I've got a 2007 rx-8. Been pretty reliable, never had the flooding problem.

Currently, it's sitting in my driveway and won't start. I've tried both methods of clearing a flooded engine, and neither do anything for me. (fuel pump fuse removal, and pedal to the floor). I've got alternate transport, so I'm giving myself a month and a moderate parts&tools budget, to figure out and fix this myself, before having it towed.

Car turns over, but never catches.

Ignition coils were all replaced a couple months ago. Spark plugs a couple months before that.

I've plugged an OBD-II reader in, and there are no fault codes being generated.

If I pull the fuel injection fuse, there's an electrical noise that does not sound right, that stops.

What's next? Do I pull the spark plugs and check for compression?

Do I chase down the fuel injector noise? How does one even do that?

(I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area, if anyone with knowledge wants to be bribed with booze and/or food, to come over and point to the problem.)

 

By no means am I an expert, but I would guess low compression, so getting a compression test is what I would do, since you've already done the things I would've tried already. Hope you get it fixed >.<

 

Try this before investing the money in the compression test.

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

 

I will try that, but before spending money on a compression test, I was going to pull my spark plugs and shove my fingers in the holes, while someone cranks the engine a few times. Sure as hell won't get accurate data, but I should be able to tell if one of them is really off (or if there is, for example, no compression at all).

 

shove your finger in the hole?!?!
You'll poke your eye out, kid... :P

try giving your car a pull/push start.

 

If you have a six-speed manual transmission, try RX8Soldier's suggestion. With all the hills SF have, you should have any problems pull/push starting the car.

 

Old mechanic's trick, from my dad. I could probably just hold a rubber glove over the holes and get the same effect, without shoving my fingers in a dark chemical-filled combustion hole.

No way to give it a pull/push start. Not around here.

 

I'd be scared to put my finger in there, it's just like sticking your tongue through an electric fan blade. What part of 'frisco you from that contraindicates push/pull start?

 

Yea...you would only want to stick your finger in there if you want it chopped off. If you want to see that you have compression you can just remove the plug and listen for the air to escape.

 

Ok, so my dad did specify "put your finger over the hole" not "stick your finger in".. So, in cases like this, accurate terminology is good.

I live in the flat parts of San Francisco, that are across a bridge, with no place and manner in which to pull/push start (unless I go call a tow truck, or maybe bribe some crackheads). I busted up my back in a non-debilitating manner awhile ago, that still makes anything resembling pushing a car a non-starter (hah).

 

I put my finger over the hole once lol, no problem. I doubt you could even get a finger in that hole, shes pretty tight

 

Got it started tonight!

Finally had all the right tools, enough time, good weather, enough battery charge, and a sprinkle of luck.

Tracked the buzzing down the the throttle body, and apparently it's normal for that to buzz... Condensed story: I pulled the spark plugs, used some engine cleaner to clean the plugs, sprayed a bunch of vodka in the holes. I put it back together, cranked the engine with the gas pedal floored to cut off the fuel, and after a few seconds it started!

After it started and rapidly died, I turned it off, turned it back on and cranked the starter for a bit.. Let it cool, retried, and after four or five more attempts it actually turned over and started to run. After a bit of rough gas-pedal assisted idling, it got smoother and smoother. Took it for a drive and now it sounds and drives great.

So, yeah. Probably was just extra, extra flooded.

 

Minus the Vodka, that's the standard way to deflood the car. You should now consider replacing your starter if you haven't, possibly a higher CCA battery.