new guy, possibly flooded?
 

Hello everybody! First off, nice forum you have here! ive been doing a lot of searching and there is a lot of knowledge on here. My name is Keegan and I drive a 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4, i moderate a few sections over at srtforums.com.

ok, need some help here guys!

my GF has a 2004 RX-8....

anyways, the car WILL NOT START... i believe it is due to flooding b/c apparently the cars are notorious for it. A few nights ago, her mom started it, moved it 10 feet then shut it off, which causes flooding correct?.

I tried the De-Flooding technique as per the owners manual, and nothing... i have read this works sometimes but not always. I have not tried the technique in the dealer's TSB.

anyhow, i called electric city ford/mazda(local to us), and the guy in the service department said it sounded like flooding. BUT they want like $150 to fix it, plus we would have to get it towed!!! i have also read in several places that mazda extended the warranty on all 2004-2008 RX-8's to 8 years/100k miles... but he said it WOULD NOT cover a flooded engine...wtf?

i called greenville(next closest dealer), he said it believed it would!!

either way, it should b/c apparantely this happens to almost ALL RX-8s at some point...

anybody know anything that could help us out here?

-Keegan

I'm guessing the car hasn't had any of the recalls/TSBs performed, in which case it will need at least a reflash, upgraded battery, and upgraded starter.

As for the car in its current state, some people have pull-started flooded RX-8s with success or have removed/cleaned or replaced the sparkplugs. But I wouldn't recommend that unless you know what you're doing.

Just have it towed to the dealer and let them sort it out, especially if it needs the upgrades I mentioned anyway.

i know its had the battery, starter, computer (assuming newest flash), spark plugs and engine, replaced all free of charge about 18k miles ago.

i am gonna pull the spark plugs today probably if i can find some time and decent weather.

If all else fails, use the washer fluid technique!
I used it twice last month and had the cars running in under 15 minutes.
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...8&postcount=89

interesting... so basically you uncap one? or both? of the ports and connect some hose/ washer or fuel line or vacuum(i have tons for the srt)? and let it suck in washer fluid?

You eventually uncap them both and you shoot the water in when you pump the washer fluid switch twice.

pull the plugs crank the motor till all the gas is blown out the spark plug holes, then put a tiny bit of oil in the lower plug hole put the plugs back in and start up!

You uncap both ports.
Plug the hose onto one of the ports.
Turn the key to 'ON' (do not start the car)
Spray a couple mists like you would with your windshield
Insert the hose onto the other port.
Spray a couple mists.
Plug both ports THEN attempt to start the car normally.

thanks Jon.

so i just got back in from pulling the spark plugs, and DAMN!!! they were filthy, and soaking wet! i took all of em out and cleaned em best i could, then put towels over the holes and cranked the car over a few times, and needless to say those towels were FILTHY too. I then sprayed some parts cleaner in the holes and then blasted em out with compressed air, gave everything some time to dry then reinstalled everything. I wanted to go ahead and replace the plugs, but no one has any instock. I tried to start the car, but the battery is dead, and i have to wait for my GF to get home in a few mins to hook up the jumper cables.

i didn't take the wheel off b/c they were torqued too tight for me to even budge.

everybody cross your fingers that it starts!!!

thanks for all the help so far!

mid issue sig test! lol

That deflood procedure that i have been telling everyone to do needs to b a Sticky it is the best way....treat this car just like a 2 stroke dirt bike and u will b good.....the motor is very similar in the way it works(somewhat with ports and whatnot) and 2 strokes love to rev high and run the best when they are in their high rpm's.....

just tried to start it, nothing, sounded better, sounded reallly close, but nothing.

i really wanna try to replace spark plugs completely.

04RX8man, what is your procedure?

Jon, is there a link to a how to? or something with some pics on the window washer method?

Just the ones at the top of the thread he linked into.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-deflooding-under-5-mins-55517/

Just the link I posted above in post #4.
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

when you replace the spark plugs remember that there are different plugs for the leading and trailing. napa and advance auto sell the oem NGK replacements for about $20 per plug. the leading plugs are NGK part number RE7C-L and the trailing are RE9B-T. here's the link to advance's website with the plug prices: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/Pro...or=Spark+Plugs

you may want to pull and re-clean the plugs. add a small amount of engine oil to the leading (lower) spark plug holes and pull the fuel pump relay. reinstall the plugs and try to start the engine again. the added oil to the combustion chamber will raise the compression to aid in starting the engine. once the engine starts, replace the fuel pump relay. you will not have a ton of time to do so once the engine starts so be ready. keep us posted on how everything works out.

that info is gooood to know, i noticed the plugs were different, and im pretty sure i put em back in the correct location, but not positive, what would happen if i switched them? I will try what you said in the morning, i was gonna try to windshield washer method through the service ports.

just to clarify, the bottom plugs are the leading, and the top plugs are the trailing? top being closest to the hood, and bottom closest to the ground?

-Keegan

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...6&d=1197844152

I believe that the first two are leading and the last two are trailing.

Spark plug DIY for reference...https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ght=spark+plug

It has pictures and stuff.

you guys are all awesome, thanks!

and after looking at the pic, i am 99% sure i put them back in the correct locations(in regards to leading/trailing)

well keep us posted with what happens. if you have any more questions post them up. everyone's here to help! also, welcome to the world of the rotary and to rx8club!

Welcome to the Mac nerds of the automotive world...:)

in the morning i am calling mazda NA to see if this would be covered under the warranty. if so, its all theres! if not, ill continue to troubleshoot!

if we do end up replacing the plugs $80:banghead:, i want to be sure they don't get fouled too quickly, so what should i do to be sure the chamber is clean before i put the new plugs in?

how many times should i turn the engine over with the plugs out? last time i only let it turn over a few times, and it left a nice mess on the towels i had over the holes:Eyecrazy:

huh? i do own a MBpro though :djcelebra

Niche Market....etc.

I wuld crank until the plug towels are no longer getting thrashed with excess fuel.

well guys/gals, thanks for all your help, but its now officially out of my hands. My GF's dad called a friend and is having it towed to his shop, so we'll see. Im positive I could have fixed it, but oh well.