Deflood Help Needed -Am I missing a step?
 

2004 RX-8 Auto. Son started the RX, phone rang and he shut off the enging. Normally its ok, but its 30degress in Ca. yesterday. I tried the Windshield Washer method but it turned out he only had water in the W/W bottle, so it appears we only squirted "water" not "fluid" into the intake. Ok, plan B. I removed all 4 spark plugs and had him crank it over for 8secs with the gas pedal all the way down. The first crank left me with a face full of oil and water, luckily I was wearing glasses. I cleaned the plugs with a wire brush and regapped to .46mm. Plugs were brown and don't look burnt or oil fouled. I then sprayed a little starter fluid in each plug hole, installed the plugs (with great attention to T and L). Car sounded like it wanted to start on the first crank but then quickly back to the "no compression sound spining". I repeated the Plug Removal process 5 times, each time when we cranked the engine over with the pedal to the floor, "lots of Fumes" would come out each time. I'm thinking this is probably part of the problem still. When cranking the engine over with the Pedal to the Floor, should I repeat this until Just Dry Clean Air comes out or should I pull the Fuel Fuse or Relay to make sure its not still dumping fuel in the cylinders? Anyone know where the Fuel Fuse or Relay is?
I think I spent 4hrs on this today in 40degree weather and almost froze my lugnuts off. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks ...Rocket

ps. I think I've read about 2hrs of posting on here and tons of great info. Just read another post where I should spray some oil in the leading (lower) plug holes before reinstalling the plugs and pulling the Fuel Relay. Also another thread on the Windshield Washer into the Intake. Does it matter what type of Washer Fluid I use? (I'm guessing anything is better than the Water I previously used".

last ps. Dealership said there is a Special Process they use to Deflood it and these tips on the Forum don't work??? He also said because I flooded it, I'll most likely need new Plugs, Coils, Fuel Pump and a Starter. So..... I really want to get this started by using this forum so I can call him back up with some Good Advice. ;-}

Ok, I pulled the old plugs out and they still look tan color. Cranked it over with Fuel Relay out about 10 times, installed New Plugs gapped at 46mm. Cranked it over and nothing. Put rubbing alcohol in the Intake ports and it stars for about 2secs and then dies. Won't start no more after that. Put more Rubbing Alcohol in the Intake Ports, hold pedal to the floor and it starts for about 2secs. I did this about 10 times today. I tried the Windshield Washer fluid and it didn't work at all. Tried the Rubbing Alcohol and it will start for 2 secs with the pedal to the floor. Right now I'm trying some Southern Comfort and it seems to be working on me just fine!! It almost sounds like the car is empty on gas but it has 1/4tank and I just put in another 5gallons just to rule this out.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? If I can't get it started by tomorrow morning, off to the shop it goes.

Thanks ....Rocket

Try start the car with NO gas pedal to the floor. Pedal to the floor mean "cut the fuel" am I right?

^+1
You only hold the gas pedal to the floor while you are clearing out the excessive fluid from the chambers.
Once you reinstall the plugs, you start it WITHOUT holding the gas pedal down.
Just keep trying to start it and when it starts, give it slight gas and hold it around 2K RPM for a good 10 seconds so it doesn't stall.

Hey...............listen up.

Quit putting stuff in there, you are only making it worse! Either gas, starter fluid, alchohol, Southern Comfort, whatever!

You may have to have another battery handy for this but............

1.) Pull the fuel pump relay............it's located in the engine bay fuse box.

2.) Pull the plugs again and get them really dry. I would use compressed air if available.

3.) While the plugs are drying and the fuel relay is out, crank the car in your 8 second bursts without your foot any where near the accelerator............ making sure you give the starter time to rest and cool down in between. Do this until you see no seepage, smoke or anything else come out of the holes. Then do it about three more times for good measure.

4.) Re-install the plugs, but NOT the fuel relay.

5.) Have someone stand in front of the car with the relay in hand while the other person cranks the car. If/when it catches, plug the fuel relay in real quick and don't let the car stall.
If you get it.........go for a good spirited drive after warm up! If not, then start all over again.

Good luck!



Never flooded mine, but have de-flooded several others using the above.

If that doesn't work, here is a link to the official one, but I have never had to go this far.


http://www.finishlineperformance.com...5-08-1883f.pdf



Damn it Jon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ya beat me to it!

