So, this is maybe the 4th time i flooded my rx-8 since owning it andnI've been able to deflood it every time by pulling the plugs, pulling the 20a fuel fuse and cranking for 5-8 secs a billion times. I also cleaned the spark plugs off with brake cleaner.

It has worked every time until this time! I'm pretty sure I've cleaned out all the fuel in it a couple times now and it'll start to turn over and actually get started, but then it'll die right away. I wasn't prepared to be on the gas the first time so I thought ok, I'll just start over. I do the deflood and then I try again, it does the same thing even when i jump on the gas immediately after starting and it dies. I figured it might have been beacuse my car was still jacked up one side and has less than 1/4 tank in it (which shouldn't matter in a fuel injection system?), so i try it again with my car level and i immediately jump on the gas to try and prevent it from dying but it just dies. Now I noticed one of the spark plug wires attachment doesn't seem to click when i put it back on the plug and noticed that it's pretty loose and might not be connecting properly (to leading plug on rear rotor).

I'm definitely going to replace that but it seems like I need to order it online or pay $135 at the dealer for an oem set, but my question is could that be the source of my problem or might it be something else much worse?? I'm trying to decide where I'll get the wires. but in the mean time could it be another probelm?

I have 58,000 miles and only the spark plugs were changed less than 8k miles ago. the ignition coil and wires are all original. I know I need to change the ignition coils, but I need it get it started first. Any ideas guys?

 

chances are, your coils are preventing your engine from getting a strong enough spark. It is always best to change plugs and coils simultaneously.
That said, you could always buy a coil tester and check to see if they're ok.

Is your car auto or manual?

 

I posted this literally 2 hours ago in another "flooding?" thread:

 

Unless the car is an AT...pull it till it starts and drive it till it clears out all the crap

If it is an AT....you are going to have to do it the hard way

 

i had the same problem honestly i couldnt do sheitt about it i went to mazda and they had to fix it ispend over 2 weeks tryna figure it out.

 

I know why it flooded in the first place, because i moved the car across the street the previous night for street cleaning and didn't give it enough time to warm up.
The car is a 6 manual. I'm planning on changing the coils too, in addition to the wires, but I'm concerned that won't be enough. Can it be a compression issue? I didn't have compression problems before, but I'm worried my 5+ hours of trying to deflood it may caused other damage.


My biggest question is actually, would the damaged spark plug wire connecting to the leading plug in the rear rotor prevent it from fully starting? Wouldn't the front rotor be enough to start the car (i wouldn't drive it in this condition, just trying to figure out what might be wrong).

 

Yes, compression could be an issue. But, start with the simple steps.
Check:
Battery
Plugs/coils
starter (what year is your car?)

 

I don't think you got the point of my post

From the New Owners thread: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/



Flooding:
Flooding is only a concern if you have a weak ignition system. The problem is, your ignition system usually fails very slowly, so it is a gradual decline. The alert and responsible owner will detect the drop in mileage, the drop in power, the rougher idle, the occasional misfire, and replace their coils, plugs, and wires before it gets bad enough where there is a chance at flooding.

Every single flood I have seen reported for quite a while ended up coming down to one of these failing: Battery, Starter, Coil(s), Plug Wire(s), Plug(s). But by then, they also generally have a fried cat that needs to get replaced as well, and possibly an O2 sensor or two. Stay on top of the maintenance (long term included!) and you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Coils ($160 for all 4, 20 minute swap), plugs ($80 for all 4, 10 minute swap), and wires ($60, 2 minute swap), should be replaced every 30,000 miles, possibly sooner if you detect something starting to fail, since people have had them fail as early as 8,000 miles or 15,000 miles, though that's rare.

You don't want to shut off while it's cold simply because when the engine is cold, the ECU dumps more fuel into engine to help it warm up, and it leans back once the engine is warm. This extra fuel can make it harder to start an ignition, which a healthy ignition system is perfectly capable of overcoming. Weaken the ignition with failing plugs, coils, wires, alternator, starter, or battery, and you have a flood on your hands, and all the associated problems from that.

 

It's a manual. I'll look into getting a tester. I'l be replacing my coils as soon as I'm able to order them. The car seems to start (after i deflood) but then quickly dies again even when I jump on the gas. Does this sound like a coil problem or can that one bad wire explain it? Kinda stressed out since my car is stuck on the street cleaning side for tomorrow and I have a graveyard shift I need to get to in about 3 hours. Will be busing to a friend's house over an hr away to borrow his car to commute 30 miles...

 

Any one piece of the ignition could be causing this. It could be 1 wire, 1 plug, 1 coil. It could be more than 1, and it could be any combination of the above.

It's like connecting a chain between a truck and a tree stump. You aren't going to pull the stump out if even a single link in the chain is removed.

Most of the ignition parts are available in Advance Auto now, and often in stock.

 

I appreciate your help. I know I haven't been on top of all my maintenance like I should have. I've been meaning to change the coils and wires. The plugs are still relatively new and the battery has only about 5k miles on it so hopefully it's still good even after the millions of cranks today (while hooked up to a jump).

 

And:

Tester: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...zoneAssigned=1
Coils: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPTUNEAMS_____
Wires: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPTUNEAMS_____
Plugs: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPTUNEAMS_____ and http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPTUNEAMS_____ (2 of each)

 

Thank you for all the parts link, i didn't think id be able to find everything in one place. I really do appreciate your help. Too bad there doesn't seem to be an advanced auto parts within 100 miles of me 94134 zip code. I guess i will look into ordering online. autozone and pepboys told me the wire would be dealer only or online, guess they were wrong.

 

I feel your pain.

First time I've flooded mine in the 6 years I've owned it.

First de-flood didn't work, probably because I only pulled the bottom (trailing) plugs. Repeating this time with new plugs top & bottom.

Coils begin to short internally and only last about 60,000 miles at best. You'll see where they begin to short through the case to the mount when you replace them.

Now back out to see if mine will start.

 

If you're going to order parts, try rockauto.com. They're very good to deal with, and have good prices. Plugs are $3 to $4 lower than Advance Auto.

Ken

 

2004, but it had the new starter and new plugs put in with the tsa back in 2005 at about 10,000 miles. The battery is new and the current plugs aren't too old. About to replace coils and wires bu i can't get the wires quicker than a week it seems. Anyone know of a place that ships same day? I need the parts asap. Thanks