Positron

Roaddemon - What is the build date of your car (look on sticker on drivers door that lists tire pressure, etc for date)? Is it auto or manual trans? How long have you had your car? I am trying to get something definite on cars that don't have the flooding problem and cars that do have the problem. Thanks for the info.

mm

Roaddemon

It is a velocity red, grand touring, manual 6 speed, dealer owner driven demo I bought Tuesday with 2300 mi on it. I bought it for my wife and she presently has it at work, (boy is the 8 getting attention. Her Boss and everyone else have admired or commented on it) so I'll get back to you on the production date after she comes home from work.

OK I got the production date. It's 06/03. I wonder if the ECUs on some 8s are defective. Would'nt doubt some recalls once Mazda finds the problem.

racerdave

Just a thought... does anyone know what the most recent ECU flashes fix?

I wonder if the most recent ECU flashes are designed to fix some of the flooding issues.

Anyone?

Charles Cope

I just read this entire thread, help me out:

My gen 2 1988 RX7 DID have a flooding problem. It was a known thing, rumor had it that it was much better in the ~1990 version. I've heard also that the gen 3's (turbos) didn't have much of a problem.

BUT ... the only time my car flooded was if I started it after it was cold (even in August!) and moved it in the driveway, maybe 20-30 feet, then turned it off. Next attempted start, flooded.

OK, those that have experienced flooding on the RX8 (I haven't in the six months I owed it) please help those worrying about short trips to the gas station. I don't believe that your car will flood if its been driven a city block.

What is the longest "trip" taken where flooding has occurred? Help calm the fears of those who won't buy an 8 or are scared to drive to the gas station!

MEGAREDS

For me... 30 feet on a rainy day, temp about 35F. The car sat about 10 hours, then did not start when I tried, even though I was careful about how I tried to turn it over (I followed the manual).

BTW, I'm no longer optimistic about the email mentioned in the first post.... it's been long enough now for someone to have confirmed ByeByeSaturn's report, but no one that I know has.

ByeByeSaturn

Megareds, I'm not sure anyone tried to call Mazda NA, because if they had they would have posted the answer they got one way or another. I gave the date of the email, and I would call back and myself, but that kind of misses the point. I believe I spoke with a woman named Michelle, but I could be wrong about that.

If someone could call next week, tell them the date of the email and ask to confirm it, that would be great. It's a few minutes of your time, and many would appreciate it. Info:

1-800-222-5500
Our business hours are
Monday through Friday:
8:00AM - 4:45PM (Pacific)
9:00AM - 5:45PM (Central/Eastern)

JimW

Yes we are getting the advertised H.P. but not the MPG even while driving like EPA rollers! Every car I had came close to EPAs target MPG, but the RX8 isn't close, This is due to the detuning via the air fuel ratio which makes the car run richer thus giving us worse gas mileage. I'd be glad to pay for a high heat resistant catylitic converter if they restored the original parameters, but of course this will probably not happen, That's why I am looking forward to stage 2 and thanking Maurice (canzoomer).

CERAMICSEAL

JimW, have you seen Maurice's personal mpg? Don't believe everything you read on the web. I don't think there is any claim that stage1 or 2 will get you improved fuel economy. Canzoomer is not a subsidiary of Mazda and isn't promising to give back the exact supposedly lost hp. Best wishes whatever route you take.

MEGAREDS

I really want to see something a bit more formal than an email to a particular customer. I mailed them a letter asking for a clarification of the warranty issue earlier this month.... I'm sure everyone is tired of my drum beating by now, but I think this is really important for Mazda to nail down, particularly for people considering buying the car. They've only had my letter about 2 weeks so far. At 4 weeks I'm going to rethink the whole thing and try to develop my own version of "Stage 2."

ByeByeSaturn

Megareds,

It was not an email sent to me. It was an email sent by HQ to all Mazda customer service reps, apparently. That's what I was told, and it definitely requires confirmation (hence the "?" in the subject of this thread). Granted, an official letter sent by Mazda to all dealers and owners would be the only 100% stamp of authenticity that would truly put our concerns to rest, but an email of the like that I was told about is a step in the right direction.

So now the only question is, who's gonna call?

sferrett

I tend to agree although I don't have any hard data to back it up. If I'm moving the car out of the drive or something, I take it around the block before I park it. Not very far but far enough for the temp gauge to at least move up off the left hand stop one click.

I regularly fill up with gas (plesae lets not turn this into a mpg thread ) at the station at the bottom of the hill from work when it's cold - about 200 yards, and I have had no issue restarting after getting gas so far. Generally after getting out of the lot, pulling onto the road and then into the station the temp gauge has just started to move from dead cold.

Simon.

BillK

If they detuned after the MPG ratings were established Mazda would have to go back to the EPA for a retest, so the sticker ratings were established with the final ECU mapping.

I tend to believe that though there is some issue with ECUs and MPG (some have no problem achieving EPA numbers, others cannot) I also believe the car's lack of an upshift light means that most people don't shift using EPA-like shift patterns. Try upshifting at no more than 3K RPM and always, but always shift into 6th as soon as possible once you get to speed - the engine won't bog at as little as 35 MPH in 6th but won't exactly accelerate - and see what you get...

MEGAREDS

I was lurking on the British version of this board a few nights ago and noticed that pretty much everyone was getting 21-23mpg. Are the Brits not also driving the crippled RX-8?

BillK

Be careful - they may be quoting Imperial rather than U.S. gallons (1 US gallon = .833 Imperial gallons...)

sferrett

Yes....

