Unable to start the engine
 

This weekend, my wife was able to start my car without any problems.

Wednesday, I tried to start my car and the engine refuses to kick over.

The battery is fully charged and the car has a full tank of gas. I put tape on the belts, and they are turning when I attempt to start the engine.

I have fuel, electricity and a good starter motor. However, It still refuses to start.

Does anyone have an ideas?

1-Do you hear the starter TRYING, or is there just a CLICK, or just nothing?

2-Turn the headlights on, and try again - do the headlights dim when you turn the key, or stay bright?

S

1) The starter motor is turning the engine.

2) Headlights remain bright while trying to start the engine.

It's flooded.

Step one - floor the gas pedal (this actually cuts off fuel flow) and crank the engine for TEN SECONDS straight. Don't lift your foot, don't stop before ten seconds. Give the starter a minute to cool off, then try to start normally, foot off the gas.

S

I have already tried that. Both yesterday and this morning, so any extra fuel should have evaporated between my tests.

The engine still refuses to start.

At the moment, I am rather baffled. It is like the car's computer is refusing to allow the engine to start, but it does not tell me why.





Step one - floor the gas pedal (this actually cuts off fuel flow) and crank the engine for TEN SECONDS straight. Don't lift your foot, don't stop before ten seconds. Give the starter a minute to cool off, then try to start normally, foot off the gas.

Keep trying... maybe even crank it for 20-30 seconds. I had a similar issue with my car once, and I just had to keep trying for a while, playing with foot on and off the gas and it eventually started.

flooooooded.....push start it and pop the clutch....do it like 3-4 times and itll start....

It 'almost' started, but at least I got some kick out of the engine this time.

Will try it again, once the battery is recharged.

Yeah, when I ended up getting mine to start, I talked to the dealer... they pretty much said I could have it towed in, but they would do the same routine there anyway

I live 150 miles away from the closest Mazda dealer, so I am rather stuck.

With help from you and other members of the RX8club, my car will soon run again.

At least the engine is kicking...

Yes, a fresh battery and a shot of 'starting fluid' ether is what I used on my RX-3, in the day......


S

Following the advise given to me on this thread, I finally got my engine started.

For the next 10 minutes, very dense blue smoke was being emitted from the tail pipes and it was rather scary to watch.

However, at the moment, my car is running in idle.

Thanks for you help!

Do you know how you FLOODED it so you wont do it again?

you should replace your spark plugs at this point, they will have gotten pretty fouled up from all that