I've had about 5 or so hardstarts since owning the car. I've owned the rx-8 for about a month and a half. It took me about 4-5 seconds to start the engine. Thought it would be a flood. Just wondering how often people get it here. I never turn off the car without it reaching normal operating temperature.

 

I've had the car for about 4 weeks now, and all but once, it's started right up. The one time, I cranked it for several seconds with no start, but then it started on the second try.

 

crank time up to 10 seconds.

 

EXACTLY.

As it's stated in the Owner's Manual.

I only have hard starts when it's warm(about once or twice a week) NEVER when cold but cold is a relative term in the Bay Area.

 

I used to get hard starts also when the engine was warm. Never did get hard starts when the engine was cold. I finally figured out how to get it to do a cold start style fire up everytime. Incidentally it was my salesman that gave me this tip, when I asked him if there was anything specific I had to do during start up, just to test his knowledge about flooding. He didn't say anything related to flooding (figures), but he did say that on a cold start, turn the key to the ON position for a few seconds before cranking the engine. This gives the fuel pumps a chance to get some fluid through the car before you crank it.

Now I had been following this advice for cold starts in the morning, but not during the day. I decided to try it for all startups...put the key to ON, and just count to 20 before cranking. Car starts up in 2-3 seconds every single time. Try it!

 

I tuen my key to ON too for about 5seconds before I start my 8 too and have only had 3 hard starts. May be I should wait more.

 

Jez to add to the confusion...after a couple of weeks, never a single hard start yet. Even started it cold, moved the car about 10 m and turned it off. Had to start again a few seconds later and it fires up instantly with zero pressure on the accelerator.