So, just as a final consensus- turbo timer will or won't prevent flooding? I'd just like to know, as there are a lot of places where I park (frats, etc.) where my car might have to be moved a short distance, and am willing to pay for the peace of mind.

 

No it is worthless. If you move the car a short distance or stall it, the next time you try to start it floor it. It will still start from the residual fuel inside the engine even though no more is being added. When it does just take your foot off the gas and it will keep running. If the car doesn't just start up then take your foot off the gas so it does. This situation would only have meant that you probably wouldn't have flooded anyways.

This is far easier than spending money on a turbo timer, hooking it up, and having it do nothing. There are people on here that criticize this method because the manual states that flooring the pedal should only be done after it floods. It is a little late by then though. Last I heard people weren't listening to the manual in regards to using only factory Mazda parts (filters, exhausts, etc.) so why this method? Double standards and lack of rotary experience are the only explanation. The rotary is a different type of engine. Treat it differently.

 

I don't understand why if holding the pedal down (I'm guessing this diables the fuel pump) before starting the engine should help the flooding in most cases why Mazda didn't just implement this themselves. Couldn't they just put a monitor on the car and if it is shut down "cold" then perform this procedure automatically when it starts up next time?

Of course, thinking about it...maybe they did because I've noticed some "hesitant" starts and possibly the first couple cranks were with the fuel pump disabled and then since it still wasn't started the fuel pump was kicked on? Be cursious to see if the "hesitant" starts some people report are due to near flood conditions or to Mazda removing fuel delivery in anticipation of a possible flood condition.

 

As one of the average Joe, clueless about engines crowd, the quote above is dead on. The only reason I found this forum was because I know the engine is different, and I was concerned about what kind of problems it might have in the future. It's almost a shame too, because I really love the car - but at the same time, I want to be able to trust it. We live in an age of expected service. I pick up the phone, I always get a dial tone. I turn the key, my car always starts - regardless of how long the prior trip was. Sure, I know about the problem now. I know how to avoid it, but I don't WANT to have to think about warming up, etc... what if I forget, what if I stall, what if someone else is driving? It's one thing to require a user to maybe check the oil level more often, but requiring a special procedure just to move the car 30 feet is just not my idea of fun. I ALWAYS want my car to start. Being out somewhere and the car not starting would really stink. Stalling at a stop-light and the car not starting would REALLY REALLY stink. Worse yet, I'm afriad it will hurt the resale value on the car if I did get it, because I'm sure a problem like this will become well known on the car.

It's really too bad, because the RX8 has everything I'm looking for. But I'll probably end up with an admitedly boring Accord ccoupe instead. My current line of thought is that peace of mind that my car will always start is more important to me than true excitement over my car.

Anyways, I haven't made up my mind yet, it's the only concern I have, but definitely a major concern in my mind.

Just a little perspective from an "average joe public" guy.

 

I considered myself to be pretty much where you say you are now when I bought, Frogger. My mileage has been a bit disappointing (19mpg) and I've flooded and been towed once. My plan was to make the 8 my only ride and I thought I'd be sharing it occassionally with my wife, but it's not worked out that way... but mostly because I've discovered I really really like it and can't bear to commute the five miles with it back and forth to the train station where it will have to sit all day in the weather. I'm likely to try to keep a beater for that, which is expensive when insurance, etc. gets put into the mix.

Still, a few positives to put in the equation: (1) you won't find people as supportive or excited about their Accords, meaning your Honda will become boring to you pretty quickly. I think I'll be pretty enthusiastic about my RX-8 for quite a while, even though it has stranded me already - I've got well over 500 posts here on this board, and I think most of us feel the same way -- it's become a full blown hobby, which is big fun; (2) Mazda NA has been pretty good from my perspective - answering emails, letters, phone calls and trying to work on all issues. This may be standard for all car companies, I just don't know, but I've been pleased with them.

