hell my rx7 has never done this. When it blew up it blew up I rebuilt it it's fine. This pos is a case. I heard there is or was a recall on 04 rx8 engines is this still alive ???? If not can some one tell me what I can check on this car that might make it not start. Thanks

zoomQUEzoom

I tried to pull the gas pump fuse and crank and then try to fire it up but that didn't work. I then push started it and got it on the first attempt.

Legot

iTrader: (1)

That's so great.

Taimour786

My Rx8 turns off Automatically while it is standing,Even if it is warm.
Like i Start the car,I go around for like 10km,And when i pause my car at a point for 5-7 mins,It Automatically turns off and than it doesn't get start immediatly,It takes around 10 mins and Fan is on,After 10 mins it gets started.
Is it flooding or any other problem?

Loki

iTrader: (1)

It's not flooding. More likely a fuel pump or compression issue.

Is it better or worse if thr air conditioning is on?

Taimour786

It's the same in both conditions

soundawake

Get a compression test. Be prepared for bad news.

wizowoz

My wife flooded my 2011 RX-8 automatic last weekend and I just decided to crank it while pumping the gas peddle, then letting it rest. After about 3 minutes of doing this it started acting like it was going to start and after 5 it was running again spitting out a lot of smoke and setting off my smoke detectors, but it worked. Has anyone tried this method of mega-flooding the engine to start it and can you explain how it could actually work?

Gravey

iTrader: (3)

^Sheer luck...

wizowoz

Sometimes is it better lucky than good.

Theo7

Heloo everybody. Sorry for my english but i will try to explain you how i started my flooded engine. I cranked it pike evereybody were by taking out fuel pumps air pumps and whatever they were saying. Even mazda told me the same things. Just nothing. Nothing worked. I decide to push the car as the only last hope. Trust me. It started after the 2,3 times. Tries i mean by pushing and letting the clatch. A lot of smoke came out but it was worth it. The car runs perfect. No problem. By crancking you are ruining the starter and the batterie. And most of all for sure pushing or harming the rotary in a strange way. So its not really worth it. One rope and an other for only 100 metres and to reach something like the 10 miles. Its really enough. I just did that. Litteraly i just started my car before 20 mins. Easy and simple way. Play with the clarch. The engine will start and after try to hold it woth the clatch on. Even to turn off, you will try again and it will for sure start. Take care everybody and love rx8.

franks

I have had two experiences, 2019 and 2021 with my good condition 2009 RX8 flooding. The scenario both times occurred in the weather transition to fall when its sort of humid and condensing weather.

My first time ended after two full AGM batteries worth of cranking and a tow to the Mazda dealer. They replaced the throttle body, wires and plugs and it still would not start for them. Two weeks later I got it back in great refreshed state. At the time it was at 65K miles and the plugs were due so its all good. The mechanic was perplexed with the flooded engine and i guess it doesn't just get better after a few days either.

Now that you know the plugs were very new on the second attempt, I found myself 1000 miles from home stranded in a hotel parking lot. Went to a local auto store and bought a battery charger, in an uber cab. That day after discovering nobody wants to work on an old RX8 including the nearby Mazda dealer (they sold Mazdas and then 300 thousand dollar cars) I decided to research on the net. I saw all kinds of remove the fuel pump fuse, pull out the plugs and other complex procedures. The one hint online though gave me a path to rescue, and that was to referencing the user manual in the section "starting a flooded engine"

Some observations first, there was no smell of gasoline in both instances. My impression both times was the fuel pump failed not a flooding scenario. The engine started at first but I dumped the clutch or turned it off before it had a chance to warm up both times.

Anyways, on my model when the accelerator is completely depressed (as described in the operating manual) it cuts out the fuel injectors. Period no fuse, no pulling the back seat and stopping the fuel, no plugs out (which is a chore on a radial in case you are just a driver not tinkerer), just hold down the pedal all the way.

The new version starter motor endured all my excessive cranking, so the method below was not so much to save the version 1 starter motor but keeping the battery charged and more importantly giving time for the air pump to work I'm guessing. Trust me it won't start if you just crank it endlessly.

Recommended start with a fully charged battery or a very patient jump start connection. Buy a new battery on an Uber trip if no charger is available, its cheaper than towing and mechanics who will take it all apart for no reason. The procedure I am about to give is very sparing and you will probably have luck eventually even without the full charge in a severe pinch.

Check your operator manual to confirm the injector cutout mode is supported, I don't know about the version 1 engines.
Take out your phone and put it in timer mode, prop it up on the dash.
Hold the accelerator all the way down and keep it there.
Crank for the first 10 seconds and rest for the remaining 50 seconds in the off key position. Just keep the accelerator all the way down the whole time
Eventually the car will start to catch, do not release the accelerator and continue the intermittent crank
Once the car starts and runs for 10..20 seconds, on the next cycle back off slowly on the accelerator depression during the cranking
Now follow this procedure:
2 tries withe the accelerator not floored, followed by five tries with it always floored
If if starts and dies repeat the extended cutoff procedure with it floored for at least 10 periods (minutes)

I was able to start after almost an hour of patience. Trust me this is way more efficient than trying to find an angel who knows about rare mazda experimental wankel engines. If your engine was fine and just quit working the most likely scenario is it flooded. Assume this after checking the gas gauge for empty and oil is present (low oil should also disable the engine) This car just flood snd does not dry out on its own...

Also do not turn off the car after starting until the first rev limiter goes out for avoiding this scenario, expecially in damp weather of if its been sitting unused for a while.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

^^
A new battery is a good idea especially if it's more than a couple of years old.
I never got more than about 3 years out of a standard lead acid battery.
If weak battery is not 100% it'll never start.