I had my RX8 towed in to the dealership yesterday afternoon. It would crank but wouldn't start. The tow truck driver said that mine was the 4th RX8 that he had towed for the same problem that day. I haven't gotten word from the dealership on what was wrong with the car yet, but I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

 

May have flooded

Read your owners manual for the unflood procedure. I think Mazda released an updated procedure which is here somewhere. Do a search for flood, flooding, unflood, etc.

 

I did the flood procedure described in the owners manual before I called the towing service. I'll keep you updated when I hear from the dealership.

 

Wow... one tow company had 4? I didn't know it was that bad! Keep us informed.

 

I will, I'm still waiting for the dealership to call me.

 

Ok, got a call from the dealership, it was flooded (duh!) my ECU does have the M flash. Cost to pick it up is gonna be $100.00. My lesson is this: towing 65.00+dealership 100.00= $165.00. Next time something happens to my 8, I'm checking the forum first and consulting with the guru's here for free and thus saving me $165.00 of beer money.

 

Are you still covered under warranty? Because they should cover the tow charges + any of the flooding issues.

 

Is your car a manual or automatic? If you have a standard, you can first try to push start it and pop the clutch. If this doesn't work, pull it behind another car. Put it in 2nd gear and let the clutch out. You really only need to be moving a few mph for this to work and it usually isn't more than a few feet. Generally it will start at a speed slightly faster than you could push it. If this doesn't work, you'll just have to pull it faster. It will start. I've started blown engines this way!

If you have an auto, you've got to pull the plugs out and clean them. While the plugs are out, you need to hold the gas pedal all the way down so no fuel will be entering the engine and so air can get in. Crank the engine over for several seconds. The longer the better but your battery and starter may hate you. You will get alot of vapor out of the plug holes. You will then need to reinstall the plugs and then try to crank it. Keep the gas pedal all the way down for the first few seconds that you try to crank it. Then just remove your foot. Hopefully it will start. If this doesn't work, you'll have to do it again.

 

that sucks brian. thats alot of beer money. but damn...4 8's in one day. its hard to even get 4 8's to meet up and hang out with a months planning(but we did do is this past weekend!). you need to get that car up to hooters again soon!!!

 

I had the same thing happen to me on Friday. My problem was the valet parking at the airport in OKC. It was about 33 degrees outside that morning and had been in the 20s and teens during the week. They pulled it around and turned it off. Instant flood. Jumped in and she wouldn't start. I had to get towed to the dealership as well.

I got out with just the loss of my time waiting for the tow truck and sitting at the dealership. No charge for the tow or getting her running again.

Did you contact Mazda Roadside Assistance for the tow? I would definately see if the dealership would cover that under warranty. I know Mazda corporate frowns on it, but they did it for me.

 

My problem with the the warranty issue is that I have a little over 53000 miles. I do enjoy driving. It seems that if this ever happens again (hopefully it won't) the service advisor, as well as others on this forum, have said that you can remove the fuel pump fuse and then crank it over, this will get rid of the excess fuel. Then reinstall the fuel pump fuse and try it again.

 

I've actually switched my schedule at work to where I am working days now 8-4:30 instead of nights 11pm-7:30a.m. That means I'll start having more time to do more nighttime activities. I have a friend that I went to highschool with that is a manager at the Clubhouse in Dallas. On Saturday night at 2am they close temporarily and reopen around 2:20am as Insomnia (rave club - BYOB). I went there on New Years Eve and had a good time. I'm thinking about going again this Saturday.

 

EFI Rotary owners have been doing that fix for about 20 years now

 

sweet jesus...i've been going to insomnia for almost 2 years since it started. i didn't make it out this new years but i was there last new years. all of my friends were there last friday night for the new years party! they usually open it up at 4am to start up insomnia. i've gotten to know some of the DJ's that spin out there. small world though. i have spent many a night out there at the clubhouse! but thats a different story. :D

 

Good news owl!! Glad you got her fixed. Damn, you drive a bit! 53k. How long have you owned your 8? You should come out to the monthly meet the 1st Saturday of feb. We all arrive around 7:45pm-8pm.

- Irish

 

I bought my baby in August of 2003. I needed to trade my ex-wife's car in on something, and I saw this beautiful 2004 Lightning Yellow RX8 in the front of the dealership. I knew it was my new love, considering I really don't like my ex at all. This also served as a bit of revenge, you know.... find a newer, younger, better looking one than the last one.

Mr. ED ... next time you're at the Clubhouse and you see a bald headed manager named Mike, tell him Brian said hi. I went to High school with Mike as well as Tae Kwon Do class and we did security together at a couple of clubs.

If my rambling has no really straight thought pattern, it's because it's friday night and I just had a few and I'm getting tired of hitting the Backspace button to correct my typing errors.

 

OK, going to days has really messed with my scheduling. I don't think I'm gonna make it to Insomnia tonight, I forgot that I have to work Sunday morning at 8. When is the next meeting of RX8's in the Tarrant County area? Where?

 

Damn!! That's approx 3117 miles per mo!! Holy chit!! You've got cgrx beat!!

- Irish

 

Would you believe that for the first 3 months that I had her, I kept her in storage and only drove her on the weekends? I'm speaking of my 8, not my ex-wife. :p

 

LOL!

as for insomnia...i don't go anymore. it just got to exspensive for me. i would always valet my car and after paying $20 for VIP and other stuff, i just decided not to go anymore. it also started becoming to trendy to go out there. they started advertising on KDL and all.

 

Ok dude!! That puts your monthly mileage at 3785 avg!! Holy, holy chit!! :D Alos, the ex-wife thing is kinda funny. I traded in my divorce mobile for the 8!! We're talking agin and guess what.....the 8 is one of her favorites!! Nice!!

- Irish

 

NO.NO.NO.NO...... I hope you're not thinking of getting back with your ex. (maybe we should move this conversation to the "What are YOU thinking" thread. One thing that I've learned is, if you break up (divorce is even worse) with someone, there is a REASON for that. Getting back together is an attempt to go back in time and trying to recreate history. It's ok to be friends and talk, but leave it at that. As for me and my ex, I can't talk to her for any longer than 5 minutes. At the 5 minute mark I have to hang up because I feel that I start losing IQ points since her brain is so starved for any type of intellegence that I can feel her two brain cells calling out for more company.
:o

I think I will start a new thread.... Look for NYT-OWL'S RANTS
:p