I just got my Mazda RX8 '04, I have had it for about a week now. She runs great and no problems really for except one thing. Starting the car takes a little bit of a struggle, the car does always start though. I have come to think that the problem is the fuel pump kit but I am not entirely sure. Quite often the inside of my car smells like gas, seeing that the fuel pump kit is under the driver seat, I think that maybe I should replace it in hopes that the car will start better and the smell will go away. I have never had a Mazda so I am quite new to this. I am open minded to what the problem could be but I don't want to replace something and have that not even be the problem. I appreciate any advice anyone can throw my way.

Thanks.

 

Never drive any car with the smell of fuel in the cabin.

The fuel pump assembly is not under the driver seat. It's under the driver-side rear seat. Take it to a shop to diagnose a potential fuel leak if you cannot find it yourself. Replacing the fuel pump will not make the smell go away.

As for the slow start, check out this thread first:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...recall-196072/