Reading a post a little while ago and a question came to mind. Every time I read about someone flooding their engine they say they tried the Mazda procedure and it didn't work. My car has never flooded so I haven't had that wonderful experience - yet.

My question - is there anyone out there for whom the engine clearing procedure in the manual has worked?

 

Which process are you referring to? There is the starting procedure that just involves cranking it long enough to get it going and then there is the remove the plugs, disconnect the fuel pump, crank to expel the fuel, clean the plugs procedure.

The cranking procedure doesn't always work because the early batteries didn't have enough capacity to crank for very long.

 

I think the problem with the procedure not working is not due to the actual procedure not working but the way people try it.

Typically, I believe people try to crank the car, not turn over, and then try the procedure. Which by then is too late since when they first try to start the car, they probably already flooded the engine. So instead, when you suspect the car might floor, i.e. really cold day or didn't wait for car to warm up to shut down.. start the car using the flood procedure and you should be fine. Better safe than sorry.

Oh, and if the car doesn't start out after a few cranks, try it again without the pedal in because it could be likely that you don't have any gas in the engine.