Hey everyone, I'm still not clear on the issues with the RX-8 concerning "cold starts".
What i hear is that the problem is starting in cold weather and then turning the car off before it has a chance to warm up, and when you try to start it after that is when you have the problem. Also i heard that a Mazda recall helps the problem by upgrading the starter and battery (and is this something they do free or..)?

But there is no problem when just starting the car in winter when its very cold right? It's only when starting it after turning it off cold?

Thanks

 

Follow your owners manual, it's clearly stated in there. Having said that, the issue is/was starting the car and turning it off before it warmed up regardless of the outside temperature. I may be wrong here, but the original/supposed fix was the battery and starter, but then the 4206F recall supposedly fixed that issue as well. It's NEVER happenned to me in two years, but then again............I don't start it and then shut it off without itt at lest running a few minutes and seeing the temp gauge get to the normal position.

 

I live in massachussets, runing premix.never have a problem with my 8 running cold weather, right now is 10 degrees and im using my 8 like is summer...yep..

 

Right! Just to be crystal clear - and as others have said - you were confusing "cold starts" to mean starting when the outside air is cold, like in winter. But in the context of the RX-8, it refers to starting it up when the engine has been sitting for many hours, like first thing in the morning, regardless of what the outdoor temperature is.

Early 8's would tend to flood if the engine were started up cold and then quickly turned off - like if you decided to wash the car by starting it up first thing in the morning, immediately backing it out of your garage, and then turning it off again, without letting the engine run a few minutes to warm up before shutting it down.

The easiest remedy was simply to remember to never turn off a cold engine until it had a chance to warm up first. (I have never flooded my '05, for example.) Beyond that, Mazda upgraded to a bigger starter motor and battery, along with that early recall that remapped the ECU a bit.

Honestly, there is no excuse to ever flood any RX-8. That said, a new mechanic or body shop, or some kid who parks valet cars - one that doesn't "know" rotary engines - could easily flood it, as they often will fire up a car that's been sitting for hours or days just to move it 10 feet. For that reason, I printed a sign that I tape to the steering wheel (below).

Now you know everything.

 

No flooding problem ever with my 2004, and I have shut it down countless times when cold. I think this issue is blown out of proportion.
But then again, I live in California and it doesn't get as cold here like at many other places, so...

 

It's a non issue, until it happens But yeah it's not a big deal really even when it does happen.

 

If your ignition is in top condition ,it is very unlikely you will have any trouble starting up, even after a cold shut down .