Flooding and Mazda Roadside
 

I fell victim to the flooding issue yesterday and couldn't be happier with the service I received from Mazda 24 hour roadside assistance.
My car was in the driveway last Tuesday when my wife started it up and pulled it into the garage then turned it off about 45 seconds later....ouch!!!!
I was out of town and she didn't know no any better. Well this past Sunday, I head out to take her for a spin and all I got was a lot of cranking and no turn over. Since my wife was unaware of the potential problem with flooding, I only mildly beat her..(just kidding)
Anyway, I called Mazda RSA and there is a platform tow truck at my door within a 1/2 hour. Of course the dealer is closed on Sunday but my car was diagnosed as "flooded" on Monday morning by my Mazda dealer so they changed the plugs and oil. They also took care of the air bag issue while it was in the shop. Bottom line, I had it back by lunch with a free oil change and the air bag recall resolved. Yes..the flooding is a problem but this thread was meant to praise the superior service of the 24 hour RSA.....

Glad to hear you received prompt service with no hassle and had the job done by noon. I hope I don't have the same problem because I don't think I have RSA :(

Nice to know the raodside assistance is great service.

I think everybody (at least the original purchaser) gets the RSA - didn't you get the punch-out hang tag with the 800 number on it when you took delivery of your car?

I think it is good for the same period of time as the warranty.

I am glad to hear of the GREAT service you received - nice to know!

please educate anyone who drives your cars !!! this will cut down on all the griping !!!!

Flooding victim here too, and also great service from RSA. At the time of the issue, my dealsership had no idea how to fix this problem. Mind you I was the first to buy an 8 at this dealership in Aug 03, so i had to wait 2 days to get mine back. Still received excellent service all the way around!

Please educate the engineers at Mazda that a flooding car is a flooding car. A flooded RX8 is no better than a Porsche left on cinder blocks.

My 10 year old Nissan Altima simply starts every time. Even with an old battery and plugs in -10F weather. Hot, cold, rainy, humid, it just starts. I started it the other day, forgot something in the house and shut if off after running for only 10 seconds. Came back 2 minutes later and it started right up and I drove it.

Getting 25-30 MPG with gas approaching $2.00 here (and even higher elsewhere) makes sitting on the fence no longer an issue. I should delete the bookmark to this site, but I'm fascinated at the attempts by people on the bleeding edge to justify the purchase of their "baby".

JaegerNH, come on- this is trolling man......

the RX8 is not bleeding edge at all. I have never flooding mine. it's so simple- just let it warm up..... so simple... anyone who drives my 8 knows this. I'll admit valet parking could be an issue, but who wants a valet to take you car anyway?


But it is nice to know if it does happen roadside assistance is there and knows how to deal with it. (though I never expect to need it)


EDIT: come to think of it- you can valet your car- when dropping it off- there is no need for anyone to move it generally until you pick it up (you can also confirm this). WHen you hand your ticket in- just tell them to keep it running, and walk up to the car as it is pulling up- tip in hand, and reiterate "keep it running"

Problem solved.

How about educating YOURSELF? This isn't a new issue, it's inherent and known. We're talking about a rotary engine, not an old truck engine stuffed into a dull, plain ass sedan.

JaegerNH - I purchased my 8 because I had the funds available and for the first time in my life could buy a car that I desired and not just that I could afford. I have a child on the way and the 8s two + two half doors make it possible to transport said child with a bit more ease than a typical 2 door. I think the car is breathtaking. I think the car handles well. I think the car accelerates fast enough (I've had three tickets over 100mph in a 88 Honda Civic CRX, a much slower car).

I bought my car for my reasons. Every person on this planet has opinions, you for example, think that MPG is very important while it carries less weight with me (I have a 7 mile commute to work). You also believe that flooding is a foregone conclusion with the 8 I, however, think that by following the instructions in the manual the problem can be avoided and thus is not an issue (most of the flooding have been from folks who were oblivious to the wankels sensitiveity to temperature).

I make no excuses for my purchase because I bought what I wanted, hence I love my car.

THIS IS NOT A GODDAMNED ALTIMA !!! unfortunately the rotary exists in a world built around pistons.,

When are people going to get it thru their thick f-ing skulls that this is just one of the quirks of a rotary engine ?!?!?!?!?! There are a bunch of rotary rookies buying this car who have no clue as to the nuances and common practices that are needed with a rotary. Consequently, because they are idiots and uneducated...... Mazda has made a bad car ??!?!?! Kiss my ass. I just had a long chat with two rotary techs today who were laughing their asses off about some dipshit complaining about this exact problem. I joined in with them. When asked how long I've been dealing with these engines my response was "11 years." Their reply to that was........ "oh, so you expected this....." ABSOLUTELY.

This is my baby and it's an improvement over my last baby and this flooding "issue" which really isn't an issue at all doesn't bother me in the least.

Rant off.

I don't think Mazda wants to sell the 8 to only those already familiar with the rotary engine. Those rotary rookies are the new customers that will make the 8 a larger sales success.

If a lot of cars flood it could give the 8 a bad public rep. This could negatively impact sales and resale value. It's a warranty cost item for Mazda. There could be less funding for further development.

Of course, I can't say that these undesirable things will definitely result, but because the car does have a wider appeal than the 7 may have had, I think the flooding quirk needs attention and I hope it can be engineered out.

DO make sure RSA sends a platform tow truck. They did NOT in my case.

