red_rx8_red_int

I've read several posts now that discuss reving and shutting it off at the higher revs. IIRC, the instructions explicitly say let it return to idle.

MEGAREDS

IIRC?

mamccubbin

If I remember correctly.

Arthur

I used to take it to the corner store all the time and shut it down. Now that's it's flooded twice, I am paranoid about doing it and I will continue to be until there is a real fix to this. Or, I'm trading it in. I don't want a car that I can't count on. I don't want to worry about valet parking, car washes, etc. I'd hate to give it up, but I will if they don't fix this.

Also, reving it up and shutting it off while the revs are up is there is exactly opposite of what the dealer said I should do. The service manager said to be sure that the idle has returned to the lowest level prior to shutting down so that the fuel has a chance to move through.

amartin

Well, 900 miles on the vehicle. Moved it from my parking spot about 30 feet so I could wash it... started it back up, after 1hr of washing and moved it back to its parking spot.

Got in it this morning... crank..crank..crank... no fire.

Attempted the de-flooding procedure (held gas to floor, turned vehicle over for 10 sec, stop and wait 10 sec, repeat). Battery now dead, car won't start.

I put the battery on a charger and will try again tonight... if no dice tonight, its going back to the dealer to be 'fixed'.

Totally unacceptable. Add me to the list of people that have flooded and can't start the vehicle.
-- Aaron

JaegerNH

Here's a posting from a different forum where the owner of a RX-8 was presented with a bill for $285 from the dealer for fixing the flooding problem due to "driver error".

http://forums.mazdaworld.org/index.p...=0&#entry49539

amartin

I put the battery on charge, and mentioned the problem to a friend of mine that works at Mazda-- he was going home for lunch (which happens to be close to my home), and he happens to have the valet key to my RX-8, he stopped by and got it running.

He said he did the same procedure-- hold throttle wide open, turn car over... Took 3 trys, but eventually it cranked over. Blew a bunch of smoke for a few... and seems to be back and operational.

Now, my question is... Has this 'fouled' up my plugs? Or will they 'clean' themselves with normal running?? And how can I tell? If they are a little fouled up now, will I be more prone to flooding?

-- Aaron

MEGAREDS

Aaron... I think you're ok. Some people have recommended getting the oil changed, but I specifically asked my dealer's service guy (I know I know) and he said that the car didn't need the oil changed. Mine's been running fine since the flood. Of course, my plugs were swapped out and yours were not; still, I would not worry about it unless you get a Check Engine Light.

rieskame

my gas mileage dropped from 16-17 to barely 15

jonalan

Exactly! In this hypothetical scenario, you are assuming there is a flaw in the 777 based on what you've read from total strangers on an internet forum; as opposed to a press release from "Boeing", or the Bush administration, or whomever.

There MAY be a flooding issue with this car, but I don't know that because I've not experienced it, nor known anyone personally who has. Nor has there been anything released from Mazda pertaining to this.

Also, your "15% chance of flooding" comment is based on an unscientific, unreliable source. I'll bet there was a much, MUCH better chance of finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - and look where that's gotten us. :D

shebam

My Thanksgiving flooding episode involved two dealer visits: the one in Ypsilanti who got it started, and the one at home (530-plus miles later) who changed the plugs. The towing in Michigan and the two dealer visits were both done under warranty with no weasal words on the invoice ... so maybe Mazda is trying to tighten up a bit after a bean counter has reviewed the warranty claims. The plug change suggests that effects of the fouling could persist even after extended high speed driving, but I didn't ask to see the old plugs or why they were changed.

As I suggested in another thread, I don't EXPECT to stall my car, especially when it's cold and revving high, but even after driving sticks for 33 years I feel better when the temp. needle starts to climb. And after it has refused to start once, you do feel some anxiety every time you turn the key.

Re shutdown, I rev it to about 4500, take my foot off the gas, and turn off the ignition at about 3000. Who knows whether this actually helps?

Re parking valets, the scenario I worry about is the lot where you leave it a day or more ("VIP" parking at Dulles) and they have to shuffle the cars if they haven't parked them in the right order. Fortunately, Dulles has a new garage ....

amartin

Damnit... I knew I shouldn't have bought a car that Bill Gate's operating system was based on! :-) Who would have known the car GPF's every couple of dozens of starts.

