Flooding Cost Me
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From: Ottawa
Flooding Cost Me
Admittedly very frustrated. I have an immaculate 2005 automatic with only 50K. Originally paranoid, I drove the car around endlessly afraid to flood it. Then I read all kinds of posts suggesting with factory recalls this was all overdone. I tried moving a short distance and restarting. No problem! Then a few times later did this and it flooded. After paying 400 for towing and de-flooding I continue to read endless posts about Revving at start-up and shutdown but everyone contradicts the next ref the rpm level, the length of time, and even if this works. I am so lost! The dealer has now answers at all. Help!
Read the new owners thread.
Actually, read all the stickies in the new owners sub forum.
Sounds like you are the creator of your own misfortune with this one. Keep improperly pushing buttons on this car, and you'll ended up with an unnecessary repair cost.
Actually, read all the stickies in the new owners sub forum.
Sounds like you are the creator of your own misfortune with this one. Keep improperly pushing buttons on this car, and you'll ended up with an unnecessary repair cost.
Admittedly very frustrated. I have an immaculate 2005 automatic with only 50K. Originally paranoid, I drove the car around endlessly afraid to flood it. Then I read all kinds of posts suggesting with factory recalls this was all overdone. I tried moving a short distance and restarting. No problem! Then a few times later did this and it flooded. After paying 400 for towing and de-flooding I continue to read endless posts about Revving at start-up and shutdown but everyone contradicts the next ref the rpm level, the length of time, and even if this works. I am so lost! The dealer has now answers at all. Help!
I flooded mine once, when it was misfiring.
After I fixed it, I no longer have that problem, don't even think about it.
Unfortunately, we can't go through even just this site deleting misinformation. All we can hope is that you stumble on the right information.
From the new owner's thread, post #2: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
From the new owner's thread, post #2: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
Flooding:
Flooding is only a concern if you have a weak ignition system, failing compression, failing battery, and/or failing starter. Typically, it is failing ignition though. The problem is, your ignition system usually fails very slowly, so it is a gradual decline. The alert and responsible owner will detect the drop in mileage, the drop in power, the rougher idle, the occasional misfire, and replace their coils, plugs, and wires before it gets bad enough where there is a chance at flooding.
Every single flood I have seen reported for quite a while ended up coming down to one of these failing: Battery, Starter, Coil(s), Plug Wire(s), Plug(s). But by then, they also generally have a fried cat that needs to get replaced as well, and possibly an O2 sensor or two. Stay on top of the maintenance (long term included!) and you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Coils ($160 for all 4, 20 minute swap), plugs ($80 for all 4, 10 minute swap), and wires ($60, 2 minute swap), should be replaced every 30,000 miles, possibly sooner if you detect something starting to fail, since people have had them fail as early as 8,000 miles or 15,000 miles, though that's rare.
Flooding is only a concern if you have a weak ignition system, failing compression, failing battery, and/or failing starter. Typically, it is failing ignition though. The problem is, your ignition system usually fails very slowly, so it is a gradual decline. The alert and responsible owner will detect the drop in mileage, the drop in power, the rougher idle, the occasional misfire, and replace their coils, plugs, and wires before it gets bad enough where there is a chance at flooding.
Every single flood I have seen reported for quite a while ended up coming down to one of these failing: Battery, Starter, Coil(s), Plug Wire(s), Plug(s). But by then, they also generally have a fried cat that needs to get replaced as well, and possibly an O2 sensor or two. Stay on top of the maintenance (long term included!) and you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Coils ($160 for all 4, 20 minute swap), plugs ($80 for all 4, 10 minute swap), and wires ($60, 2 minute swap), should be replaced every 30,000 miles, possibly sooner if you detect something starting to fail, since people have had them fail as early as 8,000 miles or 15,000 miles, though that's rare.
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From: Ottawa
Thanks for this feedback. A coil was found to be faulty and replaced. The dealer did not link these two issues, however. They said spark plugs were also going but to wait until the next service. I will check the owner's manual make sure all is up to date. Again thanks.
The owner's manual doesn't mention coils at all. Many dealers have no idea that the coils can fail short of 100k. The truth is, dealers are generally clueless about this car.
If 1 coil was failing, guess what the other 3 are doing? The other coil on that same rotor is going to be the next to fail, since the one dead coil will have been causing both plugs for that rotor to foul up badly, which accelerates coil failure.
Your cat is also taking a beating, so be on the look out for signs of a clogging cat, since a clogging cat can destroy your engine (and if ignored a clogged cat can and will set your car on fire)
Yes, this is exactly how failing ignition enters cascading failure. Don't wait for ignition failure, pre-emptively replace it regularly.
If 1 coil was failing, guess what the other 3 are doing? The other coil on that same rotor is going to be the next to fail, since the one dead coil will have been causing both plugs for that rotor to foul up badly, which accelerates coil failure.
Your cat is also taking a beating, so be on the look out for signs of a clogging cat, since a clogging cat can destroy your engine (and if ignored a clogged cat can and will set your car on fire)
Yes, this is exactly how failing ignition enters cascading failure. Don't wait for ignition failure, pre-emptively replace it regularly.
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From: Ottawa
RIWWP: You are a wealth of information. In short, is replacing the ignition enough or do I also have to replace the other coils, plugs, and wires right now? Is there an order to follow if I can't afford all at once? Most sincere thanks.
Ignition = 4 coils, 4 wires, 4 plugs
Failing coils kill plugs, and failing plugs kill coils. It's not really something you can avoid. In the US, we can buy all 12 pieces for ~$190-$220 USD from local parts stores. I know it's higher in Canada, but I can't really give specific advice on where to get them or what prices you can expect. Avoid buying from the dealer, because they will rape you on price. You can replace them yourself with simple tools as well, in about an hour, so no point in paying their inflated labor time. Just need a phillips screwdriver, a 10mm socket, a few extensions of various lengths, a ratchet, and a plug socket. Easy to access, easy to change.
Failing coils kill plugs, and failing plugs kill coils. It's not really something you can avoid. In the US, we can buy all 12 pieces for ~$190-$220 USD from local parts stores. I know it's higher in Canada, but I can't really give specific advice on where to get them or what prices you can expect. Avoid buying from the dealer, because they will rape you on price. You can replace them yourself with simple tools as well, in about an hour, so no point in paying their inflated labor time. Just need a phillips screwdriver, a 10mm socket, a few extensions of various lengths, a ratchet, and a plug socket. Easy to access, easy to change.
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