US Gallon = ~3.79 L
UK Gallon = ~4.55 L

A pretty substantial difference when talking about MPG

RX-8ME

Interesting observation... The Nashville Auto and Truck Show was this weekend. I went today a lurked around the RX-8, listening to the the sales people talk to people about the car. They mentioned to almost everyone that you had to be careful about shutting down cold. They were also telling people the oil need to be checked often. When I bought my car the saleman mentioned on the test drive that you had to be careful about moving the car short distances, but that was it, no other mention of it..
just my input.. for what it's worth..

Draig

I also had starting problems which went to Mazda techincal. They have produced a technical note (last week in the UK) which suggests to rev the car to 3500 revs and then switch the ignition off (this should clear any unburnt fuel). When you restart the car, they suggest putting your foot to the floor (shuts off the fuel supply) and then slowly release the pedal until it fires.

Mike

MEGAREDS

Very good news... I received a letter today from Mazda North American Operations. I'll post the details in another thread because I think it deserves its own. For now, I'll just quote the relevant paragraph:

"In regards to your question, any incidence of RX-8 flooding, whether it be dealer service or towing, will be covered under Mazda New Vehicle Warranty (48months/50,000miles). I apologize for any miscommunication between you and the dealer as dealers have been educated that the repair will always be covered by Mazda."

This is a huge relief to me personally because up until today I was becoming convinced that Mazda was deliberately being vague at the expense of its customers and potential customers, and I was distressed that I had bought a car from that type of company. I had also decided that I was going to stick with this issue until I had received some measure of satisfaction, so planning "Stage 2" was consuming more and more of my time and energy... I'm really happy to say that "Stage 2" is cancelled.

Guys... this is a very generous policy, and one we should be thrilled with. I know some of you were told this was the policy from the start, but my experience suggested that it was not such a simple issue. I was quickly becoming convinced that we would get coverage for the first year as a "service adjustment" or, as my dealer told me in writing, as a "one-time good will fix." That could easily be $250 per repair. In light of the plain and unequivocal language used in the letter, and in light of the fact that it took them over three weeks to respond, I'm convinced this will stick.

Zoom Zoom!

RX8Z

Megareds,

Im curious to know if this is an official national response from mazda, or just a per incident response to your case

Did you happen to question the rep and ask them this? If this is anational incident, ask them for a CODE or an INCIDENT ID number which pretty much is a way of them tracking specific cases with their vehicles

I have to call Mazda HQ tomororw and talk to someone .... but gj, gl and hope your ride gets repaired asap !

Za

MEGAREDS

My "question" (referenced in the letter quoted above) was specifically whether flooding repairs were covered under the warranty for the full 4 years. I complained that my dealership had indicated my repair was not a warranty-covered incident and said I believed RX-8 owners were entitled to know Mazda's interpretation of the extent of their coverage. I specifically asked to know what Mazda's policy toward flooding would be into the future. My letter appears to have been processed around the same time ByeByeSaturn reported an email had gone out to customer-service people about the fact that flooding was a covered incident. I suggest anyone with a problem or question call the number referred to in my letter: 800-222-5500. This is Mazda's customer relations number.

Positron

I sent an email to the customer service office at Mazda NA and asked, in general what Mazda NA recommends that an owner do about the flooding issue. In retrospect, my question was probably too general, but here is what the Mazda NA rep sent me today:



In regards to your inquiry about operation to avoid stalling (as
mentioned in our "Quick Tips"), as I'm sure that you know from your personal research before your purchase, the RX-8 is a truly unique sportscar. Not only is the styling and design different, but it is also powered by a completely different type of engine. Undoubtedly, you must have been attracted by the uniqueness of the rotary engine as one of the features of the RX-8.

By design, the rotary engine will utilize oil to lubricate its
components and the temperature gauge should reach operating range to allow for proper functioning. As you have found, it is suggested that one simply allows for the fuel and oil to move through the vehicle before shutting it off to avoid flooding and improper flow of oil. Almost all driving will allow for this naturally. Extremely short drives may not allow for this however.

Therefore, in the rare case that you need to simply move the car out of the driveway, for example, and then turn it off....just give a few minutes (we suggest 5) to allow for warm up.

Basically, we suggest that you allow the fuels and fluids to move
through the vehicle until warm and avoid spark plug damage, too. We suggest letting the engine idle for about 10 seconds before moving your RX-8 (this is pretty standard for ANY driving). Before shutting off the engine after moving, let the engine idle for about 5 minutes and then rev it to 3,000 RPMs and return to idle. You can then shut it off.

Naturally, this would only be suggested in rare situations when you operate it for less than 5 minutes at at time. Almost all driving that one does would allow for the engine to operate naturally to these specifications.



At least I feel I have some more detail from an "official" source about short moves, idling before starting, and reving before shutting down.

Sea Ray

Some how I don't find moving a car a short distance to be a rare event. Still I can deal with it but it is not rare!

Basically he didn't say anthing more than what is in the tips booklet.

BillK

While this is good to know, it still doesn't solve the problem that it may happen to you at a very inopportune time, and if it does it will likely take at least an hour to get your car towed and then you will likely be without it up to three or four days, depending on when it happens.

In short, it's good to know they will cover it, but Mazda still needs to fix it, IMHO, or the 8 will never be anything but a very small niche car and the rotary's reputation will be sullied once and for all...

Roaddemon

Your wrong on that. The rotory is only prone to flooding after starting and stopping after very short period in cold weather. If precautions are taken as stated in the manual it should not be a factor. The rotory has been around a long time and will always be a valued sportscar engine. This car already has a reputation as a great car. I'm sure it will be improved upon in the future. But why wait when you can have it all now.

Roaddemon

A couple times I have clonked out my 8 backing up out of the drive. It restarted right away. It was 22*F outside. I drive it like any other car short trips.