(Okay, you might need to be a geek to get that)

-- Aaron

Pavehawk

And a slightly older geek too. When's the last time anyone saw a GPF. Of course a BSOD would be more appropriate in this case.

Three weeks and counting...

RX-8 Zoomster

Greetings everyone. It's been awhile since I posted. I've been back from Qatar for over 3 months now, been enjoying my car, and haven't had a problem until.....

Last night, I pulled my car out of the garage (to do some work in the garage) and it stalled on me. It's been pretty nippy here in Florida at night, so I just thought, "it's just a little cold, I try to start it, and let it idle a little before I back it up". Well it didn't start. I tried several times, and couldn't get it to turn over. Started to smell like it flooded, so I just left it alone, put it in neutral and pushed it back into the garage for the night. No big deal, I thought for now, since I had two other cars at my disposal if I needed to go anyplace. Also didn't want to sweat over it since I knew I could get it towed in the morning if it didn't start, since I knew it was under warranty...until I searched for "flooding" and found this thread.

Anyway, I tried again this morning, using the procedures in the manual concerning flooding and it still didn't start. Ok. Last straw, I'll let it sit for another half hour and if it don't start this time, then time to call for a tow. Of course, I said a little prayer, since God really owns the car anyway.

After the half hour, I floored the accelerator and let it crank for about 10 seconds. It sputtered and spit, and FINALLY it turned over. Well, I ain't going to let this baby die so easily. Let it idle for 10 minutes and took it out for a "exhaust cleaning". Drove around the back roads of Florida for about 20 minutes, getting it up to about 115 a few times :D , and everything seemed fine. Ran like a top.

Bottom line. I agree with many hear on this thread. This shouldn't be an issue for a 2004 model sports car. None-the-less, I will still enjoy my car, and HOPE this never happens again, and if so, then Mazda will cover it's repair under the warranty.

I'll keep you guys posted.

Mat

It is covered. You can rest easy

Arthur

Mine flooded the first time under almost the exact same circumstances--even at approximately the same miles (mine was 860). Anyway, the dealer changed the oil and cleaned the plugs, but it flooded again a week later even after I had warmed it up before everytime before shutting down. The dealer put hotter plugs in, and so far no more issues, but I still worry about the possibility of a next time. All was covered under the warranty.

MEGAREDS

Does your invoice indicate a warranty repair?

rieskame

mine wasnt covered

amartin

I think gettig stranded is more of a concern tha anything...what if I goto a resturaunt (okay, FINE, BAR!!) and..it closes a 2am.. I go out in the freezing weather..bar closed..patrons gone...forgot my cell phone at home... start to pull out, and stall the vehicle.. go to start it, and boom. Flooded.

Go through the de-flood procedure (which, BTW, only seems to work if you have a LOT of current in the battery available), and drain the battery. I'm SCRWED.

This is a real concern, and its pretty serious, because, as mentioned, you could 'stall' and not be able to restart anywhere from a busy intersection/stoplight to a train crossing... or worse, on a mountain and freeze to death.

The warranty and $ issues aside, its a big problem. I've NEVER-EVER had a car that basically wouldn't start because of a fuel issue (unless it was out of fuel, or dead fuel pump).

...its a pretty major concern of mine, now, that I've done it at 900 miles. Every 1k miles and I'm hosed? Thats kinda silly.

I've been driving for almost 20 years now. I've never-EVER had a car do this. I mean... go intentioally flood any other car, push the throttle to the floor and turn it over, it'll start. But this car? Its a 20/80 chance. If that.

The seriousness of this issue is massive, and potentially a huge lawsuit to Mazda if someone dies from it..

BillK

As I've mentioned before, everyone in the U.S. who has this problem occur to them should be sure to file a complaint of a potential safety defect with NHTSA (at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/).

If there are enough complaints, NHTSA will start an investigation and perhaps demand a recall. Since they've forced recalls for inaccurate gas gauges being a safety hazard, I would imagine a car that stalls and cannot be restarted certainly qualifies...

Arthur

I'm almost positive it does, but I'll check to be sure and get back to you.

jonalan

LOL :D Sorry amartin, just the thought of someone dying from flooding their car struck me funny!