kitty'10

Please help!! I have a 2010 rx8 sport, auto. Well i think i did the dumbest thing i ever could do. I drvie though about a foot of water trying to get to my work. Good news i made it through. Bad news the car died 200 yards out of it and i had it towed back to my res. That was 4 days ago. I was able to remove the air filter today and it is soaked with some mud in it. Im pretty sure that my mass air sensor is done for too. Is there and thing else that you can suggest that i do to get it to start??? At this point im willing to try just about anything to get my baby back to life!!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

How far do you get? What intake do you have? Stock?

At best it might be a blown fuse. At worse you may have destroyed your engine. Yes, it's happened by people driving their RX-8 through deep water.

Keep in mind that this is covered under most car insurance policies, specifically comprehensive coverage (policy that covers water damage, flooding, hail, theft, etc... )

Things to do (some of these may not be needed, but all address at least one thing that might be causing problems):
Check fuses, relays, pull the spark plugs and crank the engine over to get any water out, check for seal debris in the engine through the plug holes, check that the engine turns over freely with a socket and wrench on the main pulley nose bolt. Clean the battery and starter connections. Clean the engine block ground connection. Clean the MAF and the ESS, reset the ESS profile. Replace the belts and the air filter. Replace the engine oil and the filter (in case of water contamination). Remove the upper intake manifold and clean it completely of dirt and mud and let it completely dry.

Some people that destroyed their engine from deep water:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...n-died-241879/
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-parts-s...e-asap-196770/
https://www.rx8club.com/trouble-shoo...ed-8-a-222466/

kitty'10

I got about 200 yards out of the water before it died. I only drove about 15 ft in 1 foot water. It is trying to turn over but it wont. I have full battery power. And everything is stock on the car. I hope im not screwed. I will have to check on the insurance stuff but i would like that to be a last resort. Thank you for your suggestions i will try those. Im new to the working on your own car stuff so i will have to figure that stuff out too.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Lots of resources here for how to do things in the DIY section. The RX-8 is very easy to work on compared to most cars with a simple Metric wrench set, socket set, a ratchet, and an extension or two.

By "trying to turn over but it won't", do you mean that it's turning over with the starter, but not firing? Or that you hear the starter whining but the engine isn't rotating?

kitty'10

As in i put the key in the ignition and turn the key over. I dont here any whining. And acts normal for the most part. When turning the key over my gauges go out. But i figured its pulling the battery power to try to start.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Correct, with the key in the "start" position, power is cut to many other things, including the gauges. So the starter isn't turning over at all. Check all the fuses first.

kitty'10

sorry I wasn't sure so I had to go listen to it again. yes the starter is working.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

ok, next step is to have someone crank while you watch, or you crank while someone else watches. The watcher will be watching under the hood, watching the belts. If they spin while the starter is cranking, then the engine is turning over and just not firing. We can help diagnose from there once you confirm that.

If it isn't turning over, then there are bigger problems. Get a 19mm or 21mm (I forget which) socket and a breaker bar or long ratchet, and see if you can turn the engine over by hand. Put the transmission in neutral and you should be able to turn it both directions. You will want to try turning it over several times, and in both directions, to make sure it isn't something floating around in there preventing the engine from rotating.

kitty'10

thank you I will have to try that tomorrow.