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Flooded engine need help!

Hey guys i need some help.

i have a flooded 05 rx8.( moved it a few yards to wash the turned it off)
i have tried many methods on getting this started.

I let the car sit for 24 hours then i tried to start the can and no luck.
Then I read online about putting the gas to the floor and then try and start it for 10 sec. Then letting off the gas and try to start for ten sec. Still no luck.
I really dont want to screw anything up I am not very car savvy when it comes to repair. However I was told that if i replace the spark plugs then the car will start. Is this true? also would poping the clutch do the trick?

please help!!! :confused:

Push or pull starting it and popping the clutch should work.

This DIY is the best method if that isn't an option for you, or you don't feel comfortable doing that https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-deflooding-average-joe-plumber-182410/

Will popping the clutch hurt the car in anyway?

and if it does start the next time i shut it off it would be unflooded correct?

Pull start it. It works every time.

Don't be stupid with push/pull starting it and no, it won't hurt the car at all. Be stupid (like me, snapped the transmission input shaft on my Miata because I wasn't paying attention[/I])), and hurt something.

However, it doesn't mean it won't be flooded again next time :)

From my New Owner thread: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIWWP (Post 3663965)

Flooding:
Flooding is only a concern if you have a weak ignition system. The problem is, your ignition system usually fails very slowly, so it is a gradual decline. The alert and responsible owner will detect the drop in mileage, the drop in power, the rougher idle, the occasional misfire, and replace their coils, plugs, and wires before it gets bad enough where there is a chance at flooding.

Every single flood I have seen reported for quite a while ended up coming down to one of these failing: Battery, Starter, Coil(s), Plug Wire(s), Plug(s). But by then, they also generally have a fried cat that needs to get replaced as well, and possibly an O2 sensor or two. Stay on top of the maintenance (long term included!) and you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Coils ($160 for all 4, 20 minute swap), plugs ($80 for all 4, 10 minute swap), and wires ($60, 2 minute swap), should be replaced every 30,000 miles, possibly sooner if you detect something starting to fail, since people have had them fail as early as 8,000 miles or 15,000 miles, though that's rare.

You don't want to shut off while it's cold simply because when the engine is cold, the ECU dumps more fuel into engine to help it warm up, and it leans back once the engine is warm. This extra fuel can make it harder to start an ignition, which a healthy ignition system is perfectly capable of overcoming. Weaken the ignition with failing plugs, coils, wires, alternator, starter, or battery, and you have a flood on your hands, and all the associated problems from that.

So basically, if you shut it off cold again, and haven't fixed the reason why it flooded in the first place, then yes, it will flood again. How you get it started doesn't fix the root problem.

Popping the clutch out shouldn't hurt the car if you are careful

By this I mean ... If you are getting a pull from another vehicle and you are doing 20mph done the street ... popping it in to first gear might not be such a good idea.
I would try second gear.

My point is, don't be going to fast for the gear your trying to start the car with ... aka a 60mph first gear clutch drop

Once the car is warmed up you should have no issue with flooding, of course that assumes you have no other problems like ignition.

edit:
Damn way to slow on the draw for this one. Beat by Rotarygod and RIWWP

Just to be 100% sure "Pull starting" is the same a popping the clutch right?

No not really ... you question doesn't make sense entirely.

You need to either have some one or something push or pull your car or roll it down a hill then while the car is moving (in neutral) engage the clutch in to a gear that seems suitable for that speed.
You need to do this carefully so you do not break the input shaft as mentioned by RIWWP

That was a stupid question haha i have a a 1/4 of a mile downhill driveway so i will try that when i get home! if that doesnt work i will be back on tomorrow!thanks guys!!

We are assuming you are saying "Popping the clutch" and this includes some level of vehicle speed to make the wheels start the engine turning once the clutch is engaged while it is in gear (2nd or 3rd gear).

How you get the vehicle to a speed to accomplish this is entirely up to you. Some people use their backs, other people use another vehicle. If you use another vehicle, you can push from the back or pull from the front. Pushing from the back usually means bumper to bumper contact and then you have body damage on your hands. Pulling from the front with a tow cable or something similar prevents this, however the driver of the car being pulled has to pay attention to avoid ramming the vehicle in front.

Edit:
Gravity works too :)

If you can coast down a hill, turn the ignition on, put the car in second gear, hold your foot on the clutch and let the car start rolling downhill. When you hit about 10 mph, let the clutch out.

Instructions for pull starting:

Get another car, hook up a tow rope to the back of it. Hook the other end to the front of the RX-8. Put the car in 2nd gear with the key on. Hold your foot on the clutch. Tell the driver of the pulling car to get the car moving about 10 mph or so. Slowly release the car. When it starts, push the clutch back in, bring the cars to a stop, remove the tow strap and go on with your life. It works every single time! There is no better way to do it.

Or be stupid/tired/rushed/inattentive and...

Hook up the tow rope to your Miata, put it in 1st gear (incorrectly), forget about putting the clutch pedal to the floor, tell your wife to start rolling slowly, feel a brief strain followed by a loud metallic 'bang'. Figure out what you did wrong, realize that while rolling with the clutch engaged and in gear the engine doesn't turn over.
:uhh:

:icon_no2:

:uh:

Yeah, that was a bad day :lol:

I have had a push from a car (used a pillow and blanket to prevent scratches and dents) but it worked great. Kinda sounds like a go kart at first until all the fluid is pushed out of the engine.

alright i have one more..... where is the best spot to put the chain to pull it on?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIWWP (Post 4121380)

This may be a stupid question, but why wouldn't the engine turn with the wheels when you did this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rx8thechase (Post 4121385)

alright i have one more..... where is the best spot to put the chain to pull it on?

You should have two two hooks in the trunk where the jack is stored, those screw into the grill on the front bumper. You have to use a flat head to get the covers off. Screw the tow hooks into the holes all the way.

gear ratio, engine speed, etc... it probably would have avoided damage if this was a big block v8 or something sturdy. But, it's a tiny car with plenty of grip and nothing is designed for high torque stress.

The gear reduction from the wheels to the diff, diff to the driveshaft, driveshaft through 1st gear to the crankshaft... I'm fairly sure that it's the transmission input shaft that snapped, since I could feel the road speed through the shifter still.

I could hope that it was the engine's crankshaft, since I need to replace that engine anyway (burning a quart every 200 miles), but it's an unrealistic hope, since it is the stronger of the 2.

Alright guys thanks for the replies!! i will pop the clutch when i get home.

but i do have this to say. Why do all these people go through trying to start there flooded rx8 by taking fuses out and killing there starter when all they need to do is pop the clutch? i mean some of these post peolpe are taking hours to start there cars! i mean that has to take a toll on the starter.

I don't relying on people to pull my car, and I don't live near hills. Popping the clutch is by far the easiest thing to get it started. I became a pro at that when I had no apex seals left in my engine.

Because not everyone has a readily available downhill, tow cable, or even other car available?

Most people have to get it going without moving it. The fuses pulled kill the fuel delivery into the engine, so while you are cranking it it isn't just adding more fuel in the process.

yea that makes sense well a am planging to take my car to the track this weekend so hopefully this works and i can get to driving again!

Again guys thanks for all the help my stress level is much lower now!! lol

Were these your first posts?

yes these are my frist post.

however i have been coming to this site for a while now on my spare time and what not and i can tell that this is a good place to come when you need answers.

Welcome to RX8Club!!