Has anyone tried Push Starting the RX8?? especially after it has been flooded?

The manual says not push start as it may cause the emission control system. Does it really?

 

push start as in "pop start?"

 

I've shut the car off, while driving, turned the key back to 'on', then popped the clutch, and voila! engine started.

 

Highly dangerous since the brakes will require a LOT more effort, which can catch you off guard, but thanks for experimenting for the rest of us.

 

That's the advisable way to do it with most cars, not just the RX-8.

 

so u just push the car in second gear... and pop the clutch and the car will turn on?

 

Sounds like a flinstones move.

 

Not dangerous in the least, in context with how I did it.


:D

 

Yes, put the ignition switch in the 'On' position when the instrument panel lights come on...press and hold the clutch, put the car in 2nd, have someone push the car till it starts moving at a reasonable speed, pop the clutch. The car will turn on if nothing else is wrong.

I have done this numerous times in my previous older manual transmission cars. It works for example if your battery is completely drained out etc.

However, just wanted to know if someone tried this on their RX8 as the manual says it may damage the emissions system? I dont know HOW and exactly WHAT can it damage in the emissions system?

 

You guys are crazy!! :D I just call Roadside assistance.

- Irish

 

Why would you want to do that?

 

I don't think you're supposed to push start any cars with the current emission systems as it damages them. Most of the manuals say that even stalling the car can damage them.

 

It was wet, and I decided I wanted TCS/DSC on again.

 

lmao... at least stop the car and restart it... don't u loose everything if the engine is shut off? like power steering, power breaks... and other stuff....

 

So you are saying it was wet, and you wanted TCS/DSC back on, so the best way to do it was to shut the car down while moving and then pop the clutch? Boy, that doesn't sound dangerous at all.

 

If you push and hold the DSC button for 5 seconds it turns off all traction control, the only way to enable it again is to restart the car. Also, most cars have enough vacum stored in the break booster for 2 pushes of the brake pedal. So doing this while you are driving is not the best idea, but you won't lose your break until you depress the break pedal 1 or 2 times.

 

Sure hope you don't do that often. Sounds like some damage could occur.

 

This is true on all modern vehicles... if I remember correctly the procedure can damage the catalytic converter, as unburned fuel may enter the converter and significantly shorten its life.

So push starting a car won't cause your catalytic converter to explode but doing it regularly could cause you to have to replace yours a lot earlier than you would otherwise have to...

 

Not a good idea if you're push starting due to a dead battery. You should run the car for some time to recharge the battery.

IIRC correctly rotarygod swears by this method to restart a flooded rotary.

 

yes. that was the best way to do it.


I'm continually amazed how afraid a large number of membership of this board actually IS of their cars.


wow.

 

for the 15? 20? feet the car rolled in the time it took to switch off the key, turn the key back to 'on', then release the clutch, I used neither brakes nor steering.

 

Possibility, if it's flooded real bad the fuel could be throughout the exhaust system and a small possibility of a fire within the exhaust when and if it starts. Still somewhat unlikely to cause damage, it will probably burn out in less than a minute. My son had a Suzuki RM 80, we had trouble starting ( thought the engine or tranny was seized ) so we tryed to jump start it and the back wheel would not turn even in 3rd gear. I took out the spark plug ( the bike was in the garage ) reconnected the spark plug to test the spark and when I kicked it over with my hand I saw fuel come out of the cylinder where the spark plug belongs. It had spark and ignited the fuel. Now with the bike on fire in the garage I'm thinking here goes our house. No way I grabbed the handlebar and swung the bike, throwing it about 10 feet or more out the garage grabbed the hose and doused the fire. Had some slightly melted plastic and some ignition wiring to replace. The float valve pin in carburator was not stopping the fuel and the gasoline was filling the cylinder while the bike wasn't being used. Hopefully you won't have to throw your 8 out of the garage to save the house. Anyway I have stalled the 8 while backing out on a hill and shifted to 2nd rolling forward 2mph and pop started mine, but mine has never been flooded.

 

Works in reverse too for those of you with inclined driveways. Ignition on, clutch pedal depressed, shift to reverse, get it rolling backwards, release the clutch. Just be sure to depress the clutch and brakes real quick after it catches since you can pick up some speed real quick.

edit: oh yeah, look behind you too

 

I'm not scared of my car. I drive it all year in Wisconsin, snow and all. What I am scared of is someone on wet conditions with no power popping their clutch. I'm not trying to be critical of you if you did it in an area with no other cars or people around. Personally, I would have just stopped and restarted.

 

I did it right down-town...with traffic very close - that's why I wanted the traction control on...just prior back end came loose too quickly for my tastes - just turning left from a light.

It was no more dangerous than pushing in the clutch and coasting for 20 feet.