My RX-8 dead in my garage
11-13-2003, 06:51 PM
#1
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My RX-8 dead in my garage
OK here's the good news. I just spent the last 2 nights Zaino'ing my RX-8 and it looks great! Better than showroom finish.
OK here's the bad news. I got home from work to rearrange my RX-8 in the garage and it won't start! I cranked it for awhile several times with no firing as far as I can tell. The temperature has dropped from 55 to 40 degrees in my garage but that shouldn't affect a modern fuel injected car.
The engine light is on but I think it's probably always on when you're starting up the car. The only problem I've had with my RX-8 was a brief time at 3600miles where the oil level light came on, which has been reported by others. I think I'm around 4600miles right now.
VIN# 0585 (Not sure how I got a low VIN since I didn't pre-order)
Build: 05/03
Bought it off the lot on July 31. Was told first one sold by dealer.
Silver 6SP GT black/red leather
I've been really happy with my RX-8 up to this point, but this has me really worried.
OK here's the bad news. I got home from work to rearrange my RX-8 in the garage and it won't start! I cranked it for awhile several times with no firing as far as I can tell. The temperature has dropped from 55 to 40 degrees in my garage but that shouldn't affect a modern fuel injected car.
The engine light is on but I think it's probably always on when you're starting up the car. The only problem I've had with my RX-8 was a brief time at 3600miles where the oil level light came on, which has been reported by others. I think I'm around 4600miles right now.
VIN# 0585 (Not sure how I got a low VIN since I didn't pre-order)
Build: 05/03
Bought it off the lot on July 31. Was told first one sold by dealer.
Silver 6SP GT black/red leather
I've been really happy with my RX-8 up to this point, but this has me really worried.
11-13-2003, 06:55 PM
#2
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You probably flooded it -- it's been happening to a lot of people (me included), especially as the weather has started getting cooler.
Did you start it up, take it in or out of the garage and then shut off the engine without warming it up for a few minutes? That's what I did, and mine flooded. Most people are able to clear the excess fuel out of the rotors and get theirs started again by following the procedure in the owner's manual. It took a while, but I eventually got mine started again that way.
It's just one of the few drawbacks of a rotary engine.
Did you start it up, take it in or out of the garage and then shut off the engine without warming it up for a few minutes? That's what I did, and mine flooded. Most people are able to clear the excess fuel out of the rotors and get theirs started again by following the procedure in the owner's manual. It took a while, but I eventually got mine started again that way.
It's just one of the few drawbacks of a rotary engine.
11-13-2003, 07:29 PM
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jtimbck2,
What you described is exactly what I did. I only started the car for a short period of time to move it into my garage to Zaino it.
Unfortunately I already tried to unflood the engine by holding down the gas pedal and cranking the engine. That was one of the first things I tried, especially when I smelled a lot of gas from the exhaust.
I re-read the owner manual and it says to do it for 10 seconds, which I did not do since it seemed like a long time. It also says to crank without the gas pedal pushed down, which I also already tried.
I'm going to go outside right now and try it again but this time I'm following the user manual to the letter. This time I'm going to make sure it's the full 10 seconds and try it over and over again with the gas pedal displaced and then not displaced.
If this flooding is common to a rotary, then maybe the large temperature swing in the past 24hrs is making it worse.
What you described is exactly what I did. I only started the car for a short period of time to move it into my garage to Zaino it.
Unfortunately I already tried to unflood the engine by holding down the gas pedal and cranking the engine. That was one of the first things I tried, especially when I smelled a lot of gas from the exhaust.
I re-read the owner manual and it says to do it for 10 seconds, which I did not do since it seemed like a long time. It also says to crank without the gas pedal pushed down, which I also already tried.
I'm going to go outside right now and try it again but this time I'm following the user manual to the letter. This time I'm going to make sure it's the full 10 seconds and try it over and over again with the gas pedal displaced and then not displaced.
If this flooding is common to a rotary, then maybe the large temperature swing in the past 24hrs is making it worse.
11-13-2003, 08:34 PM
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Having owned two RX-7's in the past, my bought back RX8, and my current RX8, I wouldn't say that flooding is a rotary problem. None of the four RX's that I have owned have ever flooded. Not in 20 years of driving them (all told).
11-13-2003, 08:46 PM
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Just a quick update. I was able to get my RX-8 started but the flooding may just be a symptom of another problem. Like some of the others on this forum even if you know it's flooded, it's extremely difficult or possibly impossible to get your car started.
I followed the directions in the user manual exactly for 10 minutes with only an occasional fire at around the 5-6 second mark. I finally did get my car started by continuing the process. The amount of smoke generated was scary in a 2 car garage even with the door open.
Now the flooding story deviates from what most other people experienced. My CEL came on for a few seconds and then went out after the first start. I drove the car for a test spin for about 10 minutes to clean out the engine. As a final test with a fully warmed up engine, I accelerated but not real hard. At 6-7k rpm, I lost power and the CEL came on and never went out. Maybe a misfire due to fouled plugs. The car seems fine now (except for the CEL) but it looks like I'm going to the dealer tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. This can't be normal, even for a rotary. I don't want to go to the dealer for a CEL every time I forget to warm up the engine. Hopefully Mazda is investigating a fix.
I followed the directions in the user manual exactly for 10 minutes with only an occasional fire at around the 5-6 second mark. I finally did get my car started by continuing the process. The amount of smoke generated was scary in a 2 car garage even with the door open.
