Engine Flooded? Car starts but idles wildly and acceleration pedal doesn't work!
 

Hello all, I have had my RX8 for 5 years.

Today I started the car, didn't really let it warm up. Drove on to the highway and hit it in third gear and all the sudden the car started to idle wildly and the acceleration pedal does nothing. Very strange. Was able to get off of the highway and the car wouldn't start.

I thought maybe it was flooded and tried the procedures but nothing. Waited about a half hour and the car started but idled wildly again.

It idles like a heart beat. Very strange. Had it towed home now and wrting this.

Searched on the forum but nothing on the acceleration. Only loss of power issues which would still leave the car being able to accellerate. When I press that pedal nothing happens. Just the idle is crazy.

Has anyone had this type of situation? I am going to call Mazda but they are not open until Tuesday I believe.

Thanks for reading and my appreciation in advance for any help.

When you mashed on the throttle getting on the highway.. was the car warmed up then?

Throttle position sensor is my guess. There is one on the pedal and one in the throttle body.

Not 100% sure
 

as I didn't check. I was driving maybe 4 minutes before entering the highway. Driving it lightly as I always do when I don't warm up the car.

Okay I will check it out. Thank you for the reply.

mileage on the car would be a help..

but really is sounds like the car was not warm and you pushed to hard. it is covered in the owner manual.

beers :beer:

26k on it. Anyway to fix this myself or will I have to take it to a dealer you think? Thanks so much for your reply. I dread having to tow this from my house.

lets start with where are you?

and funny this was just a big point made lately.

you cannot drive the car to hard before it is to warm. the ecu will shut you down. my bet is that is what happened..

let the car warm up and try again? simple

beers :beer:

I am in New YOrk. Problem is I got it started again later on after it was home but it just idles the same way and no acceleration. When I hit the gas in neutral or in gear no revs.

could you give us all the info.

like where in ny. we know people that can help you.

it is an 04 with 27k miles on it?

auto or manual.

right now i would say pull the battery cable. step on the brake for a bit.

reinstall the batt cable and let us know what happens..

beers :beer:

Sorry Swoope. Yeah it's pretty much all there in the post. What's missing.

26k
6 speed manual

Mods:
MS Intake
MS Exhaust
MS Flywheel
Pulley

Have all the recent flash
Use premix
Upgraded starter

Thanks Swoope

no problem.

in order.

do the battery pull.

then check the coil wires.. make sure they are on all the way..

then report back..

i do have some ideas. but a bet that takes care of it.

is the battery 5 yrs old?

beers :beer:

Battery was replaced as Mazda replaced it twice but still was a piece of crap. Bought a cold cranking one at autozone last year and works really well.

Thanks again, really appreciate the tips. I will try it out in the morning and report back!

actually send me a pm in when you give it a try.. also check the connector to the maf sensor on the intake.

it will be faster. :)

also any aftermarket stuff, amps? misc?

beers :beer:

I had a similar Problem, do you have a CEL? For me the problem was my pedal position sensor, i ended up having to get a new pedal from Mazda. FYI if this is that case, there are 2 pedals one with the aluminum pedal and the other with a rubber pedal (GT vs. GS Models) I would imagine that all internals are the same although mazda originally quoted me for the rubber pedal and then ordered me the aluminum pedal, after a big ordeal with them they credited me the difference. And the difference in price is rediculous.

Rubber pedal = $144 Canadian
Aluminum Pedal = $378 Canadian

I couldnt believe it, the only difference is the little screw on aluminum piece in the pedal which you could just transfer over from your old one anyway..... Hope this helps

Yes CEL is on when the car is started and idles like crazy. I can't believe it would be a foot pedal sensor. That is crazy.

Thank you for pointing this out and once I try Swoopes method I will post back. Hopefully in the end this will also help another RX8 owner from what I find.

good call.

make sure your floor mat didnt get stuck under the pedal causing the pedal to stick. mine did this the other day for a moment.

There are a few reasons this would happen, have you disconnected ANY electrical connectors at all lately - for any reason?

I see you have the MS CAI...

Pull your MAF sensor out and check the screens inside. They might have been dislodged and stacked right next to your MAF sensor causing erratic air flow readings. That easily causes idle problems and hesitation with any throttle.

/\ what the canadian said.

Just Got back...
 

I haven't pulled any electrical connections recently.

This all just happened.

So I went to the car. Charged it up. Disconnected the battery and did the brake thing.

Started it up and still the same. No acceleration and still the crazy idle. From 2500-3500 RPM and just keeps going every second like a heartbeat. Lots of nasty smoke but nothing like a decarbed or flooded engine.

Lots of popping.

So I don't know what else to do and probably have to get it towed to Mazda. I use my dealer in CT which is an hour away and the tow is $300.00.

I had a bad experience with Great Neck Mazda so I don't know of any Mazda dealer in NY that I can trust. Car is low with the full MS kit so I am paranoid.

If anyone can help please let me know. Once again, thank you for all those who responded.

I once accidentally started mine with the mass airflow sensor unplugged, and it idled rather erratically.... I think others here probably have some more solid advice here, but if you haven't checked that, maybe take a look there. I never tried driving it with the sensor unplugged, so no idea what it would do when driving....

Will do and report back. Thanks

what code you got from the CEL? does the TCS light on?