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What's the recommended follow up?

Old Dec 14, 2009 | 09:45 PM
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From: PACNORWEST
What's the recommended follow up?

Other than not doing it again. . . I flooded & recovered following guidance from DIY forum a couple weeks ago.

Are there any "post flooding" steps that NEED to be done or SHOULD be done? ex: clean plugs,
redline in 3 or 4 gears repeatedly?

IT seems that since the car flooded, it has been hard starting quite a bit. Yeah, yeah, it's winter. . .but this is unusually hard starts, so much that the CEL comes on and stays on for the next 3 or 4 start cycles.
I'm at 42K; on my 2nd set of plugs and have the BHR coils if that matters any. . .
Thanks in advance!
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Old Dec 14, 2009 | 10:14 PM
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Have the battery checked to make certain that it is putting out the correct voltage when it is charged. A weak battery will not only make it harder to crank the engine, but it will produce a weaker spark that leads to flooding. Also, have all the recalls been performed on the car. One of the latest ones was to help resolve the flooding problem.
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Old Dec 14, 2009 | 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by galleychief
Other than not doing it again. . . I flooded & recovered following guidance from DIY forum a couple weeks ago.

Are there any "post flooding" steps that NEED to be done or SHOULD be done? ex: clean plugs,
redline in 3 or 4 gears repeatedly?

IT seems that since the car flooded, it has been hard starting quite a bit. Yeah, yeah, it's winter. . .but this is unusually hard starts, so much that the CEL comes on and stays on for the next 3 or 4 start cycles.
I'm at 42K; on my 2nd set of plugs and have the BHR coils if that matters any. . .
Thanks in advance!
Have you tried to decarbon the engine to increase the compression? Add a can of SeaFoam best results half or quarter tank(at Walmart $8) and drive it hard near the red line a few times. If one can improves it try a second treatment. Let us know if it helps.

Last edited by Old Rotor; Dec 14, 2009 at 10:40 PM.
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Old Dec 15, 2009 | 10:40 AM
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buy a battery charger and charge it yourself.

Never can go wrong wit da batt charger in da garage
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Old Dec 15, 2009 | 10:43 AM
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lol why are you talking like a wigger today razz
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Old Dec 15, 2009 | 01:12 PM
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From: PACNORWEST
Originally Posted by Old Rotor
Have you tried to decarbon the engine to increase the compression? Add a can of SeaFoam best results half or quarter tank(at Walmart $8) and drive it hard near the red line a few times. If one can improves it try a second treatment. Let us know if it helps.
O.R./ You recommend adding a can of Seafoam at half a tank of gas or less, drive it hard thru the rest of the tank of gas to clean out some carbon. You say this should help with the hard starts and is a good "post flooding", or anytime, maintenance idea??
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Old Dec 15, 2009 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by galleychief
O.R./ You recommend adding a can of Seafoam at half a tank of gas or less, drive it hard thru the rest of the tank of gas to clean out some carbon. You say this should help with the hard starts and is a good "post flooding", or anytime, maintenance idea??
Yes on both.
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Old Dec 15, 2009 | 07:35 PM
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From: PACNORWEST
Thanks for the suggestions except

the wigger thing. . .I understood completely, I spoke Jive in an earlier life.

I'll hook the battery to a trickle charge overnight and see if there is any difference in the morning.

I have read several posts on SeaFoam or the Mazda product but never associated either with 10 seconds of cranking before the motor fires. I'll give it a try this week and let you all know.
Can ya dig it? Thanks again. Happy Festivus!
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Old Dec 21, 2009 | 10:14 PM
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From: PACNORWEST
WA Flooding followup epilogue.

So I connected the charger and yeah, it was not fully charged. Next day it was and the car started much better, although the temperature was 25 degrees warmer than it had been the previous week when the flooding and hard start issues started.
Later that evening I checked the battery again and it was down. I am wondering if something is draining power or if my daily driving to and from work is not enough to restore the charge. I replaced the OEM battery 2 years ago with a Die Hard Gold with higher cold starting amps. Dunno, may be time to get a red top and be done with it. . .

Seafoam: Dumped a can into about a qtr. tank of gas and spent the weekend testing the redline buzzer. I can't say it made any noticible difference. I may do it again once I get back down to qtr tank.

Thanks all for the suggestions.
Merry Christmas.
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 01:15 PM
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From: Northern California
Originally Posted by galleychief
So I connected the charger and yeah, it was not fully charged. Next day it was and the car started much better, although the temperature was 25 degrees warmer than it had been the previous week when the flooding and hard start issues started.
Later that evening I checked the battery again and it was down. I am wondering if something is draining power or if my daily driving to and from work is not enough to restore the charge. I replaced the OEM battery 2 years ago with a Die Hard Gold with higher cold starting amps. Dunno, may be time to get a red top and be done with it. . .

Seafoam: Dumped a can into about a qtr. tank of gas and spent the weekend testing the redline buzzer. I can't say it made any noticible difference. I may do it again once I get back down to qtr tank.

Thanks all for the suggestions.
Merry Christmas.
What is the voltage before you start and after it is started. That is a 3yr full replacement warranty. You might need another SeaFoam treatment.
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