Now the flooding story deviates from what most other people experienced. My CEL came on for a few seconds and then went out after the first start. I drove the car for a test spin for about 10 minutes to clean out the engine. As a final test with a fully warmed up engine, I accelerated but not real hard. At 6-7k rpm, I lost power and the CEL came on and never went out. Maybe a misfire due to fouled plugs. The car seems fine now (except for the CEL) but it looks like I'm going to the dealer tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. This can't be normal, even for a rotary. I don't want to go to the dealer for a CEL every time I forget to warm up the engine. Hopefully Mazda is investigating a fix.
11-13-2003, 08:56 PM
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Unfortunately it is common, not necessarily normal, for the rotary to flood. The first thing to do after the problem is fixed is to get the oil changed. Gas has been mixed with oil lowering the viscosity. Change the plugs also. Welcome to the world of rotary. The positives still outweigh the negatives.
11-13-2003, 09:07 PM
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Originally posted by Dave Gotwisner
Having owned two RX-7's in the past, my bought back RX8, and my current RX8, I wouldn't say that flooding is a rotary problem. None of the four RX's that I have owned have ever flooded. Not in 20 years of driving them (all told).
Having owned two RX-7's in the past, my bought back RX8, and my current RX8, I wouldn't say that flooding is a rotary problem. None of the four RX's that I have owned have ever flooded. Not in 20 years of driving them (all told).
It is a rotary 'issue', maybe not a 'problem'. People need to be aware of the need to warm up a rotary before shutting it off again. That's not to say it will flood if you don't, but the possibility does exist.
11-13-2003, 09:10 PM
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Originally posted by l_doggy
Just a quick update. I was able to get my RX-8 started but the flooding may just be a symptom of another problem. Like some of the others on this forum even if you know it's flooded, it's extremely difficult or possibly impossible to get your car started.
I followed the directions in the user manual exactly for 10 minutes with only an occasional fire at around the 5-6 second mark. I finally did get my car started by continuing the process. The amount of smoke generated was scary in a 2 car garage even with the door open.
Now the flooding story deviates from what most other people experienced. My CEL came on for a few seconds and then went out after the first start. I drove the car for a test spin for about 10 minutes to clean out the engine. As a final test with a fully warmed up engine, I accelerated but not real hard. At 6-7k rpm, I lost power and the CEL came on and never went out. Maybe a misfire due to fouled plugs. The car seems fine now (except for the CEL) but it looks like I'm going to the dealer tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. This can't be normal, even for a rotary. I don't want to go to the dealer for a CEL every time I forget to warm up the engine. Hopefully Mazda is investigating a fix.
Just a quick update. I was able to get my RX-8 started but the flooding may just be a symptom of another problem. Like some of the others on this forum even if you know it's flooded, it's extremely difficult or possibly impossible to get your car started.
I followed the directions in the user manual exactly for 10 minutes with only an occasional fire at around the 5-6 second mark. I finally did get my car started by continuing the process. The amount of smoke generated was scary in a 2 car garage even with the door open.
Now the flooding story deviates from what most other people experienced. My CEL came on for a few seconds and then went out after the first start. I drove the car for a test spin for about 10 minutes to clean out the engine. As a final test with a fully warmed up engine, I accelerated but not real hard. At 6-7k rpm, I lost power and the CEL came on and never went out. Maybe a misfire due to fouled plugs. The car seems fine now (except for the CEL) but it looks like I'm going to the dealer tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. This can't be normal, even for a rotary. I don't want to go to the dealer for a CEL every time I forget to warm up the engine. Hopefully Mazda is investigating a fix.
11-13-2003, 09:33 PM
#11
Originally posted by Habeeb
Unfortunately it is common, not necessarily normal, for the rotary to flood. The first thing to do after the problem is fixed is to get the oil changed. Gas has been mixed with oil lowering the viscosity. Change the plugs also. Welcome to the world of rotary. The positives still outweigh the negatives.
Unfortunately it is common, not necessarily normal, for the rotary to flood. The first thing to do after the problem is fixed is to get the oil changed. Gas has been mixed with oil lowering the viscosity. Change the plugs also. Welcome to the world of rotary. The positives still outweigh the negatives.
11-13-2003, 09:39 PM
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Bringing the dipstick inside to have family members smell it would definately be good bonding. More familys need something to bring them together. Change the oil, change the pulgs. Go drive your car.
11-13-2003, 09:45 PM
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easy fix: don't forget to warm it up. I stopped to get gas (at the gas station/convenience store where I work p/t) after work, so had to drive it 60 feet to the pumps. Just sat there for 5 minutes with it idling to get it warmed up a bit before shutting down.
As for this situation: it sounds like classical rotary flood. Do let us know how it ends up. The possibility that other things happened as a result of the fouled plugs/gas in oil/etc. does exist.
As for this situation: it sounds like classical rotary flood. Do let us know how it ends up. The possibility that other things happened as a result of the fouled plugs/gas in oil/etc. does exist.
11-13-2003, 10:03 PM
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Hey guys! I don't know if this has anything to do with the problem you're discussing, but I was told tonight that Mazda knows that there's a problem with the spark plugs in some of our cars. They heat too low (???????). Not sure what this means.
Just thought I'd put the info out there.
Just thought I'd put the info out there.