lessthan

So I have searched the forums and found a lot of info but I have some questions.

After a year to 18 months I have had my first flooding incidents. I feel like both times were because I had to move my car but not drive it.

Is there any way to address this kind of situation other than let it idle? Is there a specific shut down procedure? I mean it can't be that you can't turn on your car unless you let it run for 30 minutes or whatever. right?
is there a way to turn it off that burns off the fuel?

Secondly, I am currently flooded.
I am not in a position to take the wheel off and pull the plugs.
I have read the windshield wiper fluid mod but my car has hoses connected to the ports so I chose to just try the accelerator to the floor crank for 10 wait 60 crank for 10 etc.
using that method, I was able to get to the point where the engine would sputter but not catch.
the next day, today, I hooked up a mini van via jumper cables and tried that method but I also pulled the fuel pump fuse.
Again twice I got it to the point where the engine would sputter but not catch.
I tried to feather the gas pedal and I also tried to just leave my foot off it.
i just can't seem to figure out the correct way to get it to catch.
can anyone suggest a methodology for what to do when it sputters?
can anyone give me any clues to tell me when and how I should restart it after cranking and waiting cycle?

I have watched the video and tried to follow the steps but it just won't catch and then I assume I am reflooding.

Also does letting it sit make the situation better or worse? Would the gas evaporate on it's own?

Never had a problem until now.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

You don't need to run it for 30 minutes, but a minute or so should be fine to avoid flooding. Deflooding takes longer than you would think, it sounds like you're there, keep trying. Feather the gas and keep cranking when it sounds like it's starting. Make sure to charge up the battery.

There are no clues for when to restart. The Mazda manual says 3 dry attempts (gas pedal all the way down), then one attempt where you lift off the gas slowly and feather while keeping the starter turning. Repeat the cycle if it stalls out.
A healthy car should not flood, so what is the overall state/age of your ignition coils/plugs/wires? Battery and starter? If the battery has lost some capacity it may not be able to spin the starter up as fast as it needs to for a good start.

lessthan

I just wanted to update this post with some information.

I tried for 3 days to just use the de-flooding procedure from the manual.
I even pulled the fuel pump fuse for good measure a few times.

Here is a brief synopsis of what I did and how it ended up working.

I did the de-flooding procedure of:
1. key to ACC
2. depress accelerator pedal all the way and hold it
3. depress the clutch pedal
4. crank engine for 10 sec
5. wait 30-40 seconds
6. crank engine for 10 sec

I did this about 6 times.
At this point battery was showing signs of slower cranking and severe drain of charge.

I then cranked the engine and slowly lifted my foot off the accelerator.
The engine would give the slightest sputter. Just a hint.
I would then try and feather pump the accelerator.
It would never catch. no matter what technique I tried with the accelerator pedal.

I had already searched flooding and found this thread
DIY: Deflooding in under 5 mins - RX8Club.com

I was skeptical of windshield wiper fluid into my engine but knew it had to be viable if it was on this site.
However my ports had tubes connected to them, and my windshield wiper fluid reservoir was blocking access.
I have a 2009 which I bought in Maryland but do not know the state of original purchase.

Today I made the effort to try the wiper fluid method.
I unscrewed two 10mm hex head screws holding the reservoir to the firewall and moved the reservoir without unhooking it.
I then noticed that the tubes connected to the port each came up to a T-Junction, the third side of which was a tube leading up and held in place by a clip on the unit where the ports are located.
I ended up pulling the vertical tube off leaving the two port tubes connected to the T-Junction.
I had a flexible rubber drinking straw from an insulated drinking vessel which I was able to attach to the T-Junction.
I took a regular straw, stuck it into my windshield wiper reservoir and then held my finger over the end to keep the fluid in the straw, held it over the rubber straw/hose, released the fluid into the rubber hose/straw and then blew into the rubber hose/straw.
I tried to start the car and got much better results but did not catch.

I started over, clearing by cranking with accelerator held down 4 times, then added fluid.
This time I doubled the amount of fluid. I had about 4-5 inches of fluid in the straw.
I blew into the straw/rubber hose.
I turned key to ACC
I held accelerator to the floor
I cranked. It sputtered strongly.
I slowly lifted my foot about an inch or so and feathered that inch, inch and a half
The engine started up.
I had to pay attention to accelerator and nurse it a little for about 30 seconds but now it was very natural as the car was reacting to my touch as usual.
Very small amount of white smoke.
Left car running while I replaced original vertical tubing and returned it and reservoir to original locations.
Left car running while I cleaned up.
Left car running while I fussed with interior to kill time.
When red blocks disappeared from tach and temp gauge centered, I turned off car.
Here is hoping that was long enough.

So just vouching for this thread. DIY: Deflooding in under 5 mins - RX8Club.com
It definitely works. Not that it already hasn't been vouched for numerous times.
I just want to thank DEVOID for the original post.
And all the people who replied to say that it worked and add info.
And in general thanks to this great community and resource. Thank you rx8club.com. Thank you very much.
I now have confidence that I won't be stranded by a flooding situation. knock on wood.

My RX8 is like a part of me I didn't know was missing until I found it.

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Wait it's a series 2? It really shouldn't be flooding. Dig deeper.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Based on my experience, if your battery sounded like it was draining while attempting to start it, then you probably need a new battery.
A battery with any weakness at all can cause flooding.

They lasted me about 3 years.
The last time it did the same thing.
Draining while cranking after a flood.
I brought it to the auto parts store, they checked it and said it was good.
I told them I knew it wasn't good enough and got a new battery.
Problem solved.

An 8 doesn't flood unless there's an underlying issue.
Even sometimes with failing compression, if the ignition components, battery and starter are good, all the warming up and revving to shut down methods usually aren't necessary.

nekokentoy

My series 2 flooding after it parked more than 2 week`s. But if i starting it once a week everything is good. What can it be? Fuel injectors, or bad oiling system?

Loki

iTrader: (1)

​​​​​ Battery running down while sitting.
Or a very slow coolant leak into a rotor. But probably the battery.