2005 Mazda RX8 MT
45k Miles
New battery
Good plugs
All other fluids good
Has gas!
All lights come on and don't seem dim at all -- power windows and stereo seems normal.
It's been running fine..
Read through many similar posts, just looking for more info on what to try other than fuse and starter.

Though unrelated, I'm getting plugs tomorrow -- if I can get the car running, heh.

I'm in the middle of moving and my car is abandoned a ways away from where I live and not sure if they even have a taxi service here so when/if I get back to my car tomorrow I want to know what I can to try to start it, heh.

Also being in the middle of my move I have virtually no tools. I have a screw driver, yay.


So, what happened was... I screwed up and flooded it.

I've flooded it before and attempted to try the standard methods of deflooding.. ended up draining the battery. I was able to get someone to give me a charge.

After I had juice agian I start it and it turned for a few trys but then it just started clicking once when I would try to start it.

Even though it was still flooded we attempted to bump start as a last resort, but that was a no go.

I tried to start it two more times and then after that there was not even a click. If I turn the key to ACC everything in the car works, but if I turn to try to start -- no turn, no click, no start, no love.


It was dark out, tried to get it started for a while but couldn't see well enough to really go through all the fuses and such.


I'm personally guessing that it could be a fuse or that I fried the starter but if there is anything else I can check.......


Thanks!
Jason

 

Try rapping the starter with a solid heavy object like a hammer or big wrench. Don't smash it tho just a good firm hit. Sometimes they "stick".Otherwise sounds like you fried your starter?

 

when you tried bump starting - how did you do it ? Usually if push starting does not work you have a serious problem , unrelated to battery or starter motor .

 

Eh, yea, but it was still flooded -- wasn't able to deflood all the way before it borked on me. I just wanted to try to get something out of it heh.

It could still be something more serious though. =/

 

That's why i asked how you did it - In 2nd gear at running pace ?


even a badly flooded car will start when push started

 

2nd gear ... more of a jogging pace... In retrospect I should have pushed and he should have started. -_-

It did sputter some but no go.

 

if you have a tow rope you should try pull starting it - 100% garanteed success - even if flooded worse than the ganges in typoon season .

 

I'll give it a shot if I can find someone. That's one problem with just moving here heh....

 

Once you have the flood condition overcome, check this thread out on starter issues. You may indeed have blown a relay or fuse, or the starter/solenoid may be fried, but you might also want to check/clean connections before you diagnose the starter as deceased - https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/car-wont-start-out-town-desparate-205809/.

 

Have the battery charged and load tested.

 

My vote is battery and flooded. I agree, a pull start is the best thign since sliced bread in this case. It will start the car no matter how flooded it is and then you can keep it running and drive it to get rid of all the excess fuel. After that, you can diagnose the issues at hand if they are still there.

 

You're right, In that case, it's wonderful.