Jagernh is a troll.
I looked over all his posts. He does not even own an 8. He drives some girly-girl econobox and worries about mpg and rants about the wankel flooding.
I bought the coolest car. Nordic Green. It is a blast. I have never flooded it. I get 12mpg sometimes. So what. I wanted it and I got it. The next car I get may be a Testarossa, or a corvette or a Jag XJR. Whatever I get it will be because I like it. And I won't be sitting around listening to some high schooler who can't afford to put gas in his minivan tell me what a piece of crap my expensive car is because of XYZ. Go troll the fishpond for carp dudeette.

Regardless of what you say and who is or isn't trolling, point is that Mazda will need to do something about the flooding problem or the 8 is likely to be both the rebirth of and the last gasp of the rotary.

Those of us who are rotary enthusiasts understand the nature of the engine, but point is is that the driver who just wants a sports car won't stand for it, nor will the person who just wants a cool, sporty car.

It of course has long been a foregone conclusion that the 8 would appeal to rotary fans, but to be a long term commercial success it has to tantalize the everyday car buyer as well...

And that would be what? What are they going to do about flooding? If my car has not flooded is it really a problem with the rotory design or a fluke (or varience or whatever you wish to call it) that must be delt with a change in operational behavior by the user. Perhaps there is not a fix for flooding except user education. What then, do you think it spells the demise of the rotary engine. I think it likely that rotary engines may be used in light aircraft soon, I doubt that they will fade from view.

Way to go Sherlock Holmes! Considering most of my postings stated clearly that I had not bought one because of mpg and flooding problems in the first line, you're quite perceptive. Wow, and I thought the whole thing about guys using a car to compensate for shortcomings in other areas was just an urban legend.

Congratulations on your 12mpg. I'm sure all your friends are quite impressed at your gas purchasing prowess. You da man!
Your next car might be a Testarossa? Errrr... sure dude whatever you say. Maybe you can pick me and my girlfriend up in it. Perhaps you know her, she's currently the reigning Miss America.

Your expensive car is a piece of crap for the following reasons:
X. It's expensive
Y. It's unreliable
Z. It attracts people like you to it

Hmm this thread has some interesting points, and some not so interesting points. The one I want to hear more opinions on is what Mazda is going to do about the flooding issue. If they want the car to be a commercial success they will have to fix it. There are lots of people who don't know anything about rotary engines who will flood this engine. Heck even people who know all about rotary engines can flood it. And a engine that floods more often than never will not sell as one that never floods. Bottom line, if Mazda wants to market the RX-8 to a large audience, which I think they do, they will need to fix the flooding issue. Now...what I want to know is how this is going to be done. The only thing I can think of is a slight redesign in the engine, which probably won't occur until the 2006 models....Maybe 2005. Anyone else have any other opinions on how the flooding issue will be solved?

This thread is a waste of electrons....

JaegerNH: hooray, you didn't buy the car, now go away.

I was talking to a friend of mine today that has a Gen 2 RX-7. He said when his floods he pulls the fuel pump fuse cranks it a few times and then puts it back in and then he is able to start the car. Will this work for us with the new 8's?

Nat

just a little FYI: when i test drove the 8, the dealer took it from the parking spot and pulled it by the sidewalk (about 25ft away) and turned it off. i thought it was going to be flooded, so i jumped in and started up the car fine...hmmm, not flooded...

so, i wondered how overexaggerated this flooding issue has been...i let off the clutch a bit, and then stalled purpose...said "whoops!", my salesperson said "that's alright, let's start her again." fired up once more, no problems yet. i put the car in gear again and let off the clutch and at the friction point, faked a sneezed and stalled her again. without hesitation, i turned the key and she fired up again. i had enough stalling and was about to proceed with the test drive when i stalled for the 3rd time (unintentional) and said "i'm really sorry". my sales rep said, "you didn't do anything wrong, just start her up again. and whaddya know...she fired right up.

the car had been started 4 times within 5 mins and fired up each time without a hiccup...i honestly think this flooding this has been blown way out of proportion...or it could've been that particular car...

my advice is if you're concerned about flooding...stall the car a few times in the sales lot...i did!

X. No it isn't. Especially compared to the other cars in it's class. Mine was 3k more than my Explorer Sport Trac. 5k more than my LS Miata. That isn't expensive.

Y. Mine isn't. I don't think there is enough evidence to support this. Yeah some poeple on this board have problems. Most don't. (Same with all cars).

Z. Fine by me. Tell me what you drive so I know how to avoid people like you.

It is not that expensive. It's not unreliable. The gas mileage has to do mostly with people driving these cars like lunatics. I get 18-24 mpg just like the sticker says..... unless I wind out the engine ALL THE TIME. This is what is being done by the people bitching about mileage.

JUST GO AWAY !!!

I have an automatic and it has flooded once by my husband who did not believe it could happen....I got great service by Mazda Roadside assistance also. I don't have very good gas mileage and I DON"T drive the car like a lunatic at all.....pretty mild actually and once and awhile I have some fun. MPG is an issue. I am a rookie rotary and I bought the car knowing it's quirks and I love it that much that I am dealing with it. It is a great car that just needs a few quirks worked out...like many brand new cars/engines(Renesis rotary not previous rotaries). I wish the gas mileage was better...avg 12-14mpg.

My MPG has already increased to 16-18 MPG at 600 miles. Big jump. I might see improvement if I stop jumping if off the line when the light hits green though :)