BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Did you turn the key off before letting off the gas pedal?

It has always worked for me.

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

^^
+1

MX6_2_RX8

Nope, I brought it up to 3000, release the pedal so it was not delivering any more fuel and shut the key off as the RPMs dropped. Maybe the other way works better. My way had worked for me in the past so be careful.

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

If you turn the key off it stops delivering gas and the rpms are higher so there are more revolutions to clear the oil and gas out of the engine.

I have never flooded the car; I've had it since October of '04; the shop did a couple of years ago and sadly the temp inside the building was around 70 degrees Farenheit.

So even though a person may think it is warm enough outside, still be careful.

Thanks for the word of caution MX6 to RX8.

AlexS1877

This is some NB stuff.
Could we have some brief points added to a sticky thread or even FAQ for new owners ?

zenrx8

iTrader: (4)

This actually makes sense; the PCM is programmed to lean out to something ridiculous like 19:1 on full trailing throttle for emissions reduction. Just wonder if it helps if the key is off and the plugs aren't firing.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Exactly. Turn the key off with the rev's still up there to clear out any unburned, and thereby flood potential, fuel. Never a flood myself.

BlackRX82006

iTrader: (1)

AT's require atleast 1 redline every other day, ATLEAST

fxrer

I’m not an owner, but a mechanic who works on my buddy’s ’04 RX-8. Last week, after an oil change, I moved the car 20 feet to mow the grass. When he came to get the car it wouldn’t start and that’s when he told me about the ‘short trip flooding problem’. He said it had happened twice before, resulting in a tow to the dealer and lots of $ to get running. Too bad he hadn’t told me this BEFORE I worked on the car. He was resigned to having it towed again.

I pondered the problem and did this. After removing the engine cover, I opened the air cleaner cover and pried it open about 2 inches (tough to do because of the intake bellows behind it). I stuck a hair dryer in the air cleaner, aimed at the intake manifold duct. I let the hair dryer run on HI for about 15 minutes, until I could feel the intake tube get warm (ambient temp was about 60°). I put the gas pedal to the floor for about 3 minutes to let the warm air get to the rotor chambers. As I began to crank the motor with throttle wide open, I had an assistant squirt starting fluid into the intake duct for 3 seconds, then I let the throttle close completely while still cranking. The motor coughed, stumbled but eventually started, while spewing clouds of smoke. After warm up, it ran fine.

Hope this tip might help some of you next time.

xsnipersgox

thanks, but the bolded section is what really cured ur problem.

CaptainJ

iTrader: (1)

so you can start up and go, as long as you don't turn it off when it's still cold? The dealer told me it should be warmed up.

MX6_2_RX8

That's the deal. Let it warm up until the temp needle gets to the middle of the range before shutting it off. You shouldn't drive it hard until it warms up either but that's more common sense with any car, especially a rotary.

(The other RX-8 in Maine, Black - Sebago lake area)

msrecant

The dealer is wrong. You can drive as soon as the engine stabilizes after startup. Just don't shut it off until it has fully warmed. Alternately, you can follow the short-trip procedure in your manual to shut of the engine before complete warmup.

rx8khan

mine flooded a few months ago my brother moved it into the garage and shut it off next day i tried to start it and i didnt i knew right away it was flooded the rx7's had the same problem...when ur engine is flooded it sounds like ur not getting ne compression so i tried push starting it which i dont recomend to neone who doesnt know how to do it but it didnt work neways so i had it towed to my machanic i dont go to mazda they rip u off took out the spark plug and it was so wet with gas so i definitly know it flooded blew it out change the plugs and wire y not and havent had the problem since........but with the rotary engine u HAVE to warm it up or u WILL flood the engine sooner ot later

Sam666

I purchased a 2004 RX8 GT, 6 Speed in April, and have had not issues until recently.
1/ Has anyone had issues with the car not starting? The car was running perfectly then it sat for a couple of days, and now it will not start? Any suggestions to try to get it running?

2/ Also, wondering if anyone else has the GPS navigation package on their RX8, and wondering if the navigation CD? If you have to get a new one for each country?

thanks

Renesis Nemesis

I thought I had this problem but realised it was just my sparkplugs that needed changing.

I have been told that before shutting off your engine you should rev to 3k for 3-5 secs and then switch off depressing the accelerator to take out the fuel from the engine.

Obviously no gas when you start and no revving above 3k while the engine is cold. If I'm honest I always forget to do the above which is probably why I have to give a lot of ignition to start my 8 - anyone got any fixes for this?

swiftnet

I have an '04 and encountered 'flooding' even though the car traveled over 40 miles, this happened twice. I began revving up to 3~5k before shutting off and have never had the problem since.

Racer X-8

Mine never flooded, that is until I parked it on the beach, right up to the edge of the water at low tide.

JK, I've never flooded mine. I just drive it like any other car (well, okay, maybe a bit harder, but not REAL hard), except that I always warm it up before I shut it off. I guess I've just been lucky?

Smokin_LaLa

First time flooder lol i am at work without my car but it's all good I live real close to my work. My 8 is an '06 I am going to try the de flood procedure tonight but I have a real stupid question when I depress the foot pedal and crank it do i need to be on the clutch?

Go48

The engine won't crank without the clutch being depressed. So, the answer is yes.

BTW, you may have to go through the procedure several times before the engine will start. Don't crank for too long or you may fry the starter motor. Just follow the Mazda directions and you'll be OK.

Smokin_LaLa

Thanks Go48 for the information. I can always count on the friendly posters at RX8 club

Go48

Sure. Watch out for those UNfriendly members.

zenrx8

iTrader: (4)

Bad plugs are a cause of the problem, as are old coils that have become weak, and a weak battery. Keep 'em all fresh and this problem will be minimized.

RENESIS rotary

I'm still new to the 8, and i was speaking to a tech at mazda and he said that the engine will Flood itself once in awhile. what does that mean? and he also said not to start the car right away, that i should wait till the beeping noise is gone then start.
i had a little bite of a hard time today starting the car up. i had to keep the key turned a few extra sec's before it started. is this normal with this car?

zenrx8

iTrader: (4)

Hey, man. Welcome to the world of the RX8!

Flooding is a problem that may occur if the car is started cold and then turned off before it is allowed to come up to operating temperature, such as when you need to move the car in your driveway to get another car out. This accounts fo 99% of the flooding problems; weak batteries, weak coils, and bad starters are probably responsible for the remainder, as well as contributing somewhat to other situations.

A few rules: if you start the car, let the temp gauge come up to the middle before turning the car off. Some owners recommend holding the engine at 3000rpm and turning off the key without letting off the gas pedal as a shutdown procedure - they may have something there.

If your car ever fails to star on the first two tries, push the accelerator all the way to floor and then crank the motor; this cuts the fuel to the injectors and gives the motor a chance to clear the excess fuel. If it doesn't start with two tries using this procedure, try it two more time with a jumper cable on you battery, and if that fail, just stop and call your dealer. The more you grind away at it, the more you stand to damage the starter and motor.

Just don't turn off a cold engine, and read through this thread for tips, pointers, and the Mazda official "De-Flooding" Procedure. Good luck!