dbb!
I had that exact problem. I thought it was flooded but then found out it was a dead battery
after calling mazda.

The standard battery has one year warranty. The replacement i got from the free road side
assistance gave me a century batteyr with 2 yrs warranty.

Cheers.
tuan.

 

It's gone to the dealer. There was just too much fuel in the engine. Oh well, at least now I get free replacement plugs and (hopefully) battery. Good thing I don't need the car today.

However, the guy said the trick was to take the fuel pump fuse out, then do the ten second crank trick. The manual forgot that crucial step it seems ...

 

Since the starter/battery/plugs change after my last flood the car has been starting very easily. Recommend you get this done under warranty and the problem should go away.

 

Putting your foot to the floor on the gas pedal tells the PCM you don't want any fuel and achieves the same as removing the fuel pump fuse.

 

Fair enough, but if you have a low battery due to attempts to turn the engine over, then removing the fuel pump fuse would be more likely to succeed would it not?

 

Honestly, I doubt it. If you're worried about that much current difference you've got bigger things to worry about. All the electronic systems do not like low voltage... I've seen that happen... the instrument cluster goes ape.

I've never flooded my car and I'm not about to twice to compare the difference :p

 

I would like to make a point here, after reading some of the above posts.

"Flooded" and "Wont turn over" are two different things.

They could end up being related, as continual attempts at starting will run the battery down. I find after a few days if I don't drive, it is a little slower cranking.

On of the inherent "problems" with rotaries is difficulty starting due to cranking compression. A slow cranking speed exacerbates the problem. Then there is the chance of a viscous circle, if fuel is still pumped in, but it hasn't got enough cranking speed to start anyway..... At some point it will be "fooded". Sooner or later it might start, or the battery will run dead.

This is why the bigger battery, new starter is helping. It is not necesarily preventing "flooding", but has a better capacity to start the engine.

As for holding the pedal to the floor... Regardless of the ECU cutting fuel in this mode, it is a well known fact to the "old school" from the carby days, that a WIDE OPEN THROTTLE will help clear a flood situation. This lets more air in, and also (with carbies anyway) the loss of manifold vacuum will mean less chance for fuel being drawn in through the jets.

Wow - its been a while since I posted something like that

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Oh my god...

You said carby...

Shame.

EFI mate! Get with it!

 

Hang on! There's some old buggers here, with tears in their eyes

 

Every time my car would break down and my date had to stay longer or overnight :D i thanked / blamed my carby

B...free
michael

 

just got the 8 back. replaced plugs (due to be replaced, and paid for, in the next service), better starter motor and better battery. The difference in startup is amazing - it sounds nothing like the previous starter motor. A short increasing pitch whirrrr and the engine starts.

All under warranty. And I got a free car wash.

The new plugs make the car seem more responsive, but that could be my imagination.

 

My dealer was not prepared to give me a new battery or the upgraded starter motor under warranty oh well if i ever buy another Mazda he certainly wont be getting my bussiness .

Wonder how much the new starter motor is worth ???

B...free
michael

 

The dealer doesn't have to pay for it does he? Aren't the costs just cross charged to Mazda Australia? It also subsidises some of his mechanics wages for the period of the repair. It should be a win all around for him if he allowed it.

 

dbb

Can you tell us the Size and make of the battery that mazda has upgraded you to .

B...free
michael

 

Just went and had a look :

Exide 55D23L 600CCA 115 RC

supplied by Mazda dealer network australia


From the Exide website it looks like one of their most powerful car models (it's actually more powerful than a lot of the light truck batteries):

http://www.exide.com.au/products/specifications.php

(FWIW, what is the standard rx8 2003/2004 model rating?)

 

I think that you may have to have had a documented flooding or non-starting incident as logged by Mazda/Mondial assist. Because I'm a quiet, shy, retiring type, I put this on my list of things to be addressed at my last service, and faxed it to the service department beforehand. To make sure, I took along a copy of my fax and handed it in at the time of my service. The upshot is, I have been phoned and told the parts have been obtained by the dealer and my car will be fixed next Thursday.

 

or ... you can deliberately flood it and get it towed to a dealer ... that may be hard up in that soul sucking place that Lock and Load lives in. It won't get cold enough to reliably cause a deliberate flooding incident.

 

The stock battery i believe is good for 480 CCA .

The gap left either side by the stock battery i believe is needed to help keep the temperature down inside the battery box , does the new EXIDE battery cover the full inside of the box??? if it does it can totally restrict the airflow overheating your battery

B...free
michael

 

As i certainly am not the quiet retiring shy type of guy / nor will i deliberately flood my car in order to get the ****** from mazda to upgrade my starter and battery .

For an engine that wins Engine of the year 2 years running you would have though that it wouldnt flood so easily and it had a proper starter and reasonable sized battery to begin with .

My rolling idle at cold start should be enough to warrant a replacement starter and battery with spark plugs thrown in for good measure .


I WILL BE GOING TO MY DEALER FULLY LOCKED AND LOADED AND INSIST ON AN UPGRADE

B...free
michael

 

are you sure the stock is 480 CCA? In America it is 350 CCA.

The battery fits nicely. There is some space around it, not much, but enough for some airflow.

 

I CHECKED THE MEASUREMENTS OF THE NEW EXIDE BATTERY THERE SEEMS TO BE JUST ENOUGH ROOM FOR AIR FLOW

i AM FAIRLY SURE OUR BATTERIES PUT OUT EITHER 430 OR 480 CCA

B...free
michael

 

Well after 20 months of faultless ownership I finally joined the flood club. Usual cause- moving it out of garage and straight back the day before. Mondial took 40 minutes to arrive (not bad) and the service guy took 30 minutes of removing fuel pump fuses, replacing, cranking to finally get it going. He said his record was 35 minutes but he has never failed to get one going. He was well informed, very courteous and said he was only one of 2 guys in Melbourne they send out to RX8 faults. Said that 95% of RX8 faults he attends are floods.

He recommended taking it in immediately and asking for new plugs. Booked it in at City Mazda on Monday. Be interesting to see what they do, if anything. Anything else I should ask them to do?

Incidentally the mechanic said that Mondial looks after Merc and BMW roadside assist and he confirmed that all the rumours regarding poor reliability/quality on these marques were true. Said that RX8 far more reliable and if not for the flood problem he would hardly ever see one.

Cheers

 

Clouds of smoke after it started, Rosso??

 

Gosh! I must be one day closer

 

Huge clouds -dog ran off in a panic