I just purchased my first Mazda, a 2005 RX8. It ran fine but had a rough idle and a fuel leak. I found that both retaining rings for the fuel pump and sending unit were broken. I have replaced both retaining rings but now the car will not start. Does anyone have any ideas...?

 

If that's all you did look at the fuel pump plug..and make sure you have power...and if you do....fuel pressure. Other than electrical there isn't a whole lot that could have been fubarred doing what you did

 

The RX* has 105,000 miles on it, no mods, all stock. I have tried removing the fuel pump fuse and turning the engine over to purge the fuel lines. I have disconnected the fuels lines, first at the pump (green quick connect) and turning the engine over to get fuel (pumps out albeit very low volume), and then under the hood (blue and red quick connects) and turning the engine over (got some fuel out of the line with the red connector). Put it all back together and same result, turns over well but no start. As I said earlier, it ran before the repair. Is there a different procedure to purge the fuel lines of air and pressurize the system? Or is there something else to try? When the key is turned on you can hear the fuel pump energize.

 

You should get a lot of fuel out of the pump when it is running with no pressure.....

You need to check the fuel pressure..that's the only way you will know for sure what you have.

Purging the fuel lines isn't an issue on a fuel injected car that runs 60+ PSI of fuel pressure...

 

When I turn the engine over I am only getting a trickle of fuel out of the fuel line coming out of the top of the fuel pump, certainly not 60 psi. Like I said earlier, I only replaced the retaining rings and the car was running before that. Should I remove the fuel pump and inspect it for a loose pick up hose? Anyone know a good independent RX8 tech near Montgomery, Alabama?

 

Dude, I had a problem with my fuel pump about a month ago. It started with rough starts and slowly increased to a point of no start at all. I believe u shud look into ur fuel pump as well. I replaced mine with a walbro 255. Works perfect !

 

I am going to upgrade the fuel pump. I have the fuel pump assembly out of the car. How do you disassemble the fuel pump housing to remove the fuel pump?

 

Checkout this video.

 

Thanks for the information thus far. The latest: I have replaced the fuel pump. I can hear it when the key is on and when the car is being cranked. It still will not start. I have removed the spark plugs and checked them on a different vehicle to see if they fire, they do. I have done the deflood procedure several times to no avail. If anyone is near Montgomery, Alabama and is a wizard with an RX8, I will be happy to pay you for your time to come by and figure this out. I would hate to have it towed to the local dealership.