Ok, after 2 good shots of Southern Comfort, cause I was freezing, I decided to try it one last time. Held the pedal to the floor and started cranking it over, just as it started to catch, I let the pedal up about 10% and it caught and started running. I played with the pedal and RPM's until I could get it running smoothly at 3G. My neighbor came running over to tell me the car was on fire. (no, it wasn't, it was just white smoke blowing out the exhaust pipe). I informed him all was cool and next time if he sees actual flames higher than the car, to let me know and bring some marshmellows, chocolate and gram crackers. While it was running, I took it out on the freeway and cleaned out the engine. Man, that was fun, especially when it started to rain. Thanks to the this forum, all the threads, postings and feedback, I was able to avoid a $350 dollar dealership charge and my son got a New Battery and 4 New Plugs for an Early Christmas Present. I learned how to change Spark Plugs with a 13/16 Socket, 6 Extensions and a Swivel while sitting on a front tire. I also have a Sweatshirt that smells like it was used to plug the Exxon Valdez.
Thanks to all!!!!! ...Rocket

Glad you got it running! :yesnod:
Think he'll ever shut it off cold again? :wallbash:
Hopefully no real damage to the CAT.......probably not if this is first time.
Seriously though................try my technique above if it happens again before you start putting all kind of liquid in there. It has worked several times and for several people.
Your white smoke was getting all that $hit you put in there! :lol2:

Oh.......just for grins....he knows not to really take the RPM's up real high until it's reached operating temp right? This is the opposite of what you hust went through, but that's not good for this car either. It needs to be run hard, but NOT when cold. :(

Return now to the Southern Comfort and proceed to get hammered! :ylsuper:

In case he shuts it down cold again, I drew a map to the nearest Dealership with his Own Bank Account number at the bottom. I think this will serve as a reminder.

Actually, I printed out the above iinstructions and put them in his glove box. Its been really cold here in Ca and has been getting down in the low 50's during the day, so it might happen again.

Thanks ....Rocket

Have him place one of the two of these in there as well, and when he has a reason that someone else might move it......take one of these out and put it on the dash! :)

Hey Mazufurfer
Hey Mazufurfer i flooded my 8 out of ignorance, im new to this forum but im so in love with all the info already...Thanks alot for the post im going try these steps right away!!! mann i hope this works...

I had an extra battery jumping mine as I was trying to restart mine. It gives the Battery the little extra Ummp that it needs to crank it over faster. I kept the pedal to the floor, which I think opens the throttle body and helps to blow all the excess gas out. I did this about 6 times and around the 7 time, I let the pedal up just a little. I felt the engine want to start and tried it about 3 more times and it started. Once it starts, don't be to quick to let off the pedal, do whatever you need to do to keep it running and blow all the junk out. You may get some white smoke, no big deal. One you get it running, I'd suggest taking it for a Freeway run and go through all the gears at high rpms. Should run like a top after that. Let us know.
...Rocket

yeah i just tried after receiving my new ngk sparks, i put them in and the old ones were full of gunk and gas, they looked ridiculous, anyway i popped my new ones in and tried cranking it up but im stil SOL...i dunno it sounded like it was tryna crank, i was reading where they said DO NOT hold ur foot to the floor after changing the sparks and i saw another post where it says DO. So idk...kinda getting down after being sure it should start up after changing the sparks, thanks for ur posts anyway :wallbash:

idk it tried to start up and after a while it sounds like it just quit, idk i might jus have to take it to the dealer after all, for more bad news =/
mabey i should change the coils, or i hope its not the cat, i prey its not the cat

You shoulda cranked for a while with no plugs in, foot to the floor. This would clean out remaining liquid.

The ECU cuts fuel at startup if you floor it.

Don't listen to those who say different.....

Glad you got it started.

Just FYI -- don't clean sparkplugs with a wire brush!! You will leave metal traces on the insulator. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having an insulator.

THANKS!!! GOD U ARE A LIFE SAVER!!!:ylsuper: I DID every thing right and it still wouldnt start, the i noticed that u said u let off the gas about 10%, so i let her rest and then got on tha gas and let off about 10% and i heard it trying to catch so i let off a bit more and more and more and it was really trying to get it. So after about 7mins :fingersx:of playing with the throttle and trying to crank it caught!!! and WHAM IT STARTED UP CHOKING AND SPITTING OUT BLACK JUNK OUT THE MUFFELER BUT IT STARTED!!! WHAT A RELIEF!!! mann i had to rev it for about 10mins bkuz it kept tryna die, and then i took it out on tha highway. MANN IT NEVER RAN LIKE THAT THE WHOLE 4 MONTHS I HAD IT!!! AWESOME THROTTLE RESPONSE!!! I AM ONCE AGAIN A PROUD RX-8 OWNER!!!:Peace:

I LIKE TO SEND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO you too bro!!! THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO and help to get my car started!!!! ITS Been sitting in the garrage for almost a month. THANKS ALOT!!! Also A BIG Thanks to the rx8 forum!!!

Glad it started. Mine started and about a few hours later it started pouring down rain. Ahhh, talk about luck. I have a feeling holding the pedal to the floor opens the throttle body all the way, allowing the combustion chambers to blow all the excess fuel out and as it starts to close, it starts to introduce the "right" amount of fuel/air mixure, which then result on putting a smile on our face. That sure is a pretty sound when it catches. Takes me back to my Go-Kart days with those ole 2stroke engines. Pull rope forever but when it started, I kept the pedal to the metal until it ran out of gas or crashed. I even got away from the cops twice. Didn't press my luck for a third time.
See ya .....Rocket