My only regret... I should have bought the MT. I thought the car would be a daily ride, and its become a weekend/road trip fun machine... a manual transmission would suit me better.

 

As I mentioned in my original post, I believe Mazda has to have a crew working on the problem. They have acknowledged it as a problem by covering it under warrenty. We can only hope that they can come up with a reasonable solution, now, for this problem that has been inherent to the rotary engine forever.

For everyone that has experienced flooding, make sure Mazda knows about it! If you are able to get your car re-started after a suspected flooding incident, report it, don't just bitch to yourself and write a note here! Think of it this way... if Mazda knows every VIN of every car that has been flooded, they may be able to make connections from the production records of the affected engines. Yes, I'm grasping, but if we can be part of the solution, lets do it!

 

Frogger - I can see your concern being an Average Joe Public guy. I’ve owned five Mazda rotaries and without hesitation I will be getting an RX-8. All of the issues I’ve seen on this board don’t bother me at all. Flooding has always been a known issue with rotaries. Mazda sold hundreds of thousands of RX's since the 1960’s. Difference now is this is the first new rotary car since the Internet has become popular and the flooding issue seems to be a shock to most new rotary people who then flood the Internet nonstop with “A new car that floods” rants. You will need to make somewhat of a lifestyle change - tipping valets a bit extra, finding a GOOD rotary specialist mechanic at Mazda, being aware of short trips, explaining the warm-up procedure to friends who drive it, etc. This may seem odd at first but after a while it isn’t a big deal.

Chances of this happening I’d say are slim and I haven’t seen many posts where this has happened. Of my five RX’s over a period of 10 years, my 88 convertible flooded once while at home. They never left me stranded. I severely abused my 81 and sold it with 153,000 miles on it. If it does flood, it most likely will be in your driveway.

I have owned a couple of Accords. They are reliable and near indestructible. And driving them is as exciting as watching grass grow. You won’t get people in other Accords waving at you. For quality, I consider Mazdas to be on par with Hondas.

MEGAREDS did a good job of putting it perspective when he said “it's become a full blown hobby, which is big fun”. Give the 8 a try. If it doesn’t work out the way you hoped, what do you have to lose? Simply sell it or trade it for an Accord.

 

That's actually kind of reassuring. I've also been hearing on the Tech Garage forum that the "L" flash goes a long way to reduce flooding.

I completely agree with you on the Accord. I think it's kind of boring too. Maybe I'll just go with the RX8, and you are right that if it gives me trouble I can always sell it. Who knows, maybe it will become a hobby like it is for you guys.

One thing I really liked about the RX8 when test driving it, was that it was so EASY to drive! I've never had a performance car, and was worried I'd mess up the shifting etc... But it shifted so smoothly and was very willing no matter what the RPMs were. I've never owned a MT yet either, so this car seems like a good one to start out with. (Although I can drive them, but I'm not an expert, just drove friends cars and stuff) I also drove the Mercedes Benz C class coupe, and I hated the shifter on that thing! I almost had to fight with it to get it in gear, whereas with the RX8 it just smoothly went where I wanted it to.

 

I agree Frogger! I still haven't test driven the RX8 yet,
Mazda is aware of the flooding problem with these updates.
I didn't have much worries about flooding the engine, due to
having driven a Gen 2 RX7, even though it was a short time
(ex's car, 5 months) but heard the gear shifting on the 8 is
incredible, close to a miata's! IMO, if you want to learn stick,
thats the car to learn, I did so moving from that to a Suzuki
Aerio was a BIG difference! I have read the posts from several
of you, and one I am totally in agreement is education on the
rotary.

I think back if I didnt know anything about rotaries, I wouldnt
consider the 8.. with us newbies, education is the key, and this
site does the trick, but with John Public, how many people actually
research something? Mazda should definitely educate their future
customers, for the fact if John Public floods, they want to talk to
the DLR/Mazda for the solution. Just my 2 cents.

 

Get flood insurance....