Car wont start!! Is it flooded?
 

Well, I've never had mechanical problems with my RX8... until today! I was in LA for 4 days... so my car sat in the garage for 4 days unmoved. Today when I tried to start it... the engine wouldnt turn over. At first it sounded like it kinda wanted to start but didnt. As I tried cranking it a few more times.... it got worst until it sounded as if it definately wasn't going to start.

Anyone ever get this after not moving their cars for a few days? Might it be flooded? :confused:

I'm calling roadside in the morning... but I'm assuming that the car wont get looked at until Monday at best since its the weekend.

Oh well, i'm car less for now.

Thanks in advance for any help!

The 8's battery is known to be very weak for the car's demands, so you might want to check that first to see if it's alive and kicking.

I did... battery is good

Did you try starting the car up using the flood start procedure in the owner's manual?

Peculiar. Sounds like a flooded engine to me, then, although I'm confused because I thought flooding occurred after short trips with inadequate engine warming or else after long storage periods. Four days doesn't seem to fall into that latter category. Makes you wonder what you have to do to keep the engine in tip-top shape. For safe measure, I always gun my engine to at least 3000 rpms before every shutoff.

No I didn't... yet. Didn't even know there was one to say the truth. I'll definately have to try it.

Any details of simple instructions on this you want to share? Saves confusing manuals ;)

Best to follow the instructions in the owners manual or on the last page of the service bulletin at the link below. It is important to have a strong battery before doing the procedure, so if at all possible, charge the battery before you begin. Otherwise you may run out of battery power before completing the procedure a couple of times.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...4-05-1448b.pdf

1st you need a strong battery,

I use this procedure in my 3rd gen RX-7, I can't tell if it works with the 8,

pull out the fuel fuse, start the car, let it idle until it runs out of gas. Put the fuse back in and start again, you're good to go! it works for me every time.

Thats the same thing that happened to me. I managed to get it started by tapping the gas some how.

Curious about what happened when you shut it down last... did you let maike sure it was at operating temp and before you shut it down, or allow it cool down, if after a long drive??

Don't listen to him. ^^^^^^

'Tapping the gas' will get you flooded. Following the *accurate* instructions in the PDF referenced below is what you need to do.

I live less than 1 mile from the office
 

well, this is something I haven't thought about before. :(

I live less than 1 mile from the office but don't walk because of having to go see clients, etc.

1) Does the revving the engine trick always work after a short trip?
2) Does letting the car sit for 3 or 4 hours after a short trip help or make it worse?
3) Are 2 short trips (home to Starbucks to the office) and then sitting for 3 or 4 hours the kiss of death?
4) Is there a better stronger batter that can be bought? My '93 Miata is stuck with a weak batter because of where it is in the trunk. But, is that the same with an RX-8?
5) Am I going to regret buying this thing as a daily driver?
6) And, on top of all this, every 3 weeks I go on a 4 day business trip. It's a longish drive to the airport, so everything should be good and charged by the time I get there and, like I said, it will be my daily driver. Will this be a problem?

I guess if the answers to questions #1 and #4 are yes, the answer to #5 will be a resounding NO.

Help.

Hunter

If you're going to buy a new battery: http://www.batteriesareus.com/shop/p...products_id=61
Optima Group 35R Red Top, and you DO need the $12 spacer to make it fit.

If you can, get the dealer to do this: http://www.finishlineperformance.com...42-04-1429.pdf

Thread about new starter/battery: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/rx-8-modified-starter-56227/

So, it sounds like if I start to have problems starting, there's a warranty covered new starter and battery. But, I'm guessing that I won't be able to have that done until it's a problem, right?

Also, I went to that thread about the new batter box cover. Is that something I should ask them to put in first?

Thanks on the battery part. Still looking for help on the frequent short trips part.

Hunter

Hey thanks for the helpful link! So it basically says to press the gas to WOT and turn the key to the on position for about 7-8 secs then release and turn the key to off... then try starting the car normally?

Hmm.. i'll give it a try. If this does not work, I am going to print that PDF file (all 11 pages) and leave it on the seat and have the car towed to the dealership Monday morning.

I just remembered that I left the car parked out in the drive way and that my dad moved it into the garage after I had left town. Meaning... the car probably wasnt warmed up .. then moved into the garage then shut off. This is starting to make sence now.

From my research from various sites and experts, there seems to be a consesus about the basic design of the rotaries, which are more optimal for long distance type driving as opposed to short trips and stop and go traffic. Though this applies w/ any engine (piston), Rotaries are inherently more suspectible to long term wear of irregular usage and short trip type driving. Don't know how the Renesis compensates for this, if does at all, but only time will tell as the 8's been out for less than 2 years... but seems like the issue is inherent w/ any Rotary. Anyone else w/ any input on this??

That sounds ripe for a flooded engine. I've read too many stories here of people flooding their engines because they backed it out a very short distance to wash it in the driveway and then cut it off only to find that they couldn't start it again. Warming up the engine will surely do some good; I tend to think that gunning the engine to 3k rpms will also since its purpose is to burn any excess fuel in the combustion chamber before you cut it off.

Hunter, if you check the little Quick Tips booklet that came with your 8, there is a short-driving procedure that you can follow to prevent flooding. I'll save you some time and paste it here:

To avoid flooding, Mazda suggests a “short driving trip procedure” for trips that are too short to warm up the car adequately:

1. Start car

2. Move vehicle

3. Warm engine for 5 minutes at idle

4. Raise engine speed to 3000 RPM for 10 seconds

5. Return to idle

6. Turn off engine

Not to get into another conversation but what flash is your ECU? Somewhere ont eh forum here there has been posts about getting the new flash and it could help with some of the flooding issues. This is not a cure all as the rotary is still very bad for flooding. Just thought this might help.

I've never taken my vehicle in for a reflash.... but I'll be sure to mention a flash update. My car just got picked up by roadside asst. and is now being taken to the dealer. Hope it doesn't take long... :rolleyes:

update?

I've had my car flooded and de-flooded before. I was just curious to see if they put in the better battery and starter.

This is what confuses me. Some other guy in the "N-Flash...More Power" thread said you want to turn off engine WHILE it's a 3000 RPM and not to return it to idle. Now I'm inclined to believe Mazda, but I hate hearing conflicting shit like this.

Actually, here's the post I'm referring to:
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=164

WTF?? :(

The car was indeed flooded. It was towed to the dealership on Monday. I called yesterday and they said they got it deflooded and started again but that they had ordered it new spark plugs and a new battery. The car was supposed to be ready by today at 11 am but when I called they said that the battery hadnt gotten in yet so they werent able to get the car back to me today. I should get it tomorrow deflooded with new plugs and a new battery.

I'll let you all know how everything turns out...

Are they also going to give you the upgraded starter and the new battery housing that's supposed to do a better job of cooling?

the tech didnt mention anything about a new starter. I'll have to ask him...